NON-FINANCIAL
REPORT
___________________
CIECH Group
2022
KRS 0000011687
Regon: 011179878
NIP: 118-00-19-377
Share capital: 263 500 965,00 PLN (fully piad-up)
62 Wspólna Street, 00-684 Warsaw
Tel. +48 22 639 11 00
ciech@ciechgroup.com
We are providing a courtesy English translation of our Non-Financial Report which was originally written in Polish. We take no responsi-
bility for the accuracy of our translation. For an accurate reading of our Non-Financial Report, please refer to the Polish language version
of our Non-Financial Report.
5,415
Sales revenue [PLN m]
565
Net profit [PLN m]
1,033
EBITDA(Z) [PLN m]
8,093
Asset value [PLN m]
3,512
Employees
1,021
EBITDA [PLN m]
5
Business Segments
NON-FINANCIAL REPORT 2022
ciechgroup.com 3
CONTENT
LETTER BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE MANAGEMENT
BOARD ............................................................................ 4
CIECH GROUP ................................................................. 6
OUR VALUES................................................................................. 7
OUR PRODUCTS .............................................................. 8
SODA SEGMENT ........................................................................... 8
AGRO SEGMENT PLANT PROTECTION PRODUCTS .................. 15
FOAMS SEGMENT ...................................................................... 17
SILICATES SEGMENT ................................................................... 18
PACKAGING SEGMENT ............................................................... 19
QUALITY AND SAFETY OF PRODUCTS ......................................... 20
SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY ..................... 24
ESG STRATEGY “CHEMISTRY FOR A BETTER WORLD” ............. 24
ENVIRONMENTAL AREA ............................................................. 26
SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY AREA .................................................... 29
CORPORATE GOVERNANCE AREA .............................................. 30
OUR IMPACT ON THE ENVIRONMENT ........................... 31
GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS .................................................. 33
AIR QUALITY ............................................................................... 42
ENERGY ...................................................................................... 46
WATER RESOURCES AND SEWAGE MANAGEMENT ................... 51
WASTE AND HAZARDOUS MATERIALS ....................................... 52
RESTORATION OF DEGRADED AREAS - RECLAMATION .............. 53
LEGAL STATUS OF USING THE ENVIRONMENT .......................... 54
CIECH GROUP’S OPERATIONS IN THE CONTEXT OF
EU TAXONOMY ............................................................. 55
RISK MANAGEMENT .................................................... 66
OUR EMPLOYEES AND ASSOCIATES .............................. 72
EMPLOYEE ENGAGEMENT, CORPORATE CULTURE AND
EMPLOYEE RELATIONS ............................................................... 72
EMPLOYEE DEVELOPMENT ........................................................ 78
WE CHECK THE PULSE OF OUR ORGANISATION ........................ 80
DEVELOPING AN ATTRACTIVE BRAND ON THE LABOUR
MARKET ..................................................................................... 81
INTERNAL COMMUNICATION AND EMPLOYEE
ENGAGEMENT ............................................................................ 84
FIGURES AND RATIOS ................................................................. 85
SAFETY AND HEALTH OF OUR EMPLOYEES AND
CRITICAL INCIDENT MANAGEMENT ............................. 89
LABOUR SAFETY MANAGEMENT ................................................ 90
RISK ASSESSMENT ...................................................................... 95
FIGURES AND RATIOS ................................................................. 96
OPERATIONAL EXCELLENCE .......................................... 97
OUR ENVIRONMENT .................................................... 99
MEMBERSHIP IN ORGANISATIONS ............................................. 99
RELATIONS WITH LOCAL COMMUNITIES ................................. 101
PUBLIC AID ............................................................................... 104
CORPORATE GOVERNANCE .................................... 105
GOVERNANCE STRUCTURE ....................................................... 105
SHAREHOLDERS OF THE CIECH GROUP .................................... 107
BUSINESS MODEL ..................................................................... 107
MANAGEMENT STANDARDS AND COMPLIANCE SYSTEM ........ 108
CODE OF CONDUCT OF THE CIECH GROUP .............................. 108
CODE OF THE BUSINESS PARTNER OF THE CIECH GROUP ........ 111
KYC (KNOW YOUR CUSTOMER/SUPPLIER) VERIFICATION ........ 113
LIST OF INTERNAL PROCEDURE ................................................ 114
RULES FOR REPORTING VIOLATIONS ........................................ 115
COUNTERACTING CORRUPTION AND FRAUD ........................... 115
OBSERVANCE OF HUMAN RIGHTS ............................................ 116
COMPETITION PROTECTION ..................................................... 116
COUNTERACTING CONFLICTS OF INTEREST ............................. 116
ABOUT THIS REPORT ................................................. 118
INDEXES ..................................................................... 122
GRI CONTENT INDEX................................................................. 122
TABLE OF COMPLIANCE WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF
THE ACCOUNTING ACT ............................................................. 123
NON-FINANCIAL REPORT 2022
ciechgroup.com 4
LETTER BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE MANAGEMENT BOARD
DEAR SIR
OR MADAM,
I kindly encourage you to read the Non-Financial Report of the CIECH Group for 2022,
which presents the impact of our company on its environment and our initiatives in the
areas of sustainable development, environmental protection, business ethics and em-
ployee matters. Last year featured a very important moment for our organisation, the
publication of the Strategy of the CIECH Group for 2022-2024, the primary goal of which
is to build a modern chemical group ready to meet the challenges of the future, creating
value for its stakeholders.
NON-FINANCIAL REPORT 2022
ciechgroup.com 5
What is particularly of essence to me is that our new business
strategy remains consistent with the goals of CIECH's ambitious
ESG strategy and our Group's commitments towards the world
around us. I am proud that the principles of sustainable develop-
ment define the basic direction of our development - we know
the importance of our responsibility towards the planet and the
future generations to whom we will leave it. Accordingly, our fi-
nancial and economic goals are pursued in harmony with care for
natural resources and the environment and supported by a wide
range of socially important initiatives, relating both to employees
and third-party stakeholders. At the same time, we strive for full
transparency of our operations and impact on the environment,
as well as to enable our partners and external stakeholders to
continuously verify our progress on the path of energy transfor-
mation.
Our long-term environmental goals remain unchanged to phase
out coal in our production processes by 2033 and achieve climate
neutrality by 2040. One of our strategic priorities is the energy
transformation, focusing primarily on the Soda segment. Our
plans in this area include, among others: obtaining energy from
thermal waste processing installations or the use of biomass
fuels.
We have also given strategic importance to the area of occupa-
tional safety. Our goal is to become an industry leader in this re-
gard, setting the best market standards, and our primary commit-
ment is to reduce the frequency of injuries in our plants by 30%
by the year 2024. I am happy that our “Safe CIECH” campaign run
within the Group brought spectacular results in 2022, and six of
our companies received awards for achieving the “zero injuries”
goal over the past year.
2022 was the first full year of functioning of the Code of Conduct
of the CIECH Group and the Code of the Business Partner, on the
basis of which we responsibly undertake cooperation only with
those counterparties who share our values in the area of care for
the environment, society and the highest standards of corporate
governance.
The past year was yet another one in which we faced dynamic
changes. It was not only a trial period for business, but also a test
of our humanity. The challenges related to the pandemic period
were joined by the new ones arising from the tragedy of the war
in Ukraine. Therefore, this year the social aspect of our ESG strat-
egy gained particular importance, which we implemented, among
others, by donating protective masks and mattresses produced in
our factory in Bydgoszcz to help points for refugees from Ukraine,
or by providing our neighbours with medical supplies and power
generators. We also kept participating in other initiatives, both
those important for the local communities in which we operate
and those identified by our employees.
I am pleased to emphasise that our products support the imple-
mentation of the sustainable development goals defined by the
United Nations, while remaining a symbol of the best market
quality. The prestigious International Food Standard certificate
for salt from our German evaporated salt plant, awarded in 2022,
or the fact that CIECH Pianki - as the first Polish manufacturer of
polyurethane foams - received the ISCC Plus (International Sus-
tainability and Carbon Certification) certificate, are examples of
CIECH's efforts to meet the challenges of the future. Invariably,
our basic product - soda ash - supports progress in the world's key
areas related to renewable energy sources or the development of
electromobility.
Since 2019, we have been undergoing a transformation as part of
which we consistently change the CIECH Group into a modern
holding with a global reach, acting in line with the idea of sustain-
able development, where financial and economic goals are pur-
sued in harmony with care for natural resources and the environ-
ment, and supported by a wide range of socially relevant initia-
tives, concerning both our employees and external stakeholders.
We also care about full transparency of our activities and impact
on the environment.
Presenting this report, which is a comprehensive description of
the CIECH Group's impact on its environment, I would like to
thank all our employees, partners and external stakeholders with
whom we combine our efforts to implement the idea of corporate
social responsibility.
Yours faithfully
Dawid Jakubowicz
President of the Management Board of CIECH S.A.
NON-FINANCIAL REPORT 2022
ciechgroup.com 6
CIECH GROUP
The CIECH Group is a global chemical
group of companies, focusing on promis-
ing markets.
The CIECH Group is an international, professionally managed
group, with a well-established leader position in the chemical in-
dustry in Central and Eastern Europe. It employes over three
thousand people in the European Union. It manufactures prod-
ucts that are used to create articles necessary in the daily lives of
millions of people around the world, which is why it is an im-
portant element of many branches of the economy - construc-
tion, automotive, agriculture, chemical, food and pharmaceutical
industries.
We are the second largest manufacturer of sodium carbonate
(soda ash) and sodium bicarbonate (baking soda) in the Euro-
pean Union, one of the largest manufacturers of evaporated salt
in Europe, the largest supplier of sodium silicates in Europe, the
largest Polish and one of the largest European manufacturers of
plant protection products, and a leading producer of polyure-
thane foams in Poland.
The clients of the CIECH Group are both global chemical groups
and smaller customers from Europe, Asia, North and South Amer-
ica and Africa. Our products are sold to over 100 countries around
the world. The most important market for the CIECH Group's
products is the European Union, predominantly Poland and Ger-
many, as well as the countries of Central and Eastern Europe.
The priority of the CIECH Group is the maximum adjustment of
the offer to the individual needs of the customer and the provi-
sion of the highest level of service understood as the quality of
customer service, product quality, level of logistics, product avail-
ability and delivery guarantee.
Figure 1 Geographical structure of the CIECH Group's reve-
nues in 2022
Africa
0,5%
Other
0,5%
European
Union
47%
Poland
48%
Other European
countries
3%
Asia
1%
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ciechgroup.com 7
As of 31 December 2022, the CIECH Group comprised 42 busi-
ness entities.
Figure 2. Structure of the CIECH Group in 2022
The strategic and operational goals
of the CIECH Group are realised within
the organisational structure based
on functional divisions, covering the func-
tions of sales, production, purchases,
and support.
The headquarter of the CIECH Group is located in Warsaw. Com-
mercial activity is carried out primarily by CIECH S.A., subsidiaries
of CIECH S.A. - domestic and foreign commercial companies and
selected production companies (CIECH Sarzyna S.A., CIECH Vitro-
silicon S.A., SDC Group, CIECH Pianki Sp. z o.o.).
Production activity is carried out by production plants, which are
also subsidiaries of CIECH S.A. Production is located in 9 produc-
tion plants, of which the five largest (two in Poland, two in Ger-
many and one in Romania) operate in the Soda segment and pro-
duce soda ash and soda derivatives (in the case of CIECH Soda Ro-
mania S.A., the plant also manufactures products of the Silicates
segment, the soda plant in Janikowo also manufactures salt prod-
ucts, and the plant in Germany produces electricity which is fur-
ther sold to third-party entities). The remaining 4 plants operating
in the Agro, Foams, Silicates and Packaging segments are located
in Poland. The production of soda at the plant in Romania was
suspended in the third quarter of 2019 (more information can be
found in our Current Report No. 40/2019).
OUR VALUES
RESPONSIBILITY
We are not indifferent to our work, because we treat CIECH as our
own business. We care about how our company is doing, how it is
developing, how it is perceived and how our associates feel in it.
This is why we take responsibility for our words and actions: for
the effects of our work, for quality, reliability, customer, and as-
sociate satisfaction, and for their safety.
We are able to look wider and further, anticipating the conse-
quences of our actions and decisions on others and identifying
risks and opportunities early enough to be able to take effective
action.
RELIABILITY
We guarantee the quality and timeliness of all our activities.
We keep our word and commitments, and we are transparent in
communication, providing reliable information. This enables us to
build relationships based on trust and to be a reliable partner for
our employees, customers, and investors.
TEAM
As the CIECH Group, we are reliable thanks to our team approach.
We trust one another, we share information and knowledge.
We care for and support one another on the way to achieving a
common goal, using the strengths of each person.
DEVELOPMENT
We know that by standing still, we are actually going backwards.
To build a stable future, we must continuously develop and move
forward. That is why we are actively looking for ways to improve
our processes, working methods and competences.
We follow trends, broaden, and deepen our knowledge, and de-
velop our skills. We are committed to the development of our em-
ployees, introduce modern tools and create an inspiring work en-
vironment conducive to development.
Subsidiaries
35
Parent company
1
Foreign
affiliate
1
Domestic
affiliates
3
Jointly
controlled
domestic entity
1
Jointly controlled foreign
entity
1
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ciechgroup.com 8
OUR PRODUCTS
We manufacture both core raw materials in inorganic chemistry
(e.g., sodium carbonate) and products with a higher degree of
processing (sodium bicarbonate, silicates, plant protection prod-
ucts). Many of our products are not used directly by consumers
but are a significant contribution to final products that support
the achievement of the United Nations Sustainable Develop-
ment Goals.
Almost 90% of our revenues come from
the sale of products whose end-use sup-
ports the achievement of the UN sustain-
able development goals
SODA SEGMENT
The Soda segment is the area with the greatest share in the
Group's financial results. In 2022, it was responsible for 77% of
the Group's EBITDA. In this segment, we manufacture sodium car-
bonate, sodium bicarbonate, salt, and other products such as cal-
cium chloride or hopcalite. In addition, we are a seller of low-
emission (gas) electricity in Germany, which serves, among oth-
ers, local system regulation and balancing.
SODA ASH
We are the second largest producer in Europe.
We currently produce soda ash in Inowrocław, Janikowo and Stassfurt.
Production capacity: up to 2.6 million tonnes per year
1
BAKING SODA
We are the second largest producer of baking soda in Europe.
We manufacture it in Inowrocław and a state-of-the-art plant in Stassfurt.
Baking soda is produced from soda ash.
Production capacity: up to 200 thousand tonnes per year.
SALT
Currently produced in Janikowo and the ultra-modern plant in Stassfurt
The total production capacity for salt is approx. 1 million tonnes per year.
1
Including the production plant in Romania remaining in hibernation and the soda ash used in the production of sodium bicarbonate (baking soda).
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SODA ASH
(SODIUM CARBONATE NA2CO3)
Sodium carbonate is one of the basic raw materials for glass pro-
duction - about half of the soda produced worldwide is used in
the glass industry. We are the second largest producer of soda
ash in Europe.
Our customers use CIECH soda to manufacture, among others:
flat glass for construction, used in modern and effective ar-
chitecture,
photovoltaic and solar panels,
automotive glass, used among others in the production of
electric vehicles,
environmentally friendly glass packaging,
packaging vials for medicines and other glass packaging, as
well as instruments used in pharmacy and laboratories,
environmentally friendly washing and cleaning agents.
In addition, soda ash is used in metallurgy and in the chemical in-
dustry, e.g., to produce certain types of mineral fertilisers, as well
as dyes and pigments.
There are two basic types of soda ash:
DENSE SODA
mainly used to produce glass,
LIGHT SODA
mainly used to produce loose detergents.
The main difference between light and dense soda is the bulk
density (1 tonne of light soda is of higher volume than 1 tonne of
dense soda), and the basic chemical characteristics are identical.
The type of product purchased by customers depends primarily
on the technology they use and on their individual preferences.
The CIECH Group sells soda ash both in bulk and packed in big and
smaller bags. Bulk product is transported to the customer in spe-
cial cisterns or railway wagons, and packaged product - by road
or rail transport. Soda ash is also transported by ships, in bulk or
in packages, most often loaded into containers.
BAKING SODA “SOBIC
(SODIUM BICARBONATE - NAHCO3)
Baking soda is a product made of soda ash. It is an important phar-
maceutical product, whether used alone (e.g., for dialysis) or as
an ingredient in medicines. It is also used in the cosmetics indus-
try. We are the second largest producer of baking soda in Europe.
PHARMACEUTICAL-GRADE DIALYSIS SODA
Specially purified soda with strictly defined granulometric pa-
rameters and meeting the requirements of strict regulations
(including API certification, GMP+).
PHARMACEUTICAL-GRADE SODA
It has acid-neutralising properties, the ability to bind other
substances and cleaning properties, which makes pharma-
ceutical-grade soda widely used in the pharmaceutical and
cosmetic industries.
FOOD-GRADE SODA
A product with a wide range of applications in the food indus-
try and in households. CIECH food-grade soda that meets the
requirements of the relevant regulations regarding products
admitted to consumption (including IFS certification).
FEED SODA
Feed material used by both feed producers and individual
farmers.
INDUSTRIAL-GRADE SODA
The product is widely used in numerous industries, primarily
as a sorbent in flue gas desulfurisation installations, in the
production of detergents, as well as in the paper and chemi-
cal industries.
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PRODUCTION PROCESSES OF SODIUM
CARBONATE AND BICARBONATE
The production of soda in the CIECH Group is the responsibility of
the following three companies: CIECH Soda Polska S.A. (plants in
Janikowo and Inowrocław), CIECH Soda Deutschland GmbH & Co.
KG (Stassfurt) and CIECH Soda Romania S.A. (Ramnicu Valcea
production suspended in September 2019). Sodium carbonate is
produced in all plants and sodium bicarbonate in Inowrocław
and Stassfurt.
Main raw materials used in the production process in the Soda
segment include limestone, salt brine, ammonia, furnace fuel
(coke or anthracite) and heat (in the form of high-quality process
steam).
Soda ash production plants are in the immediate vicinity of lime-
stone and brine suppliers - this is necessary due to the high costs
of transporting this raw material. In the case of the production
plant in Germany, we use our own deposits of both brine and
limestone. In the case of the Group's Polish plants, we have long-
term relationships with suppliers of these key raw materials. In
2022, we concluded agreements securing the supply of brine to
the production plants of CIECH Soda Polska S.A. by the end of
2035 under predictable conditions.
Coke is the so-called furnace fuel, used to burn limestone and pro-
duce carbon dioxide used in the further part of the process. Coke
is usually supplied under short or long-term contracts. In the soda
production process, coke can be replaced with anthracite, which
is slightly less efficient. In practice, we usually use a mix of coke
and anthracite, and their share depends primarily on prices and
availability on the market.
The largest component of manufacturing costs in the production
process is heat energy in the form of process steam production
plants in Poland and Germany have their own CHP plants. The en-
ergy resource used in Inowrocław and Janikowo is hard coal, and
in Stassfurt, Germany - natural gas. Hard coal supplies are made
under both short-term and annual contracts with a fixed price or
adjusted by various indexes, and the costs of gas supplied in Ger-
many refer to the market prices of this raw material (in the case
of options - to prices under option contracts). The plant in Roma-
nia, where production has been suspended since September
2019, used process steam purchased from an external supplier.
ENERGY
Electricity
Process steam
Cogenerated from thermal coal or natural
gas in our own CHP plants or obtained
from an external supplier.
RAW MATERIALS
Brine
Limestone
Code or anthracite
Ammonia
CONTINUOUS CHEMICAL REACTION
Burning limestone
Brine purification
Absorption
Carbonisation
Filtration
calcination
LIGHT
SODA
DENSE
SODA
BAKING
SODA
SALES
SALES
SALES
Production process
Production process
Soda monohydrate
Crushed soda
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ciechgroup.com 11
In recent years, we have been intensively developing the Soda
segment. After expanding the production capacity of the soda
plant in Inowrocław by 200 thousand tonnes per year imple-
mented in 2016, in 2020 we completed the implementation of a
several-year project to increase the production capacity of baking
soda at the plant in Germany. Currently, our German plant can
produce over 100 thousand tonnes of baking soda per year, in-
cluding the highest quality class in accordance with the require-
ments of the pharmaceutical market.
Further development in the soda area will take place mainly
through optimisation and increase in efficiency, as well as im-
provement in product quality and focus on more processed prod-
ucts. At the same time, we care about the quality of service for
existing customers, and we are intensively looking for new cus-
tomers.
PRODUCTION CAPACITY OF THE CIECH GROUPS SODA
PLANTS
SODA SEGMENT
SODA ASH AND BAKING SODA
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SALT (NACL)
Evaporated salt of which we are a producer is widely used in the
following industries:
Pharmaceutical - as a component of pharmaceuticals. Salt
from the Stassfurt plant meets stringent purity standards for
products for medical applications. Certification is currently
underway, the completion of which will enable us to sell this
product of the highest quality and purity,
Food - alone or as a component of supplements enriching
the diet of wild and farm animals (cows, horses, sheep,
goats, and forest animals). In this case, feed salt or in the
form of licks is enriched with minerals (copper, cobalt, sele-
nium, zinc, manganese, iodine),
Water treatment and softening processes, thanks to which it
contributes to the reduction of water, detergent, and fuel
consumption. It also extends the life of household appli-
ances.
