Annual Report 2014

Social report
Community relations
4.4
Community relations
With a solid presence
in 45 countries, it is
essential for us to
build and maintain
close relationships
with our surrounding
communities. These are
as vital for our business
as any other stakeholder.
By supporting good
causes and engaging in
dialogues with local nonprofit
organisations, we
make sure everyone reaps
the fruits of a business
strategy based on mutual
respect.
Ranging from global to local
Our efforts to cultivate and strengthen
community bonds stem from both global
and local efforts. On a local level, our
companies’ strong regional roots constitute
a real asset. They know the ins and outs of
their neighbouring communities, and what
it takes to act as responsible citizens.
On group level, we empower and support
these local endeavours, or we take the
initiative ourselves. Our Community Cup is
a recent example of a series of community
projects globally initiated and locally
executed.
A broad scope
Improving the quality of life is the
benchmark around which we pool our
community actions. We purposely keep
the other criteria broad in scope, aiming
for maximum results. In many cases, our
support to local causes takes the tangible
form of affordable housing, where we are
well-positioned to make a difference.
Group policies and guidelines
In 2011, we introduced a Code of Conduct
containing all the ethical rules and
guidelines every company and employee
should follow. These guidelines include a
sustainable business philosophy and an
action plan for the complete abolishment of
child labour.
Intranet as a catalyst for good causes
By means of our intranet, we further
cultivated local development programmes.
The goal of our 2014 Community Cup was
to strengthen internal communications and
encourage our companies to become more
involved in their surrounding communities.
Employees were asked to suggest a local
project for Etex to support and then enter
it in a contest. In order to score points,
employees had to use the intranet actively
and inform their colleagues about the
projects. At the end of 2014, five projects
were selected. They will each receive
10,000 euro to support their local cause
with Etex building solutions.
• Eternit Argentina: Idehacerlas, an
organisation for young people with
mental disabilities.
• Durlock (Argentina): CEBJA, an
education centre that helps youngsters
with social problems reintegrate into
society.
• EBM Polska (Poland): The Society of
Friends of Hospice in Chojnice, a hospice
facility.
• Cerámicas Cordillera (Chile): the Boza
School, an inclusive institution with
limited resources.
We also have an anti-discrimination policy.
Discrimination based on ethnicity, gender,
sexual orientation, disability or age will not
be tolerated. Just one example of how we
reflect the communities in which we are
active.
• Marley Eternit (UK): the Fountains
Federation, a school community for
children with complex learning needs.
For our supply management, we insist on
buying raw materials from black, coloured
and white companies alike. In South Africa
for instance, we adhere to the Broad-Based
Black Economic Empowerment initiative
(BBBEE), launched by the government.
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