Our Management Approach to environmental aspects of the GRI framework is comprehensively covered in the environmental  management  systems operated by each of our regional businesses. In each of our regions these systems are either accredited to ISO14001 or we are working towards accreditation in 2010. The following is a summary of our approach to each with respect to both our operations and in the delivery of our services.

Use of raw materials

• Operations: all purchase and use is minimised and controlled by related policies
• Services: specifications in design and in construction minimise use by reference to the principles of sustainability by design
  

Use of direct and indirect energy

• Operations: all use controlled through efficiency planning and management at a regional level
• Services: specifications in design and in construction minimise energy use and maximise renewable energy generation by reference to the principles of sustainability by design
  

Water

• Operations: all use controlled through efficiency planning and management at a regional level
• Services: specifications in design and in construction minimise demands on water resources by reference to the principles of sustainability by design  

Biodiversity

• Operations: Biodiversity taken as material consideration where relevant operational management decisions
• Services: Specifications in design and in construction eliminate or mitigate any effect s on biodiversity by reference to the principles of sustainability by design

Emissions, Effluents, and Waste

• Operations: All emissions are minimised and wastes controlled through efficiency planning and management at a regional level
• Services: Specifications in design and in construction  minimised and controlled by reference to the principles of sustainability by design

Compliance

• Operations & Services: We operate a zero tolerance approach to non-compliance to all forms of regulation relevant to our services and business operations. All operations and services are subject to environmental incident reporting – refer to report of indicator EN28

Transport 

• Operations: All transport use subject to management controls at a regional level. Low emission forms of transport are favoured where practicable.
• Services: Specifications in design and in construction  minimise transportation and movement by reference to the principles of sustainability by design

Environmental management
Grontmij has in place a comprehensive integrated management system (IMS) that incorporates environmental management. These systems are accredited to ISO 14001 in all countries except Netherlands, Belgium and Poland where in each case ISO 14001 accreditation is being sought in 2010. Intrinsic aspects of our EMS include:

• goal setting and performance management – currently we set environmental management goals at a regional level. [Goals relating to our global environmental performance are in development and will be published in 2010 for monitoring against a 2009 baseline.]  Our CSR website shows our performance in relation to GRI indicators EN 3, 4, 8 ,16, 22, 28 & 29.
• policy – annual statements of our overall commitment to sustainable development
• organisational responsibility – organisational charts and statements of our environmental management structures [Overall group environmental policy is the responsibility of the CEO, Sylvo Thijsen.]
• training and awareness – procedures for the training and development of all staff in environmental awareness
• monitoring and follow-up - procedures are in place for the monitoring of learning from all environmental incidents [See our statement under GRI Indicator EN28]

Additional Contextual Information

A more detailed understanding of the following aspects of our management approach can be found in the text of our Annual Report and Accounts :

• Key successes and shortcomings;
• Major organisational risks and opportunities;
• Major changes within this reporting period to our management structures, and
• Key strategies for implementing policies and achieving performance