Communication on Progress

Participant
Published
  • 14-Jan-2021
Time period
  • January 2020  –  January 2021
Format
  • Stand alone document – Basic COP Template
Differentiation Level
  • This COP qualifies for the Global Compact Active level
Self-assessment
  • Includes a CEO statement of continued support for the UN Global Compact and its ten principles
  • Description of actions or relevant policies related to Human Rights
  • Description of actions or relevant policies related to Labour
  • Description of actions or relevant policies related to Environment
  • Description of actions or relevant policies related to Anti-Corruption
  • Includes a measurement of outcomes
 
  • Statement of continued support by the Chief Executive Officer
  • Statement of the company's chief executive (CEO or equivalent) expressing continued support for the Global Compact and renewing the company's ongoing commitment to the initiative and its principles.

  • I confirm Biowater Technology AS continued commitment to the ten principles of UN Global Compact, taking action in support of UN goals, and the annual submission of the Communication on Progress (COP), herewith attached for period January 2020 – January 2021;

    With this communication, we express our continued intent to advance those principles within our sphere of influence, in particular regarding Environmental Technology. We are committed to making the Global Compact and its principles part of the strategy, culture and day-to-day operations of our company, and to engaging in collaborative projects which advance the broader development goals of the United Nations. This commitment report and presentation will be available on our website and to all stakeholders.

    We recognize that a key requirement for participation in the Global Compact is the annual submission of a Communication on Progress (COP) that describes our company’s efforts to implement the ten principles. We support public accountability and transparency, and are proud to share this report

    Sincerley

    Mr. Ilya Mario Savva
    Chief Executive Officer
    Biowater Technology AS

Human Rights
  • Assessment, policy and goals
  • Description of the relevance of human rights for the company (i.e. human rights risk-assessment). Description of policies, public commitments and company goals on Human Rights.

  • Biowater Technology has a team of 17 staff with 11 different nationalities.
    We are an equal opportunities employer and are proud to have male and female employees including junior and senior roles. Our strength is in our workforce and we are committed to maintaining diveristy and equality in our company.

  • Implementation
  • Description of concrete actions to implement Human Rights policies, address Human Rights risks and respond to Human Rights violations.

  • - Biowater in 2020 signed a new contract for improved office facilities for its staff. This included shorter distances from public transport to improve access to office facilities to both visitors and staff. Also included hot meals for staff at a subsidized canteen.
    - Biowater rolled out Microsoft TEAMs platform for all staff, as well as being used for collaboration with partners. This enabled improved remote working as well as better communication with international partners.
    - Biowater held a team workshop in September 2020 focussing on sales skills and customer relationship management aspects to impower our staff.
    - Biowater continued to monitor non conformances with regard to safety and quality further improve our service and mitigate risk of harm to our staff and those who use our service. In 2020 channels were set up on TEAMS with safety and quality alerts for access by all.
    - An HSQE moment is included at the start of monthly meetings lead by CEO. All staff are encouraged to include this in the agenda for their meetings.
    - 5 employees were promoted in 2020, 3 female and 2 male.

  • Measurement of outcomes
  • Description of how the company monitors and evaluates performance.

  • We monitor number of employees and promotions in the period in total and with respect to gender. We also measure non conformances in our business operation in terms of new items raised and closed out. Specifically in the period:

    Four new employees: three male and one female
    Five promotions: two male and three female
    Five new non conformances raised
    Five non conformances were closed.

Labour
  • Assessment, policy and goals
  • Description of the relevance of labour rights for the company (i.e. labour rights-related risks and opportunities). Description of written policies, public commitments and company goals on labour rights.

  • Biowater Technology has a team of 17 staff who undertake all of the operational roles in the company. We are committed that our staff work in a fair, healthy and pleasant working environment that is free from predjudice and with support in their day to day working lives.

  • Implementation
  • Description of concrete actions taken by the company to implement labour policies, address labour risks and respond to labour violations.

  • - Due to the effects of Coronavirus, all staff report to CEO weekly on health and planned business activities including travel for the coming week. This is to ensure potential risks to staff and business operations due to Coronavirus are minimized.
    - 8 memos issued to staff including updated risk assessment on coronoavirus, and information on national guidelines.
    - Staff encouraged and supported to work from home.

  • Measurement of outcomes
  • Description of how the company monitors and evaluates performance.

  • We measure and report on injuries including major, minor and near misses.
    In the period we measures one minor injury and one near miss report. There were no absense days from these events.

Environment
  • Assessment, policy and goals
  • Description of the relevance of environmental protection for the company (i.e. environmental risks and opportunities). Description of policies, public commitments and company goals on environmental protection.

  • Environmental protection is at the heart of Biowater Technology. Our services and products reduce pollution to wastewater and nature. Our own patented technologies (CFIC and HyVAB) go further in reducing damage to the environment by achieving high levels of treatment by using less energy, producing less waste (biological sludge) and generating more biogas (a sustainable alternative to fossil fuels when generated locally).

  • Implementation
  • Description of concrete actions to implement environmental policies, address environmental risks and respond to environmental incidents.

  • - Biowater’s second CFIC (next generation MBBR) in Norway went into operation in Q4 2020, and largest CFIC reactor in the world was commissioned in Maceio Brazil. Both reactors will reduce energy consumption of the reactors by approx. 50%. See attachments.
    - Biowater’s largest ever project went into commissioning at GE Healthcare Lindesnes. The plant converts organic pollutants into methane and will produce up to 500m3/h biogass. The gas has already started to be used on site, and replaces traditional fossil derived fuels lowering the carbon footprint of the site.
    - Biowater supported two publications – One marking 75 years of the UN, Sustainable Engineering in Action in cooperation with the Institution of Civil Engineers. And also Vårt Vann, a Norwegian publication dedicated to highlighting and presenting solutions for national and internation water and waste water challenges. See attachments.

  • Measurement of outcomes
  • Description of how the company monitors and evaluates environmental performance.

  • Biowater reports the percentage of company turnover and booking for new technologies with increased sustainability credentials (CFIC and HyVAB) over traditional technologies.

    Both booking and turnover were lower as a percentage for these technologies than in the previous year. However the following were specific highlights that will lead to improvements in booking and revenues for these technologies in future years:

    - Securing of funding for HyVAB trials for technology development with brewery wastewater.
    - Two HyVAB pilot studies, and one Front End Engineering and Design Study (FEED) based on HyVAB technology.
    - A new commercial pilot built for testing HyVAB with municipal wastewater.

Anti-Corruption
  • Assessment, policy and goals
  • Description of the relevance of anti-corruption for the company (i.e. anti-corruption risk-assessment). Description of policies, public commitments and company goals on anti-corruption.

  • Biowater Technology is committed to anti-coruption and ethical procurement throughout its business operations.

  • Implementation
  • Description of concrete actions to implement anti-corruption policies, address anti-corruption risks and respond to incidents.

  • - Biowater has planned to incorportate anti-corruption statements in revised company manual for 2021.
    - In 2020 Biowater made plans for a new procurement system using Microsoft Dynamics. This will will be rolled out in 2021 and include statements concerning ethical procurement and anti-corruption

  • Measurement of outcomes
  • Description of how the company monitors and evaluates anti-corruption performance.

  • Biowater has no specific KPIs on anti-corruption other than to ensure all its procurement follows company procedures, and that any signs of corruption or foul play including bribery, are reported. No such practices have been observed in the period.