"Respect of the environment is an ongoing priority. We consider this to be an essential factor in the sustainability
and development of our activities and in the future of our sites."
Richard Shirrefs,
Chief Executive
Further information can be found in Eurotunnel's 2003 Environment Report, which is available online at www.eurotunnel.com
Next Page
Previous PageEnvironmental Responsibility
Better by design
The only visible legacy of the construction phase is where the chalk extracted during boring has been used to form new landscapes.
In France, the Fond Pignon site is now a nature reserve fully integrated into the Cap Blanc-Nez landscape and entrusted to the Conservatoire du Littoral (French coastal conservation authority). Similarly, in the UK, Samphire Hoe, a 30 hectare area of land added to the British coastline, today serves as a country park and as a habitat for numerous species of animals and plants. The White Cliffs Countryside Project carries out the day-to-day management of the site. An important tourist attraction in its own right, Samphire Hoe is visited by 120,000 people every year. During 2003, a project to improve access to the site for people with disabilities was completed.
Effective management
Eurotunnel has a clearly defined organisational structure to effectively manage environmental issues.
The Board of Directors supervises environmental issues through the Safety, Security and Environment Committee, comprising five of the non-executive directors. It is the responsibility of this committee to keep under review matters that may have a significant impact on environmental management.
Within the management structure, the Safety, Quality, Health & Environment Division reports to the Chief Executive and is responsible for environmental policy implementation and monitoring. An Environmental Management System based on the ISO 14001 standard provides the framework for planning, implementing and monitoring environmental protection initiatives.
A Health and Environment Committee reviews the monitoring of air and water quality (both in the tunnels and on the terminals); the prevention of air and noise pollution; waste treatment and disposal.
An Environmental Co-ordinator is responsible for the implementation of the environmental management system across the company through a network of Correspondents.
Environmental priorities
In 2001, the Health & Environment Committee identified seven key environmental objectives for Eurotunnel:
- Compliance with regulations for discharges into water
- Selective sorting of waste
- Minimising noise disturbance in the local vicinity
- Identifying and centralising activities governed by regulations on environmental protection
- Monitoring halon and HCFC emissions
- Improving storage conditions for hazardous substances and waste
- Identifying and tracing ionising radiation sources
Waste management and pollution prevention
Eurotunnel has developed its waste management programme to include special industrial waste such as batteries, solvents, brake pads, lighting tubes, and ordinary waste including steel rails, vegetation, paper, rubble and tyres. Waste management registers have been implemented in both the UK and France in order to monitor performance. As a result of these initiatives, the volume of landfill waste created has decreased.
Eurotunnel takes and encourages initiatives which aim to minimise or prevent air and water pollution. A fleet of over 30 electric vehicles is used, primarily in the Service Tunnel, to minimise exhaust emissions. A new truck wash facility, opened in October 2003 at the Eurotunnel Truck Stop in Ashford, recycles 75% of the water used.
Energy management
Eurotunnel is committed to the support of energy saving initiatives and the use of renewable energies and has installed improved systems in order to further reduce energy consumption. Eurotunnel has signed a deal for the proposed construction of a wind farm on its Calais/ Coquelles terminal in France. Companies outside the Eurotunnel Group propose to construct and operate six 2MW wind turbines on Eurotunnel-owned land, subject to planning permission. The electricity generated will provide enough power for a population of 11,000 people.
