An ambitious sustainability roadmap

Defining Group priorities together with our stakeholders

From October 2023 to January 2024, SPIE conducted an assessment of the main issues that could have an impact on its financial and non-financial performance. This analysis was essential to prepare for the implementation of the CSRD within the Group and provide input for the Group's sustainability roadmaps.

Our materiality matrix

SPIE's double materiality matrix highlights the issues that are most important to the Group in terms of their financial and non-financial impacts. Top of the list of issues are: climate change, the shortage of skilled labour and cyber risks.

Objective and procedures

The purpose of the assessment conducted at the end of 2023 was to identify the issues with the most significant – or material – impacts, risks and opportunities for SPIE, whether environmental, social or governance-related. The data obtained were then used to establish SPIE's new materiality matrix, which provides an overview of these issues. The assessment covered the main markets and countries in which SPIE operates and was conducted in five languages: English, Dutch, French, Polish and German. An initial list of potentially significant issues for SPIE was drawn up at the end of October 2023. This was then used as a basis for questioning the various stakeholders from the end of November 2023 to the beginning of January 2024.

A five-step methodology

1. Research conducted by an independent body on SPIE's operating environment and value chain, gathering relevant documentation and publicly available sources.
2. Definition by this body of a list of major impacts, risks and opportunities for SPIE, based on a comprehensive review of the Group's current operating environment.
3. On this basis, the independent body and SPIE's project team drew up a list of around fifteen key impacts, risks and opportunities.
4. Discussions about this list with stakeholders and senior management, inviting them to rank the issues according to their level of priority.
5. Reporting the results in the materiality matrix.

Objective 1: to contribute to a low-carbon economy

As a trailblazer in the application of the EU taxonomy for sustainable activities, the Group has calculated the green share of its turnover using this methodology since 2019. In 2024, 49% of its business made a significant contribution to climate change mitigation, a high proportion compared with all listed EU companies. SPIE has also set itself the goal of further increasing this green share by reaching 50% of its turnover by 2025.

The Group will rely on three levers to achieve this:

• A favourable market dynamic for green activities, driven by national stimulus plans and the European Green Deal.
• The high expectations of its customers, who are stepping up their CSR efforts and commitments in support of a low-carbon economy.
• Increased awareness among its employees of the performance criteria of the EU taxonomy and the added value of its green solutions.

Objective 2: to reduce SPIE's carbon footprint

As a service company, SPIE's greenhouse gas emissions are limited—19 grams of CO₂ per euro of turnover—and come mainly from its vehicle fleet.

The Group is committed to reducing its carbon footprint by 25% by 2025 compared with 2019 (scopes 1 and 2). This target was developed using the scenario of the global Science Based Targets initiative, limiting temperature rises to 1.5°C. It has been validated by a third-party expert commissioned by the SBTi to ensure its reliability and credibility.

Convert 1/3 of SPIE's vehicle fleet to electric

The same determination when it comes to emissions resulting from its purchases of products and services (scope 3): by 2025, SPIE plans to source 67% of its purchases from suppliers who have set ambitious targets for reducing their carbon footprint. With this in mind, the Group has initiated discussions with its suppliers to find out about their CO₂ commitments and their products and services with lower emissions.

Objective 3: to strive for excellence in terms of safety

Occupational health and safety remains SPIE's top priority and responsibility to its employees. SPIE has set itself the target of reducing the number of serious lost-time injuries by 50% by 2025. To achieve this goal, it is taking action in four areas: prevention, skills development, leadership and subcontractor relations.

Objective 4: to increase the number of women in management

SPIE is committed to increasing the proportion of women in key management positions by 25% by 2025 compared with 2020. This objective will be achieved through internal promotion and recruitment. The So'SPIE Ladies internal diversity awareness network, which operates in each country, supports some of the levers used, such as raising awareness of unconscious biases, networking and mentoring. Gender diversity is now also a requirement for any recruitment shortlist for key management positions. SPIE ensures that internal training and development programmes include sufficient numbers of women to encourage internal promotion. Lastly, numerous initiatives are carried out in our subsidiaries to raise awareness among young women of our businesses supporting the energy transition and the digital transformation.