As Sustainable Development is an integral part of the Group’s strategy, it follows that all of its business activities are in line with the commitments it has made to being a socially responsible enterprise, an approach that is reflected in the overall corporate responsibility policy that it has pursued over the last decade.

Every effort is made to minimize environmental impacts, to create a safe, healthy and good working environment, to protect human rights and to create development conditions to meet the current needs of society without compromising the future of generations to come.

In the context of implementing this policy, the Group:

• uses methods and practices that are economically, environmentally and socially responsible in order to address the growing demand for energy
• implements procedures for saving natural resources & energy, reducing energy emissions and properly managing waste
• adopts the strictest European and international standards and the best available techniques for environmental protection
• places a special emphasis on occupational health and safety and applies modern forms of training for all staff employed
• implements programs and good practices to support society

Based on the principle of transparency and its commitment to continuously updating its stakeholders, the Group prepares an annual Sustainable Development & Corporate Social Responsibility Report according to international standards. Since 2007, the Group has adopted and contributes to the diffusion of the 10 Principles of the Global Compact of the United Nations (UNGC), for:

a) Human Rights

b) Labour Standards

c) Environment

d) Anti-Corruption

and publishes the annual Communication On Progress (COP) Report.

The Group’s Report is in line with the international guidelines as set out by the Global Reporting Initiative, GRI-G4, Comprehensive level, including the Oil and Gas Sector Supplement. The reliability of the provided information and data is certified by an independent third body and is posted on the UN Global Compact website.

In 2015, the Group was actively involved in shaping and drafting the Greek Sustainability Code, which is a system for measuring economic, environmental and social performance in businesses. The Code is based on international standards (GRI, Global Compact, EFFAS, ISO EMAS) whilst also being associated with the European Code of Sustainability.

The performance evaluation itself is based on 20 criteria concerning the Strategy for sustainable development and corporate responsibility (criteria 1-4), Process Management (criteria 5-10), the Environment (criteria 11-13) and Society (criteria 14-20). The Code has been adopted, beginning from this Report onwards, in order to measure our performance.

Following the formal Greek State’s commitment (21.04.2016) to applying the 17 Global Sustainable Development Goals 2030, the Group is already addressing areas where priority should be given in regards to initiatives and the adoption of compliance practices.

The HELLENIC PETROLEUM Group has voluntarily committed to the implementation and promotion of these complementary initiatives, thereby ensuring for a broad regulatory framework for the implementation of its Corporate Responsibility Policy.

Information
HELPE, annually, draws up and publishes (in print and electronic forms) reports covering all of the Group’s activities and performance in the above mentioned areas. This information and all corporate publications are posted on the corporate website at www.helpe.gr/en /Corporate Publications.