The GEFCO Group has published its Corporate Social Responsibility report. In the document, the company confirmed its sustainable development and commitment to environmental protection, human rights, compliance with international labor standards, and anti-corruption efforts, which is in line with the 10 Principles of the United Nations Global Compact. The report also reflects GEFCO’s values embodied in its new slogan, “Partners, unlimited”.
Environment at the heart of the group’s strategy
In its daily operations, GEFCO strives to reduce CO2 emissions by 2% annually, a goal it has achieved over the last two years. Additionally, the company actively engages its clients and suppliers in taking actions aimed at reducing CO2 emissions throughout the entire supply chain, including through the use of specialized and customized Castor software, which allows for the monitoring of greenhouse gas emissions. The Group has also developed a Responsible Purchasing Charter, which by the end of 2017 had been signed by over 1,100 of the company’s suppliers and subcontractors providing services in the road transport sector. The document contains binding declarations regarding vehicle compliance with environmental standards, as well as a commitment to training drivers in eco-driving.
GEFCO also conducts ongoing analyses of its impact on the surroundings and the natural environment and participates in various programs aimed at assessing the company’s influence in these areas. In 2017, 59 GEFCO facilities renewed their ISO 14001 certification. Additionally, within the framework of the CDP (Carbon Disclosure Project), the company improved its rating to B in 2017 from the D grade obtained in 2015. Furthermore, the international platform EcoVadis, which supports companies in evaluating their suppliers in terms of respect for the natural environment and social needs, business ethics, and responsible purchasing, awarded GEFCO 60 out of 100 points based on the results achieved by the Group in 2016.
Reducing the environmental impact of services
Fulfilling its commitments, GEFCO invests in environmentally friendly supply chain solutions. These include:
• A new version of the CADIS OPTIM program, which optimizes truck traffic. Tests have confirmed the following benefits of its use: shortening routes by 15%, increasing the load factor by 4%, and reducing the number of trucks on the road by 9%.
• Development of multimodal transport and alternative routes, such as the Silk Road. Rail freight transport – in addition to being ten times cheaper than air transport and having a lead time half as long as sea transport – has a significantly lower impact on the natural environment, as it generates five times fewer greenhouse gases than sea transport.
• Development of “green” solutions in the field of goods warehousing. An example in this area is the car storage yard in Courgenay, which is also the largest photovoltaic power plant in Switzerland. In 2017, actions taken by GEFCO to reduce energy consumption in over 50 facilities resulted in an 8% improvement.
Promoting the Infinite Proximity program
In 2017, the GEFCO Group identified 10 key principles of the company’s corporate culture. They are included in the Infinite Proximity program and set the directions for the company’s overall development and areas of employee activity. In connection with the implementation of the program, the GEFCO management board organized meetings with managers in 12 countries across Europe, Asia, and South America, who were able to share their insights directly.
Bearing in mind the importance of employee engagement, the recruitment process in the GEFCO Group is conducted based on four principles – transparency, visibility, efficiency, and self-confidence – and HR managers in all countries have been trained in the standardization of recruitment practices. Furthermore, in many markets, GEFCO collaborates with universities and business schools to attract young talent. In 2017, the company employed a total of 1,920 people on permanent employment contracts, which is an increase of 27% compared to 2016. Additionally, for the second year in a row, GEFCO received the “Happy Trainees” distinction, taking 6th place in the international companies category.
The GEFCO Group is a global provider of industrial supply chain services, specializing in the field of automotive logistics.