Chemical industry and other branches of heavy industry -
mainly in electrolysis processes.
In 2022, we increased the scale of commercial sales of salt from
the evaporated salt production plant in Germany, launched in
2021, whose production capacity is planned at approximately
450,000 tonnes of salt annually. This means almost doubling our
production capacity, previously concentrated in Janikowo. Due to
the investment in Stassfurt, we improved the production capacity
of evaporated salt to about 1 million tonnes and found ourselves
among the largest producers in Europe, with an established posi-
tion in Central Europe and Scandinavia, and with the prospect of
expansion to Western European markets.
The salt plant in Stassfurt is one of the most modern facilities of
this type in Europe. Evaporated salt is produced there using a dif-
ferent technology than in the Polish plant. Instead of steam-
heated evaporators (MEE technology), we used a fully automated
production line based on MVR technology (evaporation of water
by supplying compressed steam). Based on Boyl's physical law,
the technology results in significant savings and increases the ef-
ficiency of salt production.
The solutions applied in Stassfurt also include the use of an effec-
tive, low-emission source of heat energy (an efficient gas-fired
CHP plant) and effective management of heat energy in the pro-
duction process, confirmed by the ENEV certificate. In addition,
the electricity used in the salt plant is 100% renewable, i.e., from
renewable energy sources. In addition, the plant has been
equipped with an optimal system for managing production waste,
which is discharged to an underground storage site. Our new
plant is equipped with a modern, fully automated high-storage
warehouse.
The advantages of the German location of the new plant are the
availability of its own sources of raw materials (brine), a low-emis-
sion and effective source of energy, and the location enabling ex-
pansion on attractive Western European markets. In 2022, we ob-
tained the prestigious International Food Standard certificate,
confirming the high quality of salt from our German salt plant.
This certificate is also held by Sól Kujawska, produced in our plant
in Janikowo.
Last year, Stassfurt salt was also recognised as compliant with the
international HACCP (Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points)
standard to ensure food safety.
SALT PRODUCTS OF THE CIECH GROUP
TABLE SALT AND IODISED TABLE SALT
Produced from a salt solution derived from the wet exploitation
of natural salt deposits, by obtaining brine. It contains a minimum
of 99.9% sodium chloride and is widely used in the food industry.
The CIECH Group sells salt primarily in one-kilogram bags under
the Sól Kujawska brand and under private labels of food chains,
as well as in larger, 25-kilo packages targeted at business custom-
ers.
SALT WITHOUT ANTI-CAKING AGENT
Used for food production (mainly products manufactured based
on the BIO market - no anti-caking agent in such product).
AQUA PRO SALT TABLETS
Are used in water treatment systems, e.g., for the regeneration
of ion exchangers, water softeners and multifunctional filters that
capture components contributing to water hardness (calcium and
magnesium). The main recipients of salt tablets produced by the
CIECH Group are households (home water treatment), adminis-
trators of multi-family buildings (water treatment for housing es-
tates), industry (water treatment in production processes), as
well as entities such as swimming pools, car washes and hospitals.
Tablets under the Aqua Pro brand are currently produced in the
CIECH factory in Janikowo and are sold on the markets of Central
and Eastern Europe and Scandinavia. As of 2023, the brand will
also be offered as part of the portfolio of the German salt plant in
Stassfurt and distributed on the Western European markets.
.
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ciechgroup.com 13
FEED SALT AND SALT LICKS
Used in agriculture and in the production of animal feed. The salt
content perfectly complements the diet of farm animals, espe-
cially ruminants, with minerals. Our products are also used in
feeding forest animals as they improve the assimilation of potas-
sium, magnesium, and calcium. Feed salt is sold in the GMP+
chain (international standard for good practice in the production
and transport of feed).
CURING SALT
Nitrite curing salt (curing salt) is an irreplaceable auxiliary agent
in the production of meat and sausage products. Curing refers to
one of the oldest ways of preserving food - preservation with salt.
G-SALT GRANULATE
Used in dishwashers, since 2022 sold under the G-Salt brand. The
product is ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 certified and is widely used in
households. It extends the life of dishwashers and increases
washing efficiency, reducing the consumption of water and deter-
gents.
SALT PRODUCTION PROCESS
Evaporated salt is produced from a salt solution derived from the
wet exploitation of natural deposits of rock salt:
INDUSTRIAL SALT
Is one of the ingredients in the production of detergents, washing
powders and dyes. It is also widely used in the electrolysis pro-
cess.
WINTER SALT
Quickly and effectively dissolves salt and ice on pavements, stairs,
and driveways.
The preparation of salt products for medical applications is un-
derway (including certification).
We are currently focusing on the development of specialist prod-
ucts within the dry salt portfolio, focusing on increasing produc-
tion capacity, developing new products and sales directions.
For more information on salt products go
to ciechsol.com
BRINE
Salt solution from wet exploitation of natural
rock salt deposits
SALT EVAPORATION
A series of processes involving the evaporation
of water from the brine
WET
SALT
DRY
SALT
Production process
SALES
SALES
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ciechgroup.com 14
PRODUCTION CAPACITY OF THE CIECH GROUPS SAL
PLANTS
SODA SEGMENT
SALT PRODUCTS
OTHER PRODUCTS OF THE SODA SEG-
MENT
As part of the Soda segment, we also make products such as:
Calcium chloride (CaCl2) used e.g., as an environmentally
friendly agent for road maintenance in the winter season
(de-icing) and outside it (dust removal), as a source of easily
assimilable calcium for vegetables and fruits.
Hopcalite used in respiratory protection devices such as
gas masks, breathing apparatus and carbon monoxide mon-
itoring devices.
Electricity part of the electricity generated in our Stassfurt
gas-fired CHP plant is sold on the market. Furthermore, for
additional remuneration, the CHP plant participates in stabi-
lising the power grid and balancing renewable sources.
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ciechgroup.com 15
PRODUCTION CAPACITY OF CIECH GROUPS PLANT PROTEC-
TION PRODUCT FACILITIES
AGRO SEGMENT
PLANT PROTECTION PRODUCTS
AGRO SEGMENT PLANT PRO-
TECTION PRODUCTS
The CIECH Group is the largest Polish manufacturer of plant pro-
tection products and a leader on the herbicides market. In addi-
tion to the production and sale of products for the agricultural
industry, we participate in the transformation of this market. We
change and modernise the market of plant protection products
by digitising it and introducing automated solutions that facilitate
cooperation with our distributors and users of our products.
The Agro segment is the second pillar of
the CIECH Group's business, with a 14%
share in the Group's EBITDA in 2022.
Modern plant protection products that we make enable us to
safely improve the efficiency of agriculture and reduce the nega-
tive effects of agriculture on the planet:
lead to a reduction in cultivation, reducing soil degradation
and deforestation,
increase the efficiency of harvesting, maximising the effi-
ciency of energy and water use,
allow for the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions by agri-
culture,
stabilise the quality and quantity of crops,
protect against dangerous diseases and infections (e.g., my-
cotoxins).
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OUR RESPONSIBILITY AS A MANUFACTURER OF PLANT PRO-
TECTION PRODUCTS INCLUDES:
strict adherence to quality and safety rules and regulations
conducting research on the safety of using products in accord-
ance with the highest standards
ensuring the highest quality of production processes and the raw
materials, ingredients and semi-finished products used
research and development in new products, especially the possi-
bility of achieving the desired effects with the lowest possible
dosage of active substances
market education on the principles of effective and safe use of
products.
The Polish company CIECH Sarzyna S.A. specialises in the produc-
tion and distribution of plant protection products, which is the
largest Polish manufacturer and the sales leader on the market
of herbicides (weed killers). Our competitive advantage is, among
others, one of the world's most modern installations to produce
MCPA - an effective and safe herbicide, as well as 60 years of ex-
perience in manufacturing plant protection products. CIECH
Sarzyna has a modern production plant and a laboratory with
the prestigious GLP (Good Laboratory Practice) certificate.
The full range of the CIECH Group's AGRO area includes over 150
product items (herbicides, fungicides, insecticides, growth regu-
lators and seed dressings), in various chemical groups, formula-
tions, packaging sizes, depending on the target market and forms
of application. The most famous trademarks of the AGRO brand
include: CHWASTOX, Agrosar, Tarcza Łan Extra, Labrador Extra,
Nikosar, Prokarb. In addition to European markets, we also sup-
port markets in Asia, Australia, North Africa, Latin America, and
Canada.
An example of our approach to solving problems facing the agri-
cultural sector and the use of the latest research achievements is
the creation and registration of a new plant protection product -
Halvetic, based on the innovative BGT (Better Glyphosate Tech-
nology) technology, with effectiveness confirmed in over half a
thousand studies conducted on four continents. BGT allows you
to maintain the current effectiveness of glyphosate-based prod-
ucts while reducing the dose of the active substance by half, com-
pared to current standards. Glyphosate is the most widely used
and one of the most thoroughly tested active substances used in
plant protection, approved for use in over 160 countries.
Halvetic contains built-in wetting agents and ammonium sul-
phate, generally added separately by users. This facilitates the
use of the product, reduces the risk of error, and improves the
economic aspects of the procedure.
During two years of its market expansion, Halvetic has been ap-
proved for use in 13 countries, including Poland, Slovakia, Roma-
nia, Greece, Portugal, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic and Spain. In
2023, the product will appear in other countries, including Italy
and Great Britain. We also plan to register it in Argentina and Uru-
guay, and later also in Brazil.
The new glyphosate formulation technology is in line with the
proposed assumptions of the European Commission's "From
Farm to Fork" programme, which assumes, among others, obliga-
tion to reduce the consumption of active substances in the Euro-
pean Union by 2030. In our opinion, Halvetic is the optimal com-
promise between the needs of modern agriculture and pro-eco-
logical attitudes related to the implementation of the provisions
of the European Green Deal.
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FOAMS SEGMENT
POLYURETHANE FOAMS
The CIECH Group is one of the largest suppliers of polyurethane
foams (PUR foams) on the domestic market. In 2022, the Foams
segment generated 6% of the Group's EBITDA.
Flexible polyurethane foams are used mainly in production of up-
holstered furniture and sleeping mattresses. To a lesser extent,
they are used in the automotive industry, construction industry
and textile industry.
CIECH Pianki Sp. z o.o. has many years of experience in the pro-
duction and sale of flexible PUR foams and is one of the largest
producers of PUR foams in Poland. Recipients of the company’s
products include the largest furniture and mattress manufactur-
ers in Poland and Europe. Because of physical and mechanical
properties (low specific gravity) PUR foams are sold primarily on
local markets. In Poland, the consumption of flexible polyure-
thane foams is associated largely with the national furniture in-
dustry and its high position in the international markets which is
consistently strengthening and the value of export of Polish fur-
niture keeps growing.
PRODUCTION CAPACITY OF THE CIECH GROUPS FOAMS
PLANT
FOAMS SEGMENT
POLYURETHANE FOAMS AND PROTECTIVE MASKS
In 2022, CIECH Pianki, as the first Polish manufacturer of polyure-
thane foams, obtained the ISCC Plus (International Sustainability
and Carbon Certification) certificate. It confirms that the com-
pany meets stringent environmental standards in production,
with particular emphasis on limiting the use of petroleum-derived
raw materials, in favour of components from renewable sources
and recycled.
Work is currently underway on the use of recycled materials (re-
polyols) and plant-derived raw materials (bio-polyols) in the pro-
duction of foams.
PROTECTIVE MASKS
Using our potential and competences to support the global fight
against the COVID-19 pandemic, in December 2020 we started
the production of protective masks. We can produce about 10
million pieces of masks annually, providing high-quality protec-
tion in the FFP3 class. It took us about five months to launch pro-
duction, establish supply chains and undergo FFP2 tests and cer-
tification, which confirms our flexibility and high operational effi-
ciency.
Our masks also have the Standard 100 by Oeko-tex® certification,
which means that they are free of harmful substances in concen-
trations that have a negative impact on human health, e.g., pes-
ticides, chlorophenols, formaldehyde, allergenic dyes, prohibited
azo dyes and extractable heavy metals.
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SILICATES SEGMENT
In 2022, the Silicates segment generated almost 9% of the CIECH
Group's EBITDA, achieving a record result at the same time. This
is, among other things, the result of the temporary restoration of
production in the older furnace at the plant in Iłowa, which was
supposed to be shut down after the new silicate smelting furnace
in Żary was commissioned in 2021. This decision was the Group's
response to very high market demand.
The CIECH Group produces sodium and potassium silicates. Both
types of silicates are available in two forms - solid, offered under
the VITROSIL brand (glassy sodium and potassium silicate) and liq-
uid, offered under the VITROLIQ brand (sodium water glass and
potassium water glass).
Sodium silicates are used in the production of precipitated silica
(approx. 37% of consumption in Europe, mainly used in the tire
and cosmetic industries), detergents (approx. 17%), paper, zeo-
lites, and other industries.
The addition of precipitated silica has a positive effect on the ser-
vice life and adhesion of car tires, and reduces rolling resistance,
thus limiting fuel consumption. The popularisation of electric cars
may increase demand in the Silicate segment - due to the higher
weight of these vehicles, their tires contain a greater admixture
of silica.
After expanding the sodium silicate production capacity at the
Żary and Iłowa plants, CIECH Vitrosilicon S.A. is currently the third
largest producer of sodium silicate in Europe and the leader in the
sale of this raw material. In the Silicates segment, the CIECH
Group also operates a plant in Ramnicu Valcea in Romania.
Potassium silicates are used in the production of welding elec-
trodes, construction chemicals, including silicate paints and plas-
ters.
As part of the development of this segment, the CIECH Group fo-
cuses on the use of new applications of silicates and the develop-
ment of high-margin products.
The main raw materials used to produce silicates are soda ash
from our plants, high-quality sand obtained from a local supplier
and natural gas.
PRODUCTION CAPACITY OF THE CIECH GROUPS SILICATE
PLANTS
SILICATES SEGMENT
SODIUM AND POTASSIUM SILICATES
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ciechgroup.com 19
PACKAGING SEGMENT
In 2022, the Packaging segment generated over 1% of the Group's
EBITDA.
CIECH Vitro Sp. z o. o. specialises in the production of lanterns
for candles and is considered the leader of the Polish market.
The offer range includes about 160 patterns of lanterns, including
lanterns for dish candles and individual patterns, dedicated
to one recipient. In terms of lanterns for grave candles, we offer
a very diverse assortment, consisting of lanterns with a large
range of dimensions and a very diverse design.
Our company is also the only manufacturer of COMFORT type jars
in Poland, jars with a glass lid and a snap-clasp closure. On a small
scale, the Company also produces typical twist-off jars intended
for food processing.
PRODUCTION CAPACITY OF THE CIECH GROUPS PACKAG-
ING PLANT
PACKAGING SEGMENT
LANTERNS AND JARS
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ciechgroup.com 20
QUALITY AND SAFETY OF
PRODUCTS
MANAGING PRODUCT QUALITY AND
SAFETY
In accordance with the CIECH Group's strategy for 2022-2024, the
activities of the Group's companies are focused on the implemen-
tation of the following core values:
Innovation progress
Further improvement
Effective management
These values are implemented in the quality area through:
INNOVATION PROGRESS
Improvements are planned in the area of production processes,
as well as quality control, including: modernisation of existing la-
boratories, replacement of laboratory equipment and software,
as well as updating the research methodology. These activities
will make it possible to optimise the work of laboratories and
standardise in the following areas: Quality Assurance and Quality
Control for the entire Group.
FURTHER IMPROVEMENT
Valuation of positions and competences of employees of quality
departments, talent development and creation of expert teams
for project implementation and changes should both reduce the
staff turnover rate and the costs of recruitment and training for
new employees. Moreover, they should increase the assurance of
business continuity and process stability.
EFFECTIVE MANAGEMENT
Strengthening the supervisory functions as part of the CIECH
Group's certification is intended to increase control over the ac-
tivities in the companies, with particular emphasis on handling
complaints, determining and implementing recovery and correc-
tive actions, and analysing risks. The implementation of group
certification will reduce the time spent on documentation and the
number of audits in companies. An additional benefit of group
certification will be the need to standardise procedures in the
Group, which will enable standardisation in the entire area of
Quality Assurance while significantly reducing cost.
A group exchange of experiences is planned, which will allow for
a broader perspective on solving quality issues and the use of ex-
perience and good practices already operating in selected Group
companies and their implementation in others.
QUALITY AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOP-
MENT:
We ensure a strategy based on the principles of sustainable de-
velopment by controlling, among others, the two most important
qualitative indicators, such as:
Withdrawal of products from the market:
maintaining zero product recalls;
maintaining the high quality of products and avoiding
threats to the security of end users.
Reducing the complaint cost indicator:
maintaining the relation of complaint costs to revenues
below 0.2%;
reducing the amount of waste (returned products) and
the costs of their disposal.
These assumptions also support the implementation of strategic
points such as:
optimising customer service - reducing the time of handling
complaints;
reliability of logistics and deliveries - reduction of the num-
ber of complaints.
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ciechgroup.com 21
In order to meet the strategic requirements of reducing the
amount of raw materials and implementing innovative processes,
we decided to expand cooperation with our suppliers and im-
prove the Supply Chain Management system. These activities are
carried out by standardising the supplier qualification path and
expanding cooperation in the implementation of new technolo-
gies at our suppliers. This will enable us to gain a competitive ad-
vantage and improve the quality of our final product. The need to
adjust the required parameters of the supplied materials and raw
materials to the maximum extent resulted in the intensification
of on-site audits and the qualification of new suppliers for the
purpose of diversification, as well as the possibility of quick ad-
justment in emergency situations.
SYSTEMS BASED ON THE PRINCIPLES OF
SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT - ALREADY
IN OPERATION AND THOSE BEING IM-
PLEMENTED IN THE CIECH GROUP:
SEDEX (SUPPLIER ETHICAL DATA EXCHANGE):
Supplier Ethics Data Exchange Programme, an online system de-
signed to help companies improve the ethical performance of
their supply chain. This platform stores data on responsible busi-
ness practices and enables the sharing of ethical performance in-
formation with multiple brands and customers. The programme
has been implemented in CIECH Soda Polska, it is being imple-
mented in CIECH Sarzyna and CIECH Pianki, and ultimately imple-
mentation is expected in all production companies of the CIECH
Group. Confirmation of ethical requirements for a full member of
SEDEX is carried out by a third party audit, the so-called SMETA
(Sedex Members Ethical Trade Audit). The SMETA audit covers
environmental, health and safety aspects in the workplace as well
as work ethics and work standards.
ISO 14001:
ISO 14001 is the leading standard for environmental management
systems. It operates on the basis of international standards and
confirms the implementation of all elements aimed at minimising
the negative impact of the organisation on the environment. The
aim of implementing the environmental system based on the ISO
14001 standard in all the CIECH Group companies by the end of
2023 is to improve and perfect the effects of environmental ac-
tivities and prepare to react in the event of an ecological threat.
ISCC PLUS:
The ISCC PLUS (International Sustainability & Carbon Certifica-
tion) certificate confirms that the company meets stringent envi-
ronmental standards in the area of production, with particular
emphasis on limiting the use of petroleum-derived raw materials
in favour of components from renewable sources and recycling.
This system was certified in 2022 by CIECH Pianki.
KZR INIG:
The KZR INiG Certification System is a set of requirements that
must be met for the production of biofuels to be considered com-
pliant with the sustainable development criteria. These require-
ments concern, among others, the reduction of greenhouse gas
emissions generated in the life cycle of biofuels. Taking into ac-
count the requirements of the KZR INiG system, in the supply
chain, CIECH Soda Polska S.A. acts as a heat producer for techno-
logical and heating purposes, and certification is carried out as
part of the path: biomass fuels.
IWAY:
The IKEA Group has developed the IWAY standard to promote
basic labour rights and environmental standards with business
partners. IWAY enables the company to understand the depend-
encies in the supply chain and eliminate the risks associated with
child labour, violations of human and employee rights and envi-
ronmental pollution. Due to the positive result of the IWAY MUST
audit, CIECH Pianki can ensure that the supplied products are
manufactured in safe conditions with respect for the rights of em-
ployees and the natural environment.
STEP BY OEKO TEX :
Thanks to the modular analysis of all relevant areas of the com-
pany, such as chemical management, environmental perfor-
mance, quality management, occupational health and safety, so-
cial responsibility and environmental management, STeP certifi-
cation allows for a comprehensive and reliable analysis of the
scope of sustainable management provided by the production
plant. The certification of this standard enables CIECH Pianki to
compete in the supply chain of textile and clothing companies.
MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS WITHIN THE
CIECH GROUP
The systems implemented in the CIECH Group are based on the
requirements of the ISO 9001 standard and depending on the
needs of the Company and customer expectations, the basic re-
quirements are supplemented with specific (industry and product
related) requirements, maintaining consistency and assumptions
as well as rules established within the organisation.
The basis for setting goals and directions of activities for the pro-
cesses covered by the system requirements is the Quality Policy,
shared by all companies of the CIECH Group.
The scope of management systems implemented and recertified
in 2022 is presented in the table below.
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ciechgroup.com 22
Table 1. Certified management systems in CIECH Group com-
panies in 2022
Company
Norms/Standards
CIECH S.A.
