Our Corporate Social Responsibility Commitments
Environment
Our priorities for the environment
By their very nature, our core activities contribute to the decarbonization of the global economy — but our commitment to protecting the environment goes beyond the production of renewable energy. This commitment is reflected in our Environmental Mission Statement, which was adopted in 2004 and updated in 2022.
We ensure that we hold all the necessary authorizations and permits and that we comply with all applicable environmental regulations. Wherever possible, we go one step further by voluntarily implementing best practices in an effort to be a leader in environmental innovation. We strive to respect and protect biodiversity while implementing the cutting-edge solutions and initiatives that accelerate renewable energy development. We also ensure that our suppliers and business partners subscribe to these values, as outlined in the Sustainable Procurement Charter introduced in 2022.
In 2022, there were no environmental incidents reported involving facility safety or integrity.
Key 2022 achievements
As anticipated in our 2021 CSR report, we decommissioned 18 wind turbines in France in 2022. These wind turbines were resold, and we are able to track their subsequent use. We also actively explore solutions for recycling turbine blades. New initiatives are currently in development in the industry to improve blade recyclability, with the ultimate goal of reaching zero waste in the coming years. Our systematic approach to the decommissioning of wind turbines further ensures that all materials at a site are reused or recycled. Concrete, for instance, can be recovered by a specialized contractor, who will then crush and reuse it either on site or at another nearby construction project.
In addition, since January 1, 2022, our teams in France have been using Trackdéchets, a new government-run online platform that improves the traceability, real-time monitoring and management of hazardous waste.
We also moved forward with launching technologies that allow us to better understand the behaviour of certain animal species. In France, multiple technologies were tested at our wind farms, and testing will continue in 2023. Our goal is to measure the performance of these technologies (some of which are powered by artificial intelligence) that are designed to detect and protect birds and bats. Results to date are promising.
CO2 emissions
Since 2021, we have set targets for CO2 emissions avoided through our renewable energy generation. These targets are aligned with the generation capacity targets outlined in our strategic plan. By the end of 2022, we had avoided 354 442 tonnes of CO2 emissions.
PRIORITY 7 – USE RESOURCES RESPONSIBLY
Continue to implement reduction, reuse, recycling and energy recovery initiatives, including an analysis of how non-hazardous waste is managed at our operating sites.
PRIORITY 8 – RESPECT AND PROTECT BIODIVERSITY
Continue to assess the performance of new technologies and innovative processes used to protect biodiversity.
PRIORITY 9 – ADAPT TO CLIMATE CHANGE
Continue to align with evolving reporting frameworks, specifically by implementing the recommendations of the Task Force on Climate-Related Financial Disclosures (TCFD), which is a long-term undertaking. Continue factoring physical risks related to climate change into our business decisions and contribute to the energy transition by leveraging renewable energy production to reach our target of 781,773 tonnes of CO2 emissions avoided by 2025.
PRIORITY 10 – LIMIT GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS
Quantify our Scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions annually and report them in our CDP disclosure questionnaire. Make progress toward our Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) commitments.
Our Employees
Our priorities for our employees
Respecting our people, our planet and our communities is critical to the successful execution of our strategic plan and the attainment of our business objectives. This is a pledge that is reflected in our collaborative approach to our suppliers and our partners, and in our commitment to those who live and work near our facilities. Likewise, it is what fuels our dedication as an employer to treat all the members of our team with courtesy and consideration.
Key 2022 achievements
Female representation
- Increased representation of women in management roles to 29.6%, surpassing our target of 26.5% for 2022
- Increased representation of women on the Board of Directors to 45%, surpassing our new target of 40%
- Set up a $5,000 merit scholarship at Polytechnique Montréal for the next three years to be awarded to a female student. In so doing, we hope to help pave the way to greater gender diversity in our industry.
- Gender equality index in France of 81/100 for 2022.
Occupational health and safety
- Updated our occupational health and safety commitments to ensure consistency in our objectives from one site and one jurisdiction to the next.
- Improved our total recordable incident rate (TRIR) in 2022 compared to last year, scoring 0.94 on a company-wide basis. Our teams in France delivered a noteworthy performance in this regard, with a perfect 0 for the second year running, due in no small part to the world-class practices they have put into place.
Perks designed to help employees enjoy a balanced and rewarding work life include:
- Health- and wellness-related classes and workshops (yoga, self-management, healthy eating, etc.)
- Fitness reimbursement program covering 50% of membership or registration fees, up to a maximum of $500 per year
- Option of taking an unpaid sabbatical leave of six to twelve months for personal reasons
- Possibility of working remotely from anywhere in the world for up to four weeks every two years
- Option of a reduced work week under our flexible working policy
- Optional progressive retirement program
- For our employees in North America: reimbursement of up to $1,500 per year to help achieve a healthy work-life balance (meal delivery, house cleaning, childcare, etc.).
Iron Boralex Challenge
Boralex organizes the Iron Boralex Challenge every year to encourage employees to get outside and move. Throughout the month-long Challenge, they can bike, run, walk, swim or engage in any other outdoor activity and earn points based on the distances they log. These points are converted to a corporate donation at the end of the month, to which are added the “pay what you can” registration fees collected from employees.
