Sustainability

Everything we do has an impact on the environment, but we are working to minimise these impacts in two ways. First, by understanding and reducing the impact of our operations and processes, and by striving to do ‘more with less’ through efficient use of resources. Second, by developing and promoting products and solutions that facilitate sustainable construction and which can contribute towards minimising the impact of buildings more widely.

How are we approaching these priorities?

1. Operations

Environmental Management Systems (EMS) We are working to ensure that robust EMS are in place across all our companies and brands. Certification of sites and premises, for example to ISO 14001 standards, helps to embed sustainability within our operations, and is increasingly demanded by our stakeholders.

Resources Society is using more and more of the world’s resources and generating increasing amounts of waste, it is important that we strive to cut the environmental footprint of our operations. It is our aim to reduce the CO2 emissions, waste sent to landfill and water withdrawals associated with all our operations. Saint-Gobain Group has set ambitious targets for all sites that have a large environmental impact.

Waste Our waste strategy aims to reduce the amount of waste sent to landfill. To help achieve this, we are improving our understanding of what and how much waste we generate, identifying the types of waste streams generated at different manufacturing sites, and identifying areas where recycling initiatives can be implemented.

Energy With an energy bill in excess of £50m, Saint-Gobain is an intensive energy user. Consequently, it is important that we are monitoring how we use energy, reducing our consumption and looking for alternative energy sources. Our energy strategy in the UK and Ireland is focused on three areas: “reducing”, “decarbonising” and “buying better”.

We are reducing our energy consumption through product innovation and by making our buildings, facilities, branches and operational processes more energy efficient.
 

Transport Our businesses give rise to transportation related carbon emissions at various stages of the product manufacturing and distribution process. Transferring raw materials to the factory, transporting products for processing and delivering products to the distribution outlet or customer all generate emissions.

Within the UK a major project is underway to optimise our logistics strategy.

Biodiversity We encourage good management of natural habitats at all our sites in the UK and Ireland. These include over half a dozen mines and quarries where we extract gypsum, and we work particularly hard to ensure that these are operated in an environmentally friendly manner, with the effects on the community and environment minimised during extraction and restoration.

2. Responsible sourcing

The world’s natural resources need to be conserved, which is why we are working hard to ensure that we source raw materials in a responsible manner. By doing this, we are helping drive and service growth in demand from the construction industry for materials that are both more sustainable in origin and provide improved performance in operation.

3. Sustainable construction

New Build As the world leader in the habitat and construction markets, we are focused on the challenge of inventing and constructing the buildings of the future. Our products and systems can play a key role in helping new buildings meet and exceed current building standards and improve performance in sustainability assessment schemes such as the Building Research Establishment’s Environmental Assessment Methodology (BREEAM) and the Code for Sustainable Homes.

Refurbishment A major component of Saint- Gobain’s business strategy concerns refurbishing the huge stock of energy inefficient homes in the UK and Ireland.

The Group’s strategy for refurbishment will be built around Passive House and Multi-Comfort House principles, which focus on optimizing the efficiency of the building fabric.

Product Labeling By positioning ourselves in the construction and habitat markets, we have shifted from a supply-oriented culture to a demand-oriented one. This is based on providing innovative solutions to our customers where understanding market needs is a central concern. Fortunately, the Group is able to use its solid industrial base and vast distribution network as a reliable barometer of demand. One demand that we are increasingly faced with in the UK and Ireland is the ability to document the total environmental impact associated with products throughout their life cycle, and to provide evidence that they meet environmental performance standards. 
 Our businesses give rise to transportation related carbon emissions at various stages of the product manufacturing and distribution process. Transferring raw materials to the factory, transporting products for processing and delivering products to the distribution outlet or customer all generate emissions.

One of Saint-Gobain’s fundamental principles is to conduct business according to the highest ethical and legal standards. Acting with integrity gives confidence to our stakeholders ensuring that they continue to support us in the future. Our business strategy is guided by a long-term vision of what the habitat and construction markets will look like in the future.

How are we approaching these priorities?

4. Products and solutions

Developing new products Innovation and research are critical factors in Saint-Gobain’s sustainable habitat and construction strategy, as well as a key component in the Group’s competitive edge. Developing new products, using leading edge materials and improving the performance of existing products all contribute towards our goal of delivering a more sustainable built environment and infrastructure.

Globally, we spend over £350 million each year on research and development, and more than one product in five sold by our Construction Products and Innovative Materials Sectors did not exist five years ago.

Facilitating research Saint-Gobain’s commitment to research and development extends outside of the Group. We are working in partnership with schools, colleges, universities and other built environment professionals on research projects, training courses and competitions that we hope will help produce the sustainable construction designers and products of the future.

5. Engaging with key stakeholders

Training We are committed to supporting the development of opportunities and skills for the construction industry, and provide training for contractors and customers in purpose-built facilities on sustainable building techniques.

Many of our companies offer RIBA-approved Continuing Professional Development (CPD) courses to architects, designers, specifiers, surveyors and clients. These courses are designed to update participants on the latest techniques and systems.

