The values of Sustainable Development have been at the heart of the activities of the Lacq area industrial complex long before the current high level of public awareness. Today, the results can be seen clearly in the five following key areas:

R Economic performance
Contacts with interested companies have been streamlined and organized by setting up the GIP CHEMPARC in 2003 and by the creation of two industrial platforms (SOBEGI in 1975 and INDUSLACQ in 2004). These can supply all the information and services necessary for companies wishing to set up installations.
The new plants built by ABENGOA Bioenergy, by PHYTOCOS and soon by ENDESA France are the most significant recent examples.

R Risk Prevention
The presence of SEVESO establishments in the industrial complex implies that long experience and know-how has been acquired in the domains of risk prevention and studies of potential dangers (in particular those involving the “domino effect”). On each site, safety teams are continually active in these areas with the objective of permanent progress and risk reduction at source.

Major efforts have naturally been dedicated to the safety of personnel. In recent years special attention has been given to the safety of PME enterprises working on the sites with an improvement in mutual understanding between the partners and periodic safety training programmes which lead to delivering personalised passports and permits for companies to work on site (DT 78 UIC).

R Protection of the environment
Over recent years, there has been a structured approach to the ensemble “Quality, Safety and Environment”. Most companies have a safety management system and an environmental charter leading to ISO 14001 Environmental Certification. Some companies, such as ABENGOA Bioenergy declare that Sustainable Development is the corner stone on which their development strategy is based.

This permanent progress strategy is also the origin of major projects:
• Capture and reinjection of CO2. A pilot plant, the first of its kind in the world, has been built on site.
• The decision will shortly be taken to build a central biomass energy generating plant.

R Social values
The unemployment level in the Lacq area has decreased regularly from 2000 onwards (from 6.8% in 2006 to 6.3% today). This bears witness to the efforts that have been deployed. Companies spend between 3 and 8% of their salary budget on training.

R Corporate social responsability
The companies participate by means of training aids (partnership with teaching establishments, taking on trainees …) and joining in the activities of local associations.
They demonstrate civic responsibility through actions to economise energy and to protect the environment and participate in the Sustainable Development week.
These actions improve contact between companies and their surroundings and help maintain a high level of acceptability among local communities.

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