Management systems

A system of internal rules was prepared for the regulation of the organisation, including aspects of general guidance and the statement of particular business aspects:

• Group guidelines: policies, regulations and management rules with which the Parent Company defines the general guidelines, guiding, coordinating and controlling the Group companies;
• procedures: acts governing the way in which a process is implemented, identifying roles and responsibilities.

The Integrated Certification Systems Unit within the Risk & Compliance Function of the Parent Company defines the methods and standards of reference for the implementation of QESE (Quality, Environment, Safety and Energy) certified management systems, as well as for further certifications and accreditations of interest to the Group, and operates in synergy with the same Units of the Operating Companies, to which the certified Management Systems are ascribed. These Units collaborate with the Energy Manager for 39 Of the 33 companies in the scope of reporting, the only ones not involved in a certification process are 16 companies in the photovoltaic segment and Acea Innovation, which has been awarded the commercial management of a number of added-value services. the development and management of the Energy Management System and with the Head of the Prevention and Protection Service (RSPP) and the emergency coordinator for the Workplace Health and Safety Management System. The management of health, safety and environmental emergencies is handled by means of a specific procedure.

Acea also relies on professional profiles such as the Energy Manager, in both the Parent Company and in the Companies, and the Mobility Manager, whose duty is to respond to the demands for optimum management of internal energy consumption and staff mobility – i.e. the Plans for travel between home and work. They seek systemic efficiencies and savings, creating positive external effects, such as lower use of resources and reduction of greenhouse gases, the optimisation of travelling times and routes for employees, also with positive impacts on road safety and urban traffic. Through coordination with Energy Managers in the Companies, the Energy Manager has the duty of promoting energy efficiency, with actions to reduce consumption and cost control, while optimising the Group’s energy costs.

Chart no. 18 – The certified integrated management system

In 2021, the main operating companies present in the scope of reporting adopted certified management systems (see table 12).

New developments during the year include the achievement of the Biosafety Trust Certification, for the prevention and control of the spread of infection in the workplace and already achieved in 2020 by Acea SpA, now also by Acea Energia and Acea Elabori as an essential tool for combating the health emergency caused by Covid- 19. In 2021 the BIM (Building Information Modelling) certification was also achieved by Acea Elabori for engineering design and the professional skills of a group of BIM engineers.

In particular, of the 16 main operating companies³⁹, which represent the biggest impacts of the Group, 94% hold quality certification; 87.5% hold environmental certification (100% of companies in the Environment sector and 80% Water sector); 100% have safety certification; 50% have a certified energy management system. The Acea Ambiente plants located in Terni, San Vittore del Latium and Orvieto and the Acque Industriali site in Pagnana (Empoli), are also registered with the EMAS.

Table no. 12 – Certified management systems in the Acea Group

The companies with certified management systems carry out an annual Management Review to assess the effectiveness of the systems, propose possible improvements and verify the progress of activities. On these occasions, attended by the Top Management and the first line of managers of the Companies in question, elements are analysed, including: policy; context analysis and materiality analysis at Group level; Group sustainability targets and their monitoring; risk assessment; process performance; significant environmental and energy aspects; changes in legal requirements and those relating to occupational health and safety, environment and energy; supplier performance; customer satisfaction levels; analysis of complaints; accidents and injuries.
The results of the review for 2021, finding no criticalities, confirmed the adequacy and efficiency of the management Systems. In line with the current Management Systems and Sustainability Policies, Acea monitors the objectives required by the Management system in an integrated manner with the objectives of the 2020- 2024 Sustainability Plan approved by the Board of Directors.

³⁹ Of the 33 companies in the scope of reporting, the only ones not involved in a certification process are 16 companies in the photovoltaic segment and Acea Innovation, which
has been awarded the commercial management of a number of added-value services.