Download data

Powerbroker for

Select an assessment year:

  • Overall approach
    5/10
    • Overarching commitment on deforestation
      3/4
      Overall commitment
      Zero deforestation/Deforestation-free commitment or, for timber, pulp & paper companies only, commitment to well implemented harvest and no deforestation of HCV & HCS areas
      3/4
      "The Group is also committed to excluding deforestation from its supply chain and to offsetting the remaining emissions, in order to support the most vulnerable communities."
    • Signatory to an initiative tackling deforestation
      1/1
      Signatory
      Yes
      1/1
      If Other Initiative, specify:

      Which initiatives?: UN Global Compact; WWF Global Forest & Trade Network
      "Saint-Gobain has complied with the United Nations Global Compactsince 2003. This commitment attests to the Corporate SocialResponsibility (CSR) approach of the Group, which regularlycommunicates its progress in the areas covered by the GlobalCompact. Pierre-André de Chalendar is a member of the France GlobalCompact Executive Committee." ; "Saint–Gobain Building Distribution in the UK and Ireland has been a participant in WWF’s Global Forest & Trade Network (GFTN) in the UK since 1998."
    • Awareness of the value of forests
      1/1
      Awareness
      Yes
      1/1
      "The Sector’s objective up the supply chain is to participate positively in the protection of the biodiversity of forest areas and the habitats of the people who rely on forests for their livelihood. Down the supply chain, the Sector continues to look to develop more and more healthy timber panel and flooring products for end-users."
    • Deforestation as a business risk
      0/1
    • High-level management of deforestion
      0/1
    • Executive compensation linked to deforestation
    • Target to reduce emissions from land-use change
      0/1
    • Reporting on emissions from land-use change
      0/1
    • Disclosure of conservation activity
    • Disclosure of reforestation activity
    • Target to reduce emissions in scope 1/2
      Reduce emissions
      Yes
      0/0
      What is the target date for the company to achieve their climate target?: 2050

      Type of climate target: Net-zero emissions

      Is this target aligned with/verified by SBTi?: Yes
      "This validation of the Group's long-term commitments to achieve net zero CO2 emissions, bothdirect and indirect, along its entire value chain by 2050 allows it to further refine its roadmaptowards carbon neutrality. It will entail a reduction in CO2 emissions of at least 90% in the threescopes by 2050, with additional sequestration projects planned for residual emissions."
  • Commodity score
    22/90
    • Timber
      22/90
      • Commitment Strength
        6/17
        • Commodity-specific deforestation commitment
          6/9.5
          • Commitment details
            Zero-gross deforestation
            4/6
            Commodity-specific deforestation commitment
            Zero-gross deforestation
            4/6
            When was this commitment set?: 2020
            "The Group is also committed to excluding deforestation from its supply chain." [...] "Purchases must come from responsible production. Specific procedure sheets, depending on the species and the area of origin, define the purchasing approach to be followed and the minimum level of certification for the sector (verified local certificate, PEFC™1 , FSC®2 or other, subject to validation by the Group's Timber expert)"
          • Commitment applies to all regions, suppliers and operation
            Yes
            2/2
            Commitment applies to all regions, suppliers and operation
            Yes
            2/2
            "The Group is also committed to excluding deforestation from its supply chain." [...] "Purchases must come from responsible production. Specific procedure sheets, depending on the species and the area of origin, define the purchasing approach to be followed and the minimum level of certification for the sector (verified local certificate, PEFC™1 , FSC®2 or other, subject to validation by the Group's Timber expert)"
          • Target date
            Post 2050 or no target date
            0/1
          • Interim target date
            No
            0/0.5
        • Commitment to a traceable supply chain
          0/7.5
          • Commitment details
            No traceability commitment
            0/4
          • Commitment applies to all regions, suppliers and operation
            No
            0/2
          • Target date
            Post 2050 or no target date
            0/1
          • Interim target date
            No
            0/0.5
      • Associated Human Rights Abuses
        3/17
        • Labour rights in the supply chain
          Yes
          3/3
          Labour rights in the supply chain
          Yes
          3/3
          How far back in the supply chain does this commitment apply?: All suppliers

