EcoVadis certification
The Platinum medal we were awarded in 2020 ranks the Group among the top 1% most socially responsible companies out of the 75,000 rated by EcoVadis. In 2021, we received a score of 70 out of 100. This excellent score underlines the efforts our people make to support Imerys in our sustainability commitments. We integrate areas for improvement recommended by EcoVadis into our action plans and apply them within our processes and our relationships with our partners, in order to improve social and environmental impact throughout the value chain.
EcoVadis CSR performance assessment
EcoVadis experts analyze a company’s CSR practices in relation to the industry sector, the size and the geographic location of the company. Businesses are given a score out of 100 which takes into account their CSR policies, actions and results. The score is based on 21 environmental, social and governance (ESG) criteria, which are broken down into four main areas:
- Environment
- Social and human rights
- Ethics
- Sustainable procurement
These criteria correspond to international standards, such as ILO (International Labor Organization) conventions, the Ten Principles of the United Nations Global Compact, the GRI Standards for global sustainable development reporting and the ISO 260004 standard.
The analysis methodology is based on management indicators and external sources of information from various stakeholders. An international scientific committee monitors the quality of the EcoVadis process.
Recognition of our commitment to sustainability
The scores obtained by Imerys reflect our continuous efforts to improve our performance in terms of social and environmental responsibility.
Progress in all areas assessed by EcoVadis
Here are some examples of sustainable initiatives that have enabled us to improve our score in each of the four areas examined by EcoVadis:
- Environment: Our targets for reducing greenhouse gas emissions have been approved by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi). We have also moved forward with the implementation of our biodiversity program as part of our act4nature commitments.
- Social and human rights: We have strengthened practices that foster the health and well-being of our employees. Imerys' Diversity and Inclusion charter and our associated three-year program promote actions, awareness and transparency with regard to these crucial matters.
- Ethics: New policies we launched in 2020 define guidelines for developing constructive and sustainable local partnerships taking into account specific cultural and socio-economic factors. This initiative reflects our desire to contribute to the development of local communities and to the protection of the environment in the locations where we operate. We have also established a grievance procedure for local populations.
- Sustainable procurement: In order to improve the sustainability of its supply chain, Imerys is implementing an EcoVadis assessment for our suppliers.
All of the above initiatives form part of our SustainAgility™ program. Our ambition is clear: to unlock the sustainable potential of minerals.
Imerys has installed photovoltaic panels at several operational sites to supply electricity to local communities.
Continuous improvement approach to our supply chain
As the world leader in mineral specialities for industry, we take our responsibility for social and environmental issues very seriously. As part of our sustainable purchasing approach, we at Imerys encourage our suppliers to undertake EcoVadis certification in order to analyze their own CSR policy, actions and results. We support them in this process, helping them identify areas for improvement and make progress in these areas.
The EcoVadis rating enables us to work with solid, reliable partners who are aligned with the Imerys Code of Conduct and Ethics and who meet our Supplier ESG Criteria. Pooling our efforts is key to boosting the social and environmental performance of the entire value chain – that's why increasing the proportion of our suppliers who are EcoVadis-certified is one of our sustainability objectives.
Where do our mineral raw materials come from? How have they been produced and processed? What impact does their production have on the environment and society? Which sustainable benefits do they bring to the downstream value chain? The newly launched Imerys SustainAgility™ Solutions Assessment framework provides a transparent, straightforward approach to mineral sustainability.
After decades of operation the Foufouilloux Nord site has been in the hands of nature and its biodiversity since 2014.
This year was like no other. Here is a highlight of several significant moments for Imerys.
To withstand the actual and expected impacts of climate change and protect the environment for future generations, we must adjust the way we live and do business.
