Risk management

Environment

Our most prominent risks include environmental damage which can have a severe negative impact on the local environment in which we operate. These risks include unethical waste management downstream in our value chain and violations of permits, licenses and terms related to environmental aspects. They also include emissions to soil and water in waste treatment plants, local impact in environmental terms of noise, dust, and odour from waste treatment and/or transports. In relation to climate change, our highest emissions of greenhouse gases come from Ragn-Sells’ landfill operations.

Risk management

• All companies in the Group apply the precautionary principle and comply with applicable licenses and environmental legislation. Legal requirements are continuously monitored.
• Ragn-Sells in Norway, Sweden, Estonia, and Denmark are ISO 14001 certified and continuously work to improve the environmental impact, including legal compliance audits.
• Energy activity mapping and other energy measures such as transport planning, energy-saving projects, reduced idling, and switching to renewable fuels, are performed continuously.
• We keep a close dialogue with authorities and continuously develop processes for self-monitoring and training for our operations which require a permit.
• We include local stakeholders in managing complaints from operations.
• Our Business Partner Code of Conduct offers a systematized evaluation process of our downstream partners.
• For external entrepreneurs, supplier assessments are carried out. Internal audits are regularly conducted to ensure compliance with routines.

Working conditions in our value chain

Our risks throughout our value chain include poor working conditions, especially for hired transporters and entrepreneurs working at Ragn-Sells sites. Non-compliance with regulations regarding working conditions may result in unethical working conditions downstream, especially in high-risk countries. 

Risk management

• When entering a new partnership, we make sure all necessary permits and certifications are in place and regulate decent working conditions through the signing of our Business Partner Code of Conduct.
• For our contracted drivers, we perform safety rounds on the subcontractors' vehicles to control rest and driving time. A vehicle handbook has also been prepared containing several routines for how the work is to be performed.
• We regularly conduct self-assessments and perform audits and site visits to our partners.

Health and safety

Risk related to health and safety include accidents inhouse and in outsourced processes. Examples of such incidents are fall accidents and crushing injuries when using vehicles and technical equipment.

Risk management

• Our internal initiative Safety first measures the relation between reported risk observations with the number of incidents per accident. We have also developed an app to facilitate the reporting process of incidents and accidents.
• We carry out systematic work with health and safety, i.e. risk assessments and employee surveys.
• We work to guarantee 100% electrical safety in our business.
• Ragn-Sells in Norway, Sweden, Estonia, and Denmark are ISO 45001 certified.
• Our Business Partner Code of Conduct regulates safe working conditions in our outsourced processes.

Social and human rights

Not managing issues covering diversity, equal opportunities and discrimination is a high risk. Non-compliance could affect Ragn-Sells’ employees, the work environment, and the entire organisation negatively. It could also result in Ragn-Sells breaking basic principles and laws in national legislation in the countries in which Ragn-Sells operates.

Risk management

• Our Code of Conduct is our main compliance instrument to ensure that social and human rights are met throughout our entire operations.
• Respect for human rights is also managed internally through our Safety first initiative, which focuses on diversity, equal opportunities, and non-discrimination.

Business ethics and anti-corruption

We are committed to conducting our business and pursuing its interests in a legal and ethical manner. With a complex value chain, a broad perspective on business ethics is required. In our upstream operations, our own employees may pose a risk to Ragn-Sells in the event that they have come into contact with unethical business situations and agreements. Downstream, the main risks include bribes and unethical business deals in order to negotiate a lower price. Reputational risk is connected to all of the above.

Risk management

• Our Group Business Ethics Directive including policies and internal requirements within the risk areas. The directive is available in all the Ragn-Sells Group working languages.
• Upholding and promoting ethical business standards is stated in our Code of Conduct.
• Training in business ethics on all management levels.
• E-learnings in business ethics – mandatory for all white-collar employees.