Vetoquinol Universal Registration Document 2019

2 Vetoquinol  Universal Registration Document 2019  Financial report   53 STATEMENT OF NON-FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE Social footprint 2.7 Social footprint 2.7.1 Territorial, economic and social impact of the Group’s business Vetoquinol makes a major contribution to the local community by boosting the local economy and through employment, particularly at and around its production plants. Group units are generally located away from large cities and contribute to local and regional employ- ment through their presence and growth. Every year, Vetoquinol contributes towards training around forty apprentices from all over France. Furthermore, a strong culture of guidance prevails throughout the Group, such that a large number of Group companies regularly organize student internships in order to train future employees. Vetoquinol plays an active role in the life of local commu- nities through its involvement in and support for a variety of social, environmental and humanitarian initiatives. Vetoquinol sponsors cultural and sports events and clubs. 2.7.1.1 Community initiatives conducted by Vetoquinol and its subsidiaries For the seventh year running, Vetoquinol was the main sponsor of the Eurockéennes de Belfort festival in France. Vetoquinol has been associated with the Musique et Mémoire festival for a number of years, an important event in the French baroque music scene in the Vosges Saônoises region and member of the European Early Music Network. Over the years, the festival has been able to preserve a workshop atmosphere, where music is made on a human level with a special connection between the artists, the festival team and the public. Vetoquinol also continued its sponsorship of the Ron- champ Chapel, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, built by architect Le Corbusier some 60 years ago. Vetoquinol is a founding member of the group of sponsors that maintains and supports the development and promotion of this unique site in France. Furthermore, as it has done for over 20 years, Vetoquinol organized blood donations at the Lure facility, where 150 employees gave their blood this time in order to help save lives. In China, Vetoquinol sponsored the “Eagle Cup” veteri- nary competition geared towards continuously upskilling Chinese veterinary clinics. The competition was orga- nized jointly by China Agricultural University and RuiPeng Pet Hospital. Around 700 people from 82 universities and colleges took part in the competition. In Germany, Vetoquinol sponsored the studies of five veterinary university undergraduates. In Canada, Vetoquinol continued to support the Cen- traide foundation. This foundation, which Vetoquinol has been supporting for 11 years, aims to improve quality of life for the most vulnerable people and to build better communities by encouraging citizens to act. Centraide provides aid to over 60,000 people. Over €6,000 worth of donations were collected thanks to the commitment of Vetoquinol’s employees. Eco-responsibility initiatives were also set up: • In France, the Lure site organized a safety and energy day involving a number of workshops and stands. 
The main purpose was to recall the rules and behavior essential to everyone’s safety in an informal and enter- taining manner and to rally employees around a key issue for Vetoquinol that concerns every one of us. • In Germany, employees created a roof-top flower garden to encourage bee pollination. • In Brazil, an in-house awareness program was orga- nized for employees on water and power consumption, plastic cups and hard copy printing. • In Canada, for the fifth year in a row, the members of the Comité Vert (an eco-friendly committee comprising around 20 employees) undertook the clean-up of site surroundings as part of ‘Earth Day’ under the guidance of the Lavaltrie city council. • Vetoquinol Canada Inc. also had electrical charging sockets installed in parking lots for use by employees. Vetoquinol strives to stay on good terms with the local community and ensures that its locations are properly integrated into their surroundings. The Group’s operations, including its production plants, generate little noise, visual or environmental pollution impacting the local community.