ISO 9001; GMP+ B3; GDP API
CIECH Soda Polska S.A.
ISO 9001; ISO 14001; GMP+ B1/B2; GMP
API; IFS; KOSHER; PZH (National Institute
of Hygiene) approval certificate; v-label;
HALAL
CIECH Sarzyna S.A.
ISO 9001; ISO 14001; ISO 45001; ISO
17025; ISO 50001; WSK, GLP
CIECH Vitrosilicon S.A.
ISO 9001; ISO 14001
CIECH Vitro Sp. z o.o.
ISO 9001; ISO 14001; PZH approval cer-
tificate
CIECH Soda Romania
S.A.
ISO 9001
CIECH Soda Deutschland
GmbH
ISO 9001; GMP+; ISO 14001; ISO 50001;
KOSHER; GMP API; EXIPACKT; IFS; HALAL
CIECH Salz Deutschland
GmbH
ISO 9001; ISO 50001; HACCP; IFS; HALAL
CIECH Cargo Sp. z o.o.
ISO 9001; ISO 14001; Railway carrier
safety certificate - Parts A and B; ECM
certificate
CIECH Pianki Sp. z o.o.
ISO 9001; STeP by OEKO-TEX® certificate;
STANDARD 100 by OEKO-TEX® certifi-
cate; CIOP-PIB certificate for FFP3 masks;
PZH approval certificate; PZH certificate
Supervision over the maintenance and improvement of the sys-
tems has been entrusted to employees of the Quality Depart-
ments in individual Companies, who have the necessary
knowledge and qualifications.
Each employee undergoes obligatory training in the implemented
policies and procedures in accordance with the scope of duties
arising from the position held and responsibilities. Newly hired
employees and associates are subject to initial training in the re-
quirements of the Integrated Management System.
In all companies, independent external audits were carried out,
which confirmed the proper operation of the management sys-
tems in relation to the implemented norms and standards.
There were also no reports of non-compliance with regulations or
codes applied in the area of Product Quality, which would result
in a penalty, fine or initiation of a procedure for the withdrawal
of a product from the market.
KEY ACHIEVEMENTS IN 2022
CIECH SALZ DEUTSCHLAND
CIECH Salz Deutschland launched the IFS (International Food
Standard) certification and the kosher certificate procedure, i.e. a
certificate of compliance with Jewish law.
CIECH SODA DEUTSCHLAND
CIECH Soda Deutschland launched and successfully completed
the IFS and Halal certification audit procedure, i.e. a certificate of
compliance with Muslim law.
CIECH SODA POLSKA
CIECH Soda obtained a Halal certificate and is a Company regis-
tered in the SEDEX system with a positive outcome of the SMETA
audit.
CIECH SARZYNA
CIECH Sarzyna launched the process of registration with SEDEX
and self-assessment required for taking the SMETA audit.
CIECH PIANKI
CIECH Pianki implemented the ISCC certification.
CIECH QUALITY STANDARD (CQS)
Within the CIECH Group, the CIECH Quality Standard (CQS) pro-
gramme is in place, as part of which quality standards have been
implemented, based on the international ISO 9001:2015 stand-
ard.
BENEFITS OF THE CQS (CIECH QUALITY STANDARD) PRO-
GRAMME
FOR OUR CUSTOMERS
Meeting the requirements of laws, standards and specifica-
tions
Building lasting customer relations
Faster complaint handling time
Improved quality of products
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ciechgroup.com 23
FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE COMPANY
Maintaining talented people with valuable experience and
skills while keeping an optimal level of employment
Involvement of all employees in the implementation of the
company’s strategy - non-financial employee motivation
FOR THE COMPANY’S FINANCE
Plans for the optimisation of the quality control expenses
Minimising costs related to poor quality
CHEMICAL PRODUCT MANAGEMENT
(REACH, CLP, BPR)
REGULATION (EC) 1907/2006 (REACH) - INFORMATION ON CUR-
RENT REGISTRATIONS IN THE CIECH GROUP IN 2022.
In 2022, no cases were reported of non-compliance with regula-
tions and codes applicable in the area of Chemical Products Man-
agement resulting in a penalty, fine or initiation of the product
recall procedure.
In 2022, the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) did not issue any
binding decision ordering the performance of additional tests or
the updating of the registration dossiers of substances of which
the CIECH Group companies are registrants or co-registrants.
A spontaneous update of the registration dossiers for two sub-
stances of the soda business was submitted. The update was
mainly due to the need to adapt the chemical safety assessment
of the substance to the current requirements of ECHA and was
successfully completed.
In addition, two strategic raw materials, necessary for the Agro
segment operating activities, were registered, thus extending the
list of qualified suppliers to include entities from outside the EU.
In 2022, the CIECH Group updated all safety data sheets of its
products, adapting them to the requirements of Regulation (EU)
878/2020, amending Annex II of the REACH.
REGULATION (EC) 1272/2008 (CLP)
In 2022, notifications of information on hazardous mixtures intro-
duced to the market by the CIECH Group for new products of the
Agro segment were processed and existing notifications were up-
dated.
REGULATION (EU) 528/2012
In 2022, in the Soda segment, it was decided to abandon the reg-
istration of salt tablets used for water treatment in the electroly-
sis process.
The manufacturers of salt tablets, CIECH Soda Polska and CIECH
Salz Deuchland, continue to be entities entered in the list of active
substance suppliers published by the European Chemicals
Agency, in accordance with article 95 of the BPR - Biocidal Prod-
ucts Regulation. This means that customers who purchase
CIECH's salt tablets can register the finished biocidal product on
their own.
TASKS FOR 2023
Further improvement of financial efficiency is planned for 2023
by minimising costs related to poor product quality and by more
effective monitoring of production processes based on estab-
lished indicators (KPI).
In 2023, the CIECH Group faces new challenges related to the cov-
erage of system requirements and certification of new entities
within the Group:
CIECH S.A. - as part of the Group certification implementa-
tion procedure, by the end of 2023 it will have obtained ISO
45001 (OHS) and ISO 14001 (Environmental Protection) cer-
tificates; additionally, as the Central Company with Inte-
grated Quality Systems, it will proceed to extend them to
other Companies as part of Group certification.
CIECH Salz Deutschland GmbH certification of compliance
with the requirements for the production of pharmaceutical-
grade salt as an active and auxiliary substance.
CIECH Sarzyna Sp. z o.o. approach to the SMETA audit and
entry into the SEDEX register as a full-fledged member.
CIECH Pianki Sp. z o.o. by the end of 2023, the ISO 14001
system will have been implemented; thus, the environmen-
tal systems will operate in all companies of the Group; com-
pletion of the registration process in SEDEX by successfully
completing the SMETA audit.
CIECH Soda Polska S.A. implementation and certification of
the KZR INIG system, i.e., the certification programme for bi-
omass and biofuels.
CIECH Vitro Sp. z o.o. implementation and certification of
the ISO 45001 system.
NON-FINANCIAL REPORT 2022
ciechgroup.com 24
SUSTAINABLE
DEVELOPMENT
STRATEGY
ESG STRATEGY “CHEMISTRY
FOR A BETTER WORLD”
Responsible business conduct has always been the foundation of
our activities. We believe that real value in the long run can only
be built by a responsible business that, in addition to short-term
financial parameters, cares about stability and sustainable rela-
tions with the environment - both with the natural environment,
whose resources we use, and with people inside and around our
company.
As humanity, we face huge challenges, such as fighting climate
change, caring for the well-being of a growing population, and
changing our actions and habits to leave future generations with
a planet that is a good place to live.
We believe that as an international company participating in the
global economy, we are particularly responsible for this. Business
representatives have the knowledge, skills, means and agency to
effectively influence changes for the better, and the world needs
such changes more than ever before.
In 2022, we implemented our ESG Strategy "Chemistry for a Bet-
ter World". We took actions to bring us closer to achieving the
defined and measurable goals set out in it, the goals which are
ambitious, but if we make the necessary efforts, they will become
feasible.
We know what role our industry branch plays and can play in re-
sponse to the challenges of modern times. It is a difficult industry
that uses the Earth's resources, has a strong impact on the envi-
ronment and generates high risks. Accordingly, our role is to
ensure that the benefits of our activities significantly exceed the
costs and burdens we cause.
Activities related to the management of our impact in the envi-
ronment, social and corporate governance areas are carried out
both locally and supervised or inspired by the headquarters of the
Group. The area of sustainable development management re-
ports directly to the President of the Management Board and is
coordinated by the Investor Relations and ESG Department estab-
lished for this purpose.
The CIECH Group's strategy defines eight commitments regarding
climate policy, social relations and management quality. Specific
initiatives and targets have been set for each commitment in or-
der to track progress.
Details of our ESG Strategy:
www.esgciech.com
NON-FINANCIAL REPORT 2022
ciechgroup.com 25
We speed up on the path to carbon
neutralty
We decouple growth and energy
consumption
We see circularity as a key efficiency lever We put safety as a top priority
We want to be an inclusive place for
diverse talents to develop
We are a responsible part of local
communities
We join our efforts together with clients
and suppliers
We earn credibility by delivering
promises
COMMITMENTS OF THE CIECH GROUP
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ciechgroup.com 26
ENVIRONMENTAL AREA
WE SPEED UP ON THE PATH TO CLIMATE
NEUTRALITY.
The pillar of our strategy for the coming years is the energy and
business transformation, which focuses on reducing CO
2
emis-
sions. Our long-term goal is to be climate neutral
1
by 2040. On the
way to this goal, we have set several key stages with a short and
medium term of implementation:
We intend to reduce CO
2
emissions by 10% by 2024 and by
33% by 2026 compared to the base year 2019.
We have committed ourselves to completely eliminating
coal consumption from the production of electricity and
heat for the needs of production processes by 2033.
We are aware of the fact that achieving complete climate neutral-
ity will require the use of technologies that have not yet been im-
plemented on an industrial scale. We are currently analysing the
possibilities of choosing the most appropriate solution. The out-
break of war and the related increase in the prices of gas and en-
ergy fuels put further difficult tasks in the area of energy transfor-
mation on the way to decarbonisation. At the transitional stage,
the key issue for the CIECH Group will be to reduce the use of
fossil fuels, including moving away from coal and increasing the
sourcing of energy from RES.
In 2022, we continued work on the operationalisation of our en-
ergy strategy. For this purpose, we established a dedicated unit -
the Energy and Business Transformation Department, which fo-
cuses its activities on projects that improve energy and process
efficiency and reduce CO
2
emissions. We have started work on a
strategy to phase out coal in Poland and gas in Germany. We are
currently at the stage of determining the target, most favourable
fuel mix in our three combined heat and power plants. In Poland,
together with our partners, we plan to implement a project of a
thermal waste processing installation in Inowrocław. Another fuel
that we analyse is biomass, both in the form of "small" and "large"
co-combustion, as well as dedicated boilers.
A NEW SOURCE OF ENERGY FOR THE
PLANT IN INOWROCŁAW
The CIECH Group and EEW Energy from Waste GmBH have agreed
on the terms of cooperation in the preparation phase of the in-
vestment involving the construction of an incineration plant
("ITPO") in Inowrocław. The energy obtained from it is to partially
replace that currently produced from coal-fired boilers, thus re-
ducing the consumption of coal by the production plant in Inow-
rocław by about one third. The preparation phase is the first of
three stages of the entire project. The next two construction
and then operationalisation of the new installation will be spec-
ified in separate contracts in the future.
The investment preparation phase, which is to last no longer than
December 2024, assumes, among others, obtaining the necessary
administrative decisions and permits, contracting the works, as
well as obtaining financing by EEW for the construction of the in-
stallation. As part of the preparation phase, the "Report on the
impact of the project on the environment" is also prepared, which
will be reviewed by the institutions provided for in the law and
will also become the subject of social consultations. The invest-
ment will be implemented in accordance with the applicable
standards, i.e., based on the best available environmental protec-
tion technologies and the most restrictive regulations (under pain
of criminal liability and high financial penalties).
The investment will be financed by EEW, and CIECH Soda Polska
will become the purchaser of the energy generated in ITPO. A sim-
ilar solution is already in place in the German soda factory owned
by the CIECH Group, where heat from the waste incineration in-
stallation goes to the CIECH Soda Deutschland production plant.
In this manner, the German factory obtains approx. 30 percent of
energy needed for its production.
CO
2
emissions (Scope 1 and 2)
(excluding CIECH Soda Romania)
93%
95%
95%
97%
7%
5%
5%
3%
2 997
2 792
2 821
2 819
2019 2020 2021 2022
Scope 1 Scope 2
-6%
NON-FINANCIAL REPORT 2022
ciechgroup.com 27
The CIECH Group was the first of the large industrial companies in
Poland to join the Science Based Targets ("SBTi") initiative, cre-
ated, among others, by: United Nations Global Compact, Carbon
Disclosure Project, World Resources Institute (WRI) and World
Wide Fund for Nature (WWF). The Science Based Targets (SBTi)
initiative defines a methodology that supports ambitious compa-
nies in setting reduction targets and transforming business oper-
ations to match the realities of the future low-carbon economy.
The project is designed to set climate targets for individual com-
panies based on scientific knowledge and regularly monitor pro-
gress. SBTi companies aim to keep global warming below 2 de-
grees Celsius compared to the pre-industrial era, in line with the
Paris Agreement.
The main activities of the Science Based Targets initiative include:
defining and promoting best practices in emission reduction
and defining climate neutrality goals,
providing technical assistance and expert resources to mem-
ber companies in setting climate targets in line with the lat-
est scientific knowledge,
bringing together a team of experts that will provide mem-
ber companies with independent assessment and validation
of objectives.
Science Based Targets is also the leader of the Business Ambition
for 1.5°C campaign, which aims to promote actions in the busi-
ness environment to limit the pace of global warming.
WE GROW WITHOUT INCREASING EN-
ERGY CONSUMPTION.
An important element of the ESG Strategy is the systematic re-
duction, on an annual basis, of the amount of energy used in pro-
duction processes and for administrative purposes. To this end,
the CIECH Group invests in the most effective technologies avail-
able and runs an energy and business transformation pro-
gramme.
It is worth noting that in 2022 we significantly increased our pro-
duction capacity:
a new production plant, CIECH Salz, operated in the Soda
segment, systematically increasing the production capacity
of salt products,
in the Silicates segment, a new energy-saving furnace oper-
ated throughout the year, which increased our production
capacity in the area of sodium silicates by approx. 30% (up
to approx. 240 thousand tonnes per year). The new furnace
is characterised by better performance parameters and con-
sumes less natural gas compared to the existing technology.
Despite such a significant growth in business, the consumption of
heat and electricity remained at a similar level to the previous
year. Increasing production capacity and maintaining a stable
level of energy consumption year on year was possible with our
capital expenditures in the most modern energy-saving solutions
and technologies. It is also the result of a large-scale business and
energy transformation, primarily in the largest segment of the
CIECH Group - the Soda segment. Until we introduce solutions
that allow the use of only renewable energy, reducing the energy
intensity of our production is an important element of lowering
our environmental impact. We are continually working on im-
proved energy efficiency and, as a result, reduced energy inten-
sity of production, regardless of our long-term energy strategy. In
our plants, we use heat in the form of process steam at various
stages of production. Current activities focus on reducing heat
losses, optimising process steam flows and implementing heat re-
use solutions, e.g. at another stage of the process. In 2022:
we modernised two boilers in Janikowo, which enabled us to
significantly improve their operating parameters in terms of
the combustion process,
we started the modernisation of the steam turbine in Jani-
kowo, which will enable our electricity cogeneration coeffi-
cient in the combined heat and power plant to increase,
we launched a portfolio of several projects to recover steam
from the soda production process and reduce heat losses in
all three on-site CHP plants owned by the CIECH Group. By
the end of 2022, six projects have been implemented, and
more are at the design stage and under implementation.
will significantly affect the consumption of energy resources, and
thus reducing the impact on the environment.
Consumption of electricity and heat (MWh)
7 702 396
6 374 958
6 652 955
6 742 485
2019 2020 2021 2022
+1%
NON-FINANCIAL REPORT 2022
ciechgroup.com 28
CIRCULAR ECONOMY AS OUR KEY EFFI-
CIENCY LEVER.
We strive to improve efficiency in line with the idea of a circular
economy. Among our goals for the coming years is the systematic
implementation of solutions enabling us to:
reduce water consumption in production processes,
increase the use of waste generated in production pro-
cesses, especially soda and salt,
increase the amount of secondary raw materials such as
glass cullet in the production of silicates and packaging,
increase the share of environmentally friendly and recycla-
ble packaging.
In 2022, CIECH Pianki, which manufactures flexible PUR foams,
obtained the prestigious ISCC Plus Certificate (International Sus-
tainability and Carbon Certification). It confirms that the company
meets stringent environmental standards in the area of produc-
tion, with particular emphasis on limiting the use of petroleum-
derived raw materials, in favour of components from renewable
sources and secondary raw materials. Further activities are
planned with the use of raw materials of natural origin and those
from recycling.
OUR R&D FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
As part of its research and development activities, the CIECH
Group conducts a number of projects, primarily in the key soda
segment, which are aimed at improving the efficiency of pro-
cesses and reducing the impact of production activities on the en-
vironment. Currently, several projects are being carried out at
various stages of advancement, which focus on the efficiency of
resource use, waste reduction and the implementation of the
idea of a circular economy. The following achievements can be
listed for 2022:
The research and development (R&D) team of the CIECH Group
developed an innovative method of recovering the so-called
waste salt, formed during the soda ash production process. The
solution implemented at the factory in Inowrocław allows for the
reduction of chloride emissions in wastewater by approx. 7.5
thousand tonnes per year and improves the energy efficiency of
the calcium chloride production process (approx. 7.5% less en-
ergy consumed per tonne). It also enables the recovery of approx.
40,000 cubic metres of brine from the production process, which
can then be reused to produce soda. The innovation also allows
for reducing the consumption of process steam, which will have a
positive impact on the amount of CO
2
emissions generated.
At the CIECH plant in Inowrocław, we implemented an innovative
method of ammonia absorption in the production of soda ash.
The “Carbonisation Plus” project, developed together with scien-
tists from the Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń (“UMK”),
increases, among others, the efficiency of consumption of raw
materials used in the technological process.
The research stage of the project related to the use of post-so-
dium lime for strengthening excavations in opencast mines, while
meeting the technical assumptions, was completed. Operational
analyses are currently underway.
We are in the final phase of construction of the CO
2
stream recov-
ery installation in the baking soda production process, which will
prevent the emissions of almost 5,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide.
We completed the stage of laboratory tests as part of the CO
2
dis-
posal project in distillation fluids. As a result of the implementa-
tion of the project, we should prevent the emissions of approx.
100 thousand tonnes of carbon dioxide after implementation in
all soda plants. Conceptual work on a pilot installation is currently
underway.
In the Foams segment, the work focused mainly on improving the
safety of products and reducing the impact of the substances
used on the environment. For instance, tests of innovative and
environmentally friendly flame retardant additives were started.
In 2022, we joined the group of investors
in the venture capital fund (VC) Emerald
Industrial Innovation Fund, specialising in
investments in start-ups that develop in-
novations supporting the idea of sustain-
able industry. At the same time, the
CIECH Group is actively looking for exter-
nal innovations through a new company -
CIECH Ventures, focusing primarily on co-
operation with young companies devel-
oping technologies related to chemistry,
sustainable industry and agriculture.
Initiation of joint projects with scientists who study methods to
reduce waste in the production of soda, establishing cooperation
with a Latvian start-up developing CO
2
separation technology, as
well as the first initiatives with start-ups operating in the precision
agriculture segment to improve the efficiency of agricultural pro-
duction - these are the effects of the first months operation of
CIECH Ventures, a specialist company established within the
CIECH Group.
CIECH Ventures also became an investor in the Ecobean start-up,
which developed a protected technology for processing coffee
waste into sustainable raw materials and specialised chemicals
using a scalable, technologically advanced solution that reduces
the carbon footprint and creates economic added value. The cof-
fee waste which is currently squandered is a source of many val-
uable substances. The investment in Ecobean is part of one of the
areas of activity of CIECH Ventures, i.e., waste management in ac-
cordance with the idea of a circular economy.
NON-FINANCIAL REPORT 2022
ciechgroup.com 29
SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY AREA
WE PUT SAFETY AS A TOP PRIORITY.
Our goal is to eliminate accidents (injuries) on the premises of the
CIECH Group's plants by implementing the highest safety stand-
ards. We apply them to both employees and subcontractors with
whom we cooperate. We use tools such as Performance Manage-
ment to incorporate safety objectives as a key component in the
manager evaluation process. We also use the latest plant moni-
toring technologies that support the achievement of the "zero in-
juries" goal.
Due to the implementation of comprehensive measures aimed at
improving safety, in 2022, we had a record-low LTIF rate: 2.48
(- 51% y/y).
LTIF rate (number of injuries at work per 1 million hours
worked) in the CIECH Group in 2019-2022
WE WANT TO BE AN INCLUSIVE PLACE FOR DIVERSE TALENTS
TO DEVELOP.
In the ESG strategy, the subject of human resources management
is one of the key areas. We believe that diversity in teams contrib-
utes to better company management and positively affects busi-
ness results. Thus, our goal is to attract more women to the CIECH
Group and provide them with development opportunities. We
want to achieve a natural increase in the number of women in
managerial positions and achieve a level of at least 35% by 2030
(currently around 23%). One of the tools to support this goal is
the professional succession programme, which we want to imple-
ment by 2024.
