What does corporate citizenship mean to us?

Providing a safe place to work

Health and safety remains the Group’s first priority, with clear objectives set and constantly monitored for health, process safety and occupational safety, including a target to improve lost time injury frequency to 0.4 or better by 2012.

The Group takes an integrated and systematic approach to managing health and safety, which recognises that success can only be achieved by the visible commitment of leadership throughout the organisation and the personal engagement of all employees. Our health and safety systems globally have been developed with guidance from DuPont – recognised as world leaders in workplace safety and operational excellence.

Respecting the environment

The Group wishes to be part of the solution to climate change and has set a target to reduce its carbon footprint to less than 1.7 tonnes of carbon dioxide (CO 2) per tonne of liquid steel by 2012 through a combination of process improvements, breakthrough technologies and development of new, more energy-efficient products and services.

Making a positive contribution to society

We make a significant contribution to society in a variety of ways: through the employment we provide and the tax revenues we generate; through the dependable products we develop and manufacture; and also through the ways we seek to interact positively with local communities and be a good corporate citizen.

As a major international business, we maintain active and open dialogues with all our main stakeholders – customers, suppliers, employees, trades unions, investors, local communities, the media and the general public.

Responsible procurement

There is growing interest in the concept of responsible procurement, and Tata Steel Europe is playing a leadership role in a number of multi-stakeholder initiatives to further define and quantify what responsible procurement means, in both a steel industry and a construction sector context. This initiative has brought together people representing all the links in the constructional steel supply chain.

We have also contributed, through the Construction Products Association and the UK Building Research Establishment (BRE), to developing a sustainability standard on responsible procurement of construction products.

Product stewardship

We also recognise that our responsibility for managing environmental impact goes beyond manufacturing. The characteristics of our products, and the information that we provide to customers, can have a profound effect on the environmental performance and impact of our products during and at the end of their useful lives.

Caring for communities

As a major employer in many regions around the world, we recognise that our operations affect the communities in which we are located.

We endeavour to play a very positive and responsive role in each of these communities. We contribute to many economic, environmental, social, educational and cultural initiatives by providing financial support and – equally importantly – by encouraging and supporting our employees’
involvement in such local initiatives.

Demonstrating high ethical standards

Integrity and honesty are at the heart of our business dealings. We are introducing a new Tata Steel Group Code of Conduct that sets out a clear and detailed framework for the conduct of our business generally and the strengthening of our business integrity processes in particular.

We do not tolerate corrupt or fraudulent practices and demand transparency, integrity and honesty at all times from our employees, contractors and business partners. The tone is set through the commitment made by our most senior management and is integrated into the induction of new employees.