“Rank or status, creed or colour, it all falls away when you work together on the environment."

Jan De Nul rocks in Benin

In Benin, a team of Jan De Nul is at work to protect the coast, which suffers heavily from erosion. The project goes far beyond the actual work. For example, the team organised a beach clean-up action: together with 150 volunteers, some 4.5 tonnes of waste were removed from the beaches. We also supported Rock Bujumbura, an organisation introducing young people to music, by transporting a large number of musical instruments with our ship.

"For me, the project in Benin symbolises our innovative protection of the white sand beaches, but also our solidarity with the local population. Rank or status, creed or colour, it all falls away when you work side by side clearing rubbish or when you enjoy the music made on instruments that you have supplied. When you are invited to enjoy the dance and rock music, you see with your own eyes how this help is paying off”, concludes Christophe Timmermans, Project Manager in Benin.

In every project, we do our utmost to cooperate openly with the local communities, within the contractual possibilities. We engage local companies and employees and always take into account local needs and requirements, in order to create added value. Open communication is the basis of a positive relationship.

Jan De Nul Group comes into contact with a wide range of different communities and cultures. And all over the world, our activities have an impact on the environment, both on a social, environmental and economic level.

Community engagement.

Stakeholder engagement.

For an international company like Jan De Nul Group, it is crucial to maintain good relations with stakeholders in all markets. We therefore put maximum effort into consultation and dialogue with all our stakeholders.

We believe that such commitment and partnerships also contribute positively to innovation, help us to manage risks and strengthen our sustainability efforts.

Thanks to satisfaction surveys and specific partnerships with our stakeholders, we are able to tailor our activities and business processes to their needs. 

"The certificate is similar to your entrance ticket to a football stadium. You have to do your utmost to keep getting the best seats."

Encouraging CO₂ reductions in the construction industry

A competitive price is no longer the ultimate criterion for winning a project. Sustainability is paramount today: the party with the best price-sustainability combination stands the best chance. Hence the importance of the CO₂ performance ladder: a certification scheme used in public contracts to encourage CO₂ reductions in the construction industry.

Jan De Nul has been certified for the CO₂ performance ladder since 2013. "Our main clients are becoming more and more demanding. The certificate is the same as an entrance ticket to a football stadium. If you want to get a good spot and keep it, you have to work hard", say Bart Praet and Evelien Craeynest, both members of our CO₂ Performance Ladder task force.

"The cooperation with our stakeholders encourages us to continue to innovate. They are in the forefront of position: they determine the extent to which they want to work sustainably and therefore use the CO₂ performance ladder. Every six months, we discuss with them the latest developments in the field of CO₂ reduction and strengthen each other's insights. This enables us to continue playing a pioneering role.”

"Our Code of Conduct is a fundamental commitment to our employees and partners."

Compliance programme

Jan De Nul Group is rolling out an extensive compliance programme, in which the Code of Conduct is central. "The code describes the values and rules of conduct that employees and business partners of Jan De Nul and how they must adhere  to work and perform ethically", explains Kelly Goelens, Internal Audit and Compliance Manager. “It is also a fundamental commitment of our employees and partners."

In addition, we are gradually developing regional programmes that take into account local risks and legislation. A network of local compliance officers will be responsible for contacts with local staff and partners.

Business ethics.

Jan De Nul aims to maintain and strengthen its position as a global player by managing its activities as a responsible and reliable company. We, therefore, attach great importance to compliance and integrity. We maintain the highest possible standards, in line with all applicable laws and guidelines, and invest heavily in a culture in which ethical behaviour and compliance are central.

To foster that culture, we have compiled a set of behavioural rules in our Code of Conduct, which is available to every employee. All employees, regardless of their role, must know the rules of conduct and be able to integrate them into their daily activities. We help them with awareness-raising campaigns and training sessions.