Climate Strategy
Protecting the planet is a key part of our strategies, focused on sustainability and environmental responsibility
We are aware of the climate change affecting our planet and committed to protecting the environment as a resource for the well-being of humanity. Therefore, we are committed to operating in accordance with environmental protection principles, in line with the principles of sustainable development.
The environmental impact generated by the Sesa Group derives mainly from the operations of its offices and the related consumption of resources connected with the performance of its business activities. This impact concerns in particular:
- Energy consumption by the offices of Group companies;
- Natural gas consumption at Group company offices for heating and hot water production;
- Fuel consumption for the vehicle fleet and generators at the main offices;
- Waste generated at Group company offices.
We conduct our business by carefully monitoring these impacts, with the aim of protecting the environment and managing natural resources in a sustainable way. Our Group's operational management is based on environmental protection and energy efficiency criteria, pursuing continuous improvement in work Health & Safety conditions and environmental protection.
Centralized management of environmental sustainability:
To implement and fulfil this commitment, we have drawn up a Group Environmental Policy and obtained environmental certification for our activities, introducing an Environmental Management System in accordance with the provisions of the UNI ISO 14001:2015 standard. The definition of the Environmental Policy and its implementation are managed in a unified manner consistent with the Group's strategic targets, in order to maximize synergies.
This centralized management of environmental sustainability allows us to:
- define environmental and sustainable industrial development policies;
- develop guidelines for the implementation of environmental policy to be used as a reference by subsidiaries;
- identify performance indicators and ensure the monitoring and control of the progress of company actions in terms of environmental impact;
- follow the evolution of national and European Union environmental legislation and prepare application guidelines for subsidiaries;
- build and maintain fruitful relationships with national and international bodies, institutes and agencies in the environmental area.
Our Environmental Policy
Sesa believes that long-term growth is not possible without responsible behaviour and effective action to address the most critical global social and environmental challenges. With regard to the environment and its protection, the Group, aware of its responsibility towards future generations, is committed to the responsible use of natural resources and to contributing to the fight against climate change.
The Sesa Group's Environmental Policy is inspired by the 2015 Paris Climate Agreement, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the European Green Deal and the principles of the Global Compact, and aims to contribute directly, or through organisations with which the Group collaborates, to the objectives described in the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The Policy has been approved by the parent company Sesa S.p.A. and, subsequently, disseminated and implemented by all companies within the Group.
Our main climate commitments
Our Sustainability Committee and the Chief Sustainability Officer are responsible for the Group’s environmental strategy. They identify potential areas for improvement and formulate strategic guidelines for the implementation of our environmental policy. At the same time, the Group Sustainability Plan serves as the main strategic driver that integrates ESG principles into decisions and our development priorities.
Specifically, in line with what is outlined in our Sustainability Plan, the main commitments for the future can be summarized in the following points:
- reducing energy consumption, through, among other things, interventions on energy efficiency and business travel management policies;
- promoting the responsible use of natural resources by encouraging the use of eco-friendly materials, for example through the use of certified paper;
- improving waste management, both from our offices and from product distribution activities;
- influencing our suppliers through the use of environmental sustainability criteria within the selection and management process, in order to guide chosen suppliers to act consistently with this environmental policy;
- raising awareness among our customers on environmental issues, using green products as a means of promoting sustainability;
- engaging our employees through communication and dialogue to increase corporate awareness of environmental issues and promote responsible behavior.
Thanks to the above-mentioned principles of protection and preservation, we have undertaken a series of initiatives aimed at reducing and preventing possible negative impacts on the environment resulting from our business activities. Additionally, we constantly monitor our energy consumption and related emissions, promoting numerous efficiency programs.
Below we provide an extensive but not exhaustive list of improvement actions we have carried out:
| Activity | Improvement action |
|---|---|
| Monitoring, optimisation of waste production and development of recovery activities (separate collection) | Extension of ISO 14001 environmental certification to Group companies and dissemination of the Environmental Policy |
| Improved work performance and work-life balance through hybrid working models | Development and adoption of hybrid working methods and digital collaboration adopted by the Group, maintaining a work organisation model with predominantly physical supervision for all human resources and the Group. |
| Improving awareness levels among personnel working within the Group or on its behalf, implementing mandatory information and training programmes; the effective elimination of child labour; the elimination of all forms of discrimination in employment and occupation. | HR training, both internally and for selected partners |
| Raising awareness of environmental management principles throughout the supply chain | Activities to raise awareness among suppliers and contractors on environmental management principles |
| Commitment to actions aimed at maximising energy savings in its offices or premises and in the management of its vehicle fleet, favouring more efficient and less polluting technologies. | Lighting efficiency (LED), controlled processes and energy-efficient materials, green building projects and certifications (LEED) |
| Reduction in energy resource use per unit of gas fed into the network | Plant maintenance and efficiency improvement |
| Optimisation of motor fuel use | Renewal of the vehicle fleet and innovative systems for mobility management |