Our Corporate Social Responsibility
Our CSR policy for sustainable commitment and performance
Through its CSR policy, VMI contributes towards a positive economy by sustainably developing its activities, from the most local to the most global ones. This contribution also includes innovative marketing, sustainable technological solutions and management of their impact.
Client satisfaction is at the heart of our organization.
Our long-term vision for our activities encourages us to invest in sustainable research and development. We guarantee all our clients that we will properly execute their projects and support their development. Our partner suppliers are closely involved in our sustainable development approach.
We are also continuing our overall policy for quality improvement, sustainable development, well-being at work and territorial anchoring, in accordance with ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 standards, as well as with the principles of the United Nations Global Compact. Being awarded the EcoVadis Silver label for the third consecutive year in 2024, with significant progress placing us among the top 94% of evaluated companies across all sectors, encourages us to continue our efforts and further enhance our impact as a sustainable company—bringing us closer to achieving EcoVadis Gold (+95%).
This CSR commitment is focused on 4 main areas:
- A Governance and Ethics commitment
- A Societal commitment
- A Social commitment
- An Environmental commitment
As a member of the Group, VMI is fully committed to Hillenbrand’s sustainable development policy and values.
Governance and Ethics
Beyond any regulations, VMI commits to perform its activities in a clean manner and with integrity.
Transparent and responsible governance is applied to all the company’s business lines and looks at risk management for each of these lines.
In 2021, VMI implemented a Responsible Supplier Charter, to step up requirements and develop a strong joint commitment with its partners towards ethics, compliance with the law and the fight against corruption.
Our Partnership initiatives
VMI has set up a collaboration with local companies, contributes towards innovation and encourages professional integration.
Through its local and national partnerships, VMI aims to create employment in the industrial sector.
This policy demonstrates the company’s desire to develop French know-how as well as that of the territory in which it operates: the Pays de la Loire region.
VMI is a member of the French Fab, a label that focuses on promoting the French industry
VMI has received Origine France Garantie certification (AFNOR Cert. 79866) for its range of machines for artisanal baking (spiral kneaders, 10/80l beaters, fermenters) and healthcare & speciality chemicals (Bench-Top Mixer Turbotest®).
VMI serves manufacturers in the baking and agri-food industries, as well as the pharmaceutical, cosmetics and specialty chemical industries. For this reason, the company is actively involved in associations and unions that represent these sectors:
• EKIP : A Professional Union for French baking & pastry equipment suppliers.
• COSMETIC VALLEY : Association uniting key players from the French cosmetic sector. VMI is a member of its Board of Directors.
The VMI corporate commitments pave the way to support and promote the know-how and excellence of the baking, cosmetic and pharmaceutical industries.
Our human capital
Our priority is to prevent risks and protect our employees’ health.
The company actively works to improve the safety of its staff based in Montaigu-Vendée, as well as of its visitors.
Through various agreements, VMI has committed to providing necessary conditions to ensure its staff’s well-being at work.
Our support to staff members is materialized, in particular, by our implementation of Employment and Skill Management since 2008. Each employee benefits from the monitoring of their skills and a personalized training plan.
VMI undertakes to promote gender diversity and equal opportunity for every individual. VMI has begun implementing measures towards ensuring equal pay between two people with the same responsibilities, regardless of gender.
VMI offers all employees a safe work environment, based on open and constructive social dialogue.
In order to ensure better working conditions to its staff, VMI moved its premises to another sIn 2017 VMI moved into new, modern premises adapted to different working situations, thus improving the quality of life at work for its employees.
To reinforce its safety initiatives, VMI has created the position of QSE coordinator. This role centralizes the implementation of a digital system for reporting dangerous situations and the coordination of action plans. Every month, VMI communicates its safety results and broadcasts safety flashes to share best practices resulting from accident and near-accident analyses.
Our Environmental Responsibility
VMI is actively involved in environmental protection.
The company ensures the proper management of its waste.
It intends to become more involved by developing environmental awareness among each of its staff members.
The company contributes towards reducing harmful emissions by implementing internal processes and new ways of using its equipment that have a smaller impact on the environment.
As part of its eco-design strategy, VMI has three specific goals:
- Optimizing energy consumption
- Better cleanability of machines combined with improved technologies and processes
- Better monitoring of equipments’ water and electricity consumption
In 2015, VMI obtained ISO 14001 certification which, along with the ISO 9001 certification that it received in 1998, demonstrates its desire to reduce its environmental footprint and commit to sustainable development.
We carry out an annual carbon assessment of our activities, currently limited to emissions up to the point of leaving the factory. Our aim is to refine this calculation by taking into account the environmental impact of the use of our machines and their end-of-life, in order to have a more complete view of our carbon footprint.
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