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  • Overall approach
    5/12
    • Overarching commitment on deforestation
      3/4
      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
      [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."
      Open source document
    • Signatory to an initiative tackling deforestation
      1/1
      Yes
      1/1
      Which initiatives?: UN Global Compact; WWF Global Forest & Trade Network
      "Since 2003, Saint-Gobain has joined the United Nations Global Compact." "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."
      Open source document
      Open source document
    • Awareness of the value of forests
      1/1
      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."
      Open source document
    • 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
      0/2
    • Reporting on emissions from land-use change
      0/2
    • Disclosure of conservation activity
    • Disclosure of reforestation activity
    • Target to reduce emissions in scope 1/2
      Yes
      0/0
      What is the target date for the company to achieve their climate target?: 2050

      Type of climate target: Net-zero emissions
      "The goal is simple: by 2050, we must not emit any more carbon than we absorb. We must be carbon neutral. [..] Now, in November 2020, we have further committed to reducing our Scope 1 (direct emissions from our plants) and our Scope 2 (electricity-related emissions) by 33% by 2030*; and our Scope 3 (value chain emissions) by 16% over the same period."  
      Open source document
  • Commodity score
    23/88
    • Timber
      24/88
      • Commitment Strength
        6/20
        • Commitment to protect priority forests
          7/11
          • Commitment details
            Zero-gross deforestation
            5.3/8
            Commitment to protect priority forests
            Zero-gross deforestation
            5.3/8
            Which certification schemes are used?: FSC; PEFC
            [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."; [translation] “Promotion of certified or sustainably managed wood [...] which consists of promoting every year wood products labeled (FSC, PEFC), as well as local sourcing.”
            Open source document
            Open source document
          • Commitment applies to all regions, suppliers and operation
            Yes
            2/2
            Commitment applies to all regions, suppliers and operation
            Yes
            2/2
            [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."; [translation] “Promotion of certified or sustainably managed wood [...] which consists of promoting every year wood products labeled (FSC, PEFC), as well as local sourcing.”
            Open source document
            Open source document
          • Target date
            No target date
            0/1
          • Interim target date
            No
            0/0.5
        • Commitment to a traceable supply chain
          0/9
          • Commitment details
            No traceability commitment
            0/5.3
          • Commitment applies to all regions, suppliers and operation
            No
            0/2
          • Target date
            No target date
            0/1
          • Interim target date
            No
            0/0.5
      • Social Considerations
        6/18
        • Labour rights in the supply chain
          Yes
          4/4
          Labour rights in the supply chain
          Yes
          4/4
          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."
          Open source document
        • Inclusion of small-scale farmers
          No
          0/4
        • Gender equality in the supply chain
          No commitment
          0/4
        • Commitment to remediation
          Yes
          2/2
          Commitment to remediation
          Yes
          2/2
          Type of harm covered: Environmental harm
          Saint Gobain detail the cost of their " Soil decontamination, site remediation and other clean-up costs" as €15.6million in 2018. Similar data is recorded in previous annual reports.
          Open source document
        • Commitment to ensure Free, Prior and Informed Consent
          No
          0/4
        • Commitment to resolve land conflicts
          No
      • Reporting and Implementation
        11/50
        • Reporting against commitments
          0/3
          • Commitment to protect priority forests
            Yes, for all commodity exposure
            2.5/2.5
            Commitment to protect priority forests
            Yes, for all commodity exposure
            2.5/2.5
            Does the company report on the degree of compliance/progress with commitments, disaggregated by relevant factors such as origin or supply chain stage?: No 
            [translation] “The Group carries out an inventory of its wood purchases. Over 96% of wood purchases are responsible.”
            Open source document
          • Commitment to a traceable supply chain
            No
            0/2.5
        • Reporting is independently verified
          0/2
          • Commitment to protect priority forests
            Yes, using a third-party verification scheme or certification scheme.
            1.5/1.5
            Commitment to protect priority forests
            Yes, using a third-party verification scheme or certification scheme.
            1.5/1.5
            Which processes or groups does the company use for third party verification?: FSC, PEFC 

