APC 2012 Annual Report Download - page 49

2012 REGISTRATION DOCUMENT SCHNEIDER ELECTRIC 47
SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
2
SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT ATTHEHEART OF OUR STRATEGY
The Planet&Society Barometer is a tool that enables the Group
to anticipate and effectively manage its sustainable development
risks by mobilizing key stakeholders around specifi c, measured
objectives and reliable results. Barometer indicators are audited
annually by an external auditor (limited assurance).
•For more information, please visit: www.schneider-electric.com/
barometer.
See also the Planet & Society Barometer criteria in variable
compensation pages 80-81 .
1.3 External and internal bases of preparation for a solid framework
Our external bases of preparation
The United Nations Global Compact
The Global Compact was launched in 1999 by UN Secretary-
General Kofi Annan. It brings companies and non-governmental
organizations together under the aegis of the United Nations to
“unite the power of markets with the authority of universal ideals”.
Parties signing the Global Compact commit to 10 fundamental
principles in four areas: human rights, labor rights, the environment
and anti-corruption.
By signing the Global Compact in December 2002, Schneider
Electric made a public commitment to these universal values. The
Group has primarily worked to share this commitment with its
partners since2003 (see page56 Relations with sub-contractors
and suppliers ).
In line with the requirements of the Global Compact, Schneider
Electric publishes an annual progress report. This publication
reports on the Group’s action plans and monitoring indicators for
the 10 principles of the Global Compact. Schneider Electric meets
the requirements of the Advanced Level of the Global Compact with
this report for COP.
ISO26000
In 2010, the ISO (International Organization for Standardization)
published guidelines on organizations’ social responsibility
(ISOstandard 26000). ISO26000 is a compromise that gets different
players from the public, private and non-profi t sectors, from around
100countries, involved, and a vision of how an organization should
view societal responsibility. Schneider Electric’s actions towards
sustainable development are completely in line with ISO 26000.
This standard legitimizes the sustainable development actions
undertaken by the Group since the early 2000s and provides an
educational support and framework for its actions in the fi eld.
The Global Reporting Initiative
The Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) was established in 1997 as
a mission to develop globally applicable directives to report on
economic, environmental and social performance; it was initially
intended for companies and subsequently for any governmental or
non-governmental organization.
Brought about by the Coalition for Environmentally Responsible
Economies (CERES) in association with the United Nations
Environmental Program, the GRI integrates the active participation
of companies, NGOs, accounting bodies, business associations
and other stakeholders from across the globe.
Schneider Electric aligns its extra-fi nancial reporting with the GRI
and scores a B+ this year. A reference table with these indicators
and the indicators proposed by the GRI is available on Schneider
Electric website: www.schneider-electric.com/sri.
Our internal basis of preparation:
theResponsibility&Ethics Dynamics program
(R&ED) and Our Principles of Responsibility
The challenges
As a global corporation, Schneider Electric continuously interacts
with local and international partners. The Group’s borders are
expanding, its environment is constantly changing, and its societal
responsibilities and activities are growing. In this international
context, reprehensible behavior may be seen when the ethics
inspection and prevention processes are fragile. The Group is
responsible for implementing its resources to support employees in
the event of an ethical dilemma.
The aim of the program
In2002, Schneider Electric published a set of guidelines entitled Our
Principles of Responsibility to give all team members a common
reference point. This document outlines the Group’s commitments
to all of its stakeholders: the Company’s employees, its economic
partners (mainly clients and suppliers), shareholders, the community
and the planet.
In 2009, the Group updated Our Principles of Responsibility to
set out standards on ethics. This document incorporates updated
Group and employee commitments on the following:
•the respect of law, the limits established by each employee to
ensure he or she entirely respects the laws of all the countries in
which Schneider Electric is present;
•the code of ethics that all employees must follow in line with the
professional regulations of the Group;
•Group social responsibility –what all employees must do to act
responsibly towards society and the planet.