STRATEGY
The criteria of this section form the basis of the Sustainability Code. The Organization answers how familiar it is with the challenges, opportunities and risks that are associated with its core activities in terms of Sustainable Development and Corporate Responsibility and which its activity should face up to. The Organization answers if it has a plan for how it wish to handle them in the medium and long term, if it sets clear goals – derived from them – to address social and environmental challenges in a proactive way and if it is already keeping an eye on its entire value chain – from the extraction of raw materials to disposal. By reporting in detail on the following four criteria, the Organization will be laying the foundation for satisfying the Sustainability Code and it will be preparing the ground so it will be able to handle all further topics well, too.
1. Strategic, Analysis & Action
ADMINISTRATIVE PRACTICES
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2. Materiality
ADMINISTRATIVE PRACTICES
Sustainability coupled with corporate responsibility form an integral part of PAEGAE’s strategy. We aim at efficiently managing the impact of our activities as well as reducing our resource use, thus increasing our efficiency in a responsible manner.
The assessment of materiality is a crucial procedure of our corporate strategy in that it both safeguards our company’s sustainability and provides interested parties with the necessary information. The various groups of interested parties offer us significant feedback regarding the approach to and evaluation of essential issues, which enables us to respond to their needs with transparency and efficiency. Through this procedure, we have acquired a better understanding of fundamental issues concerning our operations, which are detailed in the corporate responsibility report. Besides, this procedure guides us when taking further-reaching decisions in order to satisfy all interested parties.
Shaping PAEGAE’s strategy is based on identifying and assessing significant issues, so that particular emphasis will be placed on those deemed of great importance for the company. Those issues that emerged as highly relevant through the assessment procedure are acknowledged throughout PAEGAE Management’s Message in the Corporate Responsibility Report, as this is expressed by the company’s CEO, and are divided into four main areas: people, the environment, the society and the market.
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PERFORMANCE INDICATORS
The cornerstones of our operation are the principles of meritocracy, justice and equality. We operate consistently, incorporating international and national practices of corporate responsibility. To shape our strategy, we rely on the guidelines of the GRI (Global Reporting Initiative) standard, the principles of the UN Global Compact, and on the criteria of the Greek Sustainability Code (Sustainable Greece 2020).
More specifically, our strategy focuses on the following areas:
Focusing on environmental protection
By operating responsibly, we acknowledge the consequences of our activities on the environment and we aim at minimizing them. To achieve our goals, we have developed an integrated system of monitoring, recording and minimizing our environmental impact, by adopting new practices and sustainable solutions.
Focusing on our people
Our employees’ commitment and performance constitute a crucial factor in achieving our goals. Health and safety in the workplace are top priorities – besides taking all the necessary measures, we recognize the value of training and lifelong learning and we offer our staff training programs with a view to safety improvement and their specialization.
Focusing on society
One of the main goals of PAEGAE’s corporate responsibility is the provision of financial and social benefits in the areas where we operate. We constantly intensify our efforts to contribute to society and we rally round activities that support socially disadvantaged groups. In addition, we financially assist initiatives that champion the common good and we directly or indirectly support local communities.
Focusing on our customers’ needs
The customer-centric approach and the customization of services are among our key priorities. Our aim is the provision of high quality services as well as the constant improvement of the level of service enjoyed by our customers, through the implementation of international quality standards.
Focusing on sustainable development
Remaining concentrated on our commitment to provide viable solutions in the fields of transport and logistics, we continue to respond to the needs of the national economy by investing in infrastructure and smart technologies while, at the same time, offering new job positions to a large number of people.
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3. Objectives
ADMINISTRATIVE PRACTICES
In PAEGAE, corporate responsibility and sustainability are basic components of our business activity and in developing our strategy. The way our company operates is inextricably linked with the aforementioned characteristics, which are integral to our company culture and are analytically described in the following extracts from the CEO’s statement included in the Corporate Responsibility Report for 2015 (Management’s Message).
“In PAEGAE, we pay particular attention to climate change and to the environmental impact of our activities. We acknowledge environmental protection as an issue of the utmost importance and we make systematic efforts to contain greenhouse gas emissions, reduce our water footprint, manage natural resources more efficiently, and save energy. We continuously invest in environmentally friendly practices with the ultimate goal of environmental protection while, at the same time, we act responsibly in order to support our employees and the society.”