            Which tools, approaches, third-party verification, including certification, schemes are used?: FSC, PEFC 
            [translation] “Promotion of certified or sustainably managed wood [...] which consists of promoting every year wood products labeled (FSC, PEFC), as well as local sourcing.”
            Open source document
          • Commitment to a traceable supply chain
            No
            0/1.5
        • Suppliers aligned with deforestation commitments across supply chain
          No
          0/2
        • Deforestation cut off date
          No
          0/2
        • Collaborative actions
          No
          0/2
        • Risk assessments for forest risk
          Yes
          2/2
          Risk assessments for forest risk
          Yes
          2/2
          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.”
          Open source document
        • Operations assessed to comply with law
          Yes
          2/2
          Operations assessed to comply with law
          Yes
          2/2
          "Assurance of timber legality, in accordance with European Regulation FLEGT. Our product traceability commits us to: • Obtaining proof from suppliers that timber comes from legal operations, • Establish a due diligence system."
          Open source document
        • Accessible grievance mechanism
          No
          0/4
        • Report volumes of commodity
          No reporting
          0/2
        • Report verified volumes of commodity
          No disclosure
          0/6
        • Upstream: Monitor compliance with human rights
          No
          0/4
        • Downstream: Publishing supplier lists
          No
          0/4
        • Downstream: Monitor compliance in supply chain
          Yes, for its suppliers
          3/4
          Downstream: Monitor compliance in supply chain
          Yes, for its suppliers
          3/4
          How frequently is compliance assessed?: Not disclosed

          Details of monitoring: Using internal monitoring and verification systems
          "This Charter is an integral part of the documentation handed out by the Saint-Gobain in support of its consultations and is intended to be included in the contractual documents. The Purchasing Departments of Saint-Gobain Group entities may be led, under certain circumstances, to take the measures they deem necessary to ensure full compliance with the Charter, notably by sending out questionnaires or conducting or having conducted specific audits at the suppliers’ and sub-contractors’ premises".
          Open source document
        • Downstream: Reporting hectares of deforestation
          No
          0/4
        • Downstream: Engagement with non-compliant suppliers
          No engagement or exclusion
          0/2
        • Downstream: Disclosure of non-compliant suppliers
          No disclosure
          0/2
    • Pulp & Paper *
      21/88
      • Commitment Strength
        9/20
        • Commitment to protect priority forests
          5/8
          • Commitment details
            Zero-gross deforestation
            4/6
            Commitment to protect priority forests
            Zero-gross deforestation
            4/6
            Which certification schemes are used?: FSC
            [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."
            Open source document
            Open source document
          • Commitment applies to all regions, suppliers and operation
            No
            0/1.3
            Commitment applies to all regions, suppliers and operation
            No
            0/1.3
            If no, what is excluded?: Subsidary; Product line
          • Target date
            Current/achieved
            0.7/0.7
            Target date
            Current/achieved
            0.7/0.7
            [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."
            Open source document
            Open source document
          • Interim target date
            NA (target date current or achieved or 2022)
            0.3/0.3
            Interim target date
            NA (target date current or achieved or 2022)
            0.3/0.3
            [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."
            Open source document
            Open source document
        • Commitment to reduce use of virgin wood fibre
          4/5
          • Commitment details
            Yes
            3/3
            Commitment to reduce use of virgin wood fibre
            Yes
            3/3
            Type of commitment: Recycled content
            [translation] “Due to its volumes, the Group favours procurement in recycled paper and cardboard in order to limit its environmental impact”
            Open source document
          • Commitment applies to all regions, suppliers and operation
            No
            0/1.3
            Commitment applies to all regions, suppliers and operation
            No
            0/1.3
            If no, what is excluded?: Subsidary
          • Target date
            Current/achieved
            0.7/0.7
            Target date
            Current/achieved
            0.7/0.7
            [translation] “Due to its volumes, the Group favours procurement in recycled paper and cardboard in order to limit its environmental impact”
            Open source document
          • Interim target date
            Yes
            0.3/0.3
            Interim target date
            Yes
            0.3/0.3
            [translation] “Due to its volumes, the Group favours procurement in recycled paper and cardboard in order to limit its environmental impact”
            Open source document
        • Commitment to a traceable supply chain
          0/6
          • Commitment details
            No traceability commitment
            0/4
          • Commitment applies to all regions, suppliers and operation
            No
            0/1.3
          • Target date
            No target date
            0/0.7
          • Interim target date
            No
            0/0.3
      • Social Considerations
        6/18
        • Labour rights in the supply chain
          Yes
          4/4
          Labour rights in the supply chain
          Yes
          4/4
          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."
          Open source document
        • Inclusion of small-scale farmers
          No
          0/4
        • Gender equality in the supply chain
          No commitment
          0/4
        • Commitment to remediation
          Yes
          2/2
          Commitment to remediation
          Yes
          2/2
          Saint Gobain detail the cost of their " Soil decontamination, site remediation and other clean-up costs" as €15.6million in 2018. Similar data is recorded in previous annual reports.
          Open source document
        • Commitment to ensure Free, Prior and Informed Consent
          No
          0/4
        • Commitment to resolve land conflicts
          No
      • Reporting and Implementation
        6/50
        • Reporting against commitments
          0/2
          • Commitment to protect priority forests
            Yes, for all commodity exposure
            1.7/1.7
            Commitment to protect priority forests
            Yes, for all commodity exposure
            1.7/1.7
            Does the company report on the degree of compliance/progress with commitments, disaggregated by relevant factors such as origin or supply chain stage?: No
            [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."
            Open source document
            Open source document
          • Commitment to reduce use of virgin wood fibre
            No
            0/1.7
          • Commitment to a traceable supply chain
            No
            0/1.7
        • Reporting is independently verified
          0/1
          • Commitment to protect priority forests
            Yes, using a third-party verification scheme or certification scheme.
            1/1
            Commitment to protect priority forests
            Yes, using a third-party verification scheme or certification scheme.
            1/1
            Which tools, approaches, third-party verification, including certification, schemes are used?: FSC

