Eco-conception leading to eco-efficiency, a good common sense approach that Essilor International has decided to intensify in 2004

As a responsible enterprise, Essilor International is committed to participating in initiatives for sustainable development, protecting the environment and promoting recyclable products. It is committed to strictly complying with regulations in force irrespective of their applicable scope and their international location.

The Chart entitled « Hygiene, Safety and Environment Chart of Projects » has been enforced in the group since 2002. It is based on an on-line tool entitled « Hygiene, Safety and Environment Guide of Projects ». It is aimed to progressively and systematically become a part of the project management related to the development of the products and the services of Essilor International. Taking these principles into consideration in any project management, at its earliest stage drives to better results, both in terms of efficiency and cost.

In 2004, Essilor International has installed training modules in order to heighten the awareness of eco-conception leading to eco-efficiency. These modules are based upon a true example of life cycle analysis run with the help of an expert in this domain. They have given light to a first batch of training sessions in 2004. The training session will be extended in 2005 to all employees involved in projects.

This important training programme will promote a transverse mode of working and will gather many different competencies in the same session (R&D, Engineering, Marketing, Purchasing, etc …), thus easing the global vision of how important it is to take into consideration the aspects of hygiene, safety and environment in the development of the products, the services and the manufacturing processes of the company.

These training sessions will ne moderated by colleagues from different departments of the company who will bring their respective expertise in their operative domain and also their concrete vision of how eco-conception can be integrated in the projects in which they take an active part.

The roll out of this awareness heightening programme in 2005 will result in training more than 500 people throughout the world. It will become a permanent item in the training course of any new employee hired who will have to work on projects.