Plastic Omnium’s CSR approach is constantly being improved. Three areas of focus have been identified following a materiality analysis. Focus on the third of these priorities: sustainable production.

Sustainable and responsible production

Plastic Omnium also involves all its plants around the world to minimize its environmental impact, thanks to its “Top Planet” program launched in 2008. The action is divided into 4 axes.

1 – ISO 14001 certification

At the end of 2017, 90% of Plastic Omnium’s industrial facilities were ISO 14001 certified. This environmental management system guarantees the limitation of impacts on the environment and biodiversity. It requires training and education. In 2017, 32,800 hours of environmental awareness and training were provided. The next step is ISO 50001 certification. 24 European sites are already certified and 15 others are aiming for certification by 2020. The goal: to reduce the company’s energy bill and environmental footprint and improve its competitiveness.

2 – Climate

Plastic Omnium continuously monitors the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions from its plants, their energy consumption and incorporates energy performance into their equipment purchases. To reduce the impact of transport, the sites are as close as possible to the manufacturers’ factories. Top Planet Awards are given each year to reward the best performing sites. In 2017, €10 million were invested in the environment and safety.

3 – Waste reduction

71% of material waste is reintroduced into production cycles when 18% is recovered and reused or incinerated to produce energy, representing 89% of the waste. Each year the percentage of final waste decreases, and stands at 11% in 2017.

4 – Air and water quality inside and outside sites

Plastic Omnium maintains good air quality inside and outside its plants. The products used in production are as low-emitting as possible. Water, which comes 97% from the urban network, is used in a closed circuit and does not discharge any effluent.

Plastic Omnium is already committed to the sustainable and responsible production of tomorrow by opening its plant 4.0 in Greer, South Carolina (United States). Its machines, which consume less energy and emit less greenhouse gases, combine performance with environmental responsibility.

To learn more about the responsible production of Plastic Omnium, read the Responsability and Engagement report.

The Race For Water Odyssey boat, powered by renewable energies, made a one-month stopover in French Polynesia. It is now heading for Samoa Island. As at each stage, the crew met with the inhabitants to raise their awareness of ocean conservation, plastic waste recycling and energy transition.

The objective of the Race for Water Odyssey mission is to alert and act to prevent plastic waste from reaching watercourses and oceans. Thanks to its local partners, the Race For Water Foundation is developing social and economic models that value plastic waste to encourage people to collect it.

At each stopover, the Race For Water team deploys programs in 3 parts: learn, share & act. These programmes are based on workshops with scientists, companies and associations, but also on meetings with students, public figures and various local actors. The goal is to raise awareness and have an impact on behaviour in the long term.

Race for Water, to preserve oceans and promote energy transition

In addition to its activities, the Race for Water odyssey is an inspirational ambassador for the energy transition. Indeed, the Race For Water boat is powered by solar energy, wind energy and hydrogen, without damaging the environment. During this stopover, nearly 500 students were able to board the boat to discover how it works, realizing that it is possible to travel with clean energy.

Plastic Omnium, technologic sponsor of the Race For Water Odyssey

Official sponsor of the Race for Water odyssey, Plastic Omnium provides the fuel cell and hydrogen tanks. Hydrogen is produced on board using a seawater desalination process. It is then stored in 25 storage systems that can contain up to 200 kg of this gas, which emits no CO². Hydrogen can produce enough electricity to propel the ship for 6 days in autonomy. On land and at sea, this hydrogen technology, which is in the process of being approved, is mature, reliable and sustainable.

To follow the Race For Water Odyssey, visit the expedition’s website.

Credits : Julien Girardot / Race for Water

Plastic Omnium’s CSR approach is constantly being improved. Three areas of focus have been identified following a materiality analysis. Attention paid to employees is the second one.

Attention to employees, a complementary aspect of a dynamic HR policy

To support its growth, Plastic Omnium will recruit 3000 engineers and managers by 2021. The HR policy that the group is implementing enables it to confirm its position as an attractive employer. It is divided into 4 main categories:

1 – Safety: ambition zero accidents

At Plastic Omnium, the safety and health of employees is essential. The commitment, written into the company’s Code of Conduct, is supported by all. The “Top Safety” program, managed by the EHS department, requires sites to be OHSAS 18001 certified and to observe 6 mandatory rules. In August on World Safety Day, an international internal event, employees are trained in safety and good practices.

As a result, in 10 years, there are 10 times fewer accidents. The objective? To achieve an accident frequency rate (TF2) of 1 in 2020.

2 – Equal opportunities: ever more effective

The Equal Opportunities section covers, among other things, disability policy and the feminization of managers. Led by a dedicated organisation and relayed on the sites by HR representatives, the Handicap policy aims to encourage disabled people to remain in employment on sites, to provide them suitable working conditions or to make it possible to welcome new employees with disabilities.

The feminization of managerial positions is also changing, with 184 women managers joining the Group in 2017. They represent 21% of the executive workforce.

3 – Employability: promising external recruitment and internal mobility programs

In 2017, 746 managers and engineers joined the group. Plastic Omnium participated in 80 school relations events and signed nearly 400 work-study, VIE and apprenticeship contracts. More than half of them continued the adventure on a cdd or cdi contract.Internal mobility is encouraged. 75% of management positions were filled internally and 108 employees benefited from international mobility.

3 – Well-being at work: a common consideration on every continent

Teleworking, nursery or caretaker services, sports activities, etc. All over the world, Plastic Omnium seeks to improve working conditions and the well-being of its employees. The measurements, in test, vary from one country to another. This also includes optimizing the ergonomics of a workstation.

To learn more about Plastic Omnium’s CSR approach, consult the document Responsibilities and Commitments and discover the first area of focus: responsible entrepreneurship.

Plastic Omnium’s CSR approach is constantly improving. Three areas of focus were identified following a materiality analysis carried out involving 18 stakeholders. Focus on the first of them: responsible entrepreneurship.

Responsible entrepreneurship for business ethics and greater competitiveness.

Uncompromising ethics

By signing the United Nations Global Compact in 2003, Plastic Omnium demonstrated its commitment for making ethics one of the pillars of its operations. Since then, the Group has distributed codes of good conduct for all, as well as ethical management codes for buyers and sales representatives. In 2017, nearly 900 employees received training to protect them from fraud, corruption and competition law violations. 52 independent internal audits, scheduled or surprise, were conducted to ensure compliance with these rules.

An ethic shared with its suppliers

4,000 suppliers already signed the supplier charter deployed by Plastic Omnium in 2016. All are committed to respecting the principles of the United Nations Global Compact and to ensuring that their own partners respect them. They are regularly controlled.

An ethics that integrates data

Protecting systems and data is crucial. To detect risky behaviour in real time, Plastic Omnium has recently set up a Cyber Defense Department and a monitoring center in its departments.

Plastic Omnium’s international values

To be a responsible group is also to be a human group and to encourage people to help each other. With its strong roots and values, Plastic Omnium contributes to the promotion of French culture through corporate philanthropy initiatives in France and Europe.

As an innovative automotive equipment supplier, the Group also supports science: universities and other recognized institutions, and revolutionary actions such as the Race for Water odyssey.

In its 26 countries, Plastic Omnium supports local philanthropy to be as useful as possible to economic and social realities. For example, in 2017 during the earthquake in Mexico, Plastic Omnium sites organized to collect basic necessities and donations for the victims.

To learn more about Plastic Omnium’s CSR approach, consult the Responsibilities and Commitments Report.