Our approach
To ensure that its ambitions are realised, in 2018 the Group introduced a social commitment agenda that establishes a direct link between CSR priorities and strategic orientations. This “CSR roadmap” is built around 3 axes, bringing together a total of 13 concrete objectives to be achieved by 2023.
Eramet and its subsidiaries are acting on the priorities defined by the United Nations to achieve a better, more sustainable future for all, through the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Focus 1: Committed to women and men
Guaranteeing all safety conditions is an absolute prerequisite. To put an end to all dangerous practices, numerous concrete measures are being taken at both Group and subsidiary level: an omnipresence in the field (more than 2,500 managers trained since 2016), the introduction of new safety tools and rituals, training, etc.
2023 targets: reduce the number of fatalities to zero and halve the number of accidents, with or without lost time (TF2 < 4).
Internal mobility, online training, VAE… the dynamism of a Group is the dynamism of its talents. This conviction is behind the implementation of a training policy that is constantly adapted to the company’s strategy and the realities of the job market. People reviews are also used to regularly assess the performance of Group employees at all levels of the organisation.
2023 target: 100% of employees to receive training within the year.
Eramet’s employees are the heirs to a history spanning more than 140 years and are now focused on the crucial challenges of the 21st century.The Group and its subsidiaries are stepping up actions to strengthen employee loyalty and reinforce their desire to succeed together: regular communication of the Group’s long-term strategic vision to all employees, commitment surveys, attractive remuneration packages, actions to promote diversity and inclusion, and particular emphasis on manager commitment.
2023 target: reach a commitment level of over 75%.
Eramet is one of the few industrial groups chaired by a woman. From the creation of a mixed internal network (WoMen@eramet) to the inclusion of at least one woman in every recruitment shortlist and the introduction of female people reviews, the subject is the focus of strong measures.
Note the improvement in our gender equality index.
Note: Eramet took part in the “Guide to good practice in gender equality in companies” co-created by the Conseil de la Mixité et de l’Egalité professionnelle dans l’Industrie, the IndustriElles collective and several companies.
2023 target: over 30% female managers.
Implementing and sharing best practice with communities and developing community involvement programmes… these are the actions on the ground that help to improve the daily lives of people living near our sites.
2023 target: implement a stakeholder dialogue mechanism at 100% of operational sites (mines and plants), as well as a community investment programme, targeting young people in particular.
Focus 2: Responsible economic player
The Lithium Project, the lithium-ion battery recycling R&D programme, the nickel sulphate production development project… diversification of the Group’s activities – in particular towards batteries for electric mobility – is a priority in the Group’s development strategy for the coming years.
2023 target: diversification of Eramet’s business portfolio into the battery supply chain for electric mobility.
According to the OECD, demand for metals will increase 2.5-fold by 2060. Because metals are infinitely recyclable, they lend themselves particularly well to the development of the circular economy. Eramet has long been active in optimising the recovery of these resources and many flows are already recycled in the Group’s plants.
To go beyond this performance, new targets have been set. To this end, a Circular Economy Action Group (GAEC) has been set up to identify actions contributing to this objective. In particular, the aim is to check that these actions are consistent in terms of material recovery and environmental footprint.
2023 target: recover more than 2 million tonnes of residues and low-grade ores, as well as 10,000 tonnes of waste.
In 2017, Eramet drew up an initial map of the risks of breaches of human rights and fundamental freedoms, with the support of external experts. A key milestone in 2020 for the Human Rights objective of the CSR Roadmap, the exercise was repeated this year, with the support of a specialised external firm with extensive experience in the extractive sector.
The deployment of our human rights approach is based on our Human Rights policy, on regular assessments in this area with regular monitoring by the CSR Committee, and on the creation in 2021 of a dedicated department, the Social Impact and Human Rights Department.
2023 objective: to be recognised for our application of the United Nations Guiding Principles, measured by the achievement of a mature level according to the UNGP Reporting Framework (Shift-Mazars).
Eramet is stepping up initiatives to meet the strictest ethical standards: on-site actions, appointment of ambassadors, internal and external training campaigns, e-learning dedicated to the Ethics Charter, etc.
To ensure compliance with standards, Eramet has strengthened its ethical governance since 2019. The main bodies active in this area include an Ethics and Compliance Department, 17 ethics compliance managers, 55 ethics compliance ambassadors and 65 sexual harassment and sexist harassment referrers.
2023 target: 100% of sales and purchasing teams to receive anti-corruption training every year.
As a responsible economic player, Eramet has set up an organisation to meet new challenges in the value chain, upstream with its supplier relations and downstream with its markets and customers.
By suppliers and customers assessed as being at risk, the Group refers to third parties assessed as “critical and/or sensitive” (in terms of Eramet importance or CSR risk – depending on the activity or country). According to the results of CSR/Ethics assessments, these are the third parties that must comply with the Group’s commitments on these issues. If these assessments show a discrepancy between expectations and results, the Group encourages dialogue and support and retains the option of terminating the business relationship.
2023 target: 100% of suppliers and customers identified as being at risk are assessed by Eramet as complying with its CSR and Ethics commitments.
Focus 3: Committed to the planet
Eramet and the stakeholders of each of its sites have high expectations in terms of identifying and controlling their ecological footprint. By reducing its emissions, the Group will help to improve air quality near its facilities, thereby meeting a strong expectation from local residents. A working group of experts has been set up to share best practice in reducing atmospheric emissions and to produce engineering reports with a view to financing investment programmes in this area.
To this end, Eramet has set up a plan to invest in new pollution control equipment and improve its operational control. Numerous purification systems are installed in the plants, including electrostatic precipitators, baghouses, scrubbers and washing towers. Although a 40% reduction was targeted for 2020, the target has been comfortably exceeded, with a 56% reduction.
2023 target: reduce channelled dust emissions by 80% (compared with 2018).
From New Caledonia to Gabon and Senegal, Eramet carries out mining rehabilitation actions, in particular by revegetating its sites (by hydroseeding and planting, spreading topsoil, etc.). This is the most effective way of encouraging the return of biodiversity, combating erosion and preserving water quality around mining sites.
In 2020, Eramet met its target for the 2019-2023 period with a ratio of 1.03: rehabilitate at least as much surface area as the Group will have an impact on (excluding long-term infrastructure).
Target for the 2019-2023 period: rehabilitate at least as much surface area as the Group will impact (excluding long-term infrastructure).
By choosing to develop its business in lower-carbon activities and taking action to control emissions, Eramet has reduced its carbon intensity by more than 25% in two years. Building on this momentum, the Group has decided to further accelerate the process by committing to a Science Based Target: to reduce Scope 1 and 2 CO2 emissions by 40% in absolute terms by 2035 compared with 2019. The Group has also set itself the goal of becoming carbon neutral by 2050.
2023 target: reduce the amount of CO2 per outgoing product by 26% (compared with 2018), of which 16.5% is due to the activity mix effect resulting from the Group’s strategic choice to develop its mining activity, which emits fewer emissions than the Group’s processing activities.