Generally speaking, under corporate social responsibility, the aim, when defining and implementing business management, is not only to make a profit, but also to take sufficient account of both short-term and long-term economic, social, ecological, societal and cultural consequences.

In this context, Recticel, as a responsible organisation, has committed to conducting a policy in which the main emphasis lies on quality, safety, health and the environment. Externally, the Group tries to achieve this through strong relations and initiatives with its stakeholders. Internally, the Group has for a number of years introduced various guidelines and rules of conduct to demonstrate its integrity and sustainable business practices, as key elements of business management. In addition to the legislative framework, which ensures that companies conduct an ethically, environmentally and socially responsible business policy, Recticel wishes to underline its attitude to these subjects by adopting the following commitments and guidelines, among others:

  • subscribing to the internationally recognised Responsible Care® Global Charter, in which Recticel undertakes to produce in as sustainable a manner as possible. This includes the Group’s commitment to applying the best technology available in order to minimise environmental pollution as far as possible
  • subscribing to the product safety standards under the CertiPUR CertiPURTM label. The CertiPURTM label is awarded only after positive confirmation that the polyurethane products to be used in mattresses and seating satisfy in full the rigorous health, safety and environmental requirements. All the Group’s comfort foam production plants have been awarded this label
  • Recticel’s Group Safety, Health & Environment Manual
  • Recticel’s Business Control Guide, which lays down the basic control procedures to supplement and support the general accounting and cost controlling rules
  • Recticel’s Approval Authority Guide, which lays down in practice the distribution of powers within the Group regarding financial, social, information technology, organisational, legal and public matters, etc.
ETHIBEL registration for sustainable investments

At the end of 2007, Recticel was included in two investment registers for sustainable investments of the independent consultancy and rating agency ETHIBEL, i.e. the ETHIBEL EXCELLENCE Investment Register and the ETHIBEL PIONEER Investment register.

The outstanding feature of the ETHIBEL PIONEER Investment Register is that it includes only pioneering companies with an above average score for their sector in the field of corporate social responsibility.

Both ETHIBEL Investment Registers are used as a basis for socially responsible investments (SRI), which are offered by a growing number of European banking institutions, fund managers and institutional investors.

Ethibel ETHIBEL essentially offers investors three products based on the Investment Register: the ETHIBEL label, the ETHIBEL Sustainability Indices and the Forum ETHIBEL certificate. The ETHIBEL methodology is characterised by the integration of two important aspects of Corporate Social Responsibility, i.e. sustainable development and stakeholder involvement.

Additional information about Forum ETHIBEL and the ETHIBEL Investment Registers can be found on www.ethibel.org.