The issue that we address in our ESG strategy is also the elimina-
tion of disproportions in the remuneration of women and men in
the same positions. We committed to reducing the differences by
50% by 2025. In 2022, the Gender Pay Gap Ratio (GDPR) de-
creased by 1.7 pp compared to the previous year.
Our ambition is to create the best place for the development of
our employees' talents based on a reward system for achieving
the set goals. We want to implement individual goals or skill ma-
trices for all employees. In 2022, we aimed to achieve this goal
by, among other things, completing the implementation of the
ABCD Model (Skills Management System for Operational Employ-
ees) in all Polish companies of the CIECH Group. In the ESG strat-
egy, we also commit ourselves to developing a culture and lead-
ership skills among managers. We have created leadership com-
petence development programmes dedicated to all managers in
the CIECH Group - Leader and LeaderGo. In 2022, 350 managers
participated in the Leader programme and 45 managers from the
top management took part in the LeaderGo programme.
WE ARE A RESPONSIBLE PART OF LOCAL COMMUNITIES.
We are aware of the important role we can play in supporting lo-
cal communities aimed at improving their quality of life. Accord-
ingly, we strive to strengthen dialogue and cooperation with local
government authorities and residents. Our goal is to support so-
cially relevant initiatives in the immediate vicinity of our produc-
tion plants, such as the "Good Neighbour" programme or sup-
porting local sports teams. We also promote education through
programmes such as the "Academy of School Talents" or "Chem-
ical Class" in Nowa Sarzyna and we offer support for young people
in education. A detailed description of our initiatives can be found
in the "Our Environment" section of this report (page 99).
5,88
5,76
5,08
2,48
2019 2020 2021 2022
-51%
NON-FINANCIAL REPORT 2022
ciechgroup.com 30
CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
AREA
WE JOIN OUR EFFORTS TOGETHER WITH CLIENTS AND SUPPLI-
ERS.
We cooperate with business partners who share our values and
thus help us to implement the idea of sustainable development.
We expect both our employees and business partners to comply
with the Code of Conduct of the CIECH Group and the Code of
Business Partner, especially in the area of human rights, environ-
mental protection and ethics. Since 2021, we have been examin-
ing the status and ESG risk among our suppliers. Our goal is to
investigate suppliers responsible for at least 70% of our spending
by the end of 2023. As of January 2023, we examined suppliers
responsible for 64% of the CIECH Group's expenses.
WE EARN CREDIBILITY BY DELIVERING PROMISES.
We strive to strengthen the credibility of the CIECH Group
through transparent reporting on the management method and
achievements in the area of sustainable development. For this
purpose, we report ESG issues and related risks according to the
most recognised reporting systems, using, among others, GRI and
SASB standards as well as the Ecovadis platform for better com-
munication with our customers as part of non-financial reporting.
In 2022, we were awarded for activities related to communication
with investors and presence on the capital market.
THE BEST ANNUAL REPORT, 2021
The jury of the 17
th
edition of the "The Best Annual Report" com-
petition recognised the report of CIECH S.A. for 2021 as the best
in the "Enterprises" category.
The competition is organised annually by the Institute of Account-
ing and Taxes, and its aim is to promote annual reports prepared
by companies listed on the Warsaw Stock Exchange, with the
highest utility value for investors and shareholders. CIECH has
been awarded in this competition for the seventh time.
The award for CIECH was granted for the highest level of prepa-
ration of annual consolidated financial statements in accordance
with the IFRS/IAS guidelines (International Financial Reporting
Standards or International Accounting Standards). Financial state-
ments of CIECH S.A. for years they have been gaining recognition
of the jury in this prestigious competition. In recent years, the
company has received: a distinction for the best report on activi-
ties (the 2017 edition), the 3
rd
main prize (the 2018 edition) and
two awards from the "Rachunkowość" monthly for the greatest
progress in improving the quality of the financial statements (in
the 2019 and the 2020 editions).
“SILVER LEAF” IN THE SILVER LEAF CSR POLL COMPETITION BY
“POLITYKA”
The CIECH Group was awarded the Silver Leaf in the 11
th
edition
of the CSR Leafs list by Polityka - an annual poll competition or-
ganised by the "Polityka" weekly, Deloitte consulting company
and the Responsible Business Forum. The companies' approach
to their business activities from the perspective of environmental,
social and corporate governance activities was decisive in award-
ing the recognitions.
The competition aims to distinguish Polish leaders in sustainable
development and ESG. In addition, CIECH was awarded for the
implementation of best practices related to the achievement of
the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) - the organisers of the
initiative appreciated the implementation of our low-emission
soda transport.
ENVIRONMENTAL AREA
SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY
AREA
CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
AREA
NON-FINANCIAL REPORT 2022
ciechgroup.com 31
OUR IMPACT ON
THE ENVIRONMENT
Sustainable development plays a key role
for the CIECH Group, taking into account
in particular the minimisation of the im-
pact of its operations on the environ-
ment. To this end, the CIECH Group
strives for the highest possible produc-
tion and energy efficiency, and conse-
quently, reduction of emissions of pollu-
tants into the atmosphere (including
greenhouse gases), improvement of the
quality of wastewater and rational man-
agement of water resources and waste
while maintaining high quality of prod-
ucts.
Environmental protection issues are a priority for the CIECH
Group. Since 2016, an Environmental Protection Policy consistent
for the entire Group has been in place in all companies. The next
step was the announcement of the ESG Strategy in May 2021, in
which the area of environmental protection is one of the main
pillars. The ESG Policy and Strategy obliges all companies belong-
ing to the Group to comply with the applicable legal regulations
in the area of environmental protection, reduction of pollutant
emissions into the environment and the amount of waste gener-
ated, rational use of natural resources and counteracting climate
change, e.g. by reducing the amount of carbon dioxide generated,
and to maintain good social relations in local communities where
business activities are conducted.
All production plants of the CIECH Group
operate on the basis of the required per-
mits and administrative decisions. In ad-
dition, most production companies have
implemented environmental manage-
ment systems in accordance with the re-
quirements of the ISO 14001 standard.
The plan is to cover all companies in the
Group with an integrated management
system in the scope of the following
standards: ISO 9001:2015, ISO
14001:2015 and ISO 45001:2018.
monitoring existing and planned
laws and regulations
identification of key environmental
aspects
planning and implementing invest-
ments contributing to environmen-
tal protection
continuous improvement aimed at
better environmental performance
environmentally friendly solutions
implemented in the CIECH Group
NON-FINANCIAL REPORT 2022
ciechgroup.com 32
The CIECH Group systematically implements investments limiting
the impact of its operations on the environment, in particular in
terms of reducing emissions of pollutants into the atmosphere.
Investments in atmosphere protection undertaken in 2022 in-
clude:
repair of the boiler in the Heat and Power Plant in Janikowo,
construction of a second electrostatic precipitator in Żary
and a new system for forming glassy sodium silicates,
modernisation of the dedusting system at the monohydrate
installation in Inowrocław,
reducing noise emissions by mounting acoustic protection at
the installation for the production of soda and the heat and
power plant in Inowrocław, as well as at the installation for
the production of salt and soda in Janikowo,
installation of photovoltaic panels to reduce the use of en-
ergy from fossil fuels.
In addition, among the investments we carried out in previous
years, the following should be mentioned:
reduction of dust emissions from the existing CHP plants
through the modernisation of electrostatic precipitators,
reduction of emissions of nitrogen oxides from the owned
CHP plants through the construction of flue gas denitrifica-
tion installations in Inowrocław and Janikowo,
reduction of sulphur dioxide emissions from the existing
combined heat and power plants by constructing a flue gas
desulfurisation unit,
modernisation of the dedusting system at the Lime Kiln In-
stallation in Inowrocław.
In order to reduce the generated waste, improve the quality of
wastewater and sustainably use substrates and natural resources
in 2022, the following measures were taken:
modification of the water glass filtration technology in Iłowa
resulting in the reduction of water consumption,
modernisation of steam vent reducing devices in order to
limit steam emissions from the steam installation to the en-
vironment from the plant in Iłowa,
reducing the amount of generated waste by recycling dust
from electrostatic precipitators to the production process,
reducing transport waste by using reusable pallets at the
plants in Janikowo and Inowrocław,
the use flocculants to improve the quality of the sludge,
which allowed for a significant reduction of suspended solids
in the wastewater directed to the clarifying and cooling pond
in Janikowo
In 2022, the key issue in the area of sus-
tainable products was obtaining the ISCC
Plus certificate by CIECH Pianki. Thus, a
company from the CIECH Group is the
first certified manufacturer of polyure-
thane foams in Poland. This certificate
confirms that the company complies with
stringent environmental standards in the
area of production, with particular em-
phasis on limiting the use of petroleum-
derived raw materials, in favour of com-
ponents from renewable sources and
from recycling.
Other projects aimed at, among others, reducing CO
2
, dust and
noise emissions, reducing energy consumption and increasing the
share of energy from renewable sources, are being implemented.
There are also plans to prepare and implement a comprehensive
Environmental Protection Strategy for the entire CIECH Group,
taking into account sustainable development, which will be aimed
at achieving ambitious goals reducing the impact of the CIECH
Group's operations on the surrounding environment.
NON-FINANCIAL REPORT 2022
ciechgroup.com 33
GREENHOUSE GAS
EMISSIONS
The CIECH Group attaches great importance to reducing gas and
dust emissions into the air. Industrial activity conducted primarily
within the main Soda segment is characterised by carbon dioxide
emissions. We feel responsible for taking action to reduce emis-
sions and stop climate change caused by greenhouse gas emis-
sions. Significant reduction of CO
2
emissions is one of the main
goals of the ESG Strategy and the new strategy of the CIECH
Group for 2022-2024.
CO
2
emissions in 2022
as part of EU ETS
2 636 953 tCO
2
CO
2
emissions in 2022
Scope 1 & 2
2 875 351 tCO
2
Scope 1 direct emissions
Scope 2 indirect emissions
Soda
segment
99,5%
Packaging
segment
0,5%
Scope 1
- direct emissions
96,6%
Scope 2
- indirect emissions
3,4%
From the
production of
of electricity and
heat
77,7%
From production
processes
22,1%
From fuels to means
of transport
0,1%
Scope 1
2 727 094
tCO
2
From the purchased
electricity
96,4%
From the purchased
heat energy
3,6%
Scope 2
96 573
tCO
2
NON-FINANCIAL REPORT 2022
ciechgroup.com 34
Calculation and monitoring of greenhouse gas emission sources is
a basic step on the way to reducing emissions. For the purposes
of this process, commonly used international reporting standards
were adopted - Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Protocol Corporate Ac-
counting and Reporting Standard. Currently, the CIECH Group
monitors greenhouse gas emissions using a division into Scope 1
and Scope 2. The Group's plans also include the calculation of in-
direct emissions from Scope 3.
The CIECH Group does not emit green-
house gases other than carbon dioxide.
SCOPE 1
DIRECT EMISSIONS OF THE GROUP RESULTING FROM COMBUS-
TION OF FUEL AND CARBONATES RAW MATERIALS IN SOURCES
OWNED OR CONTROLLED BY THE GROUP
In the CIECH Group, the main source of direct carbon dioxide
emissions are energy assets held in Poland and Germany, which
generate electricity and heat in the form of e.g. high parameters
of process steam for production processes:
two coal-fired CHP plants (Inowrocław and Janikowo),
gas-fired heat and power plant (Stassfurt),
glass furnace (Iłowa) and silicate furnaces (Iłowa, Żary)
gas boilers (Stassfurt, Iłowa, Żary, Ramnicu Valcea)
The source of direct emissions are also the production processes
themselves, in particular the production of soda ash and baking
soda (Inowrocław, Janikowo, Stassfurt, and until 2019, Ramnicu
Valcea), as well as the production of glass packaging (Iłowa) and
silicates (Iłowa, Żary, Ramnicu Valcea).
Apart from that, the CIECH Group is the owner or user of means
of transport emitting greenhouse gases (diesel locomotives, fleet
of passenger cars). Their impact on the total level of direct air
emissions is insignificant in comparison with the aforementioned
categories.
SCOPE 2
INDIRECT EMISSIONS OF THE GROUP RESULTING FROM THE USE
OF PURCHASED ELECTRICITY AND HEAT
The calculation of indirect Scope 2 CO
2
emissions is based on the
volume of electricity or heat purchased from external entities for
the purposes of own consumption within the CIECH Group. CO
2
emissions from energy purchased for resale have not been in-
cluded in accordance with the adopted methodology - the end-
user principle.
.
NON-FINANCIAL REPORT 2022
ciechgroup.com 35
We make every effort to estimate our impact on the environment as accurately as possi-
ble. In 2022, we initiated the implementation of CO
2
emission reporting tools using Busi-
ness Intelligence (BI) solutions, which enabled us to improve the process of mapping and
periodical monitoring of emission sources in the CIECH Group, in accordance with the as-
sumption of information management. For the purposes of this report, we have adopted
changes resulting from an internal analysis of emission sources and energy flows. As a re-
sult, we expanded the repository of carbon dioxide emission sources and reported all
tangible and the vast majority of intangible Scope 1 & 2 emission sources. In order to
maintain comparability, the data for the historical period 2019-2021 has been updated.
Possible changes are described in detail in the section on CO
2
emissions in individual busi-
ness segments and companies of the CIECH Group.
Carbon dioxide emissions from Scope 1 & 2 broken down by category [tCO
2
]
CIECH Group
2019
2020
2021
2022
Scope 1 - direct emissions, including:
2 920 868
2 641 428
2 671 490
2 727 094
from production of electricity and heat
2 144 670
2 048 266
2 083 562
2 119 355
from production processes
773 484
590 113
584 517
603 832
from consumption of fuels for means of transport
2 715
3 049
3 411
3 907
Scope 2 indirect emissions, including:
561 906
154 156
153 784
96 573
from purchased electricity
226 116
149 896
149 068
93 059
from purchased heat
335 789
4 261
4 716
3 514
Total - Scope 1 & 2
3 482 774
2 795 584
2 825 274
2 823 667
As part of Scope 2 indirect CO
2
emissions from energy purchased
from an identified producer, an indicator specific to a given pro-
ducer was used (market-based approach). Such an approach was
used in the calculation of Scope 2 in CIECH Sarzyna from the Agro
segment, which partly uses energy generated in the nearby Nowa
Sarzyna Heat and Power Plant. In other cases, energy was
purchased from an unmarked producer (from the grid) - in this
case, emissions were calculated using publicly available average
emission intensity indices for individual locations (location-based
approach).
Carbon dioxide emissions from Scope 2, broken down by the calculation method used [tCO
2
]
CIECH Group
2019
2020
2021
2022
Market-based method
548 292
149 038
149 457
93 595
Location-based method
13 613
5 118
4 327
2 979
Total - Scope 2
561 906
154 156
153 784
96 573
NON-FINANCIAL REPORT 2022
ciechgroup.com 36
Scope 1 direct CO
2
emissions
[tonnes CO
2
]
In 2022, the CIECH Group generated slightly more direct CO
2
emis-
sions compared to the previous year. The increase in direct emis-
sions results from the increase in the scale of the Group's opera-
tions. 2022 was characterised by an increase in production in the
Soda segment - the CIECH Salz production plant was already op-
erating throughout the year, gradually increasing its production
capacity. Production was also intensified at CIECH Soda Polska,
which manufactures a range of soda and salt products. In the Sil-
icates segment, a new energy-saving furnace for the production
of silicates was operating throughout the year, and, in response
to increased demand, we temporarily reactivated the extin-
guished furnace located in our plant in Iłowa. Higher production
volume y/y resulted in an increase in direct CO
2
emissions.
Scope 2 direct CO
2
emissions
[tonnes CO
2
]
The level of CO
2
emissions in the category of indirect emissions
from purchased electricity and heat decreased by 37% year on
year. The first effects in reducing emissions are brought by invest-
ments in the installation of photovoltaic panels in several compa-
nies of the Group and energy-saving initiatives, e.g. installation of
modern and energy-saving lighting fixtures.
DIRECT CO
2
EMISSIONS COVERED BY THE EUROPEAN UNION
EMISSIONS TRADING SCHEME (EU ETS)
In the CIECH Group, the vast majority of direct carbon dioxide
emissions (Scope 1) are covered by the European Union Emissions
Trading Scheme (EU ETS), which covers the activities conducted
in two out of five business segments of the Group. CO
2
emissions
covered by the EU ETS come mainly from operations in the largest
Soda segment - predominantly from energy production and from
soda production processes, and to a lesser extent from the pro-
duction of glass in the Packaging segment.
CO
2
emissions covered by the EU ETS ac-
counting for approx. 97% of direct emis-
sions (Scope 1) and approx. 93% of all re-
ported emissions (Scope 1 & 2) are sub-
ject to mandatory verification by an inde-
pendent auditor. According to article 86
of the Act of 12 June 2015 on the green-
house gas emission allowance trading
system, the CIECH Group is obliged to
submit a written report on the volume of
CO
2
emissions together with a report on
the verification of emissions by an inde-
pendent third party to the National Cen-
tre for Balancing and Management of
Emissions (KOBiZE).
Carbon dioxide emissions covered by the European Union
Emissions Trading Scheme [tCO
2
]
CIECH Group
2019
2020
2021
2022
CO
2
emissions
covered by the
EU ETS
2 850 953
2 581 694
2 592 828
2 636 953
Percentage of
direct CO
2
emis-
sions (Scope 1)
98%
98%
97%
97%
Percentage of
direct and indi-
rect CO
2
emis-
sions (of Scope
1 & 2)
82%
92%
92%
93%
2 920 868
2 641 428
2 671 490
2 727 094
2019 2020 2021 2022
+2%
561 906
154 156
153 784
96 573
2019 2020 2021 2022
-37%
NON-FINANCIAL REPORT 2022
ciechgroup.com 37
Direct carbon dioxide emissions (Scope 1) in 2022, detailing
the part covered by the European Union Emissions Trading
Scheme (EU ETS) and attribution to the business segment.
Scope 1
2 727 094 tCO
2
Direct CO
2
emissions (from Scope 1) cov-
ered by the European Union Emissions
Trading Scheme (EU ETS) and the level
of coverage with free allocations of CO
2
emission certificates (EUA).
IN OUR ESG STRATEGY CHEMISTRY FOR A BETTER WORLD”, WE
COMMITTED OUR-SELVES TO
We took 2019 as the reference point for our CO
2
emissions reduc-
tion targets, in which production levels in our business segments
were not affected by negative external factors such as the COVID-
19 pandemic in 2020, which in turn translated into a spontaneous
reduction in carbon dioxide emissions. To maintain comparability,
we have adopted the following assumptions:
We do not include CO
2
emissions attributable to CIECH Soda
Romania. In 2019, the company generated significant
amounts of CO
2
emissions for the last time in connection
with the production of soda. Since then, the plant in Roma-
nia has been in hibernation.
To measure the achievement of CO2 emission targets, we do
not include insignificant emissions of CIECH Salz either (ap-
prox. 0.1% of the total emissions of the CIECH Group), in
which production was launched in 2021.
For more information about the implementation of the ESG Strat-
egy in the area of CO
2
emission reduction go to page 24.
97%
3%
2022
CO2 emissions
not covered by EU
ETS
CO2 emissions
covered by EU ETS
Soda
segment
96%
Packaging
segment
1%
2 850 953
2 581 694
2 592 828
2 636 953
66%
71%
61%
55%
2019 2020 2021 2022
The volume of CO2 emissions covered by EU ETS
Free EUA allocations [%]
2 996 765
2 792 265
2 820 934
2 819 307
2019 2020 2021 2022
ESG Strategy CIECH Soda Romania & CIECH Salz
Reduction by 6%
Reduce greenhouse gas emissions in Scope 1 and 2 by
33% by 2026 compared to the base year 2019
Eliminate coal from the production of energy in its en-
tirety by 2033
Achieve net climate neutrality by 2040
NON-FINANCIAL REPORT 2022
ciechgroup.com 38
In total, the Agro, Foams, Packaging and Other and corporate
functions segments account for approx. 1.5% of the total CO
2
emissions of the CIECH Group from Scope 1 & 2.
DETAILED INFORMATION ON CO
2
EMIS-
SIONS IN INDIVIDUAL SEGMENTS AND
COMPANIES
The CIECH Group's business segments are characterised by a var-
ied level of CO
2
emission intensity, depending on the specificity of
the industrial activity conducted within them. From the perspec-
tive of individual segments, the key element influencing the vol-
ume of emissions is the energy intensity of production and the
presence of production processes using carbonate raw materials.
The vast majority of the CIECH Group's CO
2
emissions are related
to the production of soda and the energy used for its production.
Carbon dioxide emissions Scope 1 & 2 in 2022 by business
segment [%].