“Safety in the workplace is our main concern. We constantly improve health and safety conditions, making every effort possible to eliminate injuries and accidents which may occur in the workplace. At the same time, we ensure that our workforce receives ongoing training and that all our employees are offered incentives and opportunities.”
“In addition, we work closely with regulatory authorities at the national level for the development of more efficient distribution systems and the creation of reliable infrastructure for our country.”
“Our commitment to sustainable development is interwoven with supporting the local society as, when it comes to filling job positions or purchasing materials, we give priority to the local communities where we operate.”
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PERFORMANCE INDICATORS
Corporate responsibility is the means to achieving sustainable development. We develop our strategy taking into consideration the threats to the environment, thus reducing potential risks. Some of the main risks that we have detected are loss of customers’ trust, increased cost of compliance, bad reputation, loss of corporate responsibility as well as loss of motivation for our employees. In contrast, the achievement of corporate responsibility goals grants the company the possibility to enhance its efficiency and performance and draw substantial benefits. Among others, some of the most important benefits identified are the relationships of trust forged with the customers, the high quality of services, the high productivity indexes, lower costs related to performance, the improvement of company image, and the achievement of a competitive advantage.
More specifically, our strategy focuses on the following areas:
Focusing on environmental protection
We recognize the effect of our activities on the environment and we aim at minimizing it through specific actions. To begin with, we have developed an integrated system for monitoring and recording our environmental impact. At a later stage, we are planning to adopt new practices and sustainable solutions so as to reduce this impact. This can be achieved through the introduction of new environmentally-friendly applications, equipment and procedures.
Focusing on our people
Our employees are the driving force behind the achievement of our goals. We take every necessary measure to ensure health and safety in the workplace. To this end, we reinforce training and lifelong learning for our employees. Our policy focuses on the evolution and development of our employees so that they will both improve their skills and assimilate PAEGAE’s culture of corporate responsibility.
Focusing on society
Society is one of the most significant beneficiaries of the corporate responsibility and sustainability actions that we take. By giving back to society, we support socially disadvantaged groups while placing emphasis on cooperating with suppliers and employees from the local community. Our purpose is to keep on strengthening society, either directly or indirectly, focusing especially on the areas where we operate (local community).
Focusing on the needs of our customers
Delivering efficient services to our customers is a basic element of our operation. In this way, we are given the possibility to implement the corporate responsibility program that we have planned. Our aim is to enhance our services on the basis of national and international standards and to adopt corporate responsibility practices in cooperation with our customers.
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4. Management of Value Chain
ADMINISTRATIVE PRACTICES
In PAEGAE, we recognize the importance of sustainability seen through the prism of corporate responsibility. We seek to create long-term value by following a customer-centric policy, respecting the needs of our employees, and adopting environmentally and community friendly practices. We believe that the current unfavourable economic conditions require advocating policies of corporate responsibility and avoiding the downsizing strategies followed by a large number of businesses. In this lengthy development process we are aided by the structures of our corporate governance. We operate transparently adopting principles of corporate governance as these are defined by the current legal framework and the international practices. We are striving to safeguard the interests of interested parties and ensure full compliance with the provisions and regulations of the current legal framework. This specific strategy is corroborated by the words of PAEGAE’s CEO in the Management’s Message in the Corporate Responsibility Report for 2015.
“Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and sustainable development are among the most fundamental components of PAEGAE’s business activity. Having recognized the importance of sustainable development for future generations, we take specific actions which aim at environmental protection, and we operate responsibly bearing in mind the need to support the employees and the society.”
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PERFORMANCE INDICATORS
The strategy, which is based on corporate responsibility and sustainable development, includes a set of business practices featuring, among others, the economic viability of the company, environmental protection, working conditions and staff training, the quality of delivered services, the safeguarding of human rights, the reinforcement of the local society, and the guarantee for transparent and ethical operations.
PAEGAE’s operation is also directly linked with its suppliers, who provide the company with the necessary materials and services. The Procurement and Maintenance department undertakes the necessary procedures in order to obtain the aforementioned materials and services while keeping close contacts with suppliers so as to maintain good relationships. Establishing good relationships with suppliers as well as looking for suppliers that adopt practices of corporate responsibility both constitute issues that the company seriously takes into consideration.
PAEGAE is in constant discussions with groups of interested parties. The basic aim of this dialogue, which was further boosted during the reporting year, is on the one hand to ensure that the social and environmental requirements of the interested parties are taken into account and, on the other hand, to enable our company to systematically align with the interests of our social partners. The ultimate goal is to combine sustainability with performance.
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