Sustainable development: a recognised and international commitment

For the last two decades, SPIE has been at the forefront of efforts to combat global warming and to build a more sustainable economy. The Group is taking decisive action to reduce its own environmental footprint and that of its customers, with the progress it has made having been recognised by market players. It is also working closely with international companies and partners to make a real difference. 

Membership of the United Nations Global Compact

Since 2003, SPIE has been a member of the Global Compact, which encourages companies to adopt and promote 10 fundamental principles in the areas of human rights, working conditions, the environment and the fight against corruption. The Group has therefore made a public commitment to developing a responsible, integrated and principles-based approach to achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. It also promotes these principles to all its suppliers and subcontractors.

A CSR policy that is valued by ratings agencies

SPIE is regularly among the top companies in its sector in terms of corporate social responsibility. In May 2021, the Group was awarded Gold for the 7th consecutive year in the ratings applied by EcoVadis 2020, a well-known ratings agency in this field. The agency welcomed, in particular, the enhanced dialogue with stakeholders, fuelled by the Group’s first materiality matrix. SPIE’s extra-financial performance is also valued by other ESG ratings agencies, such as Sustainalytics, MSCI and VIGEO. 

Commitments approved by the Science Based Targets initiative

Launched in June 2015, the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) is a joint project involving four key environmental stakeholders: the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP), the United Nations Global Compact, the World Resources Institute (WRI) and the World Wildlife Fund (WWF). In 2022, SBTi approved SPIE’s greenhouse gas emission reduction targets in line with its good practice guide and the Paris Agreement. These targets are considered to be aligned to the reductions required to keep global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius, the most ambitious level under the SBTi process. 

Partner in the European Green Recovery Alliance

In May 2020, SPIE joined the European Green Recovery Alliance, which brings together 270 policy makers, business leaders, trade unions, NGOs and think tanks. Created at the initiative of Pascal Canfin, President of the European Parliament Committee on the Environment, it aims to establish shared reflection on recovery plans that position the fight against climate change and the protection of biodiversity at the heart of European economic policy. 

Note: in January 2022, Gauthier Louette, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of SPIE, joined some twenty leaders of major European groups in signing an appeal to “green up” the variable remuneration of executive directors of large companies. Drawn up at the initiative of Pascal Canfin, this letter suggests that a part of the bonus paid to C-level operations managers be linked to the achievement of environmental and sustainability objectives.