Carbon dioxide emissions from Scope 1 & 2 by business segment [tCO
2
]
CO
2
emissions Scope 1 & 2
2019
2020
2021
2022
Soda segment
3 352 081
2 691 463
2 699 261
2 694 943
Agro segment
21 063
11 218
12 318
11 527
Foams segment
1 914
1 585
1 555
1 312
Silicates segment
77 469
62 428
81 883
85 156
Packaging segment
19 350
18 834
19 455
19 192
Other segment and corporate functions
10 897
10 056
10 802
11 537
CIECH Group
3 482 774
2 795 584
2 825 274
2 823 667
SODA SEGMENT
Carbon dioxide emissions by Scope 1 and 2 categories [tCO
2
]
Soda Segment
2019
2020
2021
2022
Scope 1 direct emissions, including:
2 837 236
2 568 156
2 581 477
2 626 560
From production of electricity and heat
2 094 972
2 004 343
2 029 908
2 061 738
CIECH Soda Polska
1 664 857
1 558 318
1 597 470
1 654 970
CIECH Energy Deutschland
426 834
444 677
429 609
403 383
CIECH Soda Romania
3 281
1 348
311
247
CIECH Salz
nd.
nd.
2 518
3 138
From production processes
742 264
563 813
551 569
564 822
CIECH Soda Polska
476 326
403 046
420 000
433 253
CIECH Soda Deutschland
148 880
160 767
131 569
131 569
CIECH Soda Romania
117 058
nd.
nd.
nd.
From fuels for means of transport
nd.
nd.
nd.
nd.
Scope 2 indirect emissions, including:
514 845
123 307
117 784
68 384
Soda
segment
95,4%
Silicates
segment
3,0%
Other
1,5%
Scope 1 & 2
2 823 667
tCO
2
NON-FINANCIAL REPORT 2022
ciechgroup.com 39
Soda Segment
2019
2020
2021
2022
From purchased electricity
189 235
123 307
117 784
68 384
CIECH Soda Polska
149 175
121 335
116 273
67 408
CIECH Soda Romania
40 060
1 972
1 511
975
From purchased heat
325 610
nd.
nd.
nd.
CIECH Soda Romania
325 610
nd.
nd.
nd.
Total - Scope 1 & 2
3 352 081
2 691 463
2 699 261
2 694 943
CIECH SODA DEUTSCHLAND
In connection with the verification by an external company of CO
2
emissions from the soda production process covered by the Eu-
ropean Union Emissions Trading Scheme (EU ETS), an adjustment
was made to reduce CO
2
emissions reported for 2021 in category
From production processes by 7,201 tCO
2
and an adjustment to
increase CO
2
emissions in the category From production of elec-
tricity and heat by 19 tCO
2
.
CIECH SODA ROMANIA
As a result of the analysis of emission sources, a decision was
made to change the category of direct emissions and transfer
some of the CO
2
emissions from 2019 (3,281 tCO
2
) reported last
year (3,281 tCO
2
) and all emissions from 2020 (1,116 tCO
2
) from
the category From production processes to the category From pro-
duction of electricity and heat. The adjustment does not affect the
total Scope 1 CO
2
emissions.
As part of Scope 2, the mapping of the volumes of purchased and
resold electricity, as well as the acquired emission indexes, was
revised. As a result, a correction was made to increase the pub-
lished CO
2
emissions for previous years, by 7,732 tCO
2
in 2019,
250 tCO
2
in 2020 and 423 tCO
2
in 2021, respectively. For electric-
ity, it was decided to adopt publicly available indicators published
by Electricity Maps.
Due to the change in the segment structure of the CIECH Group,
starting from 2022, CIECH Cargo is no longer part of the Soda seg-
ment. In this report, CO
2
emissions assigned to CIECH Cargo in
2019-2022 are presented in the section on the Other segment, in
accordance with the current structure of the Group.
AGRO SEGMENT
Carbon dioxide emissions by Scope 1 and 2 categories [tCO
2
]
Agro segment - CIECH
Sarzyna
2019
2020
2021
2022
Scope 1 direct emis-
sions
nd.
nd.
nd.
nd.
Scope 2 indirect emis-
sions, including:
21 063
11 218
12 318
11 527
From purchased elec-
tricity
11 681
7 627
8 285
8 549
From purchased heat
9 382
3 590
4 033
2 979
Total - Scope 1 & 2
21 063
11 218
12 318
11 527
CIECH SARZYNA
CIECH Sarzyna does not generate direct CO
2
emissions. For pro-
duction and administration purposes, the company acquires elec-
tricity and heat. The supplier of its heat is the modern Nowa
Sarzyna Heat and Power Plant (outside the CIECH Group) located
in the immediate vicinity. In 2019-2021, in the case of electricity,
part of the energy supplies also came from the Nowa Sarzyna CHP
plant. In the calculation of indirect CO
2
emissions (Scope 2) from
this source, the market-based method was used, on the basis of
the emission indexes published by the Nowa Sarzyna Heat and
Power Plant. For electricity purchased from the grid, the location-
based method was adopted and publicly available CO
2
emission
indexes for end users published by the National Centre for Bal-
ancing and Management of Emissions (KOBiZE) were used.
In order to make the calculation as accurate as possible, CO
2
emis-
sions resulting from insignificant losses in energy transmission
were taken into account, and flows going outside the CIECH
Group as part of the resale of energy to housing estates in the
vicinity of the plant were precisely mapped. In order to maintain
comparability, the data for CIECH Sarzyna for previous years was
corrected.
NON-FINANCIAL REPORT 2022
ciechgroup.com 40
FOAMS SEGMENT
Carbon dioxide emissions by Scope 1 and 2 categories [tCO
2
]
Foams segment - CIECH
Pianki
2019
2020
2021
2022
Scope 1 direct emis-
sions
nd.
nd.
nd.
nd.
Scope 2 indirect emis-
sions, including:
1 914
1 585
1 555
1 312
From purchased elec-
tricity
1 116
915
872
777
From purchased heat
798
670
683
536
Total - Scope 1 & 2
1 914
1 585
1 555
1 312
CIECH PIANKI
Data for the Foams segment, to which CIECH Pianki belongs, have
been separated. In the previous report for 2021, the segment was
included in the "Other activities" section. The company does not
generate direct carbon dioxide emissions. For the calculation of
indirect Scope 2 CO
2
emissions, the location-based method was
adopted, on the basis of publicly available emission factors - in
the case of electricity, the national indicator for end users pub-
lished by the National Centre for Balancing and Management of
Emissions (KOBiZE) was used, while in the case of heat, the CO
2
emission factor was used for network heating in Bydgoszcz,
where the company is located.
SILICATES SEGMENT
Carbon dioxide emissions by Scope 1 and 2 categories [tCO
2
]
Silicates segment -
CIECH Vitrosilicon
2019
2020
2021
2022
Scope 1 direct emis-
sions
67 044
56 483
72 583
82 781
From production of
electricity and heat
38 948
33 024
42 502
46 123
From production pro-
cesses
28 096
23 459
30 081
36 658
From fuels for means of
transport
nd.
nd.
nd.
nd.
Scope 2 indirect emis-
sions, including:
10 425
5 945
9 300
2 374
From purchased elec-
tricity
10 425
5 945
9 300
4 605
From purchased heat
nd.
nd.
nd.
nd.
Total - Scope 1 & 2
77 469
62 428
81 883
85 156
CIECH VITROSILICON
Direct CO
2
emissions (Scope 1) in the Silicates segment, to which
CIECH Vitrosilicon belongs, come from heat generated in gas fur-
naces for the production of silicates in Iłowa and Żary, as well as
a small amount of heat produced for administrative purposes. In
addition, in the silicate production process, carbonate raw mate-
rials are burned, e.g. soda ash. The Silicates segment produces in-
organic chemicals that are not covered by the European Union
Emissions Trading Scheme (EU ETS).
For the calculation of indirect CO
2
emissions from Scope 2 result-
ing from the consumption of electricity purchased from third par-
ties, the emission index for end users from the publicly available
report of the National Centre for Balancing and Management of
Emissions (KOBiZE) was used.
It should be noted that in April 2021, CIECH Vitro was separated
from CIECH Vitrosilicon and assigned to a separate Packaging seg-
ment. From that moment, the purchase of electricity from exter-
nal suppliers is monitored separately for each company. In order
to present the best comparative data for previous years, the data
was updated by assigning CO
2
emissions to the appropriate com-
pany using the energy consumption key in 2022 (separate elec-
tricity purchase register kept for a full year for both companies).
In the case of heat, the total demand of CIECH Vitrosilicon is cov-
ered by its own production.
PACKAGING SEGMENT
Carbon dioxide emissions by Scope 1 and 2 categories [tCO
2
]
Packaging segment -
CIECH Vitro
2019
2020
2021
2022
Scope 1 direct emis-
sions, including:
13 874
13 740
14 019
13 846
From production of
electricity and heat
10 749
10 899
11 152
11 494
From production pro-
cesses
3 124
2 841
2 867
2 352
From fuels for means of
transport
nd.
nd.
nd.
nd.
Scope 2 indirect emis-
sions, including:
5 476
5 094
5 436
5 346
From purchased elec-
tricity
5 476
5 094
5 436
5 346
From purchased heat
nd.
nd.
nd.
nd.
Total - Scope 1 & 2
19 350
18 834
19 455
19 192
CIECH VITRO
The Packaging segment comprises CIECH Vitro, registered on 1
April 2021, which was separated from CIECH Vitrosilicon (Silicates
segment). The core business of CIECH Vitro is the production of
lanterns and glass packaging. This activity is covered by the Euro-
pean Union Emissions Trading Scheme (EU ETS).
As part of direct emissions, CO
2
emissions from gas used to gen-
erate heat in a glass furnace are reported - category "From pro-
duction of electricity and heat", and CO
2
emissions resulting from
the combustion of carbonate raw materials (soda ash, lime pow-
der) - category "From production processes”. The vast majority of
NON-FINANCIAL REPORT 2022
ciechgroup.com 41
these emissions are accounted for under the EU ETS. In addition,
the calculation includes insignificant amounts of CO
2
emissions
generated from the gas boiler in Iłowa, which are not covered by
the EU ETS.
Full records of data broken down into the Silicates and Packaging
segment are kept from the time of registration of the new com-
pany. To ensure data comparability, both in the Packaging and Sil-
icates segments, historical data was adjusted to the current struc-
ture of the CIECH Group. The data reported this year has been
updated according to the consumption key of purchased electric-
ity in 2022.
OTHER SEGMENT AND CORPORATE
FUNCTIONS
Carbon dioxide emissions by Scope 1 and 2 categories [tCO
2
]
Other segment and cor-
porate functions
2019
2020
2021
2022
Scope 1 direct emis-
sions, including:
2 715
3 049
3 411
3 907
From production of
electricity and heat
nd.
nd.
nd.
nd.
From production pro-
cesses
nd.
nd.
nd.
nd.
From fuels for means of
transport
2 715
3 049
3 411
3 907
Scope 2 indirect emis-
sions, including:
8 182
7 007
7 391
7 630
From purchased elec-
tricity
8 182
7 007
7 391
7 630
From purchased heat
nd.
nd.
nd.
nd.
Total - Scope 1 & 2
10 897
10 056
10 802
11 537
By adapting the CO
2
emission reporting system to the current seg-
ment structure of the CIECH Group, in this report, in the section
on the Other and corporate functions segment, the emissions of
CIECH Cargo are presented, which were included in the Soda seg-
ment in the previous year. This company generates direct emis-
sions related to the fuel used for diesel locomotives, as well as
indirect emissions related to the purchase of electricity for the
needs of the fleet of electric locomotives. In this year's report, we
expanded the repository with the amount of fuel for diesel loco-
motives that was used in siding manoeuvres. To maintain compa-
rability, the presented historical data was adjusted by increasing
the amount of CO
2
emissions in the Z category of fuels for means
of transport by 273 tCO
2
in 2019, 365 tCO
2
in 2020 and 462 tCO
2
in 2021, respectively.
From the section on other activities, the company CIECH Pianki
was also separated and presented separately in the Foams seg-
ment section.
NON-FINANCIAL REPORT 2022
ciechgroup.com 42
AIR QUALITY
Improving air quality by reducing emis-
sions is one of the key goals we set our-
selves in the environmental area. We sys-
tematically adapt our installations to new
legal obligations and tightening emission
standards. As the CIECH Group, we strive
to constantly reduce emitted pollutants.
Emission of selected compounds into the
air in 2022
(except carbon dioxide)
9 846 tonnes
In recent years, the CIECH Group has carried out several invest-
ments, especially in the Soda segment, which contribute to the
protection of the atmosphere, including:
reduction of dust emissions from the owned CHP plants
through the modernisation of electrostatic precipitators,
reduction of nitrogen oxides from the owned CHP plants by
building a flue gas denitrification installation using 3 levels of
catalytic inserts (in Inowrocław and Janikowo locations),
reduction of sulphur dioxide from the owned CHP plants by
constructing a flue gas desulfurisation unit,
modernisation of the dedusting system at the monohydrate
installation in Inowrocław,
modernisation of the dust extraction system at the Lime Kiln
Installation in Inowrocław,
reducing noise emissions by installing acoustic protection at
the soda production installation and the CHP plant in Inow-
rocław, as well as at the salt and soda production installation
in Janikowo,
installation of photovoltaic panels to reduce the use of en-
ergy from fossil fuels.
The aforementioned modernisations, in line with the adaptation
of the installation to the new emission standards, in connection
with the very restrictive requirements of the BAT Conclusions for
LCPs and in connection with the completion of the TNP (in mid-
2020), significantly contributed to the reduction of individual
types of pollutants into the atmosphere.
In addition, in order to reduce emissions into the air, our installa-
tions are equipped with various atmosphere protection devices
with high pollution reduction efficiency. These devices include,
among others: wet dust collectors (efficiency of 85.5%), cyclones
and scrubbers (efficiency of 99%), multi-cyclones (efficiency of
95%), and bag filters (efficiency between 95% and 99.9%).
Measurements of air emissions in the CIECH Group are carried out
in accordance with applicable regulations and permits held. Gas
and dust emissions are monitored by installed continuous moni-
toring systems (CHP plants) and by periodic measurements at
other emitters. In addition, modern measurement systems have
been installed on the emitters, especially those related to the
Soda segment, which made it possible to monitor emissions with
greater accuracy and precision.
Nitrogen
oxides (NOx);
21,9%
Sulphur
dioxide
(SO2);
9,6%
Total dusts;
3,8%
Ammonia
(NH3);
48,9%
Carbon
monoxide CO;
15,8%
Volatile organic
compounds;
0,1%
NON-FINANCIAL REPORT 2022
ciechgroup.com 43
In 2022, at one of the thirty-two points of organized dust emission
(emissions through specially adapted emitters), located on the
premises of the production plant in Inowrocław, the dust emis-
sion standards were exceeded on the soda monohydrate installa-
tion. The reason for such exceedance was the improper operation
of the filtration systems, which were partially degraded due to
faster wear of the filters.
In September 2022, new elements of the
filtration system were delivered and in-
stalled, and in October, the installation of
nearly a thousand new filter bags and
support baskets, increasing the efficiency
of soda dust capture, was completed at
the site of the soda monohydrate instal-
lation. The first measurements of dust,
carried out by accredited laboratories af-
ter the completion of these investments,
indicated that the level of dust emission
was three times lower than the permissi-
ble standard.
The replacement of nearly a thousand filter bags and support bas-
kets is part of a comprehensive plan to reduce dust from soda
production in Inowrocław. soda dust is the result of the produc-
tion process and is safe for people, animals, and the environment,
just like the soda itself, which is used in the production of medi-
cines, food or feed.
The favourable results of dust emission measurements were also
confirmed by the laboratory of the Chief Inspectorate of Environ-
mental Protection. Irrespective of the positive results of the
measurements, the CIECH Group intends to continue the planned
programme of comprehensive measures to reduce the risk of
dust from other sources. Moreover, in December 2022, additional
measuring equipment was installed for continuous measurement
of dust emissions at the soda monohydrate installation.
Results of dust emission measurements
result range [kg/h]
0.23 0.63
Dust emission limits included
in the integrated permit
[kg/h]
1.726
VS.
NON-FINANCIAL REPORT 2022
ciechgroup.com 44
In 2022, the only place in the entire Inowrocław plant where the
dust limit was temporarily exceeded was the soda monohydrate
installation. The CIECH Group completed remedial actions in or-
der to reduce dusting to a level significantly lower than the level
allowed by the standards in the integrated permit held. At the
same time, in order to prevent similar situations from happening
in the future, a comprehensive plan was prepared to reduce dust
from the entire plant in Inowrocław, which will be implemented
in the coming quarters. The total value of the planned initiatives
may amount to as much as PLN 17 million by the end of 2025. The
preventive action plan, covering potential sources of dust other
than the soda monohydrate installation, includes, among others:
replacement or modernisation of filters on individual sections of
the soda production line, as well as reduction of fugitive emis-
sions, i.e., dusting from roads or ponds. Although no violations of
the standards were found in these places, the intention of the
CIECH Group is to minimise dusting throughout the factory.
WE HAVE COMPLETED THE PRIORITY REMEDIAL ACTIONS, BUT
IN ORDER TO PREVENT SIMILAR SITUATIONS IN THE FUTURE,
WE ARE IN THE PROCESS OF IMPLEMENTING COMPREHENSIVE
MEASURES TO REDUCE THE RISK OF POTENTIAL DUSTING
FROM OTHER IDENTIFIED PLACES THROUGHOUT THE INOW-
ROCŁAW PLANT.
At the end of 2022, we installed a dust meter
on the monohydrate soda installation
(the calibration process ended in January 2023)
Replacement of elements of the dust extrac-
tion system at the lime kiln installation
Replacement/modernisation of dedusting fil-
ters at the soda packaging installation and fin-
ished products warehouse
Works on slopes near ponds - reduction of
noise and dust
An 8-9 month audit by an external company in
terms of sources of dust and the impact of ex-
ternal (atmospheric) factors increasing the
level of dust from the factory
PLN 17 M Value of all initiatives as part of
the project by the end of 2025
NON-FINANCIAL REPORT 2022
ciechgroup.com 45
At the end of the year, specialist drones
examined the CIECH plant in Inowrocław
in terms of the condition of infrastruc-
ture and air quality, providing detailed
information on the condition of the air
over the Inowrocław plant.
Four drones flew over the CIECH plant in Inowrocław in early De-
cember. The flying machines created an accurate, three-dimen-
sional image of the factory, and provided comprehensive infor-
mation on the condition of the transmission infrastructure, waste
ponds and air quality. Testing with an equipped with a set of sen-
sors and precise measuring equipment will significantly support
the improvement of the plant's operation, increasing production
efficiency and reducing its impact on the natural environment.
The unmanned aerial vehicles are equipped with high-resolution
cameras, including thermal imaging, as well as precise positioning
systems and sensors for testing air quality for the presence of sus-
pended dust. The analyses provided by the drones will be an im-
portant element of the activities aimed at reducing dusting at the
Inowrocław plant.
LEGAL ENVIRONMENT:
In connection with the requirements of the Industrial Emissions
Directive (IED Directive) and the need to adapt to new, more re-
strictive emission standards, e.g., with regard to sulphur dioxide,
nitrogen oxides and particulate matter, periods have been set for
plants producing energy and steam (CHP plants) during which
these installations will have to adapt to the new emission caps.
The following periods have been distinguished:
the period until 30 June 2020 (extension of the deadline for
adapting the LCP installation under the Transitional National
Plan (TNP)),
the period from 1 July 2020 to 17 August 2021 (from the end
of participation in the TNP to the end of the deadline for
adapting to the new BAT Conclusions for LCPs),
the period from 18 August 2021 (validity of the amended
BAT Conclusions for LCPs).
From 1 July 2020, power and steam generating plants are subject
to restrictive emission standards for dust emissions (20-25
mg/Nm
3
), sulphur oxides (200-250 mg/Nm
3
) and nitrogen oxides
(200 mg/Nm
3
) for large combustion plants (LCPs). On the other
hand, from 18 August 2021, new, very restrictive emission levels
for large combustion plants have been in force, resulting from the
new BAT Conclusions for LCPs. The new emission values are re-
spectively: for dust (15-20 mg/Nm
3
), sulphur oxides (130-200
mg/Nm
3
) and nitrogen oxides (150-180 mg/Nm
3
). In addition, for
sources with a nominal power of more than 300 MW, continuous
measurement of mercury emissions should be carried out. Ad-
ministrative proceedings aimed at issuing amended integrated
permits, adapted to the requirements of the BAT Conclusions for
LCPs, are currently underway. The BREF LVIC (Large Volume Inor-
ganic Chemicals) requirements are also being revised, covering,
among others, soda and salt production processes. The planned
completion of the BREF LVIC revision is 2027.
2019
2020
2021
2022
Nitrogen oxides (NOX)
1 988
1 771
1 785
2 160
Sulphur dioxide (SO
2
)
1 655
1 085
891
944
Total dusts
251
176
169
370
Ammonia (NH
3
)
4 451
2 130
2 253
4 811
Carbon monoxide CO
9 867
6 699
1 590
1 552
Volatile Organic Com-
pounds (VOCs)
46
46
9
11
Total
18 258
11 907
6 697
9 846
Soda
segment
94,7%
Silicates
segment
4,6%
Other
0,7%
9 846
tonnes
NON-FINANCIAL REPORT 2022
ciechgroup.com 46
ENERGY
Energy generated and purchased
in 2022
7 378 758 MWh
Energy sales in 2022
636 273 MWh
Energy consumption in 2022
6 742 485 MWh
ENERGY ASSETS OF THE CIECH GROUP
The CIECH Group has its own energy assets, which have been lo-
cated in the Soda segment due to technological liaisons. Produc-
tion plants in the Soda segment are the main recipient of the en-
ergy produced due to the high energy intensity of the production
processes. Two of the CIECH Group's CHP plants are located in
Poland and one in Stassfurt. Operationally, the CHP installations
are part of the technological process carried out as part of the
production of soda and salt.
