Universal Corporation Releases FY2025 Sustainability Report

Report Showcases Significant Gains in Renewable Energy, Emissions Reduction, and Farmer Support

RICHMOND, Va.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Universal Corporation (NYSE:UVV), (“Universal” or the “Company”), a global business-to- business agriproducts company, announces the release of its 2025 Sustainability Report.

“Building on decades of commitment, sustainability remains central to Universal’s strategy and long-term success,” said Preston D. Wigner, Chairman, President, and Chief Executive Officer of Universal Corporation. “By integrating sustainability into our global business, we are better positioned to serve customers, support farmers, strengthen our supply chain, and protect the environment.”

During fiscal year 2025, Universal achieved significant progress towards its sustainability goals including:

Environmental Progress:

• Increased renewable electricity consumption by nearly sixfold, with 17.8% of global electricity sourced from renewables, advancing toward net-zero emissions by 2050.
• Reduced combined Scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas emissions by 7.7% year-over-year, and secured Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) approval for near-term, long-term, and net-zero targets.
• Recycled 28.8 million liters of water, a 24% increase over the prior year, and expanded water stewardship programs in high-risk regions.
• Planted over 13 million trees globally and strengthened traceability for curing fuel, with 69% of farmers using 100% traceable fuel.

Social Impact:

• Directly contracted with more than 200,000 tobacco farmers and completed over 2 million farm visits, reinforcing Good Agricultural Practices and Agricultural Labor Practices.
• Distributed 445,000 personal protection equipment (PPE) kits to farmers.
• Advanced workplace safety through global Behavioral-Based Safety programs and completed 28,000 inspections, a 33% increase year-over-year.

Governance & Transparency:

• Conducted a double materiality assessment aligned with the European Union Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD).
• Expanded the quality, consistency, and scope of the data disclosed in alignment with leading reporting frameworks and evolving regulatory expectations.

Universal’s 2025 Sustainability Report details the Company’s performance from April 1, 2024, to March 31, 2025, and was prepared in alignment with the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) and Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (SASB), with consideration of the EU CSRD and guidance from the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

The 2025 Sustainability Report is available at www.universalcorp.com/sustainability.

About Universal Corporation

Universal Corporation (NYSE: UVV) is a global agricultural company with over 100 years of experience supplying products and innovative solutions to meet our customers’ evolving needs and precise specifications. Through our diverse network of farmers and partners across more than 30 countries on five continents, we are a trusted provider of high-quality, traceable products. We leverage our extensive supply chain expertise, global reach, integrated processing capabilities, and commitment to sustainability to provide a range of products and services designed to drive efficiency and deliver value to our customers. For more information, visit www.universalcorp.com.