sain t-gobain annu al report 2008 annual report

Reporting methodology
The data published in this sustainable development
report comes from two separate reporting systems:
• The “NRE” system set up in 2002 to comply
with the disclosure requirements of France’s “NRE” Act,
which now incorporates the reporting system for employee
numbers established a number of years ago.
• The Gaïa environment, health and safety (EHS)
reporting system set up in 2003, which was upgraded
in 2008.
Basic reporting principles
Baseline
The baseline for Saint-Gobain social reporting
and the Gaïa EHS system was developed in line
with the requirements of the UN Global Compact
and France’s “NRE” Act of 2001 (New Economic Regulations).
Social reporting
Stability was a primary consideration in determining social
indicators, to provide the most reliable basis for comparison.
Consequently, there have been no major modifications
to these indicators since they were introduced in 2002,
with the only change being the introduction of
new indicators (socio-professional category and age)
to refine the analyses.
EHS reporting
To keep pace with developments in international standards
such as the Global Reporting Initiative and respond
to feedback from sites, working groups meet on a regular
basis to propose improvements to EHS indicators.
These proposals are discussed and approved at steering
committee meetings held twice a year.
Scope
Social reporting
In 2008, there were 726 social reporting units, defined
based on the Group’s business structure so as to cover
virtually all consolidated companies.
The merger, in 2008, of the two separate reporting systems
used in prior years has improved the reliability of data
collection, with a 99% coverage rate for all indicators.
New companies joining the Group are included from
the date when they are included in the consolidated
financial statements, while divested companies are excluded
from the figures for the year of divestment.
Employee numbers are reported on a monthly basis,
while “NRE” data – corresponding to the indicators specified
in France’s “NRE” Act of 2001 – are reported on an annual basis.
EHS reporting
There were approximately 1,300 EHS reporting units in 2008,
corresponding to all of the Group’s facilities. The increase
compared with 2007 was due to the inclusion of facilities
operated by newly acquired companies. The scope of reporting
covers the facilities operated by all companies that were
at least 50%-owned by Saint-Gobain at the balance sheet date,
including – where possible – facilities that came on-stream
or were acquired during the year and excluding facilities
that were closed or sold. The facilities operated by Maxit,
which was acquired in 2008, will be included
in environmental and safety indicators as from 2009.
The majority of data are entered directly in the Gaïa system
by the EHS units, and the remaining information is extracted
from reporting systems used for other purposes
(production reporting system for the Insulation Division
and benchmark reporting system for the Gypsum Division).
• The Safety, Industrial Health & Hygiene, general and
Safety-On-Line (SOL) questionnaires are designed to cover
all facilities (and therefore all Group employees).
The Safety and Safety-On-Line questionnaires include
questions about temporary staff, and the Safety-On-Line
questionnaire also includes questions about
sub-contractors.
Safety data are reported on a monthly basis and comprise
information about all accidents that occurred during
the month and their severity. The system covers about 93%
of employees across the Group.
Lost-time accidents (including fatal accidents)
are reported systematically via the Safety-On-Line system,
with a description of the circumstances of the accident.
The Industrial Health & Hygiene questionnaire
and the general questionnaire are completed annually.
• The Environment questionnaire is completed annually
by 940 facilities. The system is being rolled out to
the Gypsum business acquired by the Group in late 2005,
with the key indicators now covered (production, energy,
water consumption, waste, recycling, raw materials).
Environmentally-sensitive have been identified based
on 2007 reporting data, and their performance will be tracked
in relation to 2010 environmental targets.
Results for concerned sites will therefore be reported
on a comparable scope basis in each year through 2010.
Any divested facilities will be removed (from current year
indicators and the 2007 baseline) but no acquisitions will be
taken into account until 2010, when the scope will be adjusted.
In addition, environmental indicators will be calculated
each year by reference to the 2007 baseline.
In line with this principle, 2008 emissions and consumption
have been adjusted based on 2007 production output.
This choice was made in order to focus efforts on the facilities
with the greatest environmental impact, as well as to make
the data and progress in meeting objectives easier
to understand. The Divisions have validated certain criteria,
such as energy consumption, water consumption, and quantity
of non-recycled waste, enabling clear identification
and monitoring. The 420 concerned sites represent,
MANAGEMENT REPORT
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Saint-Gobain - 2008 Annual Report