Usefulness, at the heart of our strategic vision
Convinced about the role and usefulness of businesses in meeting society's expectations, under the impetus of its Chairman and CEO the Veolia Group is one of the first French companies to have defined its purpose. He says
"a business is prosperous because it is useful and not the other way around".
Veolia's purpose was developed through a long process of work and unprecedented collaboration involving the company's management bodies, employees, the Critical Friends Committee (external experts), customers, people' panels, and so on.
Veolia's purpose was adopted by its Board of Directors and presented at the Annual Shareholders' Meeting on 18 April 2019.
Veolia's purpose is not just a slogan, it is expressed in a complete text
Veolia’s purpose is to contribute to human progress by firmly committing to the Sustainable Development Goals set by the UN to achieve a better and more sustainable future for all. It is with this aim in mind that Veolia sets itself the task of “Resourcing the world” through its environmental services business.
Veolia's purpose hinges on the answers to 4 questions:
- In what way is Veolia useful to society?
- What is its mission?
- How is Veolia different from other companies?
- For whom and how is the wealth generated shared?
An approach of shared progress with and for our stakeholders
Fundamental and designed for the long term, Veolia's purpose is much more than mere words.
It is the first step in a broader vision of business in which "each company is a mosaic of stakeholders whose expectations must be equitably taken into account when sharing the value created.”
It is a compass that helps us set and hold our course over the long-term, a shared progress approach that concerns all Group employees. It is pursued for the benefit of all stakeholders and is applied through the Impact 2023 strategic program.
Managing the business through a multifaceted performance
Veolia is committed to a multifaceted performance with the same level of consideration and expectations as regards its economic, financial, commercial, social, societal and environmental performance. Its 18 indicators are associated with progress targets for 2023. These will be regularly audited and measured by independent bodies. They will be used to calculate the variable compensation of Veolia's senior executives.
Shared governance and steering
From its creation to its introduction, Veolia's purpose has been supported and steered at the highest level of the company. It serves as an inspiration and will be used to steer the Impact 2023 strategic program. It is widely publicized and shared throughout the Group.
The Board of Directors, which has validated the text and the indicators, monitors its proper application.
The Executive Committee and the Management Committee are directly responsible for its oversight.
The Committee of Critical Friends, independent experts, is regularly asked for its opinion with the aim of "challenging" the company and helping it stay on course.
A new "Strategy and Innovation" department has been created to steer Veolia's strategy with a view to achieving a multifaceted performance in line with the company's purpose.
Together with employee representative bodies, Veolia has set up a purpose monitoring committee to encourage all employees to own the purpose and be involved.
Lastly, managers actively mobilize their employees, both through internal networks and at dedicated events, with the goal of making them key players in their company's purpose.