Corporate social responsibility

We perceive our business and supply chain as the core area for our social responsibility initiatives. Infratek’s work within social responsibility includes our attitude to the environment around us, ethical trading and code of conduct for our employees.

During 2011 we performed further work on social responsibility and implemented several measures in the area. In autumn 2011 Infratek was certified to the ISO 14001 environmental standard. An action plan was also prepared for social responsibility.

The environment
At the heart of the Group’s environment policy is the idea that principles of sustainability shall underpin the further development of its business, products and services. The policy also establishes the principle that Infratek will offer customers the chance to choose more environment friendly solutions where good alternatives exist. Furthermore, we will strive, both as individuals and collectively, to develop and utilise working practices and solutions which conserve the environment.

Infratek encourages, and enables, its workforce to take responsibility for the environment and environmental issues, particularly waste management, energy consumption and chemicals handling. With respect to waste management, we have agreements with Norsk Gjenvinning AS in Norway and Stena Recycling in Sweden, which ensure that waste from our activities is collected and treated in the best possible way for the environment.

To boost each individual employee’s expertise on and awareness of environmental issues, during 2011 environmental e-training was arranged for all the Group’s employees. At the end of the year 98 per cent of employees had received the training. In future all new recruits will receive the same training.

Vehicle fleet and specialised vehicles
As a provider of services relating to the building, operation and securing of critical infrastructure, Infratek has a large fleet of vehicles which are used in daily operations. A particular focus during the year was more efficient use of the vehicle fleet. The Group has a total of 1,266 vehicles at its disposal, which represents a reduction from the figure of 1,361 vehicles in 2010. Minimising the impact on the environment from our vehicle fleet represents a further priority. Infratek shall therefore employ modern vehicles with low CO₂ emissions, and the Group’s target is not to use service vehicles older than five years. With an average age of the fleet in Security, Local Infrastructure and Central Infrastructure of 3.1, 2.3 years and 2.1 years respectively, at the end of 2011 we were on track to achieving this goal.

Ethical trading
Infratek’s action plan for ethical trading is incorporated in the business’s procurement strategy and guidelines. This shall help secure higher quality at purchasers, and ensure that purchases are made in a sustainable and efficient manner. The action plan establishes which ethical requirements are to be made and how these requirements should be monitored. Therefore, it also outlines the need for expertise and resources, and the importance of communication, dialogue and collaboration with suppliers, expert bodies and other stakeholders.

With regard to procurements Infratek places ethical demands on its suppliers in order to ensure that these exercise their business operations in line with internationally recognised principles and guidelines on human and employee rights, the environment and corruption. The suppliers also undertake to ensure that their own manufacturers and subcontractors do not breach the same principles. As part of this work Infratek has established routines for follow-up of subcontractors. These routines are intended to ensure that suppliers comply with their obligations to our customers and partners. Infratek also places clear demands to ensure that investments shall be of high environmental quality.

Internal code of conduct
In our business the individual employee’s input is decisive. All employees shall be aware of our guidelines, and what this entails for them as individuals. Consequently, all new staff are required to read and familiarise themselves with the content of Infratek’s code of conduct when they start their work.

Infratek’s employee code of conduct applies to all those directly employed by the Group, as well as union representatives and members of the board. The guidelines regulate conduct and actions, both in the course of business and in interaction with customers, partners and colleagues. The guidelines are considered to be a minimum requirement. The code of conduct should be viewed as setting a minimum standard, since all employees are required to adhere to external laws and regulations, sector-specific ethical rules, and internal rules applicable to Infratek’s business operations.

Average age of Infratek’s vehicle fleet (excluding specialist vehicles)