Multiple environmental assessment processes are in place in the Group to fulfil regulatory requirements, meet stakeholder expectations and comply with internal company policies. Risk identification and analysis is the very first principle laid out in the environmental guidelines that were signed by Xavier Huillard, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of VINCI, and Roberto Migliardi, Secretary of VINCI’s European Works Council, on 6 November 2020.
Environmental certification
The implementation of an effective environmental management system, especially one that is ISO 14001 certified, is the approach most used by Group entities to assess their performance. Environmental management systems guarantee a robust level of risk prevention and management through annual external audits. The percentage of the Group’s activity covered by ISO 14001 certification is calculated in relation to revenue or another relevant indicator, depending on the business line (see paragraph 3.1.1.2, “Identifying and managing risks”, of the “Environmental performance” section, page 224).
Third-party controls
The activity of the Group and its subcontractors is also regularly reviewed by other external bodies:
When these audits or monitoring processes reveal nonconformities, the onus is on the companies responsible to explain the shortcomings and promptly correct them.
Internal controls
VINCI’s business activities also undergo internal controls on a regular basis. Group companies measure the environmental footprint of their projects and activities and report on the internal and external resources implemented to protect the environment. Regardless of whether these activities are performed by VINCI or its subcontractors, regular inspections are carried out by the environment officers.
At Group level, environmental issues are a core part of VINCI’s risk assessment criteria, which were reinforced in 2020 and 2021 (see paragraph 2.4.3, “Procedures related to commitments and the VINCI Risk Committee”, of chapter D, “Risk factors and management procedures”, page 186).
When certain worksites present a high risk of environmental impact, in particular with regard to local biodiversity, environmental managers partner with ecologists (specialised design offices, research institutions or non-profit organisations) to increase monitoring. Additional analyses and various controls may be carried out at the subsidiary or project level.
