2008 Registration Document - Rexel

5. Social responsibilityScope of reporting – Changes in scopeof consolidationThe scope of reporting includes all of the consolidatedsubsidiaries for which Rexel manages operations, with theexception of the activities which are not directly linked withthe distribution of electrical products, which account forapproximately 3% of Rexel’s 2008 sales.Changes in the scope of reporting are directly linked tothe development of the activities of the Rexel Group and inparticular the acquisition of the activities of Hagemeyer.The scope of consolidation of the Rexel Group increasedby one third (sales: +33%, headcount: +25%, number ofbranches: +32%), which is also reflected in a significantincrease in environmental impacts, detailed below (includingthe volume of consumption, waste and associatedemissions of CO 2).As Hagemeyer does not have any consolidated reportingon all of this information, a pro forma historical comparisonwas not possible for 2008.Reporting methodologyIn order to improve the process of environmental reporting,the Rexel Group implemented a new IT application in 2008,which includes:− a specific data contribution and validation process foreach country;− consistency tests and verifications in relation to the dataentered are carried out in order to check the integrity ofthe information and ensure the reliability of the informationtechnology system.All employees involved in the environmental reportingprocess have been trained on this software and havereceived the Group’s environmental reporting charter whichcontains:− procedures relative to information collection andfeedback;− the indicators used, so as to ensure correct andhomogeneous understanding by all contributors; and− the calculation formulas used for the calculation of theindicators (such as CO 2emissions ).The methodology relating to certain indicators may havelimited relevance due to, inter alia, the practical collectionmethods of the information, that may in some cases requireestimates or extrapolations.The Rexel Group’s environmental impactThe table below provides an overview of the mainenvironmental impacts of the Rexel Group, which aredetailed below.Real estate Not significant CommercialtypeconsumptionWater Energy Waste Air Land H & SNot significant Not significant Not significant Not significantLogistics Not significant Transport Packaging Transport Fuel storage HandlingTransportBranch Not significant CommercialtypeconsumptionPackagingPublishingHeating Not significant HandlingCustomer sales Not significant Transport Packaging Transport Not significant Not significantUse of products sold Not significant EnergysavingsManagementof productsat life-endNot significant Not significant Compliancewith productstandards5.3.1 Water consumptionWater at Rexel is primarily consumed in commercial andadministrative buildings through the use of systems suchas air conditioning, toilets and kitchens, as well as duringobligatory clearance of fire protection systems.Total water consumption for the Rexel Group was ofapproximately 642,500 m 3 in 2008, remaining stablecompared to 2007 on a constant basis.5.3.2 Consumption of raw materials,energy and fuelConsumption of raw materials, energy and fuel is a majorenvironmental challenge for the Rexel Group. In the currentcontext of climate change, the optimization of consumptionimplemented by the Rexel Group limits CO 2emissionsresulting from this consumption while improving costcontrol.PAGE 60 | REXEL 2008