A major incident is defined as a pollution incident for which the entity was liable during the year, having required the intervention of an external specialist (environmental remediation company, firefighters, etc.) where the consequences stretch beyond the boundaries of the entity’s sites, or caused unforeseen harm to protected species and their habitats (deterioration or destruction) not covered by an authorisation from the environmental authorities. In addition, incidents having caused unforeseen harm to protected species and their habitats, not covered by an authorisation from the environmental authorities, must be reported. In 2024, 11 environmental incidents involving a VINCI subsidiary or one of its subcontractors were identified. These included cases of pollution requiring the intervention of an external specialist where the consequences extended beyond the boundaries of the originating entity or worksite, as well as cases of destruction of a protected habitat or a wetland outside the area covered by an authorisation. For example, VINCI Autoroutes teams detected traces of oil in a ditch connecting to a waterway. The oil originated from a motorway service area located upstream. They took immediate action, implementing a specific emergency procedure for aquatic environments. The Departmental Fire and Rescue Service was called on and a specialist company rinsed and pumped the water network before clearing the ditch.
VINCI’s Environment Department, together with the Audit and Internal Control, Ethics and Vigilance, Social Responsibility, and Purchasing departments, supervises the work undertaken to monitor these environmental risk management measures and assess their effectiveness. This follow-up is performed on a continuous basis, through the coordination of internal committees focusing on each of the Group’s material environmental issues (the Environment Committee, the Biodiversity Task Force, and the Circular Economy Task Force). Monitoring and assessment are also carried out by the Group’s network of environment officers. Among other tasks, these officers respond to the annual environmental reporting questionnaire, which contains about 60 quantitative indicators based on Global Reporting Initiative standards (a common set of indicators to assess companies’ sustainable development policies), the recommendations of the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (see the cross-reference table, page 431), the Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (see the cross-reference table, page 432), and the Sustainability Accounting Standards Board framework (see the cross-reference table, page 433). The reporting process is an excellent resource for managing and following up on action taken to reduce the environmental risks relating to VINCI’s activities. It also incorporates some data on the subcontractors of VINCI companies.
The Ethics and Vigilance Department supports the implementation of the Group’s compliance programmes, in addition to procedures for raising concerns in specific areas of risk. It reports to the Group’s Executive Management and is responsible for VINCI’s whistleblowing system (see subparagraph 4.2.3, “Identification and detection of risks” of paragraph 4.2, “Company culture and business conduct policies – Whistleblower protection”, in the Sustainability report, page 270).
A platform available to all stakeholders
The Group has set up a whistleblowing platform called VINCI Integrity, which can be used by any concerned individual to safely report irregularities relating to a work context, in particular the Group’s employees, workers in the value chain and anyone impacted by the Group’s projects.
A system covering all areas of concern
Whistleblowing reports may pertain to the following concerns in a work context:
A system with multiple reporting channels
Several complementary channels are available for receiving reports. Whatever the means used, all communications are kept strictly confidential.
Employees can choose to go through their direct or dotted-line supervisor, the designated officer in their entity, or a local platform for reporting concerns. Employees can also contact the Chief Ethics and Vigilance Officer at Group level directly or use VINCI Integrity, the Group’s whistleblowing platform.
External stakeholders can also access VINCI Integrity from the Group’s website to report concerns.