          Details of commitment: ILO; Discrimination; Forced labour; Child labour; Freedom of association
          "Regarding relations with their own staff, suppliers and subcontractors comply with the legal rules and regulations applicable in the countries where they operate as well as the norms set out by the International Labour Organization concerning workers’ rights, especially in the area of social security, working hours and conditions, compensation and when it comes to exercising freedom of association. In particular, suppliers and subcontractors undertake not to resort in any way, shape or form, either directly or through their own subcontractors or suppliers, > to forced or mandatory labour, > to child labour. Finally, they make sure that their working practices are free from any form of job discrimination."
        • Inclusion of small-scale farmers
          No
          0/2
        • Gender equality in the supply chain
          No commitment
          0/2
        • Commitment to remediation
          No
          0/1
        • Commitment to test Free, Prior and Informed Consent
          No
          0/3
        • Commitment to respect customary rights to land, resources, and territory
          No
          0/3
        • Zero-tolerance approach to violence and threats
          No
          0/3
      • Implementation and Reporting
        13/56
        • Reporting proportion of compliant volumes
          0/0
        • Reporting is independently verified
          Yes, using a third-party verification scheme or certification scheme
          2/2
          Reporting is independently verified
          Yes, using a third-party verification scheme or certification scheme
          2/2
          Which tools, approaches, third-party verification, including certification, schemes are used?: FSC Certification

          Is the performance of compliance of some suppliers, sources, or origins not verified, and if so why not?: NA

          Which processes or groups does the company use for third party verification?: NA

          What methods are used for verification?: FSC Certification

          What percent of the company's supply volume is verified using company verification systems?: NA

          For what percent of the company's supply volume is third-party verification of performance relative to commitments conducted?: NA
        • Suppliers aligned with deforestation commitments across supply chain
          No
          0/3
        • Deforestation cut off date
          No
          0/2
        • Collaborative actions
          No
          0/2
        • Jurisdictional approach focused on sustainable land use
          No
          0/2
        • Risk assessments for forest risk
          Yes
          2/2
          Risk assessments for forest risk
          Yes
          2/2
          For what percentage of material produced or sourced by the company has forest risk been assessed?: NA

          How frequently are assessments conducted?: Not disclosed
          [translation] “Thus, whether certified or not, each Group site performs a mapping of environmental risks, health and security.” [translation] “According to this approach, categories of purchase or specific risk suppliers have been identified for purchases of certain natural raw materials such as wood or sand, or certain types of subcontractors intervening directly on the sites of Group. Specific policies and action plans are set up by the Purchasing teams to manage these risks. Thus, the deployment of actions is differentiated between Non-trading purchasing teams that manage purchasing in upstream productions and all logistic productions, and the purchasing teams that manage purchases in downstream productions.”
        • Operations assessed to comply with law
          Yes
          2/2
          Operations assessed to comply with law
          Yes
          2/2
          "The suppliers charter is the tool we use to obtain the commitment of our suppliers on a series of key themes: respect for the right to development, employee rights, health and safety, legality and the environment. [...] The supplier partners, signatories to the Supplier Charter, undertake to scrupulously follow the requirements of responsible development in terms of the environment, social policy, legality and compliance of products and manufacturing processes with national and international standards and rules. [...] Depending on the outcome of this combination, the overall supplier risk will be identified and, if necessary, actions to mitigate this risk may be implemented, such as plant audits by third parties."
        • Accessible grievance mechanism
          Yes, publicly accessible grievance mechanism
          2/4
          Accessible grievance mechanism
          Yes, publicly accessible grievance mechanism
          2/4
          Which issues does the grievance mechanism cover?: Social; Environmental

          What is the nature of the grievance mechanism used by the company?: Own mechanism
          "They have a whistleblowing system which is publicly accessible and you can register an alert here : https://www.bkms-system.com/bkwebanon/report/clientInfo?cin=CwmSdg&c=-1&language=fre"
        • Report volumes of commodity sourced/used
          No reporting
          0/3
        • Monitor compliance for labour rights and FPIC
          No
          0/5
        • Monitor compliance for zero tolerance approach and customary rights
          No
          0/5
        • Downstream: Reporting suppliers
          No
          0/4
        • Downstream: Monitor compliance in supply chain
          Yes, for its suppliers
          2/4
          Downstream: Monitor compliance in supply chain
          Yes, for its suppliers
          2/4
          What percentage of the company's supply chain volume does that represent?: NA

          How frequently is compliance assessed?: Not specified

          For what percent of suppliers does the company directly monitor compliance of production or processing operations?: NA

          For what percentage of the commodity sourced by the company is deforestation/conversion monitored at the farm level on production units known to be in the company's supply chain?: NA

