Thales strengthens commitments with new ESR department

The French multinational company created a new Environmental and Social Responsibility (ESR) department to handle long-term strategic goals when it comes to environmental, social and governance matters.

The new department will be headed by Anne Bolot-Gittler – the Chief Sustainability Officer, who will in turn report to Isabelle Simon, Group Secretary & General Counsel. The creation of the new ESR department comes after Thales decided to integrate its CSR and ESG operations to tackle the question of a sustainable future in a better way.

Thales explained the rationale behind the decision, stating that investment strategies are increasingly being shaped by a company’s ESG performance. Additionally, substantiated CSR policies are an advantage to any business in today’s world. It therefore makes sense to set up a new department to oversee the two commitments.

The official statement also outlined the responsibilities of the new ESR department. ‘The new department’s scope of action will be very broad. It will be organized as three centres of expertise: one for environmental and health & safety issues, one for social and societal issues such as diversity & inclusion and Thales Solidarity, and one to deal with transverse issues: indicators, reporting, benchmarking, stakeholder communications, regulatory and societal intelligence, etc.’

Thales has redrawn its objectives with the creation of the new ESR department. The new objectives include –

• Fight global warming by aiming for “net zero” emissions by 2040
• Increase diversity and inclusion
• Continue to meet the highest standards of ethical conduct and compliance
• Increase the health and safety of all employees

Thales has been very pro-active when it comes to ESG and CSR initiatives. For years, it focused on social as well as environmental issues, albeit, through two different mechanisms. In fact, Thales was recently recognized by the Carbon Disclosure Project as one of the top-performing companies when it came to positive climate action.

The company has multiple projects and initiatives across the globe working for greater inclusivity and sustainability. Some of its initiatives include low-carbon strategy through eco-responsible products, innovative solutions, resource management and biodiversity preservation. Adopted in 2020, Thales’ new tagline – Building a future we can all trust – is a reflection of its commitments towards a better future.

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