2012 Sustainability Report
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| prysmian group | 2012 Sustainability Report
METHODOLOGY
The purpose of this document is to provide accurate and
transparent information about the 2012 activities and
performance of the Prysmian Group ("Prysmian" or "the
Group") in the economic, social and environmental fields.
This work was carried out in accordance with the established
sustainability policies and objectives, while also maintaining
constant dialogue with the Group's stakeholders.
This Sustainability Report has been prepared in conformity
with the Sustainability Reporting Guidelines G3.1, issued
in 2011 by the GRI - Global Reporting Initiative, achieving
application level C+.
Numerous business functions were involved in preparing the
Report. This enabled precise identification of the significant
information and matters to be reported, while also improving
internal communication processes and the overall control of
data.
The selection of GRI indicators for inclusion in the
Report was based on a careful assessment of their
individual relevance to the activities of Prysmian and their
meaningfulness to stakeholders.
Except as indicated, the data and information contained in
the Sustainability Report relate to the companies within
the Prysmian Group as of 31 December 2012, and to their
activities during 2012. Prior year information is presented
solely for comparative purposes, in order to indicate the
performance of the Group over a period of time. The
information for 2011 reports, for the first time, the position
of the Group following the union of Prysmian and Draka.
When certain combined data derives from estimates, this is
appropriately highlighted in the Report.
With a view to enhancing the effectiveness of the reporting
process and guaranteeing the reliability of the information
contained in the Report to all stakeholders, Deloitte was
appointed to check the details provided. This work was
completed with the release of a "Report on the limited
examination of the Sustainability Report", prepared in
accordance with auditing standard ISAE3000.
This Report is published in Italian and English on the website
of the Prysmian Group,
where
previous editions of the document are also available.
The Sustainability Report has been prepared with reference
to the corporate governance, social and consolidated
economic and financial information of the Prysmian Group
as of 31 December 2012. In particular, the total employment
data relates to those companies falling within the scope of
consolidation, including the full headcount of subsidiaries
that are not wholly owned (not considered on a proportional
basis). In addition, the full headcount of companies that are
not majority owned (including certain joint ventures) has
also been used, with the exception of YOFC Shanghai Co
Ltd, YOFC Wuhan Co Ltd, Ravin and Power Plus Fujairah. To
the extent considered significant, the environmental data
and information relates to the Group's factories, including
those operated by joint ventures, as of 31 December 2012.
See the chapter on "Environmental Responsibilities" for
further details about the related criteria, exceptions, scope of
reporting and methods of calculation.
The following changes have been made with respect to the
2011 Sustainability Report:
• update of the scope of reporting following the purchase
and disposal of certain companies and/or plants
including, for example, the shut down of six Group
factories during 2012 (Derby in the United Kingdom,
Fercable in Spain, Hickory in the USA, Eschweiler in
Germany, Livorno Ferraris in Italy and Singapore). Except
as stated, the data as of 31 December presented in this
Report takes account of this situation;
• revision of content to ensure it reflects the topics of
greatest interest to stakeholders;
• the types of information provided under the GRI
guidelines have been broadened to reach application
level C+, including examination of the Report by an
independent entity.
CONTENT OF THE SUSTAINABILITY REPORT
The major topics are addressed in the various main sections
following an introduction to the Group. The areas of
sustainability are organised into chapters that provide the
precise information required by the GRI, and also discuss
the initiatives and approaches deemed most relevant by
Prysmian.
The section on economic and financial information describes
the governance structure of Prysmian and the instruments
used to sustain it, commencing from the values contained
in the code of ethics, as well as the economic performance
of the Group and communications with shareholders and
investors.
This is followed by the section on cables, at the heart of the
business, covering the various processes from purchasing
and R&D through to logistics. These pages describe
the distinctive characteristics of the Group's products:
sustainable, technological innovation of the solutions
offered to the market.
The next chapter is dedicated to human resources and such
topics as the development of skills, training programmes,
internal communications and, in general, Prysmian's
commitment to enhancing the position of individuals as a
key stakeholder. The HR chapter also describes the Group's