          How is compliance monitored?: Internal monitoring and verification systems

          For what percentage of suppliers does the company use/rely on external mechanisms to monitor compliance?: NA
          "To ensure the long-term security of our purchases, responsible channels and the offer of certified wood must be developed. We promote this development by involving stakeholders and by: Constant dialogue with suppliers throughout the supply chain and on the basis of specifications that integrate environmental, social and ethical requirements to encourage and participate in securing supply chains in high-risk areas [...] The Timber Policy is monitored annually and presented to the Responsible Purchasing Steering Committee chaired by the Group's Chief Operating Officer in the presence of the General Secretary in charge of the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). [...] Each country CEO is responsible for the respect and promotion of this policy in the countries under his or her responsibility. When a distribution subsidiary is present in the territory, a local Timber correspondent is appointed to ensure compliance with the Timber Purchasing Policy, traceability of timber purchases and transparency of information. Our timber suppliers are our first partners in the development of responsible supply chains. It is imperative that they commit themselves to following this policy alongside us. A professional alert system is open to suppliers in order to collect incident reports. Information related to this system is available on the Group's website."
        • Downstream: Reporting hectares of deforestation
          No
          0/4
        • Downstream: Engagement with non-compliant suppliers
          Engage with suppliers with a time-bound threat of exclusion
          2/2
          Downstream: Engagement with non-compliant suppliers
          Engage with suppliers with a time-bound threat of exclusion
          2/2
          What criteria does the policy specify for blacklisting or exclusion?: not specified

          Does the company engage non-compliant indirect suppliers in order to address and remedy non-compliance?: No

          Does the company work with the non-compliant supplier to develop an implementation plan to remedy associated harms or non-compliance?: No

          What type of support does the company offer to its suppliers to help them achieve compliance with commitments?: Corrective action plan

          Does the company commit to engage with rightsholders, Indigenous peoples and local communities when developing the implementation plan?: No
          Evaluate suppliers based on the timber policy - "Risks related to purchasing categories include environmental performance, particularly carbon and water impacts, as well as health and safety. This mapping is based on the same international and recognized sources as the risk assessments related to the Group’s activities. Following this approach, categories of purchases or suppliers with specific risks have been identified, such as purchases of certain natural raw materials, such as wood or sand [...] Specific policies and action plans are implemented by the Purchasing teams to manage these risks. Thus, the deployment of actions is differentiated between the Non-trading Purchasing teams, which manage purchases upstream of production and all logistics aspects, and the Trading Purchasing teams, which manage purchases downstream of production. [...] In the event that the measures indicated in a corrective action plan are not taken in due time by the supplier concerned, the Group reserves the right to delist the supplier and to withdraw all its entities from a commercial partnership with them."
        • Downstream: Disclosure of non-compliant suppliers
          No disclosure
          0/2
    • Pulp & Paper *
      21/90
      • Commitment Strength
        8/17
        • Commodity-specific deforestation commitment
          8/9.5
          • Commitment details
            Zero-gross deforestation
            4/6
            Commodity-specific deforestation commitment
            Zero-gross deforestation
            4/6
            Type of sustainability commitment: Reduction of material inputs

            When was this commitment set?: 2020

            What paper/pulp product does their commitment apply to?: Packaging

            Which certification schemes are used?: FSC
            "The Group is also committed to excluding deforestation from its supply chain" [...] "Timber purchases Saint-Gobain’s activities have an impact on timber sector either through the supply of packaging (pallets and boxes) or by purchases of timber for construction markets as part of its distribution activities. Environmental and social risks, and those related to human rights adherence primarily affect trade purchasing. Saint-Gobain is committed to fighting deforestation through a "Timber Purchasing" policy, by acting ethically and responsibly throughout the Group's value chain to preserve forests, the local populations living in them and biodiversity. This policy was issued in the early 2000s and updated in 2020. [...] Action plans have been deployed to reduce packaging globally and to ensure that it is recyclable. Consequently, marketing teams and buyers have been working together to change packaging materials or design to encourage recycling in existing channels. Saint-Gobain has set a target of 100% recyclable packaging by 2030. In 2021, 69% of packaging is recyclable"
          • Commitment applies to all regions, suppliers and operation
            Yes
            2/2
            Commitment applies to all regions, suppliers and operation
            Yes
            2/2
            "The Group is also committed to excluding deforestation from its supply chain" [...] "Timber purchases Saint-Gobain’s activities have an impact on timber sector either through the supply of packaging (pallets and boxes) or by purchases of timber for construction markets as part of its distribution activities. Environmental and social risks, and those related to human rights adherence primarily affect trade purchasing. Saint-Gobain is committed to fighting deforestation through a "Timber Purchasing" policy, by acting ethically and responsibly throughout the Group's value chain to preserve forests, the local populations living in them and biodiversity. This policy was issued in the early 2000s and updated in 2020."
          • Target date
            Current/achieved
            1/1
            Target date
            Current/achieved
            1/1
            [Translation] "The Group is also committed to excluding deforestation from its supply chain and offsetting the remaining emissions, for the benefit of the most fragile communities."; "In Europe, our plasterboards are provided with 97.4- 100% recycled paper, or Forest Stewardhip Council (FSC) labeled material derived from sustainably managed forests in Europe."
          • Interim target date
            NA (target date current or achieved or 2023)
            0.5/0.5
            Interim target date
            NA (target date current or achieved or 2023)
            0.5/0.5
            Current target date
        • Commitment to a traceable supply chain
          0/7.5
          • Commitment details
            No traceability commitment
            0/4
          • Commitment applies to all regions, suppliers and operation
            No
            0/2
          • Target date
            Post 2050 or no target date
            0/1
          • Interim target date
            No
            0/0.5
      • Associated Human Rights Abuses
        3/17
        • Labour rights in the supply chain
          Yes
          3/3
          Labour rights in the supply chain
          Yes
          3/3
          Details of commitment: ILO; Discrimination; Forced labour; Child labour; Freedom of association

