15
Global scenario
The cable-makers that adopted
the Charter will voluntary put their
efforts in four main fields: product
compliance and innovation, business
ethics and social responsibility,
health and safety, environment and
climate change. They will therefore
be committed to: supply safe
and reliable cables and systems,
accordingly with the relevant EU
regulations while developing and
applying advanced technological
solutions; implement CSR as the
vehicle for sustainable development
and establish Codes of Ethics and
Business Conduct; ensure working
conditions in accordance with EU
standards; fulfill a key role as a
knowledge partner in implementing
sustainable electricity and
future-proof telecommunication
infrastructures.
Prysmian joined the celebration of World
EnvironmentDay(WED),aglobaleventaimed
at raising public awareness and mobilising
public opinion on environmental issues. It
was first established by the United Nations
General Assembly in 1972 and is annually
celebratedaroundtheglobe.WEDalsoserves
as the ‘people’s day’ for doing something
positive for the environment, galvanising
individualactionsintoacollectivepowerthat
generates an exponentially positive impact
on the planet. Over the years it has grown to
be a global platform for public outreach that
is widely celebrated by stakeholders in over
100 countries.
Prysmian locations around the world took
part with several initiatives, such as giving
a small green plant to the first employees
to arrive at each office, using eco-friendly
forms of transport, or switching off lights
and electronic equipment for 15 minutes at
lunchtime.
Signatories commitments
Celebrating World
Environment Day
Upto50%ofthelawscurrentlybeingissued
or reviewed by the European Commission
havetodowithenvironmentalissues.Many
laws and directives have been introduced,
and many more are being issued with this
objective in mind. REACH, Rohs, and the
New Standards on land reclamation and
water treatment are just some of the latest
acronyms with which the industry is now
familiar. Antonio Traversi, Chairman of
Europacable Environmental Committee
and HSE & General Service manager at
Prysmian, pointed out that the industry
can take that as opportunities they can
seize. This is why European cablemakers
are increasingly deploying strategies to
minimise energy consumption and boost
the eco-efficiency of their products.
Viable commercial proposition
That’s also why the combination of
the green approach with cost-cutting
and environmental best practices are
being increasingly promoted. Life Cycle
Assessment methods for EcoDesign are
also being introduced with the aim of
making high-tech “green” cables a viable
commercial proposition. These methods,
which have always been known in the
environmental field, are proving to be a
great value-added asset when it comes
to maintaining global competitiveness.
They add that something extra that in
some cases can make the difference with
increasingly demanding customers.
Facing the green
challenges