BIC - 2019 Universal 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 initiating partnerships for the supply of secondary raw materials, and participating in the creation of a pilot recycling program for writing products. BIC ® products are designed to meet and anticipate the expectations of all consumers in developed as well as developing countries. In addition, the Group takes all necessary measures to uphold its brand image and preserve its reputation.

3.2.1

THE PRODUCTS’ ENVIRONMENTAL PERFORMANCE  [NFPS]

Challenges, risks and opportunities related to the products’ environmental performance  [NFPS] 3.2.1.1 To manufacture its products, BIC uses raw materials (plastics, inks, packaging and metals, etc.) and resources (water and energy), and generates waste.

Breakdown of rawmaterial purchases in 2019

Analysis of product environmental performance (LCA) shows that a product’s weight/performance life ratio is a pertinent indicator for environmental performance. In fact, the more lightweight a product is and the longer it lasts, the better its environmental performance. Life cycle studies of its products confirm that the environmental impact of a product is mainly due to raw material usage in its manufacturing. The challenge for BIC is to minimize its products’ primary environmental impact, namely the use of these raw materials. Starting in 1994, when BIC conducted its first life cycle studies, the Group defined its founding principle of “just what’s necessary”  (1) in order to offer fairly priced products with less environmental impact.

13% Other

18.2% Metals

29.4% Packaging

Plastics 39.3%

ENVIRONMENTAL PERFORMANCE MEASUREMENTS FOR THREE MAIN BIC ® PRODUCTS (2)

Life cycle analysis approach – ReCiPe (version 1.12) Endpoint (H/A) Europe

Rawmaterials

Production

Distribution

End of life

BIC® Cristal® ball pen

81%

12%

4%

3%

BIC® Maxi lighter

81%

11%

5%

3%

BIC® Classic single-blade shaver

79%

14%

4%

3%

[NFPS risk 1] BIC identifies risks related to plastics – plastic waste plastic waste. In addition to these issues, there is also the growing and resource depletion – among the major RSE risks resulting from regulatory environment regarding the use of plastics and the its operations. On the one hand, plastics risk is incurred upstream, perception of consumers and citizens.

with the use of this material in BIC ® products, contributing to the depletion of a non-renewable resource, and therefore subject to rarefaction and price volatility, and on the other hand, it occurs downstream with the growing problems of pollution related to

[NFPS risk 2] Through its approach for minimizing the use of raw materials, BIC also responds to the risks related to climate change insofar as they concern BIC ® products (see also section 3.3.1.1).

“Il y aura l’âge des choses légères” by Thierry Kazazian, Victoires Éditions, 2003. (1) BIC analysis (2)

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• BIC GROUP - 2019 UNIVERSAL REGISTRATION DOCUMENT •