In 2022, the 165 participants racked up a total of 42,161 km, which worked out to $10,575 (CAD) in donations directed by Boralex to participantselected charities in France and North America.
2023 commitments
PRIORITY 4 – FOSTER INCLUSION, DIVERSITY AND EQUAL OPPORTUNITY
Pursue efforts to diversify our workforce and meet our diversity targets, especially as regards the proportion of women in management (26.5%), on the Board of Directors (40%) and among new hires (35%).
PRIORITY 5 – TAKE ACTION ON OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH AND SAFETY
Continue to strengthen OHS governance by raising the standards to be applied at all existing and future Boralex sites.
Community
Our societal priorities
Our relationships with our host communities are vital to the success and growth of our business. Respect is the watchword in all our production site development and operations. We accept and acknowledge that we are guests and act accordingly. We consult with the relevant authorities, the people who are using the land and nearby residents well before project development begins.
Donations and sponsorships
We see ourselves as full-fledged members of the communities where we operate. As such, we are committed to doing our part to help each of these communities thrive, specifically by contributing to local activities and events, partnering with local organizations and institutions, and, in France, giving neighbouring residents of wind and solar farms access to the resulting green energy produced. The four focuses of our philanthropic endeavours, as outlined in our donation and sponsorship policy, are:
- The vibrancy and vitality of our host communities
- Education
- Environmental protection
- Employee engagement in the community.
Donations and sponsorships
We see ourselves as full-fledged members of the communities where we operate. As such, we are committed to doing our part to help each of these communities thrive, specifically by contributing to local activities and events, partnering with local organizations and institutions, and, in France, giving neighbouring residents of wind and solar farms access to the resulting green energy produced. The four focuses of our philanthropic endeavours, as outlined in our donation and sponsorship policy, are:
- The vibrancy and vitality of our host communities
- Education
- Environmental protection
- Employee engagement in the community.
Key 2022 achievements
Our Beyond Renewables Fund in the U.S. was launched in 2021 to create opportunities and generate longterm benefits for underserved areas, underrepresented groups and our host communities. In 2022, the Fund supported 4-H Conservation Education Days, an event attended by 786 6th-grade students from across Oneida County, in the State of New York. A series of interactive stations were set up to help students gain a better understanding of the ecological balance of humans, wildlife, forest, soil and water in New York State.
Our consultation process
2023 commitments
PRIORITY 4 – FOSTER INCLUSION, DIVERSITY AND EQUAL OPPORTUNITY
Pursue efforts to diversify our workforce and meet our diversity targets, especially as regards the proportion of women in management (26.5%), on the Board of Directors (40%) and among new hires (35%).
PRIORITY 5 – TAKE ACTION ON OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH AND SAFETY
Continue to strengthen OHS governance by raising the standards to be applied at all existing and future Boralex sites.
PRIORITY 6 – CONSULT AND ENGAGE COMMUNITIES
Remain attentive to our communities as our business expands, especially in the United States, where we anticipate accelerated growth.
Governance
Our priorities in governance
Our approach to governance is guided by three main priorities centred on the implementation of best practices, ethical behaviours and responsible procurement processes.
The market recognizes Boralex’s excellence in governance. In Quebec, the Collège des administrateurs de sociétés at Université Laval uses Boralex as an example with respect to best practices for disclosure and compensation.
2023 commitments
- Creation of the new role of Senior Vice President, Enterprise Risk Management and Corporate Social Responsibility
“In executing our CSR strategy, we are taking a responsible and forward-looking approach to managing environmental, societal and governance risk. This corresponds perfectly to our new enterprise risk management focus and will allow us to grow in alignment with Boralex’s values. This strategy is the concrete embodiment of our commitment to our vision of going beyond renewable energy.”
- Julie Cusson, Senior Vice President, Enterprise Risk Management and Corporate Social Responsibility
- Broadened the mandate of the Board of Directors to include CSR oversight
- Launched our Sustainable Procurement Charter and the EcoVadis assessment process for our strategic suppliers
- Continued to implement TCFD recommendations in keeping with our 2020 commitment by conducting an analysis of climate-related physical risks in 2022
- Committed to setting a target as part of the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi)
- Updated our Code of Ethics, which will be deployed in 2023, to ensure a healthy workplace, safeguard and enhance the company’s reputation, and comply with legal requirements
2023 commitments
PRIORITY 1 – PRIORITIZE RESPONSIBLE CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
Continue to align our operations with CSR governance best practices, in particular by integrating CSR-related risks with our corporate risk map.
PRIORITY 2 – OPTIMIZE ETHICS IN BUSINESS AND BEHAVIOUR
Ensure all employees and Board members are trained in and adhere to the contents of the revised Code of Ethics.
PRIORITY 3 – PROMOTE SUSTAINABILITY IN OUR PROCUREMENT DECISIONS
Continue to implement our Sustainable Procurement Charter and work with a third-party consultant to evaluate the ESG performance of our main suppliers for contracts exceeding 150,000 CAD/USD/EUR in value.