Ecological balance
Since the construction phase, Eurotunnel has been monitoring flora and fauna on and around its terminals in order to understand better the ecology of protected and non-protected species in their natural environment. This work has shown the important heritage value of both the UK and French sites. Despite the increase in the company's operations, the ecological balance has been maintained. However, the deforestation of 50 hectares of trees and shrubbery necessary to deter asylum seekers on the French terminal in 2002 has inevitably caused some deterioration in habitat.
| June 30, 1999 | The Channel Tunnel is awarded ISO 9002 quality certification |
| January 5, 2000 | Under Concession rules, Eurotunnel submits proposal for second Fixed Link |
| February 28, 2000 | The first dogs and cats travel with Eurotunnel under the PETS Travel Scheme |
| September 5, 2000 | Eurotunnel offers six truck shuttle departures per hour - one every 10 minutes |
| December 1, 2000 | Eurotunnel celebrates the10th anniversary of the first breakthrough |
Social responsibility
Eurotunnel is a truly bi-national enterprise with staff drawn mainly from the UK and France. Equal and fair treatment for all employees is a priority whilst respecting each country's employment laws as well as EU directives. Eurotunnel aims to adopt the best practice in each country and apply this across the Group.
Staff numbers
Total staff numbers have decreased over the past year from 3,425 (of which 3,399 are permanent) on 1 January 2003 to 3,309 (of which 3,283 are permanent) on 31 December 2003 largely through natural staff turnover.
Working hours
The weekly working hours are 37 hours in the UK and 35 hours in France. In France the Aubry 1 and 2 laws have been applied respectively since 1 January 1999 and 1 January 2000.
Staff consultation
Staff are represented through national structures, with a Company Council (CCO) in the UK and a Comité d'Entreprise (CE) in France, as well as bi-nationally through the European Works Council. The CCO and CE are allocated a budget of 1% of the payroll for the management of welfare activities. Collective agreements have been negotiated with one union in the UK (TGWU) and four unions in France (CFDT, CGT, CFE-CGC, FO).
Training
Eurotunnel allocated approximately 5.12% of its payroll in order to provide 126,103 hours of training to 3,060 staff in 2003. The training strategy is based around 4 key areas: safety, technical training, customer service and management.
Employment of people with disabilities
Eurotunnel is an equal opportunities employer and complies with current legislation in the UK under the Disability Discrimination Act (1996). In France, the company exceeds its commitments in respect of the employment of personnel with disabilities.
Health and Safety
Health and safety in the workplace is co-ordinated by the Safety, Quality, Health and Environment Directorate, which reports to the Chief Executive. A Board committee is also responsible for monitoring performance. Eurotunnel has made significant progress in reducing accident rates in the workplace. Results demonstrate further improvement in 2003. The rate of frequency of accidents, as measured by a 12-month moving average of lost-time accidents per million hours worked, decreased in 2003 to 0.20 for Eurotunnel staff and 2.65 for subcontractors. In 1999, the corresponding figureswere 10.0 for Eurotunnel staff and 22.7 for subcontractors.
Community affairs
Concern for the society in which it operates is important to Eurotunnel and the company plays an active role in the community. Its involvement focuses on education, economic regeneration, cross-Channel initiatives, tourism and transport. These community-based initiatives cement strong local relationships. Eurotunnel's support is primarily given in-kind, rather than in financial terms, and the company actively encourages its staff to participate in community activities.
Education forms an important part of Eurotunnel's community activities, and staff take an active role in education initiatives at all levels. This includes mentoring students, serving as school governors, and projects improving links between education and industry. Staff in France, for example, volunteered their time to help students at local colleges prepare for the transition to working lives with interview techniques. In the UK, the Group facilitates and encourages staff to undertake approved community activities.
Eurotunnel also actively supports charities, both locally and nationally. Each year, Eurotunnel supports many local and national charity events with support in kind in the form of travel vouchers for fundraising events.
Community open days
Eurotunnel is committed to fostering close relationships with the local communities within which it operates. During 2003, Eurotunnel welcomed over 1,400 visitors on open days to its terminals on both sides of the Channel. Visitors learnt more about Eurotunnel's operations on a behind-the-scenes tour of the terminals, visiting many areas of the operation not normally seen by the travelling public, including the maintenance yards and the Service Tunnel. The aim was to help local residents to understand better the day-to-day operation of the terminals and how Eurotunnel contributes to the economic and social well-being of the local community.