          How far back in the supply chain does this commitment apply?: All suppliers
          "Regarding relations with their own staff, suppliers and subcontractors comply with the legal rules and regulations applicable in the countries where they operate as well as the norms set out by the International Labour Organization concerning workers’ rights, especially in the area of social security, working hours and conditions, compensation and when it comes to exercising freedom of association. In particular, suppliers and subcontractors undertake not to resort in any way, shape or form, either directly or through their own subcontractors or suppliers, > to forced or mandatory labour, > to child labour. Finally, they make sure that their working practices are free from any form of job discrimination."
        • Inclusion of small-scale farmers
          No
          0/2
        • Gender equality in the supply chain
          No commitment
          0/2
        • Commitment to remediation
          No
          0/1
        • Commitment to test Free, Prior and Informed Consent
          No
          0/3
        • Commitment to respect customary rights to land, resources, and territory
          No
          0/3
        • Zero-tolerance approach to violence and threats
          No
          0/3
      • Implementation and Reporting
        11/56
        • Reporting proportion of compliant volumes
          0/0
        • Reporting is independently verified
          No
          0/2
          Reporting is independently verified
          No
          0/2
          "Purchases must come from responsible production. Specific procedure sheets, depending on the species and the area of origin, define the purchasing approach to be followed and the minimum level of certification for the sector (verified local certificate, PEFC™1 , FSC®2 or other, subject to validation by the Group's Timber expert).  For identified high-risk areas, certification is mandatory for all purchases with priority given to FSC® certification and the possibility of other certification subject to validation by the Group's Timber expert (other than wood for packaging (pallet, box, etc.))."
        • Suppliers aligned with deforestation commitments across supply chain
          No
          0/3
        • Deforestation cut off date
          No
          0/2
        • Collaborative actions
          No
          0/2
        • Jurisdictional approach focused on sustainable land use
          No
          0/2
        • Risk assessments for forest risk
          No
          0/2
        • Operations assessed to comply with law
          Yes
          2/2
          Operations assessed to comply with law
          Yes
          2/2
          "The suppliers charter is the tool we use to obtain the commitment of our suppliers on a series of key themes: respect for the right to development, employee rights, health and safety, legality and the environment. [...] The supplier partners, signatories to the Supplier Charter, undertake to scrupulously follow the requirements of responsible development in terms of the environment, social policy, legality and compliance of products and manufacturing processes with national and international standards and rules. [...] Depending on the outcome of this combination, the overall supplier risk will be identified and, if necessary, actions to mitigate this risk may be implemented, such as plant audits by third parties."
        • Accessible grievance mechanism
          Yes, publicly accessible grievance mechanism
          2/4
          Accessible grievance mechanism
          Yes, publicly accessible grievance mechanism
          2/4
          Which issues does the grievance mechanism cover?: Social; Environmental

          What is the nature of the grievance mechanism used by the company?: Own mechanism
          "They have a whistleblowing system which is publicly accessible and you can register an alert here : https://www.bkms-system.com/bkwebanon/report/clientInfo?cin=CwmSdg&c=-1&language=fre"
        • Report volumes of commodity sourced/used
          No reporting
          0/3
        • Monitor compliance for labour rights and FPIC
          No
          0/5
        • Monitor compliance for zero tolerance approach and customary rights
          No
          0/5
        • Downstream: Reporting suppliers
          No
          0/4
        • Downstream: Monitor compliance in supply chain
          Yes, for its suppliers
          2/4
          Downstream: Monitor compliance in supply chain
          Yes, for its suppliers
          2/4
          For what percent of suppliers does the company directly monitor compliance of production or processing operations?: NA

