Material impacts, risks and opportunities (IROs) were identified and assessed based on historical data covering revenue, costs, financial penalties and any controversies that may have affected the Group’s financial results. The analysis focused on the sites and activities of the Group with the highest exposure. At the end of this process, only the risk of work stoppage due to light or noise pollution or vibrations was assessed as material. This risk concerns the Group’s construction activities, which include earthworks, building, and installing and maintaining networks in urban areas. By definition, they are limited to VINCI Construction. The impacts on local residents are covered in paragraph 3.3, “Engaging with affected communities (ESRS S3)”, page 274.
| Material impacts, risks and opportunities | Businesses concerned | Position in the value chain and on the time horizon | Stakeholders concerned |
|---|---|---|---|
| Light and noise pollution and vibrations | |||
|
Risk: delay or stoppage of work due to nuisances for local residents or disruptions to ecosystems Loss of revenue due to the delay or stoppage of construction work and/or operations (permit temporarily or permanently revoked) due to the inability to carry out projects that generate light and/or noise pollution and/or vibrations |
Risk: delay or stoppage of work due to nuisances for local residents or disruptions to ecosystems Loss of revenue due to the delay or stoppage of construction work and/or operations (permit temporarily or permanently revoked) due to the inability to carry out projects that generate light and/or noise pollution and/or vibrations Businesses concerned VINCI Construction |
Risk: delay or stoppage of work due to nuisances for local residents or disruptions to ecosystems Loss of revenue due to the delay or stoppage of construction work and/or operations (permit temporarily or permanently revoked) due to the inability to carry out projects that generate light and/or noise pollution and/or vibrations Position in the value chain and on the time horizon Own activities Long term |
Risk: delay or stoppage of work due to nuisances for local residents or disruptions to ecosystems Loss of revenue due to the delay or stoppage of construction work and/or operations (permit temporarily or permanently revoked) due to the inability to carry out projects that generate light and/or noise pollution and/or vibrations Stakeholders concerned Employees, subcontractors, temporary staff Local communities and residents Public authorities Media Investors |
Looking beyond the main focuses of the Group’s new environmental ambition and compliance with regulations, VINCI companies develop and maintain continuous improvement processes adapted to the local context. The Environmental Guidelines signed in November 2020 by VINCI’s Chairman and CEO and the Secretary of the Group’s European Works Council provide a framework for reducing environmental impacts and risks associated with the Group’s activities. All VINCI companies are expected to apply these guidelines and are responsible for ensuring that appropriate actions are also taken on the ground by subcontractors and joint contractors throughout projects (see paragraph 4.3, “Tailored actions to mitigate risks and prevent serious impacts”, of chapter F, “Duty of vigilance plan,” page 319).
Concretely, VINCI companies systematically roll out environmental management plans and training and awareness-raising initiatives to prevent all types of environmental pollution and incidents, including emergency situations. Pollution issues mainly involve the light and noise pollution and vibrations generated at worksites, which are a material risk for the Group.
Each Group business line implements environmental management plans that are adapted to their local situation, while complying with the guidelines set by VINCI. The plans meet regulations in force and satisfy certain certification standards, such as ISO 14001 (see paragraph 4.3.1, “Policies and procedures to prevent and mitigate risks in operations”, in chapter F, “Duty of vigilance plan,” page 319). They cover all risks related to light and noise pollution and vibrations in construction activities.
VINCI Construction’s activities carry an inherent risk of pollution or other incidents affecting water, soil, air, flora, or fauna. To prevent such incidents, the Group takes a range of measures, which include investing in high-performance equipment and its maintenance to reduce the risk of leaks, fire or explosion; installing anti-pollution basins, filters and devices to retain particles and liquids; building barriers, slopes and acoustic panels to protect animals and reduce noise pollution for residents; and delivering regular training to employees, including incident simulation exercises and 15-minute environment sessions. Tools to facilitate incident reporting and analysis (e-Care, Watch, BeSafe) are also deployed. To better monitor and manage environmental incidents, an annual presentation is also made to the division management committees and executive committees.
VINCI Construction’s goal of zero environmental accidents translates into an even sharper focus on accidents and sharing the findings of accident analysis, as well as training and 15-minute environment sessions at worksites and operating sites to bolster prevention.
The light required for the operations and safety of some Group activities can be a source of light pollution. To limit this pollution, targeted lighting systems are set up at worksites. These direct light only to areas where visibility is essential to ensure the highest standard of safety for workers.
To reduce noise pollution and vibrations, noise studies are performed at major worksites in France and in other countries, beginning at the design phase, to propose suitable technical solutions to be deployed during construction. Measures are then taken to reduce this noise: adjustments to working hours, monitoring of noise and vibrations using sound level meters and seismographs, predictive mapping, and real-time monitoring for some worksites. At the Ottawa Light Rail Transit (OLRT) worksite in Canada, a system is in place to monitor noise and vibrations in real time, enabling work to be immediately adjusted if certain thresholds are exceeded. At quarries, seismographs are used to measure vibrations, in compliance with operating licenses and under the supervision of public authorities.