SODA SEGMENT
CIECH SODA POLSKA (INOWROCŁAW & JANIKOWO)
The Inowrocław CHP plant with a total thermal power of 356
MWt, equipped with four steam boilers supplying steam to three
back-pressure turbine sets (TPP) with a total generator capacity
of 37.4 MWe. The heat generated in cogeneration comes from
the combustion of hard coal.
The Janikowo CHP Plant with a total achievable thermal power of
405.55 MWt, equipped with five steam boilers supplying steam
to five back-pressure turbine sets (TPP) with a total generator ca-
pacity of 56.0 MWe. The heat generated in cogeneration comes
from the combustion of hard coal.
The CHP plants of CIECH Soda Polska S.A. fired with hard coal
meet the environmental requirements (IED directive), thanks to
Generated
energy
90%
Purchased energy
10%
Heat energy
consumption
89%
Electricity
consumption
11%
Certificates of origin from renewa-
ble sources for 73 000 MWh of elec-
tricity in 2022.
In 2022, we installed photovoltaic
panels in five Group companies.
NON-FINANCIAL REPORT 2022
ciechgroup.com 47
the operation of the flue gas desulfurisation and denitrification
installations.
Moreover, CIECH Soda Polska as an energy company, in addition
to energy activities consisting in the generation of electricity and
heat, also acts as a distribution network operator (DNO) on its
own network.
CIECH ENERGY DEUTSCHLAND (STASSFURT)
The Stassfurt Heat and Power Plant, with a total thermal power
of 553 MWt, is equipped with two gas turbines with heat recovery
boilers and two gas boilers, and supplies one back-pressure tur-
bine set (TPP). The total installed capacity of the generators is 134
MWe. The heat generated in cogeneration comes from the com-
bustion of natural gas.
The CIECH Energy Deutschland Heat and Power plant is fired with
natural gas and meets the environmental requirements (IED Di-
rective) without the need to build additional flue gas treatment
installations.
OTHER
In 2022, we installed photovoltaic panels in five CIECH Group
companies - Sarzyna, Pianki, Vitro, Nieruchomości and Cargo.
EXTERNAL PURCHASE SOURCES OF ELEC-
TRICITY AND HEAT
CIECH SODA DEUTSCHLAND & CIECH ENERGY DEUTSCHLAND
(STASSFURT)
For the production of soda in Germany, heat and electricity sup-
plied from the REMONDIS Thermische Abfallverwertung GmbH
thermal waste processing installation located in the vicinity are
used. In 2022, the CIECH Group obtained nearly 409 GWh of heat
and electricity from this source.
CIECH SODA ROMANIA (GOVORA)
The soda plant in Romania is currently in hibernation. Until the
cessation of production, it used process steam produced in the
assets of CET Govora, which uses lignite as fuel.
CIECH SARZYNA (NOWA SARZYNA)
The production plant of the Agro segment located in Nowa
Sarzyna obtains heat from the modern Nowa Sarzyna Heat and
Power Plant (not related to the CIECH Group) located nearby,
which uses natural gas. Since 2021, heat has been purchased
through LERG S.A.
OTHER
In other cases, the source of electricity is predominantly a seller
selected in a tender or having a natural monopoly (traction en-
ergy), and the source of heat is local (network) suppliers.
ELECTRICITY ORIGIN GUARANTEES
Guarantees of origin for electricity generated from renewable en-
ergy sources are documents certifying to the end customer who
purchases them that the amount of electricity introduced into the
distribution network or transmission grid specified in this docu-
ment comes from renewable energy sources (RES).
In 2022, under the renewable energy guarantee of origin (GoO)
system, certificates were obtained for the following three compa-
nies from the CIECH Group:
CIECH Soda Polska certificate of origin for 69,850 MWh of
electricity from renewable sources,
CIECH Vitrosilicon certificate of origin for 3,150 MWh of
electricity from renewable sources.
In 2022, the CIECH Group purchased certificates of origin for
73,000 MWh of electricity from renewable sources, which pre-
vented about 52,000 tons of CO
2
emissions..
SALE OF ELECTRICITY AND HEAT
The Soda segment also carries out activities involving the sale and
resale of electricity and heat to third parties.
Electricity is sold primarily by CIECH Energy Deutschland, which
manages the power plant in Stassfurt. The vast majority of elec-
tricity produced there goes to external customers.
Heat is sold both by the German companies: CIECH Energy
Deutschland and CIECH Soda Deutschland, and the Polish com-
pany: CIECH Soda Polska, where the CHP plants in Inowrocław and
Janikowo are located.
Some companies from other segments sell small amounts of elec-
tricity to third parties.
NON-FINANCIAL REPORT 2022
ciechgroup.com 48
ELECTRICITY
CIECH GROUP ELECTRICITY [MWH]
Electricity [MWh]
2019
2020
2021
2022
Generated
1 029 347
1 053 020
1 036 927
891 764
Purchased from third parties
472 505
360 478
415 075
389 010
Sold outside the CIECH Group
688 115
717 896
729 598
530 656
Consumption for own purposes
813 737
695 602
722 404
750 118
CIECH SODA POLSKA ELECTRICITY [MWH]
Electricity [MWh]
2019
2020
2021
2022
Generated
331 194
316 374
334 168
348 574
Purchased from third parties
213 038
186 016
184 690
180 600
Sold outside the CIECH Group
18 038
17 260
18 109
15 540
Consumption for own purposes
526 194
485 130
500 748
513 633
CIECH SODA DEUTSCHLAND & CIECH ENERGY DEUTSCHLAND ELECTRICITY [MWH]
Electricity [MWh]
2019
2020
2021
2022
Generated
698 154
736 646
702 759
543 073
Purchased from third parties
126 863
118 403
167 207
156 582
Sold outside the CIECH Group
663 192
687 326
696 104
502 718
Consumption for own purposes
161 824
167 723
173 862
196 937
HEAT
CIECH GROUP HEAT [MWH]
Heat [MWh]
2019
2020
2021
2022
Generated
5 666 428
5 434 112
5 683 267
5 740 840
Purchased from third parties
1 329 926
344 982
355 057
357 144
Sold outside the CIECH Group
107 695
99 739
107 773
105 617
Consumption for own purposes
6 888 660
5 679 355
5 930 552
5 992 367
CIECH SODA POLSKA HEAT [MWH]
Heat [MWh]
2019
2020
2021
2022
Generated
4 409 278
4 128 189
4 367 533
4 434 018
Purchased from third parties
0
0
0
0
Sold outside the CIECH Group
44 723
43 108
47 368
42 604
Consumption for own purposes
4 364 556
4 085 081
4 320 164
4 391 414
NON-FINANCIAL REPORT 2022
ciechgroup.com 49
CIECH SODA DEUTSCHLAND & CIECH ENERGY DEUTSCHLAND HEAT [MWH]
Heat [MWh]
2019
2020
2021
2022
Generated
1 254 135
1 301 686
1 297 464
1 286 096
Purchased from third parties
342 076
325 587
334 789
342 269
Sold outside the CIECH Group
58 459
56 631
60 404
63 012
Consumption for own purposes
1 537 752
1 570 641
1 571 848
1 565 354
MANAGEMENT OF THE ENERGY SECTOR
As part of managing the energy sector in the CIECH Group com-
panies, the following areas are supervised:
energy law - analysis of energy regulations affecting business
activity,
energy and capacity market - analysing and monitoring the
energy market and the capacity (power) market on an ongo-
ing basis, as well as purchasing electricity for Group compa-
nies,
tariffs and licences - dealing with matters related to the ap-
proval of tariffs for electricity and heat and the implementa-
tion of the tasks of the Distribution Network Operator (DNO)
of the power industry,
strategy - participation in the development and implemen-
tation of the strategy in the area of energy within the CIECH
Group,
supervision - supervision over the effective functioning of
the energy sector, including participation in the analysis of
current and future costs of energy, energy assets and their
optimisation (maintaining continuity of energy supplies, re-
ducing the carbon footprint and adapting to changing regu-
lations),
energy efficiency - representing the company before the En-
ergy Regulatory Office on submitted applications for energy
efficiency certificates,
representation - cooperation with institutions, offices, in-
dustry chambers as well as energy suppliers and recipients..
GENERATED ENERGY BY CATEGORY
Grupa CIECH
2019
2020
2021
2022
[MWH]
[GJ]
[MWH]
[GJ]
[MWH]
[GJ]
[MWH]
[GJ]
Coal
4 740 472
17 065 698
4 444 563
16 000 427
4 701 700
16 926 121
4 782 592
17 217 331
Gas
1 955 304
7 039 094
2 042 569
7 353 248
2 018 493
7 266 575
1 849 923
6 659 724
RES
0
0
0
0
0
0
88
318
CIECH Energy
Deutschland
6 695 776
24 104 792
6 487 132
23 353 675
6 720 193
24 192 696
6 632 604
23 877 374
ENERGY CONSUMPTION BY TYPE
Grupa CIECH
2019
2020
2021
2022
[MWH]
[GJ]
[MWH]
[GJ]
[MWH]
[GJ]
[MWH]
[GJ]
Electricity
813 737
2 929 452
695 602
2 504 168
722 404
2 600 654
750 118
2 700 424
Heat
6 888 660
24 799 174
5 679 355
20 445 679
5 930 552
21 349 986
5 992 367
21 572 523
Total
7 702 396
27 728 627
6 374 958
22 949 847
6 652 955
23 950 640
6 742 485
24 272 947
NON-FINANCIAL REPORT 2022
ciechgroup.com 50
ENERGY EFFICIENCY
An important element of the activities of the CIECH Group com-
panies is continuous improvement and increasing energy effi-
ciency. In accordance with the Energy Efficiency Act, a mandatory
audit of the company's energy efficiency is carried out every 4
years (last audit conducted in 2021). In addition, for implemented
projects that improve energy efficiency, applications are submit-
ted to the Energy Regulatory Office (ERO) for the issuance of en-
ergy efficiency certificates, the so-called white certificates traded
on the Polish Power Exchange (TGE). In 2022, energy efficiency
certificates were sold on the TGE in the total amount of 614 toe.
The sales revenue amounted to approx. PLN 1.6 million. In addi-
tion, the obligation of CIECH Soda Polska for 2021 was settled (24
toe was redeemed).
White certificates sold [toe]
Heating networks
73
Modernisation of lighting
541
Total
614
At the end of 2022, 382 toe of White Certificates were left in the
CIECH Soda Polska account.
White Certificates as at 31.12.2022 [toe]
Modernisation of lighting
200
Installation of apparatus and devices on raw soda and
calcination in Inowrocław
139
Lime plant insulating covers
44
Total
382
The efficiency improvement programme plays an important role
in the strategic assumptions of the CIECH Group for the coming
years. The table below shows a list of applications submitted in
2022 to the ERO, which includes tasks in progress.
Requested white certificates [toe]
2022
Heat recovery expansion from the calcination process
3 354
DEMI water heater
1 520
Heat recovery for lye heating
1 439
Modernisation of the compressor system in Janikowo
1 169
Modernisation of the waste salt system
1 029
Thermal insulation of apparatus and pipelines at the
premises of CIECH Soda Polska S.A. in Inowrocław
784
Modernisation and replacement of industrial insula-
tion in Janikowo
772
DS2 apparatus isolation
142
Lime plant insulating covers
44
Total
10 253
Further initiatives to improve energy efficiency, for which white
certificates can be obtained, are under analysis.
According to the RES Act, two companies of the CIECH Group fall
into the category of energy-intensive enterprises. For this reason,
in 2022 they received support under the reduced RES obligation.
For CIECH Soda Polska, the RES obligation was reduced to 60%,
and for CIECH Vitrosilicon to 80%, in the total amount of PLN 3.3
million. In order to obtain the relief for 2023, in accordance with
the RES Act, in November 2022 applications were submitted to
the ERO, together with the opinion of the statutory auditor, con-
firming the calculation of the energy intensity coefficient.
According to article 15 of the Energy Efficiency Act, CIECH Soda
Polska, as a company consuming more than 100 GWh (over 500
GWh), settles accounts with the energy supplier for the obligation
to provide electricity with white certificates. The settlement takes
place by sending a statement on the implementation of the task
showing savings in the amount of 5,803 toe, i.e. approx. 67,490
MWh. Together with the statement, confirmation of the energy
efficiency audit is submitted. 4,876 toe remain to be used in the
register of CIECH Soda Polska. For 2022, another statement will
be issued for approx. 215 toe (the register will be reduced by this
value) corresponding to savings in energy purchase costs (white
certificates in the energy mix of 1.5%) in the amount of PLN 0.5
million.
In addition, in 2022, in accordance with the Act on the Compen-
sation System for Energy-Intensive Sectors and Subsectors, two
companies, CIECH Soda Polska and CIECH Vitrosilicon, received an
inflow of PLN 16.3 million in total related to the settlement of
2021. In order to fulfil the obligation imposed by the Act on the
Compensation System guarantees (certificates) of origin were
purchased in the amount of 73,000 MWh for PLN 0.15 million,
corresponding to at least 30% of the consumed electricity cov-
ered by compensation.
Total savings resulting from unrealised
energy purchase costs and additional rev-
enues as a result of the implementation
of tasks to improve energy efficiency for
2022 amount to PLN 22.5 million.
NON-FINANCIAL REPORT 2022
ciechgroup.com 51
WATER RESOURCES AND SEW-
AGE MANAGEMENT
Total water intake in 2022
35 960 216 m3
CIECH Group Total water intake in 2022 by category [m3]
The goal of the CIECH Group is to continuously improve the way
it conducts business so that the water and sewage management
is carried out in an optimised and sustainable manner. The CIECH
Group companies are obliged to use water resources responsibly,
thus reducing the impact of our operations on water resources
and the environment.
For the purposes of production processes, the CIECH Group com-
panies use water abstracted from both natural sources and mu-
nicipal water supply systems. Water from natural sources is used
for production, social and living purposes, cooling and energy. In
order to reduce its consumption, our plants operate closed water
circuits, which is part of the implementation of the assumptions
of the circular economy. The use of increased water circulation in
the technological circuit is aimed at reducing water consumption
from natural sources.
Total sewage discharge in 2022
35 638 943 m3
CIECH Group - Total wastewater discharge in 2022, broken
down by category [m3]
In order to improve our water and sewage management in the
CIECH Group companies, modernisation, investment as well as re-
search and development works are planned to limit the negative
impact of operations on the environment.
In 2022, the research and development
(R&D) team of the CIECH Group devel-
oped an innovative method of recovering
the so-called waste salt, formed during
the production of sodium carbonate
(soda ash). The solution implemented at
the factory in Inowrocław allows for the
reduction of chloride emissions in
wastewater by approx. 7.5 thousand
tonnes per year. The waste salt recovery
installation launched in Inowrocław is the
result of two years of work by a team of
technologists and production specialists.
The installation also enables the recovery
of approx. cubic meters of brine sepa-
rated from the waste salt, which was pre-
viously treated as waste. Thanks to the
proprietary and innovative solution of
the CIECH Group, the emissions of chlo-
rides and the amount of sewage in the
factory in Inowrocław have been re-
duced.
Discharge of
sewage into
waters
94,6%
Discharge of
sewage to a
municipal
treatment plant
5,4%
Surface water
93,6%
Groundwater
6,3%
Municipal
water supply
systems
0,1%
NON-FINANCIAL REPORT 2022
ciechgroup.com 52
CIECH Group Total water intake in 2019-2022 by category [m3]
CIECH Group
2019
2020
2021
2022
Surface water
41 721 743
31 905 286
32 288 603
33 666 130
Groundwater
2 931 806
2 523 176
2 443 404
2 264 075
Water supply networks
36 888
27 078
35 493
30 011
Total water intake
44 690 437
34 455 540
34 767 500
35 960 216
CIECH Group Total wastewater discharge in 2019-2022 by category [m3]
CIECH Group
2019
2020
2021
2022
Discharge of sewage into waters
42 917 646
34 133 155
33 780 598
33 701 753
Discharge of sewage to a municipal treatment
plant
1 314 668
1 619 433
1 902 573
1 937 190
Total wastewater discharge
44 232 314
35 752 588
35 683 171
35 638 943
WASTE AND HAZARDOUS MA-
TERIALS
Total amount of waste in 2022
excluding municipal waste
528 991 tonnes
Hazardous waste is less than 0.05%
Recycled waste
529 669 tonnes
Due to the dynamically changing waste management obligations
and regulations, we continuously adapt to changes in the formal
and legal environment and strive to reduce the amount of waste
generated and manage waste and raw materials sustainably. The
CIECH Group generates waste, the main source of which is pro-
duction processes in individual plants. Waste management is car-
ried out in accordance with the permits and administrative deci-
sions held.
All companies of the CIECH Group, which are subject to the obli-
gation to register in the products, packaging and waste manage-
ment database, have appropriate registrations. Our companies
maintain current quantitative and qualitative waste records.
We also make every effort to ensure that entities cooperating
with us in waste management have the same values as the CIECH
Group, carrying out their activities in a responsible manner, with
care for the environment. The selection of entities collecting and
managing waste generated in the CIECH Group companies is pre-
ceded by a detailed analysis of current permits and administrative
decisions.
The CIECH Group implements the assumptions of a circular econ-
omy, using some of the waste it produces as secondary raw ma-
terials or materials for the reclamation of areas transformed by
human economic activity. Some of the waste we generate is sec-
ondary raw materials for other industries, for example our waste
is used in the production of cement and clinker, which enables us
to reduce the use of natural aggregates and emissions to the en-
vironment.
Waste recovered
internally;
18,3%
Waste
recovered/recycl
ed externally;
81,7%
NON-FINANCIAL REPORT 2022
ciechgroup.com 53
For the entire CIECH Group, we have set
a reduction target of limiting the amount
of generated waste by 15% by 2025.
There are also plans to increase the use
of secondary raw materials by searching
for new recipients and ways to manage
the generated post-production waste.
For this purpose, the CIECH Group con-
ducts research and development.
CIECH Group - Total amount of waste in 2019-2022, broken
down by category [tonnes]
CIECH Group
2019
2020
2021
2022
Hazardous
waste
833
589
366
185
Non-hazardous
waste (exclud-
ing municipal
waste)
1 049 671
512 442
523 569
528 806
Total amount
of waste (ex-
cluding munici-
pal waste)
1 050 504
513 031
523 935
528 991
RESTORATION OF DEGRADED
AREAS - RECLAMATION
In order to minimise the impact of our
operations on the environment, the
CIECH Group performs a number of recla-
mation works. Reclamation is a process
of restoring utility and natural values to
areas that have been transformed as a
result of human economic activity or by
natural factors.
In recent years, we have carried out reclamation works on land-
fills where, in the past, e.g. distillation sludge was stored.
Based on the administrative decisions, the works are carried out
in accordance with the assumptions of the schedule, in which the
sequence of activities related to the technical closure of the pond
with a technical mixture, and then biological reclamation with the
use of an agrotechnical mixture, plays an important role. The area
prepared in this way is finally left for self-cleaning by natural suc-
cession.
PHASE I - TECHNICAL CLOSING OF THE POND WITH A TECHNICAL
MIX.
As part of the formation of the technical layer, ashes and slag,
ash-slag mixtures and lime 09 produced in one of the CIECH Group
companies are applied on the surface of the ponds.
PHASE II - BIOLOGICAL RESTORATION WITH THE USE OF AGRO-
TECHNICAL MIX.
The agrotechnical layer is a mixture of ash and slag maintained in
a 2:1 ratio to sewage sludge. Stabilised sewage sludge is collected
from the Municipal Sewage Treatment Plant and from the Munic-
ipal Water and Sewage Company. The physical and chemical
properties of the sewage sludge used are controlled by accredited
laboratories in terms of meeting the requirements for their use
as part of reclamation works.
At the end of 2022, in accordance with
the schedule resulting from the adminis-
trative decision, we completed the land-
fill restoration process.
In 2022, we also continued other reclamation projects. One of the
examples of ongoing reclamation is the project of restoring the
area of the post-production wastewater retention reservoir. Rec-
lamation is carried out with the use of processed sewage sludge
from the municipal biological sewage treatment plant. As a result
of the works carried out, a wooded retention zone is to be created
in the reclaimed area.
NON-FINANCIAL REPORT 2022
ciechgroup.com 54
LEGAL STATUS OF USING THE
ENVIRONMENT
Companies of the CIECH Group carry out their operations based
on current administrative permits and decisions regulating the
manner and the scope of environmental use. All CIECH Group
companies operating IPPC installations have obtained integrated
permits.
List of integrated permits held by the CIECH Group companies in 2022
Company
Permit for
Validity period
CIECH Soda Polska S.A. Production Plant in Ino-
wrocław
Integrated permit for installation to manufacture soda and soda
derived products.
Indefinite
CIECH Soda Polska S.A. Production Plant in
Janikowo
Integrated permit for installation to manufacture soda and soda
derived products.
Indefinite
CIECH Soda Polska S.A. Energy Plant in Inowro-
cław
Integrated permit for heat and power station‘s installation (4 OP-
110 boilers).
