Sustainable development was formalized for the whole Group in 2007, and it was included in shared topics for the first time in 2008. The Group’s sustainable development department was active and efficient. It faced up to disparities stemming from the Group’s history, its operating footprint, and geography. That department further managed to pragmatically establish links efficiently connecting all the entities.

Budgets were agreed upon by late 2007, and the ensuing action plan and and investments were initiated. Methods and reporting mechanisms are now operational.

The sudden drop in the price of natural rubber and palm oil, between July and October 2008, had to be taken into account and led us to spread over time certain heavy investments (such as lagooning and housing). This report shows however that we managed to meet our five priority commitments.

Faced with the magnitude of problems, from the environment to the living conditions of our workers, it is clear that in the end, it is the human element, his safety, the fulfillment of his basic needs, whether he is working for the Group or is part of neighboring rural communities living around our productions units, must be the focus of our efforts. The lagging economic development in the countries where we work, conflicts, social upheavals in most of the regions where we operate, have combined into a worrying situation in terms of health, education or even access to drinking water. We can only try to bridge over these gaps.

We have therefore given priority to this objective. Operating at the heart of these issues, we give priority to human beings in the environments we wish to protect. As such, we regret that some organizations fail to take into account this basic principle of sustainable development.