Sustainability
Sustainability is an integrated part of our strategy and operations. Our Vision, Mission and Values are the base of our sustainability strategy and targets and they define the framework for our operations and responsible business practices. It has a growing importance for our business today and will be of even greater importance in the future.
In order to meet and exceed our customers’ and other stakeholders’ expectations and requirements with our sustainable products and services, we have established a Sustainability Group. The main task for the Group is to enhance VEO’s sustainable operations as well as make sure our policies and procedures meet our stakeholders’ expectations.
VEO Group has been certified to ISO 9001, ISO 14001 and ISO 45001.
OUR SUSTAINABILITY MANAGEMENT PRINCIPLES
We have a Sustainability Group, which is responsible for our sustainability targets and is accountable for our sustainability programme. The Sustainability Group also establishes essential processes, policies, and statements, as well as instructions, and supports the Management team in implementing the sustainability programme. They monitor and report the outcomes to pertinent stakeholders, and are accountable for ESG reporting.
Our sustainability work enhances our strategic competitiveness, enabling us to assist our customers in achieving their sustainability goals.
SUSTAINABILITY FOCUS AREAS
Our long-term sustainability objectives are in line with UN Sustainable Development Goals (2030). We support all 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals, and we have identified specific goals that our own focus areas and objectives support.
The focus areas contain defined strategic objectives and actions, which are measured, followed-up and reported to the top management on a regular basis.
OUR SUSTAINABILITY OBJECTIVES
ENVIRONMENTAL RESPONSIBILITY
Our strategic objective is to achieve carbon neutral operations by 2030. We are determined to reduce negative environmental impacts caused by our operations and increase positive environmental impacts. Our objective is to annually decrease our carbon footprint between 2022-2025 by 25% points based on 2018 level in our own operations (Scope 1 and scope 2).
We strive to minimise the amount of waste generated by our activities and to maximise waste recycling. We promote everyday choices to promote circular economy. Our goal is to increase recycling rate to 55%, and in 2023 to reduce the amount of waste by 5% per produced cubicle compared to 2022.
In addition, the most significant environmental considerations related to our operations are energy consumption, and the management and control of isolated incidents. We are committed to recognizing and observing all environmental laws and regulations related to our operations. We monitor the environmental impact of our activities and implement actions aimed at reducing negative environmental impacts.
SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY
Our objective is to continuously improve our management processes and ways of working. Improving our health and safety culture and preventive and proactive HS operation to ensure safe work environment to our personnel and our business partners. We have a zero vision regarding work related accidents for our personnel as well as for our contractors.
We strive to minimise any potential negative effects of our operations or products on health and safety. We promote the physical, mental and social welfare of our employees through preventive health care and measures aimed at maintaining workability. We also encourage healthy lifestyles among our employees. We value our personnel and invest to their competence and wellbeing so they can offer the latest solutions and services to our customers.
We are developing our work premises, enabling and enhancing remote work possibilities, supporting and enhancing career planning and possibilities in order to improve employee satisfaction and well-being.
We focus on responsible supply chain management and fair business ethics to ensure high quality and on time deliveries to ensure our capability to meet our customers delivery terms.
GOVERNANCE RESPONSIBILITY
A strong economic basis secures the continuity of our business and enables us to meet our social and environmental responsibilities.
We recognize our shareholders’ goal of return on their long-term investments. We create added value for our customers by delivering solutions that meet their expectations.
Our objective is to provide our key suppliers with favourable conditions for long-term and mutually beneficial co-operation. We fulfil our tax obligations in all of the countries in which we operate and condemn all forms of corruption or fraudulent practice.
We comply with all applicable national and international laws and regulations in all of our business locations and follow good business ethics. We want to improve quality of our leadership and we support managers towards consistent ways of working. Having transparency and open communication in all levels of the organization and towards our stakeholders is seen very important.
Transparency Act in Norway (VEO AS):
VEO AS is subject to the Norwegian “Transparency Act” with responsibility to carry out due diligence regarding fundamental human rights and decent working conditions. The companies account for the due diligence is available here:
Report – Transparency Act VEO AS
Any request for further information pursuant to section 6 of the Transparancy Act can be directed to this e-mail address: veo@veo.no
Ethics & compliance
Code of Conduct
Our Code of Conduct, which is based on our values, is a set of ethical rules and norms that describes how we operate. These commonly agreed principles are a guide for our daily work and decision making. These principles apply to all our employees and co-operation partners.
Code of Conduct Code of Conduct for suppliers
Whistleblowing
We want to do what is right – Our whistleblowing service
Our long-term success is built on making business in a fair and ethical way. This is described in our Code of Conduct. Whistleblowing provides an opportunity to report suspicions of misconduct. You have an important role in raising your concern if suspecting a serious misconduct, that should be prevented or corrected. You do not need proof of your suspicions, but all messages must be made in good faith.
The whistleblowing service can be used to alert us about serious risks affecting individuals, our company/organisation, the society or the environment.
The processing may only refer to data about serious improprieties concerning
- accounting, internal accounting controls, auditing matters, fight against bribery, banking- and financial crime, or
- other serious improprieties concerning the company’s or the group’s vital interests or the life or health of individual persons, as for instance serious environmental crimes, major deficiencies that regard the security at the place of work and very serious forms of discrimination or harassments.
Employees are asked to contact their supervisor or manager for issues relating to dissatisfaction in the workplace or related matters, as these issues cannot be investigated in the scope of the whistleblowing.
A person who blows the whistle does not need to have firm evidence for expressing a suspicion. However, deliberate reporting of false or malicious information is forbidden. Abuse of the whistleblowing service is a serious disciplinary offence.
You can raise your concern externally to a public supervisory authority or other public authority or anonymously by using our Reporting channel, managed by a third-party, WhistleB.
Reporting channel, allowing anonymous messaging and dialogue: https://report.whistleb.com/veo
The Reporting channel can be reached on any device, including smart phones. We recommend employees to access the channel from a devise not connected to our intranet.
For more information, please see:
FAQ https://whistleb.com/whistleblowing-system/FAQs/
How to send a message – check a short introduction film
“WhistleB ensures the anonymity of the whistleblower. The service is separate from the organisation´s IT environment. WhistleB does not track IP addresses or other data that could identify a person sending a message. Messages are encrypted and can only be decrypted by designated individuals. WhistleB cannot decrypt and read messages.”
– WhistleB
United Kingdom
I.C. Electrical Ltd | Staffordshire
