Sustainable development
A Global Approach
The Group’s international scope gives it special responsibilities with respect to its employees, the communities in which it operates, its shareholders and the environment. Consequently, various important commitments to its stakeholders have been identified:
ENVIRONMENT: to manage activities with respect for the environment, which implies using mineral reserves responsibly;
HEALTH & SAFETY: to promote employees’ health and safety in the workplace;
HUMAN RESOURCES: to enable employees to develop professionally and to provide satisfactory social benefits;
COMMUNITY RELATIONS: to act as a full member of the communities where the Group is based;
INNOVATION: to develop high quality, environment-friendly products and technologies;
GOVERNANCE: to constantly apply and improve the Group’s Corporate Governance.
Meeting these expectations is now a crucial condition for Imerys to continue operating its mineral deposits. Environmental and social performance is a key component of the Group’s results.
Imerys’ Sustainable Development strategy is defined by the Sustainable Development Steering Committee, which meets quarterly. Three members of Imerys’ Executive Committee have seats on this Committee. Since 2009 the Steering Committee has also included a line manager with extensive experience on the Group and its activities. The Steering Committee is supported by the Sustainable Development Working Group, composed of
Environment, Health & Safety, Sustainable Development and Human Resources professionals. The Working Group represents the different operating units and the geographic zones where the Group operates. The Working Group drafted Imerys’ medium-term (2009-2011) Sustainable Development objectives, which were later approved by the Steering Committee. The Environment, Health & Safety (EHS) Vice-President is the chair person for the Working Group. The Board of Directors is increasingly attentive to Sustainable Development risks and issues. The Audit Committee is entrusted with the annual review of structures, policies, objectives and results
in this respect.
Through ongoing dialogue, the Group remains attentive to the observations of ranking agencies that appraise the risk of nonprofitability in relation to Sustainable Development criteria. In particular, it draws on their remarks to adjust its action plans. Imerys meets socially responsible investors regularly and makes substantial communication efforts on the Group’s website, as well as through the overview given in its Sustainable Development Report, published every two years.
Imerys Sustainable Development Report 2009 (Interactive Version)
Social Projects
Pigments for Paper continually improve their community relations by investing in the people that work with them, supporting sustainable projects, building a sustainable infrastructure and generating economic growth through their operations.
Teachers go Back to School - Winner of the Imerys Sustainable Development Challenge 2009 for Community - Education
Imerys RCC is currently running two elementary school teacher-training projects in northern Brazil as part of the Group's Environmental Education Program.
Two Pigments for Paper initiatives below, winners of the Imerys Sustainable Development Challenge 2008.
Ilha São João Fishermen - This project, developed in partnership with Imerys Rio Capim Caulim, offers development, material and training support to foster professional fishing activities in the Ilha São João community... read more
Garden of Renaissance - Reclamation, restoration and rehabilitation of the ecosystem on ex-quarry land at Ipoh, Malaysia... read more