          For what percentage of the commodity sourced by the company is deforestation/conversion monitored at the farm level on production units known to be in the company's supply chain?: NA

          How frequently is compliance assessed?: Not specified

          What percentage of the company's supply chain volume does that represent?: NA

          How is compliance monitored?: Internal monitoring and verification systems

          For what percentage of suppliers does the company use/rely on external mechanisms to monitor compliance?: NA
          "To ensure the long-term security of our purchases, responsible channels and the offer of certified wood must be developed. We promote this development by involving stakeholders and by: Constant dialogue with suppliers throughout the supply chain and on the basis of specifications that integrate environmental, social and ethical requirements to encourage and participate in securing supply chains in high-risk areas [...] The Timber Policy is monitored annually and presented to the Responsible Purchasing Steering Committee chaired by the Group's Chief Operating Officer in the presence of the General Secretary in charge of the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). [...] Each country CEO is responsible for the respect and promotion of this policy in the countries under his or her responsibility. When a distribution subsidiary is present in the territory, a local Timber correspondent is appointed to ensure compliance with the Timber Purchasing Policy, traceability of timber purchases and transparency of information. Our timber suppliers are our first partners in the development of responsible supply chains. It is imperative that they commit themselves to following this policy alongside us. A professional alert system is open to suppliers in order to collect incident reports. Information related to this system is available on the Group's website."
        • Downstream: Reporting hectares of deforestation
          No
          0/4
        • Downstream: Engagement with non-compliant suppliers
          Engage with suppliers with a time-bound threat of exclusion
          2/2
          Downstream: Engagement with non-compliant suppliers
          Engage with suppliers with a time-bound threat of exclusion
          2/2
          What type of support does the company offer to its suppliers to help them achieve compliance with commitments?: Corrective action plan

          Does the company commit to engage with rightsholders, Indigenous peoples and local communities when developing the implementation plan?: No

          Does the company engage non-compliant indirect suppliers in order to address and remedy non-compliance?: No

          Does the company work with the non-compliant supplier to develop an implementation plan to remedy associated harms or non-compliance?: No

          What criteria does the policy specify for blacklisting or exclusion?: not specified
          Evaluate suppliers based on the timber policy - "Risks related to purchasing categories include environmental performance, particularly carbon and water impacts, as well as health and safety. This mapping is based on the same international and recognized sources as the risk assessments related to the Group’s activities. Following this approach, categories of purchases or suppliers with specific risks have been identified, such as purchases of certain natural raw materials, such as wood or sand [...] Specific policies and action plans are implemented by the Purchasing teams to manage these risks. Thus, the deployment of actions is differentiated between the Non-trading Purchasing teams, which manage purchases upstream of production and all logistics aspects, and the Trading Purchasing teams, which manage purchases downstream of production. [...] In the event that the measures indicated in a corrective action plan are not taken in due time by the supplier concerned, the Group reserves the right to delist the supplier and to withdraw all its entities from a commercial partnership with them."
        • Downstream: Disclosure of non-compliant suppliers
          No disclosure
          0/2
  • * commodity scores for which a company is not a powerbroker are given half the weighting of other commodities in total scores

  • Commitment strength
    7/17
    Avg. score
  • Implementation and Reporting
    12/56
    Avg. score
  • Associated Human Rights Abuses
    3/17
    Avg. score

Profile

Saint Gobain is a French multinational corporation that designs, manufactures, and distributes building materials. Major brands include Jewson in the UK and Point P in France. It is one of the largest building material suppliers in Europe and operates in a total of 64 countries worldwide, including across Southeast Asia and South America. It is one of the largest European distributors of building materials. Saint Gobain S.A. is selected as a powerbroker for timber and paper packaging.

Sector
Industry sector 
Forest Products, Paper Packaging
Segments
Manufacturer
HQ
HQ 
France
Company Type
Company type 
CO
Collective Commitments
Consumer Goods Forum member
New York Declaration on Forests signatory

Top Brands

Point.P., Jewson, Norton, Weber, British Gypsum

How we assess the Forest 500

To ensure deforestation free supply chains, companies need to adopt and implement timebound and measurable policies for forest risk commodities.

All assessments use policies published on company websites, some links may have changed or been removed since the time of assessment.

Disclaimer

This assessment has been carried out following the methodology developed for the Forest 500 project, available here. Please see our disclaimer applicable to all information contained within this site and our terms and conditions for use of data presented on this site.

All assessments use policies published on company and financial institution websites, and while we endeavor to keep them updated some links may have changed or been removed since the time of assessment.

Please contact us with any concerns or feedback about this or other assessments included in the Forest 500.