The value of sustainability

Focus On

Creation of economic value increased by 5.2%. Ozone-depleting substances abated. High rankings confirmed in major international indicators.

Prysmian Group is continuously improving on results achieved in the field of sustainability. According to the 2017 Sustainability Report, the economic value generated and distributed by the Group has increased to €7,866 million (from €7,480 million one year earlier). At the same time, Prysmian has confirmed its high ranking among major international sustainability indexes and other measurement means, including FTSE4Good, the Dow Jones Sustainability Index and the Carbon Disclosure Project.

These results have been achieved thanks to a sustainability policy and strategy inspired by the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, which were also pursued through a specific materiality analysis, with a view to achieving the objectives included in our Sustainability Scorecard.

In 2017, the Group developed a number of projects that delivered significant results from the point of view of sustainability. Notably among these are: research carried out on deep-water submarine cables that can be laid up to 3,000 metres below sea level; our ‘Lead Less’ technology, which eliminates the need for lead energy cables, and P-Laser technology, applied to high-voltage cables to make them fully recyclable and sustainable while allowing an increased amount of power to be transmitted.

In the Telecom business, we set a world first by increasing the number of fibres that canbe contained in the Flextube® optical cable to 3,456, an achievement that allows further reduction of the impact of civil works during installation. In 2017, Prysmian Group also managed to abate the emission of ozone-depleting substances by 5%, from 684 kilotons to 649 kilotons.

Commitment rewarded at the highest level

Prysmian Group’s commitment to a growth that is both responsible and respectful to the environment has been rewarded internationally at the highest level. In 2017, for the Carbon Disclosure Programme, the Group was included among the élite of companies that publicly disclose their environmental reporting within the ‘Climate Change’ category.

2017 also saw Prysmian confirmed as part of FTSE4Good, the prestigious global index composed of companies distinguished thanks to ethical and transparent managing and implementation of sustainable policies. Furthermore, the Group was the only Italian company admitted for the second year in a row in the prominent Carbon Clean 200™ Report, ranking 58th globally.

Over 2017, Prysmian also significantly improved its assessment within the Dow Jones Sustainability Index, the esteemed global sustainability gauge renowned for evaluating the financial performance of some 2,500 global companies, achieving third position in the ‘Electrical Component and Equipment’ category.

RESPECTING HUMAN RIGHTS

Prysmian is committed to respecting human rights across its entire value chain via the adoption of a Human Rights Policy, which involves a structured, long-term process to support internationally-recognised human rights and avoid any involvement in their violation.

Protecting the dignity, liberty and equality of all human beings is one of Prysmian’s pillars. The Group rejects all discrimination and illegal deeds or activities, such as exploitation, forced labour, and child labour. The Policy adheres to and complies with numerous international conventions, such as the International Human Rights Charter, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Labour Organisation’s Fundamental Conventions, included in the Declaration On Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work. This policy defines Prysmian’s commitment to protecting basic human rights, including the dignity of the people who work for the Group, and also our commitment to promoting respect for all human rights throughout the entire value chain and in our business relationships.

A strategy for human capital

Launched in 2015 with the aim of supporting the business and company growth, while incorporating long-term sustainability goals.

Investing in people has always been a hallmark of Prysmian Group. In 2017, we launched several more initiatives at a global level concerning employees and the attraction and recruitment of talent, all in line with our Human Capital Strategy, initiated in 2015. Global recruitment programmes such as ‘Sell it’ and ‘Make It’ – in their first and second editions respectively – inducted over 100 new, experienced resources into the company. 2017 also saw the seventh edition of ‘Build the Future’, the programme designed for the recruitment of graduates from different countries around the world.

WHISTLEBLOWING UPDATED

In 2017, the Group reviewed and updated its Whistleblowing Policy, the procedure that offers everyone, whether employees or not, the opportunity to submit reports about improper conduct and alleged illegal activities that might occur within the organisation.

To this end, two channels were implemented for the collection of reports, comprising dedicated telephone lines and a web portal, which are both managed by independent operators and available in the 26 languages used by the Group. A Whistleblowing Committee has also been established to evaluate the reports, conduct specific investigations and, if necessary, take appropriate measures.

THE SUCCESS OF ‘YES’ CONTINUES

In 2017 the Group continued to pursue with success the ‘Your Employee Shares’ (YES) shareholding programme, the plan that allows employees to purchase shares at favourable prices. To date, the YES programme has proved to be a real success; more than 7,400 of those entitled employees – approximately 53% of the corporate population – have decided to become a shareholder, strengthening the internal perception of Prysmian Group as ‘one company’.