Corporate Responsibility policy statement
Corporate Responsibility is a natural feature of the way we do business at Essent. For the Netherlands’ leading energy company this of course means that we (of old) pay much attention to our climate strategy. For example, in 1995 we came up with the idea of Green Electricity and since then, we have brought new sustainable products onto the market, such as Green for Gas and the Essent Energy Saving Service. We will keep on investigating new options for our green product portfolio. In 2008 for example, we were the first energy company in the world to test the co-firing of coffee husk in one of our large power stations.
As a leading producer and supplier of sustainable energy in the Netherlands, we make a significant contribution to limiting the CO2 emissions resulting from the generation of electricity. In March 2009, Essent was one of the 61 large European energy companies to sign a statement in which they express their intention to work towards a fully sustainable energy supply by 2050.
Sustainability at Essent, however, goes beyond climate matters. We take our role as a corporate citizen seriously and we also pay much attention to subjects such as employee diversity and occupational heath and safety.
Definition
Our definition of Corporate Responsibility is that a company not only aims for financial benefit (Profit), but also takes into account the effect its activities may have on the environment (Planet) and on the stakeholders in or outside the company (People). The better the balance within this ‘triple P’, the more sustainable the results will be for both company and society. Essent has even added a fourth ‘P’ to the triple P. Essent’s ‘Power’ stands for the (sustainable) energy we supply, but above all for the energy and passion we use to shape our Corporate Responsibility.
Our roles in society
Our activities place us at the heart of society. Four roles distinguish us as an organisation.
- Essent as business operator creates and renews its products and services to meet the demands of the market;
- Essent as market player offers its products and services on the market and purchases products and services from other suppliers;
- Essent as employer provides employment for people;
- Essent as corporate citizen is part of society and is a fellow citizen.
For each of the above roles, a list has been drawn up of the effects our activities have on the environment and the societal issues to which they relate.
Societal issues
In our social roles, we choose to accept responsibility and help resolve national and international issues that are relevant for the short, as well as the long term. This contribution needs to be both socially balanced and commercially sound.
We concentrate our efforts on the following nine issues:
- emissions reduction;
- share of renewable energy in the fuel mix;
- energy saving, including efficient use of base materials and fuels;
- innovation and knowledge management;
- customer satisfaction and quality labels;
- good employership;
- human rights;
- corporate citizenship;
- occupational heath and safety.
Policy
Essent’s acceptance of corporate social responsibility is reflected in our mission, code of conduct, supplier code of conduct and safety policy. Also in 2007, we joined the UN Global Compact, a global platform that brings companies together with the United Nations, labour organisations and civil society. We review our ambitions each year, using the results to formulate concrete goals and actions.
June 2009