2024 Universal Registration Document

4.3 Tailored actions to mitigate risks and prevent serious impacts

4.3.1 Policies and procedures to prevent and mitigate risks in operations

To address the material impacts, risks and opportunities related to VINCI’s activities, the Group has defined its environmental ambition for 2030, which has subsequently been distilled into policies, key targets and action plans in three priority areas: climate change, the circular economy and the preservation of natural environments. These action plans, detailed in the Sustainability report (see section 2, “Environmental performance”), tackle the concerns highlighted by the CSRD: climate, circular economy, pollution, water and biodiversity. The Group’s entities are building road maps specific to their business activities, using environmental management systems.

Environmental management and incident prevention

To achieve its environmental ambition, the Group implements environmental risk prevention management systems at Group entities (see paragraph 1.3.2, “ESG risk management and internal control”, of the Sustainability report, page 192), which also cover their worksites and sites under operation.

VINCI Construction regularly reviews major incidents. Some companies also implement a system to report and analyse environmental incidents (for example, applications such as e-Care and Watch are used in France). A range of prevention measures are employed at worksites and quarries, as required. These include impermeable loading areas, anti-pollution kits in machinery, antipollution pads, temporary retention ponds, tarps or hosing down of operations areas to reduce the spread of suspended matter, and specific systems to measure dust.

VINCI Concessions is expanding ISO 14001 certification to enhance risk prevention at airports and other concessions, whether during routine business or in emergency situations. The range of prevention measures employed in managed airports includes retention ponds, oil-water separators, piezometers to ensure effective separation, air quality monitors, and the continuous monitoring of aircraft noise levels and flight paths.

VINCI Autoroutes has set up a procedure to manage pollution incidents on motorways or other sites, which is continuously improved based on feedback from incidents and emergency drills. It relies on a network of operators at traffic control centres, who coordinate a response. A chain of command of people standing by is in place to make the necessary decisions, and operational staff are on site to directly handle the incident. Various prevention measures may be used for managed motorways, such as retention ponds, natural protection systems, and engineering structures that address potential problems.

VINCI Energies deploys environmental incident and pollution prevention action plans for each project, sometimes with the assistance of incident reporting applications, such as Safety Up and smapOne. VINCI Immobilier applies its own worksite charter that enumerates obligations for all companies operating at worksites, to monitor and reduce environmental incidents.

Furthermore, business lines conduct awareness-raising and training initiatives (see paragraph 2.1.2.2, “Training and awareness”, of the Sustainability report, page 202). Short 15-minute briefings on environmental topics are held regularly at worksites to build awareness among employees and subcontractors alike. In 2024, 111,525 training hours were devoted to environmental issues.

Risk mitigation approaches and action plans