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Prysmian Group – 2015 Sustainability Report
Introduction
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Dialogue with Stakeholders
The sustainability strategy adopted by Prysmian is marked by the importance recognised to the Group's
numerous stakeholders. In pursuing our corporate objectives, it is fundamental for Prysmian to develop
forms of constant dialogue and interaction with both the internal and external stakeholders, in order to
understand the various needs, interests and expectations (social, economic, professional, human) of all the
actors involved. In particular, against a background that is dynamic, competitive and subject to major
changes, being able to foresee changes and identify emerging trends enables the Group to generate
constant and shared value added over the long term.
Establishing and developing trust-based relationships, founded on the principles of transparency, openness
and listening, enables Prysmian to understand the constantly changing expectations and requirements of
those stakeholders that, directly or indirectly, influence the activities of the Group or that, in turn, are
influenced by us. In particular, these relationships represent a fundamental step in the development of
structured processes that seek to identify emerging trends and predict future changes, especially in view of
the current economic scenario that is highly dynamic and competitive, with a high propensity to embrace
change.
The approach used by the Group to communicate with stakeholders has evolved steadily over time, involving
various initiatives intended to make best use of the multiple channels available.
Multi-Stakeholder Engagement initiatives have become an integral part of the Group's growth strategy, as
well as an effective communications channel. These initiatives are organised in pursuit of the following
objectives:
obtain suggestions from stakeholders that might improve products and processes;
improvement of management of risk and reputation;
inform, educate and involve stakeholders in a manner that enables them to improve their decision
making and actions, with consequent benefits for the company and the Group;
contribute to the development of relations with stakeholders based on trust and transparency.
Following the first Multi-Stakeholder Engagement event held in Milan in 2014, the Group took a further step
along the sustainability path by organising an international Multi-Stakeholder Engagement initiative in
February 2016. This was held at Vilanova i la Geltru (Barcelona, Spain), where the Group has a factory. The
event involved 22 local representatives of five categories of external stakeholder: suppliers, customers,
public administrations, local communities and universities/research centres. The participants were able to
play an active role in the discussions and workshops, during which they were free to express and exchange
ideas, opinions and views on a variety of topics related to sustainability and corporate social responsibility.
This open dialogue resulted in discussion of Prysmian's approach to sustainability, drawing out the subject
areas considered priority by the stakeholders, in order to guide the Group towards new and ever broader
horizons. In addition, during the discussions, participants made a significant contribution to identifying the
main effects of Group activities on the various stages of the value chain, highlighting the relevance and
perceived materiality of each sustainability-related matter. The main matters identified can be grouped into
four areas: supply chain, compliance, logistics and transportation, and the environment. Lastly, the
stakeholders suggested possible initiatives and sustainability challenges that the Group should tackle over
the long term, in order to continue along the road towards sustainable development.