4.1. Environmental impact management, 4.1.8. Building awareness in the area of environmental protection (E), Environmental responsibility
4.1.8. Building awareness in the area of environmental protection (E)
Strengthening employee awareness of environmental impacts is an important element of the Budimex Group’s sustainable activities. Development and education are embedded in the company’s identity and corporate values. At the same time, these activities are in line with and planned on the basis of the goals set out in the UN Agenda 2030.
The Budimex Group promotes environmentally friendly attitudes in the workplace and in private life, as well as sensitivity to the issue of climate protection. The company is building an understanding of the ESG strategy among employees and involving them in its implementation. Projects serving these purposes include:
- The campaign “Autumn under the sign of ESG” – In October and November 2023 Budimex SA held a training session open to all staff. The course, consisting of five modules, was conducted by specialists from the CMS law firm and the ESG manager. During the meetings. participants were able to expand their knowledge of ESG regulations for the construction sector, the EU Taxonomy and technical eligibility criteria, as well as other issues relevant to sustainability reporting. A total of 613 employees at various levels of the organization took part in the training in both on-site and online formats.
- Welcome to the Group – as part of a training program for newly hired employees, key ESG issues of particular importance to the Budimex Group were presented and discussed. A total of 192 people were trained.
- “Waste management” – employees participated in a series of training sessions on environmentally safe and compliant waste management at construction sites, with emphasis on the importance and benefits of recycling processes. 139 people were trained in waste management.
- “EMAS Environmental Management System” – as part of the project, a series of training courses was conducted to introduce employees to the European Eco-Management and Audit Scheme and expand knowledge of the internal audit function in accordance with EMAS requirements. A total of 258 people were trained.
As part of building environmental awareness, newly hired employees are familiarized with Mostostal Kraków SA’s environmental rules on the day they are hired. This familiarization takes place after the mandatory initial health and safety training.
Educational processes are complemented by information campaigns aimed at Budimex Group teams. In 2023, environmental protection was the subject of two internal projects. These included a number of activities organized centrally and at regional branches and construction sites – the aforementioned “Autumn under the Sign of ESG” and “Green April.”
Green April
World Earth Day, celebrated on 22 April, inspired us to declare April 2023 a Green Month. As part of the campaign, organized by Budimex SA together with the FBSerwis Group and Mostostal Kraków SA, numerous initiatives were undertaken to strengthen employees’ environmental awareness and environmental protection activities:
- Teams participating in the construction of the Oświęcim bypass took part in the initiative “Recycling Turns Us On” to clean up the space of the town together with other committed people,
- As part of the “Eco-Grant for Volunteering” campaign, Budimex Group employees were able to obtain funding to implement their ideas for environmental activities. The initiative resulted in 3 events carried out by 13 volunteers thanks to the support of PLN 36,000,
- As the title partner of the “StomilLOVE Budimex Cleaning of Olsztyn Sports Grounds” project, together with the players of the Stomil Olsztyn Football Club, the coaching staff and fans, the Budimex SA contract team went on a joint walk to clean up the green areas around the city,
- The FBSerwis Lower Silesia team invited students from four elementary schools in the Radków municipality and the rest of the local community to collect waste from the municipality. Together they managed to collect more than a ton of waste,
- A representation of Budimex SA’s ESG, Quality and Environmental Protection Department [1] planted 2,300 pine trees in the Celestynów Forest District. More than 500 flowers and shrubs were distributed near the Budimex Group headquarters in Kraków. In addition, in conjunction with the Urban Greenery Board, lilacs were planted on the empty areas under the flyover, built by the company, connecting Zabłocie and Krzemionki stations,
- Nesting boxes for birds have been installed on the premises of the Steel Construction Plant in Kleszczów, belonging to Mostostal Kraków SA, which will be surrounded by flower meadows,
- The company’s headquarters located in Warsaw organized a collection of waste paper and electro-waste from construction sites operated by Budimex SA and nearby offices. Those donating waste received potted flowers in return,
- FBSerwis specialists published an article and instructional video on the intranet with tips on how to properly separate waste and develop environmentally friendly daily habits,
- In two editions, in the spring and autumn, the “Greenery Stop 2023” campaign was organized, addressed to housing communities and cooperatives in the Warsaw districts of Mokotów and Wilanów, located closest to the tramway route being built by Budimex SA. As part of the project, 280 trees were planted in 34 communities/cooperatives. Three neighborhood picnics were also held, attended by more than 500 people.
The FBSerwis Group promotes pro-environmental attitudes by organizing competitions and workshops for elementary school and kindergarten pupils and involving them in environmental protection activities.
In 2023, the company implemented the following initiatives in this area:
- “Let’s be EKO for Wrocław” contest aimed at students of Wrocław’s primary schools, for which more than 200 works (posters and spots/videos) were submitted,
- beekeeping workshops for children in Kamieńsk and Gorzędowo, during which the children learned about the important function bees play in nature. FBSerwis Group companies take care of their own little apiary in Kamieńsk. which produces approx. 50 liters of honey per year, and thus contribute to the preservation of biodiversity of the Radomsko county in Łódzkie voivodship,
- symbolic adoption of long-eared hedgehogs from the Wrocław zoo, which aimed to draw attention to the issue of safety of wild hedgehogs living under protection in Poland,
- participation in events promoting environmental protection, such as a family eco-picnic on the grounds of the Municipal Selective Waste Collection Point at Kazimierza Michalczyka Street in Wrocław, cleaning up the world on Earth Day in partnership with the municipality of Radków, and the organization of the 14th National Educational Eco-Picnic Pobiedziska 2023.
Autumn under the sign of ESG
Assumptions of the strategy We are changing the world for you! And we are changing ourselves (see Section 3.3.), announced in June 2023, were promoted to Budimex Group employees as part of the two-month “Autumn under the sign of ESG” information and education campaign. The campaign aimed not only to familiarize the teams with the company’s priorities laid down in the document, but also to raise their awareness of sustainability issues.
The educational part of the project included a course consisting of five modules. Participants were able to expand their knowledge of ESG regulations and to learn in detail about the most important commitments made in the aforementioned strategy, as well as their impact on the company’s current operations.
An important part of the campaign was the publication on the company’s intranet of materials presenting examples of the Budimex Group’s commitment to sustainable development. The content was devoted to, among other things, the activities of BXF Energia, a company engaged in the development of renewable energy sources, programs in the field of equalization of opportunities and promotion of diversity, as well as policies and applicable rules for ensuring compliance with laws, internal regulations and ethics.
[1] Until February 2024 under the name of Procurement, Quality and Environmental Protection Department.