            Which processes or groups does the company use for third party verification?: FSC
            [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."
            Open source document
            Open source document
          • Commitment to reduce use of virgin wood fibre
            No
            0/1
          • Commitment to a traceable supply chain
            No
            0/1
        • Suppliers aligned with deforestation commitments across supply chain
          No
          0/2
        • Deforestation cut off date
          No
          0/2
        • Collaborative actions
          No
          0/2
        • Risk assessments for forest risk
          No
          0/2
        • Operations assessed to comply with law
          No
          0/2
        • Accessible grievance mechanism
          No
          0/4
        • Report volumes of commodity
          No reporting
          0/2
        • Report verified volumes of commodity
          No disclosure
          0/6
        • Upstream: Monitor compliance with human rights
          No
          0/4
        • Downstream: Publishing supplier lists
          No
          0/4
        • Downstream: Monitor compliance in supply chain
          Yes, for its suppliers
          3/4
          Downstream: Monitor compliance in supply chain
          Yes, for its suppliers
          3/4
          How frequently is compliance assessed?: Not specified

          Details of monitoring: Using internal monitoring and verification systems
          "This Charter is an integral part of the documentation handed out by the Saint-Gobain in support of its consultations and is intended to be included in the contractual documents. The Purchasing Departments of Saint-Gobain Group entities may be led, under certain circumstances, to take the measures they deem necessary to ensure full compliance with the Charter, notably by sending out questionnaires or conducting or having conducted specific audits at the suppliers’ and sub-contractors’ premises".
          Open source document
        • Downstream: Reporting hectares of deforestation
          No
          0/4
        • Downstream: Engagement with non-compliant suppliers
          No engagement or exclusion
          0/2
        • 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
    7/20
    Avg. score
  • Reporting and Implementation
    9/50
    Avg. score
  • Social considerations
    6/18
    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 
Construction
Segments
Manufacturer
HQ
HQ 
France
Company Type
Company type 
Public listed
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.

Full corporate sector performance data Forest 500 assessment methodology

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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.