This section of the Universal Registration Document aims to satisfy the requirements of Law 2017-399 on the duty of vigilance of parent companies and subcontracting companies to identify risks and prevent severe impacts on human rights and fundamental freedoms, on human health and safety and on the environment, resulting from the activities of the company, those of its subsidiaries or those of the subcontractors or suppliers with whom they have an established business relationship.
VINCI’s duty of vigilance plan encompasses all entities controlled by VINCI as defined in Article L.233-3 of the French Commercial Code. It builds on the commitments in the VINCI Manifesto, the Code of Ethics and Conduct and, more broadly, Group policies that help prevent risks to people and the environment by promoting vigilance measures in the three areas covered by the duty of vigilance law.
The Ethics and Vigilance Committee and the Strategy and CSR Committee of the Board of Directors regularly monitor execution of the duty of vigilance plan.
Due to the very nature and diversity of its businesses and activities, VINCI is first and foremost a multi-local group. Regardless of whether its companies develop construction projects or infrastructure concessions, they are locally based operations and produce locally with mainly local management, partners and staff, for local use in local conditions. VINCI is made up of a network of companies, often small or medium-sized, that have long-established roots in their operating regions and that strive to contribute positively to their development.
1,821 companies, of which 66% have fewer than 100 employees
More than 373,000 worksites and projects in 2024
Companies in the Group frequently undertake project-based work. This means that they provide services over periods ranging from a few weeks to a few years, for projects of varying sizes and natures. They work with a variety of partners, service providers and subcontractors, also for varying periods of time. These projects bring together anywhere from a few to a few thousand workers, in different geographical areas. Sometimes the Group’s companies are the subcontracting companies, but just as often they are subcontractors themselves. In either case, they depend on and must answer to customers with widely ranging requirements and priorities regarding environmental, employment and social issues. The context in which they work is continually changing, with each project having its own ecosystem. Any action taken must be targeted and adapted to address the project’s specific operational, social and environmental issues.
Another feature of the Group’s Construction, Energy and Concessions businesses is the fact that operations are often highly integrated, meaning that a significant portion of the supply chain is present at the sites. Often, subcontractors and temporary workers work alongside the Group’s own teams at construction or operating sites where Group companies are involved. Due to this situation, the subcontractor supply chain is closely monitored and subject to the same rules as direct workers. Given the cyclical nature of the Group’s business activities, subcontractors and temporary employment agencies fulfil an essential role and account for a significantly high volume of purchases. Accordingly, they have been given a high priority among the areas for improvement addressed in VINCI’s duty of vigilance plan. The Group’s other purchases (such as worksite materials or equipment that is purchased or leased) are also, by nature, mainly local and often part of a short supply chain. They are gradually being incorporated into the Group’s duty of vigilance plan (see paragraph 3.2, “Human rights and health and safety within the value chain (ESRS S2)”, of the Sustainability report, page 256).
35% of purchases are for subcontracting services
Whatever the business activities or projects of VINCI companies, and regardless of whether their customers are public (such as public or local authorities or government-owned companies) or private (such as property developers or other private sector companies), VINCI’s companies invariably serve customers who order the design or construction of infrastructure or who delegate its management, maintenance or operation. VINCI companies perform their work under contract and report continuously on their activity to their customers and, in some cases, to the inspection bodies and regulators in charge of project monitoring and inspection. In an intensely competitive industry, VINCI companies not only meet the requirements set by customers, but also strive to spread best practices, including in social and environmental matters, while complying with applicable laws and the Group’s commitments. Projects undertaken on behalf of public authorities increasingly include social and environmental obligations that are reported on and verified on a regular basis. Lastly, Group companies operate within a value chain involving a large number of players (architects, design firms, engineers, regulators, inspectors, investors, lenders, partners, government and local authorities, etc.) in addition to their customers. Since Group companies do not necessarily act as the subcontracting company, they are not always in a position to choose which service providers, techniques and supplies are employed.