Home
Corporate Social Responsibility

Our commitment to employees and sustainability

In 2014 Saint-Gobain Abrasives launched its new sustainability plan aligned with our business values and vision. This 5 point plan of operational policies and practices underpins our commitment to sustainable development as a global leader. We have made significant progress in advancing sustainability with a number of major accomplishments in each area which we have detailed below.

We will offer powerful, precise and user friendly solutions, which will enable our customers to shape and surface-finish all types of materials even in the most complex and challenging applications.

Pursue an ambitious policy to constantly improve workplace health & safety

In our abrasives plants safety is our number one priority: lost time accidents have reduced five fold in 10 years

All operators individually assessed at least three times per annum through the SMAT program (Senior Management Audit Tool)
- 33,480 individual SMAT’s conducted worldwide in 2014

66,969 hours of training worldwide on Saint-Gobain Safety Standards in 2014

Reduction of workplace hardship: exposure to noise, repetitive tasks, safety, ergonomics

Reduction of exposure to chemicals

Annual worldwide EHS day

Continuously encourage the personal development of our employees

Saint-Gobain named as Top Employer 2015 for third consecutive year

Special focus on diversity, training and career management

Abra+ gives specific exposure of our young talents to senior management

60+ training courses proposed by Saint-Gobain Abrasives University and Saint-Gobain Training

Systematic employee satisfaction surveys

Be a responsible & sustainable player internationally & within our local communities

Founder member of FEPA and oSa, actively promoting the safety of abrasives

Sustainable development policies audited by VERITAS

Sponsors of local communities through initiatives such as social mobility, heating of local schools

Extensive roll out of international standards ISO 9001, ISO 14001, OHSAS 18001

Internal training & certification based on the following safety standards:

EN12413: 1999 ( BA) EN13743: 2002 ( CA) EN13236: 2001 (SA) EN13236: 2001 (DB)

Saint-Gobain are endorsers of the Caring for Climate statement and the CEO Water Mandate for Water Resource Protection (as part of the UN’s Millennium Development Goals)

Third party supplier charters, timber regulations, CSR evaluations and audits, Adhere process, minerals policy

Saint-Gobain is a member of the United Nations Global Compact

Minimize the environmental footprint of our operations with five priorities

Increase the energy efficiency of our production

Increase the use of recycled raw materials in our plants

Reduce our CO2 emissions

Optimize our water resources

Strict waste segregation policy

Continuously develop eco-valorized
products bringing additional value to
our customers

The first abrasives manufacturer to produce FSC^® products

Use of natural resins and recycled grains

High performance abrasive products & solutions that help to reduce environmental impact and user exposure:

• low noise

• low vibration

• low dust