Communicating regular and accessible information

Commitment to transparency

SUEZ ENVIRONNEMENT continues efforts to achieve transparency in its communication. The Group follows the guidelines of the  Global Reporting Initiative and the Global Compact, and takes into account comments and requests from its stakeholders, especially non-financial rating agencies.

Every year, the Statutory Auditor guarantees the accuracy of the information reported by the Group and audits the:

• available information on ESG (environmental, social, governance) indicators via websites or annual sustainable development reports at each significant operating level,
• transparency and completeness of the sustainable development reports,
• reliability of a selection of non-financial indicators,
• dissemination of best practices in sustainable development, and a dedicated sustainable development heading on local websites.

Ongoing dialogue with public institutions

SUEZ ENVIRONNEMENT maintains ongoing dialogue with public institutions at local, national, European and international levels. As part of its lobbying activities, the Group regularly communicates with European representatives.  This strategy addresses the principle of responsibility:

SUEZ ENVIRONNEMENT strives to take the public interest into consideration when developing its positions. The Group is also registered with the European Commission as a special-interest lobbyist and is committed to the corresponding Code of Ethics in those activities. The main issues addressed in 2010 included general problems such as:

• public contracts,
• effective management of natural resources,
• protection and restoration of biodiversity.

They also dealt with themes more directly related to the Group’s daily activities such as:

• consumers’ rights vis-a-vis water utilities,
• the regulatory framework for spreading sludge in agriculture,
• biowaste management,
• the implementation of the Directive on landfill activities.