BIC - 2018 Registration document

OUR ENVIRONMENTAL, SOCIAL, AND SOCIETAL RESPONSIBILITY

Responsibility concerning our products [NFPS]

RESPONSIBILITY CONCERNING 3.2. OUR PRODUCTS [NFPS]

BIC produces and markets consumer products that are lightweight, have a long performance life, and are affordable by everyone. Right from the start, BIC® products have been designed and made with just what’s necessary in terms of raw materials, leaving out anything that is superfluous. To attain this goal, the Group has always pursued an approach that is based on innovation and emphasizes economy of materials. Through its Writing the Future, Together program, BIC is reinforcing its commitment with the creation of a “Sustainable Scorecard,” conceived to improve the environmental, social and societal performance of all BIC® products. BIC also contributes to the emergence of the circular economy by cultivating its eco-design process, initiating partnerships for the supply of secondary raw materials, and participating in the creation of a pilot recycling program for writing products. In addition, all BIC® products are designed to meet and anticipate the expectations of all consumers in developed as well as developing countries.

3.2.1.

OUR PRODUCTS’ ENVIRONMENTAL PERFORMANCE

BIC takes action to minimize 3.2.1.1. the impact of plastics For many years, beginning long before the current increased public concern about plastic pollution, the BIC Group has been committed to fighting plastic pollution through four different actions: Minimizing the quantity of plastic materials it uses and 1. lengthening the useful life of its products (see page 75); Identifying and using alternative materials (recycled or 2. biosourced plastics) (see page 76); Implementing a recycling system in preparation for the 3. circular economy (see page79); Preparing for the future. 4. The BIC Group also monitors very closely technical and regulatory evolutions concerning plastic.

Challenges, risks and opportunities ❯ To manufacture its products, BIC uses raw materials (plastics, inks, packaging and metals, etc.) and resources (water and energy), and generates waste. The challenge for BIC is to minimize its products’ primary environmental impact, namely the use of these raw materials. The BIC Group has identified the following risks among the major CSR risks  (1) resulting from its operations: “Plastic: plastic wastes and depletion of the resource”; ● “Animal well-being” (for compliance with the requirements of ● the REACH regulation).

OVERCOMING THE DISPOSABLE/SUSTAINABLE CONTRADICTION

BREAKDOWN OF RAW MATERIAL PURCHASES IN 2018 12% Metals

BIC® products are very often stigmatized as “disposable.” Although not all of them are refillable, neither are they used just once. On the contrary, most of them offer long-lasting performance: more than 2 km of writing for a ball pen, up to 3,000 flames produced for a lighter and 17 shaves for a triple-blade shaver. In addition, most of them are designed with no superfluous parts or features, using a minimum of raw materials, and BIC makes an ongoing effort to reduce their environmental impact in daily use. Each of the various products on the market, whether refillable or not, meets a specific consumer need.

46% Plastics

19%

Packaging

23% Other

The main CSR risks related to the activities and use of BIC Group’s goods and services are presented in the chapter “Risks” on pages 44 to 48. (1)

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• BIC GROUP - 2018 REGISTRATION DOCUMENT •