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Alcan has clearly stated that its governing business objective
is Maximizing Value. As this approach continues to strengthen Alcan
as an organization, it will serve to increase our sustainability
as a business. Our awareness of the linkages between corporate responsibility
and core business objectives is growing. Success in both areas is
required to be a more attractive employer, producer, community partner
and investment opportunity.
Focusing on shareholder return allows us to take a comprehensive
approach to reducing costs and risks, developing new markets for
our products and services, and identifying areas of business growth.
Wealth creation in this sense provides the necessary base to support
the economic, environmental and social issues confronting our organization
today.
By generating superior returns, we will be able to offer our employees
greater opportunities for personal development and reward, improve
our ranking as an investment of choice, and be better positioned
to play a positive role in the communities where we operate.
SO HOW DOES OUR FOCUS ON SUSTAINABILITY
FIT INTO THIS PICTURE?
During the past few years, we have refined our ability to
identify, understand and manage the economic, environmental and
social dimensions of our business. More information about the full
range of consequences from our decisions enables us to reduce costs
and risks, and identify new business opportunities.
A few examples help illustrate this point:
- A new alumina unloader installed at Kitimat Works in British
Columbia in early 2001 is improving productivity and reducing
alumina losses during unloading and creates a cleaner work environment.
- Stakeholder engagement efforts were crucial to the launch of
our Alma smelter project in Quebec. The Company's interaction
with its communities, employees, customers, suppliers, government
regulators and shareholders paved the way for a positive pre-construction
environment followed by the successful completion and start-up
of the CAN$2.6-billion project.
SUSTAINABILITY—A RETURN ON INVESTMENT
Creating wealth provides us with the means to contribute
to the economic, environmental and social dimensions of our corporate
sustainability. Increased awareness of these issues is fundamental
to identifying new business opportunities, further maximizing value
within our business.
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DO INVESTORS PREFER COMPANIES WITH A SUSTAINABILITY
FOCUS?
Investors are just beginning to see the link between strong
business performance and sustainability.
For example, in their 2001 annual review of global metals and mining
companies, independent consultants Innovest Strategic Value Advisors
recognized Alcan as leading all aluminum producers for environmental
performance.
The Dow Jones Sustainability Indexes (DJSI) tracks the performance
of sustainability-driven organizations worldwide. The development
of these types of indexes highlights the significance and attention
that many organizations are assigning to sustainability. In 2000,
the DJSI ranked Alcan among the top ten percent within its market
sector in terms of economic, environmental and social policies,
practices and performance, and, in 2001, Alcan placed third out
of close to 20 companies.
Top Ten Reasons For Corporate Sustainability
- Enhancement of all aspects of environment, health and safety;
- Improved productivity, reduced costs and conservation of resources;
- Development of new profitable products and alliances because
of improved stakeholder, customer and supplier relations and intelligence;
- Increased loyalty and improved relationships with suppliers,
contractors and customers;
- Enhanced ability to attract and retain high-quality employees;
- Improved relations with communities and governments;
- Increased demand for products or services;
- Improved management of risks and liabilities;
- Increased access to capital;
- Greater value realization using focused resources in R&D,
investment and business planning.
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