Our approach obeys several guiding principles:

Taking environmental factors into account at every stage of our project life cycle

In compliance with our Safety, Health, Environment, Quality Charter, our projects are launched only following an environmental risk assessment that covers their entire life cycle.
Prior to each project (new-builds as well as significant extensions to existing sites), environmental audits are conducted with internationally renowned experts and specialized local consultants. These surveys evaluate the status of water, air and soil quality. They also take an inventory of biodiversity and pre-existing pollution and identify any cultural heritage to be protected. The surveys become the baseline during the entire period of operations as well as for our site reclamation programs.
An environmental impact assessment then sets out the measures to be implemented to limit impacts during each project phase. Such assessments guide all technical decisions made throughout the project's life cycle, including decommissioning and reclamation.
Monitoring programs and regular environmental audits are carried out over the entire project period, all the way through relinquishment of the site. Improvement programs are deployed where necessary.

Enhancing knowledge to improve preservation

We are involved in various research programs, generally in collaboration with scientific and institutional partners.

The aim of these programs is to gain better understanding of the areas and ecosystems in which we operate so that we can develop measures and technologies to preserve them more effectively.

Preventing accidental pollution

Prevention is the backbone of our approach.
It involves:
    
    - designing highly reliable and effective facilities,
     - selecting means of transportation and routes that limit the risk of accidents,
    - conducting regular maintenance and inspection,
    - using leak detection equipment,
    - implementing emergency plans, training our workforce and conducting regular drills to keep these plans operational and maintain readiness for any emergency. In 2009, we introduced a tool for self-assessment of pollution response readiness at all our sites.

In addition, we are pursuing our development of an internal Environmental Risk Assessment methodology based on analyses of the potential consequences of chronic or accidental pollution. This methodology will allow more effective assessments of existing prevention plans, which will be adapted if necessary.

Continuous improvement, external audits and certification

We are gradually rolling out an ISO 14001-compliant Environmental Management System (EMS) at our sites. This standard defines a framework for achieving continuous improvement in environmental performance.

ISO 14001 certification is awarded by accredited independent bodies following audits of candidate sites. The audits are renewed regularly. By 2009, 89% of our major sites (in terms of their environmental implications) had achieved ISO 14001 certification. Major sites are defined as those representing 90% of the main indicators of each branch, in particular atmospheric emissions and freshwater withdrawals. In addition, more than 200 sites that do not come under this category are already certified or have started the certification process.

At the same time, we freely submit a number of key reporting indicators (performance monitoring) to external auditors. In 2009, this task was entrusted to Ernst & Young and KPMG.

External audits focus on the reporting consolidated at the Group and branch levels and on the reporting done by a sample of entities located in France and around the world. That sample is selected each year in line with each entity's relative contribution to the Group's aggregate results, previous years' results and a risk analysis. External auditors are bound by an obligation of independence as defined by law and by their professional code of ethics.