The Environmental Policy of the Acea Group

Acea is sensitive to environmental issues and is aware of the strategic role they play as a tool to create company value. Acea is committed to adopting strategies for the continuous improvement of results in the field of environmental protection and management, focusing its efforts on the prevention of pollution and the minimisation of environmental risks, by operating in accordance with the following principles:

1. Sustainable management of natural resources and energy, creating value from their use, paying particular attention to reducing waste and encouraging rational use by consumers and increasing the use of renewable sources.

2. Designing and implementing production processes and business activities with criteria aimed at preventing pollution, reducing environmental impacts, preventing possible accidents, and protecting the health and safety of employees and the general public, by adopting to this end the best techniques available on the market and verifying their reliability in the running and maintenance of plants.

3. Maintaining and supporting the commitment to continuous improvement of results in the field of environmental protection and management, by establishing environmental objectives and by adopting improvement programmes aimed, in particular, at optimising the efficiency in the collection, distribution and purification of water, the minimisation of odorous emissions, the control and reduction of atmospheric and electromagnetic emissions, the containment of wastage in the energy distribution network and the minimisation of the visual and acoustic impact caused by company plants, as well as the reduction, recovery and reuse of waste products.

4. Using adequate control instruments and monitoring systems for the main environmental aspects generated by Acea’s activities and for the improvement programmes it has adopted.

5. Operating by means of a highly integrated safety and environment management system, both inside and outside workplaces.

6. Guaranteeing respect of the environmental and safety law in force and constant updating on developments in the legislative and regulatory panorama for the environment.

7. Making all employees aware, training and preparing them, to achieve the involvement of all human resources, in order to reach high levels of professionalism and quality in performance on the issues of safety, environment and health, thus ensuring an increase in awareness and sense of responsibility felt by the whole company.

8. Establishing and maintaining a dialogue, supported by a commitment to the closest possible cooperation, with local companies, representative bodies, corporate structures and any other interested party, whether internal or external, through systematic reporting and regular, clear and transparent communication of the company’s strategies and results in safety, health and environmental protection.

9. Annually preparing a Sustainability Report, in the sense of an essential information and communication tool, in both qualitative and quantitative terms, on the initiatives undertaken and planned by Acea to protect ecosystems and to minimise environmental risks.

All employees are required to conform to the principles expressed in this Environmental Policy. The sense of responsibility, conduct and approach adopted in regard to the appropriate management of environmental and health and safety issues in the company’s business are an integral part of each employee’s duties and are, therefore, a significant element in judging the performance of employees and the quality of the performance of third parties.