Tereos and COVID-19 - #CommittedtoEssentials
Situation update, October 29, 2020 -
Tereos, world leader in the production of sugars, alcohols, plant proteins and products derived from starch has seen its productions recognized as "of strategic interest" by the authorities in the context of the COVID-19 health crisis as they are essential for sectors such as agri-food, infant nutrition, the pharmaceutical industry and sanitizing.
Aware of its responsibility and the essential role of its activity in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Group has implemented a globally coordinated Business Continuity Plan (BCP). This plan meets a double ambition: to ensure the safety of its employees and partners, while maintaining its quality of service.
The Group is now able to meet global demand and provide its customers with the products essential to their business. This is the result of the collective effort of its 22,300 employees combined with the rigorous management of the PCA implemented.
More specifically, as a major player in pharmaceutical alcohol, Tereos remains mobilized to ensure a sustained supply of disinfectant products. Tereos would like to thank its social partners and employees for their strong involvement, ensuring a high level of activity on these production lines, the rise of which has made it possible to meet public customer's demand as well as health needs through large-scale solidarity action which continues today (donation of disinfectant alcohol, hydroalcoholic solution and gel).
1 - CONTINUITY OF ALL TEREOS OPERATIONS DESPITE THE PANDEMIC
Tereos' industrial operations are not impacted by the consequences of the coronavirus epidemic. To date, and under current conditions, Tereos does not anticipate any disruption in production and is managing its logistics operations to meet the challenges that supply chains could face.
The Group is not currently facing significant disruptions in its logistics and transport operations. Our sales, Customer Support and Supply-Chain teams constantly assess the situation and support the customers concerned as closely as possible to their needs and situations to ensure the best quality of service in this context.
As always, Tereos applies a high level of food safety to all its product lines. To date and as indicated by the EFSA (European Food Safety Authority) food has not been identified as a probable route of transmission of the COVID-19 virus.
2 - GLOBAL PLAN FOR HEALTH PREVENTION AND CONTINUITY OF ACTIVITY
In response to the first alerts concerning the spread of the virus, Tereos has set a dedicated crisis unit since February 27, 2020. It has supported Business Units around the world with a global program of preventive health measures in accordance with the instructions of local, national and international health authorities.Global “health and safety” protocol for employees:
Support functions: home office has been the rule for tertiary staff since March 17, 2020. The measure concerns our employees around the world.
In response to the second wave of the pandemic in Europe, the partial home office protocol has been upgraded to 100% home office in countries subject to partial or total containment and / or curfew situations: Spain, Belgium France, Italy, Czech Republic.
Tereos Customer Support Europe is continuing its mission thanks to the early implementation of efficient teleworking.
Operations employees (plants, logistics): a specific Operations Business Continuity Plan (PCA) was drawn up in March 2020 by our HSE teams with the support of staff representatives and health authorities. This BCP includes:
An ad hoc layout of the premises: access prohibited to visitors, protective screens in transit areas, temperature measurement stations, wearing of masks in all common areas, signage specifying the compulsory direction of movement, layout of collective spaces such as cafeterias or meeting rooms to allow distance and hygiene.
An individual health protocol (protection kits: masks, wipes and door openers), temperature measurement, barrier gestures, disinfection equipment in each room.
Strengthening of daily cleaning operations within the premises: disinfection of common living areas in factories (2 to 3 times a day) and provision of anti-propagation equipment (hand disinfectants, surface cleaning equipment, masks available…).
B. Risk management plan for travel and gatherings
Tereos employees are subject to the strict limitation of non-critical trips; personnel are required to give preference to conference calls and videoconferences.
All travel is subject to approval through a strictly personal authorization form issued by the Human Resources Department. Employees authorized to travel are required to comply with the regulations in force in the sites and countries visited.
Essential events are maintained in the form of interactive audio or video conferences: critical meetings, General Assembly meetings, Councils, Press conferences, etc.)
C. Measures implemented with our transport partners
Faced with the major challenges linked to logistics and road transport, and in particular in response to the measures put in place by the EU to control the movement of people and goods, and to secure the fluidity of the transport of so-called "essential" goods (EU press release from 03/16/20):
Our teams are in constant contact with logistics and transport companies to steer operations based on the information provided by the authorities and respond to the health measures in force at our sites and those of our customers.
In order to provide suitable reception for truck drivers: Tereos has equipped its sites with a reception area with coffee dispenser and sanitary facilities. Tereos encourages its customers to adapt their reception system to this end in order to develop a global approach that best supports logistics.
3. TEREOS COMMITTED TO ITS COMMUNITIES
Learn more with our report published on April 6, 2020.
As leading alcohol producer in France, Tereos has launched solidarity-based production of hydroalcoholic solutions and disinfectant alcohol in 7 of its European factories. Tereos has thus produced and delivered to date in France free of charge more than 200,000 liters of HA solution to Regional Health Agencies for distribution to State institutions or services mobilized in the crisis (nursing staff, law enforcement, administrations vital ...).
On March 24, Tereos Sugar & Energy Brazil announced that it was donating 20,000 liters of 70° alcohol to hospitals and Regional Health Units in the northwest region of the State of São Paulo in order to contribute to the fight against the Covid-19 pandemic. The volume was increased to 52,000 liters on April 3.
Finally, our teams have undertaken solidarity initiatives at the local level according to the most critical needs: donation of sugar to charities (Tereos UK & Ireland, and Tereos Sucre France in particular), donation of masks and protective suits to the forces of order or firefighters in France and Eastern Europe. In Indonesia, the Tereos FKS teams provided their employees with 200,000 care kits comprising vitamin C, hydroalcoholic gel, disinfectant wipes and approved diagnostic rapid tests.
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Tereos thanks its teams for the management of this unprecedented situation. The Group continues to monitor developments as closely as possible, along with its partners and the health authorities in the countries where it operates. This release is regularly updated. Please reach out to your Tereos contacts for any questions or clarifications.