Indefinite
CIECH Soda Polska S.A. Energy Plant in Jani-
kowo
Integrated permit for heat and power station‘s installation (3 CKTI
boilers and 2 OP-140 boilers).
Indefinite
CIECH Soda Deutschland GmbH & Co. KG
Integrated permit for installations to manufacture light and dense
sodium carbonate, and sodium bicarbonate.
Indefinite
CIECH Energy Deutschland GmbH
Integrated permit for the installation of a combined heat and
power plant.
Indefinite
CIECH Soda Romania S.A.
Integrated permit for installation to manufacture sodium car-
bonate.
11.09.2023
CIECH Sarzyna S.A.
Integrated permit for installations to manufacture crop protec-
tion products (MCPA i MCPP and esters from the esterification of
phenoxyacids.
Indefinite
CIECH Vitrosilicon S.A. Plant in Żary
Integrated permit for installations to manufacture sodium silicate
glass and potassium silicate glass.
Indefinite
CIECH Vitrosilicon S.A. Plant in Iłowa (CIECH Vi-
tro Sp. z o.o.)
Integrated permit for installations to manufacture water solution
of sodium and potassium silicates (water glass), glass packaging
and solid sodium silicate (glassy sodium silicate)
Indefinite
CIECH Pianki Sp. z o.o.
Integrated permit for installations to manufacture PUR foams.
Indefinite
NON-FINANCIAL REPORT 2022
ciechgroup.com 55
CIECH GROUP’S OP-
ERATIONS IN THE
CONTEXT OF EU
TAXONOMY
ABOUT THE EUROPEAN UNION TAXON-
OMY
The CIECH Group is an entity subject to the obligation to disclose
non-financial data and in accordance with the Non-Financial Re-
porting Directive (NFRD) it is subject to Regulation (EU) 2020/852
of the European Parliament and of the Council of 18 June 2020 on
establishing a framework to facilitate sustainable investment,
along with applicable delegated acts supplementing the content
of the regulation. The above regulation, hereinafter referred to as
the taxonomy of the European Union (EU) or the taxonomy, trans-
lates environmental objectives into technical screening criteria
(TSC) allowing to determine whether a given activity is environ-
mentally sustainable (in accordance with the taxonomy).
The EU taxonomy is a classification sys-
tem that defines technical classification
criteria for six environmental objectives
that determine whether an activity is en-
vironmentally sustainable.
NON-FINANCIAL REPORT 2022
ciechgroup.com 56
THE EUROPEAN UNION TAXONOMY IS BUILT AROUND SIX
ENVIRONMENTAL OBJECTIVES:
Climate change mitigation
Climate change adaptation
Sustainable use and protection of wa-
ter and marine resources
Transition to a circular economy
Pollution prevention and control
Protection and restoration of biodiver-
sity and ecosystems
The overarching goal of the EU taxonomy is to create a more sus-
tainable financing system by channeling direct investment to-
wards environmentally sustainable projects. The idea behind the
taxonomy regulation is to include ESG aspects in investment de-
cisions and, as a result, finance sustainable development. The EU
taxonomy defines the concept of environmentally sustainable ac-
tivity based on six environmental goals that support the imple-
mentation of the European Green Deal policy and the goals of the
Paris Agreement. Thanks to international standardisation, the
taxonomy protects companies and investors against the phenom-
enon of “greenwashing”.
This report presents information on key performance indicators,
i.e. revenues (Turnover KPIs), capital expenditures (CAPEX KPIs)
and operating expenses (OPEX KPIs) broken down into activities
eligible for the taxonomy and other activities not covered by the
taxonomy as at the date of publication of this report. In the fol-
lowing, we present for the first time a taxonomic disclosure in-
cluding verifications of each of the identified activities in terms of
compliance with the taxonomy.
IDENTIFICATION OF ACTIVITY
Due to the development of the taxonomy and the publication of
new delegated acts, the entire activity of the CIECH Group was
reviewed again in terms of identifying those activities that were
covered by the taxonomy at the time of preparing the report. The
analysis was carried out based on:
Regulations 2021/2139 and 2022/1214 containing a list of
activities covered by the taxonomy along with their descrip-
tions,
the statistical classification of economic activities in the Eu-
ropean Community, abbreviated as NACE, and the codes
that have been indicated as related in the descriptions of in-
dividual activities,
dedicated Taxonomy Compass tool developed by the Euro-
pean Commission,
technical qualification criteria for individual activities cov-
ered by the taxonomy.
As a result of an in-depth analysis, the last year's approach was
revised and three activities eligible for the taxonomy were identi-
fied, as presented in the table below.
Activities eligible for the so-called European Union taxonomy
Sector
Code
Activity
Description of activity
Industry
3.12.
Manufacture of
soda ash
Manufacture of sodium
carbonate, i.e. light and
dense soda ash.
Energy
4.31.
High-efficiency
co-generation of
heat/cool and
power from fos-
sil gaseous fuels
Production of heat and
electricity in cogenera-
tion in a gas-fired CHP
plant.
Transport
6.2.
Freight rail
transport
Domestic freight rail
transport.
The list of activities of significant importance in the context of the
first two environmental goals, i.e. "Climate change mitigation"
and "Climate change adaptation", includes the CIECH Group's
core activity - manufacture of soda ash (sodium carbonate). Ac-
tivities related to the production and sale of soda ash and related
products are described in more detail in the section "Our prod-
ucts".
Another identified activity is "high-efficiency co-generation of
heat/cool and power from fossil gaseous fuels". In one of the heat
and power plants owned by the CIECH Group, the basic fuel is nat-
ural gas. The gas-fired CHP plant is located in the vicinity of the
soda production plant in Stassfurt, Germany. Heat and electricity
(power) are produced there in the co-generation process. The
vast majority of the heat and electricity produced is used within
the CIECH Group for the manufacturing process of soda products.
A small part of the electricity produced is sold to third parties.
NON-FINANCIAL REPORT 2022
ciechgroup.com 57
The activity of freight rail transport was also identified, which the
CIECH Group conducts primarily for the needs of supporting the
Soda segment with a small share of services provided to third par-
ties.
Based on the analysis of the technical screening criteria, it was
decided that the description of the activity "installation, mainte-
nance and repair of energy efficiency equipment" is inappropriate
to the activity conducted by the Group. This activity was pre-
sented in the first taxonomic disclosure for 2021 under simplified
reporting. Starting from this report, the presentation of the activ-
ity "installation, maintenance and repair of energy efficiency
equipment" in the taxonomic disclosure will not be continued.
Bearing in mind the ongoing work on the taxonomy and technical
screening criteria for other environmental goals, we take into ac-
count that the list of activities identified in the CIECH Group cov-
ered by the taxonomy, as well as the scope of reporting, may
change.
ALLOCATION OF FINANCIAL VALUES
According to the regulations in force as at the date of publication
of the report and defining the key activities for the first two envi-
ronmental goals "Climate change mitigation" and "Climate
change adaptation", the share of activities eligible for the taxon-
omy in 2022 was more than half in total revenues (Turnover KPIs),
capital expenditures (CAPEX KPIs) and operating expenses (OPEX
KPIs) of the CIECH Group.
Turnover KPIs
PLN 5.4 billion
CAPEX KPIs
PLN 431.4 million
OPEX KPIs
PLN 229.3 million
For each of the identified activities, the appropriate value of rev-
enues, capital expenditures and operating expenses was assigned
in accordance with the accounting policy described in the "Con-
textual and methodological information" section. Detailed data
for each of the identified activities are presented in the manda-
tory tables which can be found on pages from 60 to 62.
The published information on allocated financial values for taxon-
omy eligible activities is based on our best interpretation of the
European Union Taxonomy Reporting Regulations.
Activities
eligible for the
taxonomy;
56%
Activities non-
eligible for the
taxonomy;
44%
Activities
eligible for the
taxonomy;
57%
Activities non-
eligible for the
taxonomy;
43%
Activities eligible
for the taxonomy;
60%
Activities non-
eligible for the
taxonomy;
40%
NON-FINANCIAL REPORT 2022
ciechgroup.com 58
TAXONOMY CONFORMITY ASSESSMENT
In accordance with the schedule set out in Regulation 2021/2139,
in its report for the financial year 2022, the CIECH Group is re-
quired to publish a full taxonomic disclosure for the first time. The
key element of full reporting is the assessment according to tech-
nical qualification criteria defining environmentally sustainable
activities (in accordance with the taxonomy). Verification of com-
pliance with the technical screening criteria (TSC) was carried out
for each of the identified activities and consisted in analysing the
criteria for a significant contribution to the first two environmen-
tal objectives ("Climate change mitigation" and "Climate change
adaptation") and the criteria regarding the principles of no signif-
icant harm and meeting minimum safeguards. Based on the as-
sessment, the activity "High-efficiency co-generation of heat/cool
and power from fossil gaseous fuels" was recognised as aligned
with the taxonomy, i.e. environmentally sustainable.
Turnover KPIs
PLN 5.4 billion
CAPEX KPIs
PLN 431.4 million
OPEX KPIs
PLN 229.3 million
MINIMUM SAFEGUARDS
For the CIECH Group, an assessment was carried out in terms of
meeting the minimum safeguards, which are defined by Regula-
tion 2020/852 as “procedures implemented by an undertaking
that is carrying out an economic activity to ensure the alignment
with the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises and the
UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, including
the principles and rights set out in the eight fundamental conven-
tions identified in the Declaration of the International Labour Or-
ganisation on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work and the
International Bill of Human Rights. Compliance with the Minimum
Safeguards was tested in accordance with the recommendations
included in the Final Report on Minimum Safeguards by Platform
On Sustainable Finance.
The CIECH Group meets the requirements of minimum safe-
guards, i.e. it operates in accordance with the Organisation for
Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) guidelines for
multinational enterprises and the United Nations (UN) Guiding
Principles on Business and Human Rights. The CIECH Group has in
place and applies solutions and procedures that ensure:
PROTECTION OF FUNDAMENTAL HUMAN RIGHTS, WORKPLACE
RIGHTS AND CONSUMER RIGHTS
We support and promote freedom of association within our
Group and in relations with the market environment. Ten
trade union organisations operate within the CIECH Group,
associating approx. 36% of employees.
We have introduced and apply internal regulations ensuring
the protection of human rights and rights in the workplace,
which include, among others: the Code of Conduct of the
CIECH Group, the Procedure for Counteracting Mobbing and
Discrimination in the Work Environment in the CIECH Group,
the Occupational Health and Safety Policy of the CIECH
Group.
We have introduced the Code of the Business Partner of the
CIECH Group and we verify suppliers in the KYC procedure in
Activities aligned
with the taxonomy;
7%
Activities eligible for
the taxonomy but
environmentally
unsustainable;
49%
Activities non-
eligible for the
taxonomy;
44%
Activities aligned with
the taxonomy;
0%
Activities eligible for
the taxonomy but
environmental-ly
unsustainable;
57%
Activities non-
eligible for the
taxonomy;
43%
Activities
aligned with
the taxonomy;
3%
Activities eligible for
the taxonomy but
environmentally
unsustainable;
57%
Activities non-
eligible for the
taxonomy;
40%
NON-FINANCIAL REPORT 2022
ciechgroup.com 59
order to check whether they conduct their activities in ac-
cordance with the Code standards in terms of human rights,
environmental protection and ethics.
We are a signatory of the Declaration of Adoption of the
Standard of the United Nations Ethics Programme. We re-
spect internationally recognised human rights and labour
standards. We support the elimination of all forms of slav-
ery, forced labour, child labour and the actual abolition of
juvenile labour.
Neither the CIECH Group nor any of the Group's companies
have been recognised as an entity violating human or labour
rights.
COUNTERACTING CORRUPTION AND BRIBERY
We clearly and consistently apply a zero-tolerance policy to
any fraud and corruption. The CIECH Group applies the Anti-
corruption and anti-fraud policy of the CIECH Group. The
process of counteracting fraud and corruption consists in
complying with the requirements of the policy by all employ-
ees, regardless of the type of employment contract and po-
sition held, as well as by other stakeholders.
The Group's counterparties are bound by the Code of the
Business Partner of the CIECH Group, which addresses the
issues of zero tolerance for abuse and corruption as well as
honesty in commercial operations.
None of the Group's companies or executives have been
convicted of corruption.
COMPLIANCE WITH APPLICABLE FAIR COMPETITION LAWS AND
REGULATIONS
Effective and fair competition is our foundation. Compliance
with the rules of fair competition enables us to exert a posi-
tive impact on the economy and the quality of economic
turnover, and to offer our customers the highest quality
products while achieving the set business goals.
We promote awareness of compliance with the provisions of
the Competition Law by introducing the Code of Conduct of
the CIECH Group and the Policy of Compliance with Compe-
tition Law in the CIECH Group.
Neither the CIECH Group nor any of its executives have been
convicted of violating competition law.
COMPLIANCE WITH TAX REGULATIONS AND PROPER TAX RISK
MANAGEMENT
In its operations, both on the local and international mar-
kets, the CIECH Group is guided by the principles of honesty
and due diligence in the area of taxes. The CIECH Group ap-
plies a tax strategy, which is a set of rules that we follow in
relation to tax burdens. Compliance with them is aimed at
ensuring effective and consistent management of the tax or-
der, tax risk, human resources and organisation in the scope
of the tax function, tax documentation and data, as well as
IT systems supporting the operation of individual areas.
The priority in the scope of tax settlements of the CIECH
Group is given to tax security, understood as minimising the
risk of tax arrears and the risk of sanctions based on special
provisions. In order to ensure tax security, the CIECH Group
applies tax risk management procedures.
In 2022, the tax authorities did not find any violations of tax
law standards (other than those related to the interpretation
of laws) against any member of the CIECH Group, including
in particular failure to comply with obligations imposed by
law or tax evasion. The CIECH Group attaches great im-
portance to the timely and compliant fulfilment of tax obli-
gations. Despite this, the interpretation of certain tax regu-
lations by the CIECH Group may differ from the position pre-
sented by the tax authorities, which in turn may lead to a
dispute with the tax authority. The current reports of the
CIECH Group for 2022 contain detailed information on judg-
ments and decisions issued against the CIECH Group. These
judgments were issued in 2022, however, they concern set-
tlements for earlier periods. On the other hand, the periodic
reports of the CIECH Group for 2022 contain information on
pending tax proceedings, i.e. opened and not completed in
2022.
For more information go to the Corporate Governance (page 105)
section
NON-FINANCIAL REPORT 2022
ciechgroup.com 60
Turnover KPIs for the financial year 2022
Figures in PLN thousand
Condition I: Substantial Contribution
Condition II: Do no significant harm (DNSH)
Condi-
tion III:
Activity
Code
Absolute value of revenue
TURNOVER KPIs
Share in total revenue
Climate change mitigation
Climate change adaptation
Sustainable use and protection of
water and marine resources
Transition to a circular economy
Pollution prevention and control
Protection and restoration of bio-
diversity and ecosystems
Climate change mitigation
Climate change adaptation
Sustainable use and protection of
water and marine resources
Transition to a circular economy
Pollution prevention and control
Protection and restoration of bio-
diversity and ecosystems
Minimum social safeguards
Percentage share of
taxonomy
aligned turnover
year N
Percentage share of taxonomy
aligned turnover year N
-1
Enabling activity
Transition activity
A.
TAXONOMY ELIGIBLE ACTIVITY
A.1.
Types of environmentally sustainable activi-
ties (in accordance with the taxonomy):
1
High-efficiency co-generation of heat/cool
and power from fossil gaseous fuels
4.31
378 940
7%
0%
100%
nd.
nd.
nd.
nd.
T
T
T
nd.
T
T
T
7%
6%
Total A.1. Turnover from activities eligible for the
taxonomy and environmentally sustainable
(aligned with the taxonomy)
378 940
7%
A.2.
Types of environmentally unsustainable ac-
tivities (not aligned with the taxonomy):
2
Manufacure of soda ash
3.12.
2 626 919
49%
0%
100%
nd.
nd.
nd.
nd.
N
T
T
nd.
N
T
T
3
Freight rail transport
6.2.
12 764
0%
0%
100%
nd.
nd.
nd.
nd.
N
T
nd.
T
N
nd.
T
Total A.2. Turnover from activities eligible for the
taxonomy but environmentally unsustainable (not
aligned with the taxonomy)
2 639 683
49%
Total A (A.1. + A.2.)
3 018 623
56%
B.
TAXONOMY NON-ELIGIBLE ACTIVITY
Total B (Other taxonomy non-eligible activities)
2 396 836
44%
Total A+B
5 415 459
100%
NON-FINANCIAL REPORT 2022
ciechgroup.com 61
CAPEX KPIs for the financial year 2022
Figures in PLN thousand
Condition I: Substantial Contribution
Condition II: Do no significant harm (DNSH)
Condi-
tion III:
Activity
Code
Capital expenditures in absolute
terms
CAPEX KPIs
Percentage share of capital ex-
penditures
Climate change mitigation
Climate change adaptation
Sustainable use and protection of
water and
marine resources
Transition to a circular economy
Pollution prevention and control
Protection and restoration of bio-
diversity and ecosystems
Climate change mitigation
Climate change adaptation
Sustainable use and protection of
water and marine resources
Transition to a circular economy
Pollution prevention and control
Protection and restoration of bio-
diversity and ecosystems
Minimum social safeguards
Percentage share of taxonomy
aligned capital expenditures
year N
Percentage share of taxonomy
aligned capita
l expenditures
year N-1
Enabling activity
Transition activity
A.
TAXONOMY ELIGIBLE ACTIVITY
A.1
.
Types of environmentally sustainable activities (in ac-
cordance with the taxonomy):
1
High-efficiency co-generation of heat/cool and
power from fossil gaseous fuels
4.31
0
0%
0%
100%
nd.
nd.
nd.
nd.
T
T
T
nd.
T
T
T
0%
0%
Total A.1. Turnover from activities eligible for the taxon-
omy and environmentally sustainable (aligned with the
taxonomy)
0
0%
A.2
.
Types of environmentally unsustainable activities
(not aligned with the taxonomy):
2
Manufacure of soda ash
3.12.
217 777
50%
0%
100%
nd.
nd.
nd.
nd.
N
T
T
nd.
N
T
T
3
Freight rail transport
6.2.
30 065
7%
0%
100%
nd.
nd.
nd.
nd.
N
T
nd.
T
N
nd.
T
Total A.2. Turnover from activities eligible for the taxon-
omy but environmentally unsustainable (not aligned with
the taxonomy)
247 842
57%
Total A (A.1. + A.2.)
247 842
57%
B.
TAXONOMY NON-ELIGIBLE ACTIVITY
Total B (Other taxonomy non-eligible activities)
183 589
43%
Total A+B
431 431
100%
NON-FINANCIAL REPORT 2022
ciechgroup.com 62
OPEX KPIs for the financial year 2022
Figures in PLN thousand
Condition I: Substantial Contribution
Condition II: Do no significant harm (DNSH)
Condition
III:
Activity
Code
"Operating expenses" in absolute
terms
OPEX KPIs
Percentage share of "operating ex-
penses"
Climate change mitigation
Climate change adaptation
Sustainable use and protection of
water and
marine resources
Transition to a circular economy
Pollution prevention and control
Protection and restoration of bio-
diversity and ecosystems
Climate change mitigation
Climate change adaptation
Sustainable use and protection of
water and marine resources
Transition to a circular economy
Pollution prevention and control
Protection and restoration of bio-
diversity and ecosystems
Minimum social safeguards
Percentage share of taxonomy
aligned "operating expenses"
year N
Percentage share of taxonomy
aligned "opera
ting expenses"
year N-1
Enabling activity
Transition activity
A.
TAXONOMY ELIGIBLE ACTIVITY
A.1.
Types of environmentally sustainable activities
(in accordance with the taxonomy):
1
High-efficiency co-generation of heat/cool and
power from fossil gaseous fuels
4.31
7 465
3%
0%
100%
nd.
nd.
nd.
nd.
T
T
T
nd.
T
T
T
3%
4%
Total A.1. Turnover from activities eligible for the taxon-
omy and environmentally sustainable (aligned with the
taxonomy)
7 465
3%
A.2.
Types of environmentally unsustainable activities
(not aligned with the taxonomy):
2
Manufacure of soda ash
3.12.
123 971
54%
0%
100%
nd.
nd.
nd.
nd.
N
T
T
nd.
N
T
T
3
Freight rail transport
6.2.
5 677
2%
0%
100%
nd.
nd.
nd.
nd.
N
T
nd.
T
N
nd.
T
Total A.2. Turnover from activities eligible for the taxon-
omy but environmentally unsustainable (not aligned
with the taxonomy)
129 648
57%
Total A (A.1. + A.2.)
137 112
60%
B.
TAXONOMY NON-ELIGIBLE ACTIVITY
Total B (Other taxonomy non-eligible activities)
92 200
40%
Total A+B
229 312
100%
NON-FINANCIAL REPORT 2022
ciechgroup.com 63
Nuclear energy or natural gas related activities
Nuclear energy related activities
1.
The undertaking researches, develops, demonstrates and deploys, finances or is exposed to innovative electricity installations gener-
ating energy through nuclear processes with minimal waste from the fuel cycle.
No
2.
The undertaking builds and safely operates, finances or is exposed to new nuclear facilities to generate electricity or process heat,
including for district heating or industrial processes such as hydrogen production, and modernises them in terms of safety, using the
best available technologies.
