Our vision
For abertis, Corporate Social Responsibility is a way of doing business that goes beyond mere financial results. It is not just a declaration of good intentions, but a way of working: our objectives are guided by ethical criteria and respect for people, the environment and culture. Our strategy finds concrete form in the document which sets forth the commitments of our Corporate Social Responsibility Policy (Pdf, 352Kb) and in a set of . Ten CSR Commandments.
A Strategic Corporate Social Responsibility Plan (Pdf, 47Kb), drawn up in 2003, establishes priorities and affects, on a transversal basis, all business areas and units, from the taking of decisions to the approach to work.
This strategy was defined on the bases of the values and good practices already implemented by the different companies making up the abertis corporation. A Social Responsibility Committee, composed of each company’s CSR Coordinators, ensures the proper functioning of the plan. Another way of guaranteeing that abertis acts responsibly is compliance with the undertakings established in the indicators of which the corporation forms part:
- The UN Global Compact.
- The Foro de Reputación Corporativa (Corporate Reputation Forum).
- Dow Jones Sustainability World
- Dow Jones Sustainability Stoxx European.
Our CSR is also to be seen in the ongoing dialogue we maintain with our stakeholders. Our priority objectives are our shareholders and the investor community, employees, customers, suppliers, the authorities, academic institutions, the media, social organisations and the community in general.
The corporation’s good practices —including those carried out within the framework of the abertis foundation and the abertis chair— are included in the annual Corporate Social Responsibility Report (Pdf, 4895Kb), a document which has received an A+ assessment, the highest awarded by the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI). International experts have also verified the most significant indicators of the main Spanish companies.
These actions find concrete form in projects which give priority to people, the environment and culture, and which have been publicly recognised by independent observers.
The Ten CSR Commandments
- abertis' priorities are:
- The welfare of persons
- Protection of the environment
- The promotion of culture
- To guarantee transparency before the investor community
- To develop dialogue and motivation with employees
- To improve customer service and quality excellence
- To take action to minimize environmental impact
- To implement environmental and social criteria with regard to suppliers
- To increase involvement with the community
- To encourage research to improve the quality of life
- To develop cultural promotion programmes
- To renew its commitment to the ethical values upon which Corporate Social Responsibility is based
Recognition
- Special commendation at the awards to Spanish Businesses with the Best Financial Information on the Internet, presented by AECA (Spanish Business Administration and Accounting Association) (2008).
- AEDME award for Business sponsorship and patronage in the educational category for the road safety scheme in schools (2007).
- The “Company of the Year” award, part of the “Leaders of Catalonia” awards, organised by the magazine Dirigentes (2007).
- Alfa Romeo-IESE Award for flexible and responsible business conduct (2007).
- Best of European Business Award, granted by consultants Roland Berger, in the Crossborder M&A category (2006).
- The Pyrenees Award from the French Chamber of Commerce for abertis' contribution to the development of relations between Spain and France (2006).
- The Catalan prize for best business initiative of the year, awarded by El Periódico de Catalunya and TV3 (2006).
- The “Llotja” Award for the best information provided by companies to shareholders and the market, granted by the Barcelona Chamber of Commerce (2005).
- Award for Excellence in Business Strategy, Dirigentes magazine (2005).
- Award for the Best Safe Haven on the Stock Market, from financial newspaper La Gaceta de los Negocios (2005).
- Social Initiative Award, from the Catalan Family Organisations Group (2005).
- Excellence in Logistics Award, from the Catalan Institute of Logistics (ICIL) (2005).
