Stakeholder Engagement

Orica is committed to conducting business in accordance with high standards of corporate governance and aims to be open and transparent with all stakeholders regarding its sustainability aims and achievements.

Information on Orica’s approach to sustainability and general operations is communicated through a range of forums, publications and online sources. These include:

• www.orica.com;
• Annual General Meeting (also webcast);
• The Annual Report – available in hard copy or on-line as an interactive report;
• An annual, online Sustainability Report; and
• Disclosures to the Australian Stock Exchange.

Our SH&E Policy identifies our key stakeholders as our employees, contractors, customers, shareholders and the community.

Employees and Contractors

Our approach to engagement with employees and contractors is driven by our Model Procedure 14: Communication, which states “Processes shall be established and maintained to regularly communicate SH&E information within and between relevant sections of the company”.

Our employees and contractors key concerns are typically our safety performance, human resources policies and our sustainability reputation.

They are kept up to date on our sustainability performance through regular newsletters, intranet material, workshops and conferences. Our monthly ‘Orica Update’ newsletter and regular ‘Deliver the Promise’ magazine cover a range of initiatives across our operations, while our quarterly ‘Sustainability Newsletter’ provides a comprehensive overview of our sustainability programs and achievements.

Our Sustainability Intranet provides access to our guidelines and procedures, including our new Carbon Shadow Pricing requirements for significant new contracts and investments.

Our Sustainability Champions provide a point of senior, business-specific contact for queries and suggestions from our people. We are developing the capacity of our champions at each operation.

We also seek to engage with our contractors. Our Model Procedures state that “Contractors shall be given all relevant information regarding the company's materials, products and activities which may impact on the safety, occupational health and environmental impact of the work to be performed” and “Contract employees shall receive appropriate induction training prior to commencement of work.”

Community

Our approach to engagement with our local communities is driven by our Model Procedure 15: Community Relations Program, which states that each site shall “establish and maintain channels of communication with the community; and coordinate responses to requests for information from the community.”

The key concerns of our local communities are typically our local operational impacts (i.e. noise, odour and contamination) and employment opportunities.

Many Orica operated businesses pro-actively engage the community around their sites. The Dulux facility in Rocklea, Australia has been involved with Rocklea State Primary School’s annual sports day since 1997 and in 2007 provided students with drinks and refreshments on the day along with presenting the Dulux Shield.

Botany site, Australia

Our contaminated site in the inner suburbs of Sydney, Australia, has received an understandable amount of community interest. We actively engage the local community around the Botany site in an effort to listen to their concerns, questions and suggestions regarding the Botany Groundwater Treatment plant.
We provide regular updates on the progress of the project through a column in the Southern Courier newspaper and a newsletter for local residents. We have also produced a comprehensive suite of fact sheets, which are designed to provide the community with simple and easy to understand information on the environmental science and technology involved in the project.

Our Board receives regular updates on the progress of works and stakeholder engagement at our key legacy sites including Botany. Read more at our dedicated website.

Shareholders & Investment Community

We engage and respond to our shareholders sustainability queries at our half-year and end-of-year road show meetings. In 2008 we noted a significant increase in awareness and questions from our shareholders regarding our climate change exposure and opportunities.
Our performance against key sustainability indices and reputation assessments are also publicly available:

• Dow Jones Sustainability Index
• FTSE4Good
• Carbon Disclosure Project.

Government

We work proactively with local regulators, State and Federal Governments to meet local requirements and participate in the development of sustainability policy and initiatives.

The key concerns of government where we operate are typically regulatory compliance, our ability to demonstrate innovation in research and development and our ability to maintain positive relationships with our local communities.

We actively engage with relevant public agencies in all countries where we operate. These agencies include law enforcement, counter-terrorism, sustainability and climate change. For example:

• North America - We have a regular program of engagement and information sharing with law enforcement agencies;
• Philippines - We coordinate all movements of mining explosive products under police and / or military escort;
• Papua New Guinea - Our Country Manager is a member of the PNG Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PNGCCI) Standing Board/Committee; and
• Australia - We engage with the Australian Government on possible responses to climate change. We engage individually and through industry associations with the Australian Department of Climate Change regarding their plans for a National Emissions Trading Scheme, and the Department of Resources, Energy and Tourism about the new Energy Efficiency Opportunities legislation. We also regularly interact with government through our role as a pilot participant in the Australian National Greenhouse and Energy Reporting System.

Stakeholder Grievances and Concerns

Mechanisms to address grievances and concerns have also been established. Our Model Procedures require that “Public complaints (both written and verbal) shall be registered, investigated and responded to promptly.”
We have also established the Orica Speak Up Hotline for internal and external confidential feedback.

Return to Sustainability Introduction.