Advocacy We believe that our strategic positioning in the construction and habitat markets means that we must truly walk the talk. We recognise that the benefits of a wider green economy are an important area of sustainable growth, that the construction industry has a significant role to play in this and that we must seize the opportunity to deliver the solutions needed to ensure a more sustainable built environment.

Saint-Gobain has lobbied public authorities to establish clear, precise standards for environmental protection and energy efficiency in buildings. These standards need to take effect in the medium and long term so that all industry professionals can prepare and implement the most efficient solutions. Rather than simply complying with regulations, it is important that we use our position to advocate the need for sustainable construction and promote continuous improvement in practices and attitudes within the industry.

Saint-Gobain has been a member of the UK Green Building Council (UK-GBC) since 2008. The UK-GBC is a driving force behind the development of sustainable construction in the United Kingdom, and plays a key role in defining new building standards. Through our membership, we are able to share our expertise with other businesses and encourage best practices in the building industry.

In Ireland, Saint-Gobain is part of a new coalition of Irish businesses that has issued an open letter urging the Irish government to adopt a comprehensive green procurement policy.

6. Responsible procurement

Our “Purchasing Charter” provides guidelines for responsible purchasing practices. It incorporates the Group’s Principles of Conduct and Action and ensures that these principles are taken into account when specifications are being drawn up and that outside service providers are selected based on the strength of their commitment to environmental, health and safety issues in the workplace. Our chosen suppliers are required to disclose any potential environmental risks related to the procedures and products they use for their own operational purposes and for work they perform at Group sites. The responsible purchasing policy has been widely circulated and clauses concerning sustainable development have been included in general purchasing terms and conditions.

Our “Suppliers’ Charter” governing requests for proposals has recently been created stating our environmental and social criteria for suppliers and service providers. Since 2009, it has been distributed to more than 1,000 of our suppliers worldwide, along with a self-assessment questionnaire to help raise suppliers’ awareness of our commitment to selecting partners that demonstrate the highest compliance with sustainable development principles. We have implemented a structured process to audit suppliers in 2010, with specific sections devoted to responsible purchasing.
 

Respect for people is one of Saint-Gobain’s core values, and it guides our day-today approach to relationships with employees, customers, partners and local communities. We are committed to maintaining and promoting an environment where diversity, fairness and equality are valued. To ensure the success of our business we also need to attract, develop and retain the best people. Our employees’ deep commitment clearly attests to the quality of these relationships, which both confirms and drives our sustainable development policy.

How are we approaching these priorities?

7. Employees

Saint-Gobain’s human resources strategy and policies are based on a longstanding tradition of respect for employees, social dialogue and internal promotion.

Social contract People are a key element in Saint-Gobain’s business strategy, and an integral part of our sustainable development. Saint-Gobain has built a successful, sustainable business on a tradition of supporting the inclusion of people, regardless of age, gender, sexual orientation, religion, ethnicity or disability. Respect for diversity and opposition to any form of discrimination are enshrined in the Group Principles of Conduct and Action. The Group believes that it is an individual’s talent and performance that matters and is committed to enabling everyone to fulfill their potential.

Career development At Saint-Gobain, we manage employee careers over the long term. That means providing a broad range of training opportunities that support our strategy, strengthen our corporate culture and equip our staff with the skills necessary to perform jobs to the required standard. We are determined to offer opportunities and a clear career path through Saint-Gobain. Thanks to the Group’s numerous businesses and locations, employees have many opportunities for internal promotion and mobility. These are priorities for Saint-Gobain, since they allow the business to disseminate best practice, support our habitat and construction strategy, and build a committed, experienced and talented workforce.

8. Health and safety

Respect for people, their health and their safety are integral parts of our daily approach to managing manufacturing and distribution operations. It is our aim to ensure that all of our businesses achieve zero accidents and illnesses and that we have companies that are recognised as the best for Health and Safety performance.

Standards Saint-Gobain’s decision in 2009 to roll out safety standards across the Group underlined its conviction that no fatality or injury is ever acceptable. Since then, it has been developing a series of global safety standards, addressing specific health and safety risks that take the best from existing legislation and procedures already in use. This common set of Health and Safety Standards can be easily understood, followed, reviewed and monitored.

Recognising achievement Saint-Gobain Group’s global Environment, Health and Safety (EHS) Diamonds Awards ceremony celebrated its 20th year in 2010. The Diamonds Award recognises significant progress in the areas of workplace health and safety, and nominees must have been accident free for at least a year, or demonstrate a continuously decreasing accident rate over a three to five year period.

9. Communities

Supporting local causes Saint-Gobain is committed to supporting local projects financially or through the provision of technical expertise via the Saint-Gobain Initiatives Foundation.

The Saint-Gobain Foundation was launched in 2009 to support projects proposed by employees. All Saint-Gobain employees, including those from the UK and Ireland, are invited to participate by nominating a worthy cause for consideration for funding.
 

Staff across our companies and sites are encouraged to engage in charitable activities, by giving time or products or raising funds for local and national charity initiatives.

Education Through the provision of support for schools, colleges and universities, we can help to develop understanding of our business and the wider construction industry. Saint-Gobain pursues initiatives across the education spectrum, providing equipment, arranging site visits, participating in national programmes and supporting technical training.