No
3.
The undertaking safely operates, finances or is exposed to existing nuclear facilities that generate electricity or process heat, including
for district heating or industrial processes such as hydrogen production from nuclear energy, and modernises them in terms of safety.
No
Natural gas related activities
4.
The undertaking builds or operates, finances or is exposed to an installation for the generation of electricity using gaseous fossil fuels.
No
5.
The undertaking builds, modernises and operates, finances or is exposed to installations for the combined generation of heat/cooling
energy and electricity using gaseous fossil fuels.
No
6.
The undertaking builds, modernises and operates, finances or is exposed to installations heat generation installations producing
heat/cooling energy using gaseous fossil fuels.
No
CONTEXTUAL INFORMATION
MANUFACTURE OF SODA ASH
As part of the activity 3.12. Manufacture of soda ash, we identi-
fied the production activity of light and dense soda ash carried
out in two companies - CIECH Soda Polska and CIECH Soda
Deutschland. In the Turnover, CAPEX and OPEX KPI counters, we
did not include values directly related to products other than light
and dense soda ash. Where necessary, the disaggregation of op-
erating expenses related to installations for the production of
soda and salt was based on an analysis of the production process,
and the distribution keys used reflect the technical specificity of
this process. The costs related to materials for repairs and reno-
vations and the costs of personnel assigned to the maintenance
function were divided according to the key of expenditure on re-
pair services. In other cases, we used a division based on the vol-
ume structure of production.
For the activity 3.12. Manufacture of soda ash, technical screen-
ing criteria were verified. According to the analysis:
for the environmental objective "Climate change adapta-
tion", the criterion of a significant contribution was met,
at the same time, the activity does not meet two of the cri-
teria related to the principle of no significant harm verified
for other environmental purposes.
Thus, the financial indicators assigned to this activity qualify for
the taxonomy, but are not consistent with it. The criteria that
were assessed negatively concern emission levels according to
the best available techniques (BAT) and the level of the CO
2
emis-
sion index indicated in the criteria. When verifying the activity of
sodium carbonate production in terms of the CO
2
emissivity cri-
terion, CO
2
emissions from the combustion of carbonate raw ma-
terials in the production process, as well as CO
2
emissions gener-
ated in the process of producing energy used subsequently for the
production of soda, were used in the calculations. The Group's
current strategy for 2022-2024 assumes measures aimed at re-
ducing CO
2
emissions related to the production of soda and en-
ergy.
NON-FINANCIAL REPORT 2022
ciechgroup.com 64
HIGH-EFFICIENCY CO-GENERATION OF HEAT/COOL
AND POWER FROM FOSSIL GASEOUS FUELS
As part of the activity 4.31. High-efficiency co-generation of
heat/cool and power from fossil gaseous fuels, we identified the
activity carried out in the German CHP plant owned by CIECH En-
ergy Deutschland.
For the activity 4.31. High-efficiency co-generation of heat/cool
and power from fossil gaseous fuels, technical screening criteria
were verified. According to the analysis:
for the environmental objective "Climate change adapta-
tion", the criterion of a significant contribution was met,
at the same time, the activity meets all the criteria related to
the principle of no significant harm verified for other envi-
ronmental purposes.
Thus, the financial indicators assigned to this activity qualify and
are consistent with the taxonomy, i.e. sustainable environment.
FREIGHT RAIL TRANSPORT
As part of the activity 6.2. Freight rail transport, we identified do-
mestic rail transport services provided by CIECH Cargo. The Turn-
over, CAPEX and OPEX KPI counters include only values directly
related to rail transport means.
For the activity 6.2. Freight rail transport, technical screening cri-
teria were verified. According to the analysis:
for the environmental objective "Climate change adapta-
tion", the criterion of a significant contribution was met,
at the same time, the activity does not meet two of the cri-
teria related to the principle of no significant harm verified
for other environmental purposes.
Accordingly, the financial indicators assigned to this activity qual-
ify for the taxonomy, but are not consistent with it. The criteria
that were assessed negatively relate to the level of the CO
2
emis-
sion index and the issue of transporting fossil fuels, which are
transported for the needs of the Soda segment. One of the long-
term goals of the CIECH Group in the ESG Strategy is to abandon
the production of energy from coal by 2033, and as a result, to
abandon rail transport of fossil fuels.
ACCOUNTING POLICY
The data presented in the disclosure comes from the financial and
accounting system of the CIECH Group and from the financial and
management reporting systems of the Group's subsidiaries. The
consolidation procedure excludes the risk of double counting for
total revenues, capital expenditures and operating expenses,
which are the reference values for calculating percentages. To cal-
culate the percentage of each activity's KPIs in the total reference
value, data was collected, were possible, directly from financial
systems. In cases where direct allocation to individual activities
was not possible, appropriate percentage distribution keys were
used and corresponding values were assigned. In addition, in or-
der to eliminate the risk of double counting, only capital expend-
itures and operating expenses directly related to each of the iden-
tified activities were taken into account when calculating costs for
individual activities.
The definition of turnover for the purposes of Regulation
2021/2178 includes revenue recognised in accordance with the
International Accounting Standard (IAS) 1 point 82 letter (a)
adopted by Commission Regulation (EC) 1126/2008, which corre-
sponds to the definition of net revenues from the sale of products
or services provided for the purposes of the financial statements
of the CIECH Group. Thus, the basis for calculating the Turnover
KPIs are the consolidated revenues from continued operations in
2022 disclosed in the item “Net revenues from sales for continued
operations” in the consolidated financial statements for 2022.
Disclosure of the Turnover KPIs was prepared on the basis of con-
solidated data. Therefore, for individual activities, revenues from
activities conducted for own consumption within the CIECH
Group are not identified.
The basis for the calculations of the CAPEX KPIs are the total cap-
ital expenditures of the CIECH Group, which, in accordance with
Regulation 2021/2178, include costs settled on the basis of:
IAS 16 Property, plant and equipment, point 73 letter (e)
items (i) and (iii);
IAS 38 Intangible Assets, point 118 letter (e) item (i);
IAS 40 Investment Property, point 76 letters (a) and (b) (in
the case of a model based on the fair value);
IAS 40 Investment Property, point 79 letter (d) items (i) and
(ii) (in the case of a model based on the purchase price or
production cost);
IAS 41 Agriculture, point 50 letters (b) and (e);
IFRS 16 Leases, point 53 letter (h).
In 2022, the CIECH Group did not incur any capital expenditures
resulting from mergers or acquisitions of external entities.
Capital expenditures are presented on an accrual basis.
Operating expenses for the calculation of the OPEX KPIs, within
the meaning of Regulation 2021/2178 are direct, uncapitalised
costs related to research and development, building renovation
activities, short-term leases, maintenance and repairs, and any
other direct internal and external expenses related to the ongoing
NON-FINANCIAL REPORT 2022
ciechgroup.com 65
handling of tangible fixed assets necessary to ensure the contin-
uous and effective operation of such assets. Based on the above
definition, the costs of the CIECH Group were analysed in terms
of their relevance for the EU taxonomy. Costs related to the op-
eration and maintenance of the CIECH Group's assets were iden-
tified and classified into four main categories:
Costs of external services, including costs of repairs and ren-
ovations, cleaning costs, technical supervision, mainte-
nance, inspections, research and development expenses,
Personnel costs related to the repair and maintenance of as-
sets,
Costs of materials for repairs & renovations and consuma-
bles,
Leases and short-term rentals.
The CIECH Group did not issue, either in 2022 or in previous years,
the so-called green bonds or debt securities to finance certain
identified activities covered by the taxonomy.
The presentation currency of the disclosure regarding the activi-
ties covered by the taxonomy is the Polish zloty in accordance
with the currency adopted for the consolidated financial state-
ments. The data has been presented in thousands of Polish zlotys
(PLN thousand), unless indicated otherwise.
NON-FINANCIAL REPORT 2022
ciechgroup.com 66
RISK
MANAGEMENT
The CIECH Group strives to achieve its
strategic objectives without taking exces-
sive risks.
To this end, the Group has implemented a risk management sys-
tem through which:
we identify threats to the achievement of our objectives,
we define proposed actions to minimise the threats and
their impact on the objectives set,
in the case of risks that have not yet been identified, we are
able to properly identify and assess them.
The Risk Management System of the CIECH Group is an organised
set of general principles and guidelines, defining how the risks to
which we are exposed should be managed. The objective of the
system is to lay a foundation for introducing risk management
methods, procedures, requirements and reports required for
keeping risks at an acceptable level.
The risk management system operating within the CIECH Group
is continuously developed and improved. It is an important part
of supporting day-to-day operations. This process is aimed at the
ongoing identification and mitigation of risks and the introduction
of mechanisms through which any risks affecting the value of the
CIECH Group can be properly recognised, identified and appropri-
ately mitigated so that they have a limited or neutral impact on
the achievement of strategic objectives.
We define risk as an event, action or inaction that will prevent the
CIECH Group from achieving its goals. Therefore, the risk is per-
ceived negatively, because it means a threat to the achievement
of the set goals.
The CIECH Group's risk management system is based on the fol-
lowing key principles:
Risk management process
Risk Department
Director
Executive Commit-
tee
Executives/ Risk
owners
Employees
Management
Board of CIECH SA
Supervisory Board
/ Audit Committee
NON-FINANCIAL REPORT 2022
ciechgroup.com 67
each manager and employee of an organisational unit of an
entity belonging to the CIECH Group (including CIECH, the
Group's segments and subsidiaries) is responsible for risk
management,
risk management is a continuous process,
the risk, the effects of which threaten people's health and
life, is unacceptable,
risk cannot be fully eliminated, it is an integral part of con-
ducted activity.
The existing risk management process in the CIECH Group is a
comprehensive and corporate solution. It covers the Group's en-
tities, processes and projects, and applies to all employees of the
Group. This process is an instrument to support the Management
Board in its current operating activities, while the Supervisory
Board of CIECH S.A. uses it to monitor the effectiveness of internal
control and internal audit systems.
IN THE CIECH GROUP, RISK MANAGEMENT OBJECTIVES ARE
ACHIEVED BY:
a systematic approach to identifying all types of risk,
supporting the allocation of resources by setting priorities
for individual types of risk,
selection and implementation of the best risk management
strategy,
monitoring, risk analysis and reporting taking into account
all the potential effects of existing risks.
As part of the CIECH Group's risk management process, actions
are taken regularly and on an ongoing basis. Risk management is
carried out in a two-dimensional way - vertically and horizontally,
identifying the risk not only occurring within a given entity, organ-
isational unit or process, but also the risk whose materialisation
effects influence various areas of activity, entities and processes
from the point of view of the entire CIECH Group. Only such a
comprehensive approach and understanding of risk allows effec-
tive management of various types of risk and brings measurable
benefits to the Group.
In terms of responsibility for the risk management process, a spe-
cial role is played by the key participants in this process, which are
the Management Board of CIECH S.A., the Executive Committee,
the executive staff and the Risk Department Director. The correct-
ness and effectiveness of the implemented risk management sys-
tem is monitored by the Supervisory Board and the Audit Com-
mittee, e.g. based on information from the Management Board
of CIECH S.A. on current types of risks and adequate management
methods.
The risk management process in the CIECH Group has been de-
fined and implemented in accordance with the "International
Standard ISO 31000:2018 Risk Management".
By referring to the ISO 31000 standard, the risk management pro-
cess formally regulates the approach to risk identification, analy-
sis, assessment, management, monitoring and communication
activities in the CIECH Group.
The CIECH Group strives to be perceived by its stakeholders as a
transparent organisation with high awareness and understanding
of various types of risk that may affect the achievement of goals.
Hence the comprehensive approach to risk management, focused
on identifying events that may prevent the achievement of goals.
The functioning risk management process, as one of the elements
building the Group's value, focuses on the risk categories pre-
sented below, which are crucial from the point of view of achiev-
ing the Group's goals:
risk related to the loss of human health and life,
operational risk that may affect the continuity of production
processes,
legal risk,
compliance risk,
regulatory risk,
strategic risk related to the impact of the environment on
the CIECH Group,
COMMUNICATION AND CONSULTATIONS
MONITORING AND REVIEWING
Handling risks Evaluating risks Analysing risks Identifying risks
Defining the con-
text
Risk assessment
NON-FINANCIAL REPORT 2022
ciechgroup.com 68
reputation risk,
financial risk,
risk related to environmental protection.
The CIECH Group does not limit itself to the above risk categories
only. We make every effort to identify and verify key business risk
areas on an ongoing basis and effectively reduce them through
the built and implemented risk management process.
In 2022, the assumptions and risk management process in the
CIECH Group remained the same as in the previous year. This en-
abled the Group, with unchanged assumptions and using the ex-
isting risk management tools, to update the risk definitions in pre-
vious periods and identify new ones that appeared during the
previous year. The most important factors that defined the CIECH
Group's risks in 2022 were the situation in Ukraine and the eco-
nomic situation in Europe resulting from the conflict (fluctuations
in the prices of raw materials and services, deterioration in the
availability of raw materials, inflation). Unlike in 2020-21, the
threat to the Group and its entities was not the COVID-19 pan-
demic and the risk of interrupting the operational continuity of
the Group's production plants.
From the point of view of the implementation of the strategic
goals of the CIECH Group, the key risks identified and described
in this part of the report affected the following areas:
Sales,
Purchases,
Production,
Employees,
OHS,
Finance,
Strategy,
Environmental protection,
Regulatory and legal
The Risk Map below presents the most
important types of risk related to the cur-
rent functioning of the CIECH Group in
2022. A detailed description of the listed
risks is provided in Note 3.4. of the Re-
port of the Management Board on the
activities of the CIECH Group in 2022.
LIKELIHOOD
high
1, 2, 5, 8, 21
22
medium
3, 4, 7, 11, 14, 19, 23, 24, 25
6, 10, 16, 18
low
20
12, 13, 15
9, 17
low
medium
high
EFFECTS
1 Risk of instability and fluctuations of prices of raw ma-
terials, materials, utilities, services
2 Risk of disrupting the availability of key raw materials
3 Risk of a decrease in sales volume and revenues
4 Risk of price instability and availability of products of-
fered by the Group
5 Risk of uncertainty and deterioration of the economic
situation on the domestic and international markets
6 Risk related to customers not accepting higher prices of
the Group's products
7 Risk of failure and unplanned downtime
8 Risk related to difficulties in reaching full production ca-
pacity by the new salt plant in Stassfurt
9 Occupational health and safety risk
10 Risk of inability to implement the strategy
11 Risk related to cyber attacks
12 Risk related to debt financing
13 Risk of inability to service existing debt and maintain
liquidity
14 Interest rate risk
15 Credit risk
16 Risk of financing through factoring
17 Risk related to underinsurance of the assets of the
Group's companies
18 Risk related to tax settlements
19 Risk of changes in laws and regulations
20 Risk related to court proceedings or other out-of-
court proceedings
21 Risk related to the need to achieve the goals of the
CIECH Group's ESG strategy and EU climate policy
22 Risk of tightening regulations related to the use of
the environment
23 The risk of permanent climate change affecting the
demand for the CIECH Group's products
24 Risk of changes in regulations and provisions regard-
ing the possibility of using specific active substances
and PPPs
25 Risk related to oversupply of cereals on the domestic
market and limitation of cereal production on the do-
mestic market
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ciechgroup.com 69
RISKS RELATED TO CLIMATE CHANGES
In our climate change risk analysis, we followed the recommen-
dations and concept outlined by the Task Force on Climate-re-
lated Financial Disclosures (TCFD). According to the TCFD meth-
odology, risks related to climate change are divided into:
RISKS RELATED TO CHANGES AIMED AT CREATING A LOW-CAR-
BON ECONOMY:
political and legal risk - related to, among others, regulatory
actions aimed at halting climate change and promoting ad-
aptation to these changes. This category also includes risks
related to possible liability (litigation),
technological risk - related to technical and technological ad-
vancements and innovations supporting the transformation
of the economy into a low-emission and energy-efficient
economy,
market risk - including, for example, changes in demand and
supply for certain raw materials, products and services in
connection with the increasing consideration by market par-
ticipants of risks and opportunities related to climate
change,
reputation risk - related to changes in the perception of the
company by its stakeholders as a result of its activities sup-
porting or delaying the transformation towards a low-emis-
sion economy.
RISKS RELATED TO THE ACTUAL PHYSICAL IMPACT OF CLIMATE
CHANGE:
sudden - related to events or phenomena resulting from cli-
mate change, in particular, sudden weather phenomena
(e.g. hurricanes, floods, droughts, etc.),
chronic related to long-term, gradual changes in climatic
conditions, e.g. average temperature, surface and under-
ground water levels, etc.
The concept of describing the impact of climate change on busi-
nesses also classifies the opportunities that arise during the trans-
formation of the economy into a low-emission economy and as a
result of the use of emerging innovations:
efficiency in the use of raw materials,
use of new sources and methods of electricity and heat gen-
eration,
new products and services,
emergence of new markets, including new segments in fi-
nancial markets,
increased resilience.
In 2022, we mapped operational risks identified by us in the CIECH
Group with the TCFD concept, taking into account their financial
impact on our operations. According to the TCFD methodology,
the potential financial impact of risks may relate to:
revenues,
costs and expenses,
assets - the amount of investment outlays,
assets - value of fixed assets,
assets - value of intangible assets,
liabilities,
financing (including the cost of capital and access to finance).
A map showing the CIECH Group's operational risks in the classi-
fication adopted by the TCFD is shown below.
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ciechgroup.com 70
Potential financial impact
Risk
Effects
Likeli-
hood
Risk
Level
RISKS RELATED TO TRANSFORMATION
Political and legal
Assets - capital expenditures, Assets - value
of fixed assets
8. Risk related to difficulties in reaching full production capacity
by the new salt plant in Stassfurt
Medium
High
High
Costs and expenses
18. Risk related to tax settlements
High
Medium
High
Revenue, Financing
10. Risk of inability to implement the strategy
High
Medium
High
Revenue
23. Risk of permanent climate change affecting the demand for
the CIECH Group's products
Medium
Medium
Medium
Revenues, Assets - capital expenditures, As-
sets - value of intangible assets
24. Risk of changes in laws and regulations regarding the possibil-
ity of using specific active substances and PPPs
Medium
Medium
Medium
Costs and expenses, Assets - capital expend-
itures, Assets - value of fixed assets
22. Risk of tightening regulations related to the use of the envi-
ronment
High
High
High
Revenues, Assets - capital expenditures, Fi-
nancing
21. Risk related to the need to achieve the objectives of the CIECH
Group's ESG strategy and EU climate policy
Medium
High
High
Liabilities
19. Risk of changes in laws and regulations
Medium
Medium
Medium
Assets - capital expenditures, Assets - value
of fixed assets
17. Risk related to underinsurance of the assets of the Group
companies
High
Low
Medium
Technological
Revenues, costs and expenses
1. The risk of instability and fluctuations in the prices of raw mate-
rials, materials, utilities and services
Medium
High
High
Revenues, costs and expenses
2. The risk of disrupting the availability of key raw materials
Medium
High
High
Assets - capital expenditures, Assets - value
of fixed assets
8. Risk related to difficulties in reaching full production capacity
by the new salt plant in Stassfurt
Medium
High
High
Costs and expenses, Assets - capital expend-
itures
7. Risk of failures and unplanned downtimes
High
Medium
High
Costs and expenses, Assets - capital expend-
itures, Assets - value of fixed assets
22. Risk of tightening regulations related to the use of the envi-
ronment
High
High
High
Revenues, Assets - capital expenditures, Fi-
nancing
21. Risk related to the need to achieve the objectives of the CIECH
Group's ESG strategy and EU climate policy
Medium
High
High
RISKS RELATED TO TRANSFORMATION
Market
Revenues, Costs and expenses
1. The risk of instability and fluctuations in the prices of raw mate-
rials, materials, utilities and services
Medium
High
High
Revenues, Costs and expenses
2. The risk of disrupting the availability of key raw materials
Medium
High
High
Revenues
4. Risk of price instability and availability of products offered by
the Group
Medium
Medium
Medium
Revenues
3. Risk of a decrease in sales volume and revenues
Medium
Medium
Medium
Revenues
5. The risk of uncertainty and deterioration of the economic situa-
tion on the domestic and international markets
Medium
High
High
Revenues
6. Risk related to customers not accepting higher prices of the
Group’s products
High
Medium
High
Assets - capital expenditures, Assets - value
of fixed assets
8. Risk related to difficulties in reaching full production capacity
by the new salt plant in Stassfurt
Medium
High
High
Assets - capital expenditures, Assets - value
of fixed assets
17. Risk related to underinsurance of the assets of the Group
companies
High
Low
Medium
Financing
12. Risk related to debt financing
Medium
Low
Low
Financing
13. Risk of inability to service existing debt and maintain liquidity
Low
Low
Low
Liabilities, Financing
14. Interest rate risk
Medium
Medium
Medium
Revenues, Assets - capital expenditures, As-
sets - value of intangible assets
24. Risk of changes in laws and regulations regarding the possibil-
ity of using specific active substances and PPPs
Medium
Medium
Medium
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ciechgroup.com 71
Potential financial impact
Risk
Effects
Likeli-
hood
Risk
Level
Revenues, Assets - capital expenditures, Fi-
nancing
21. Risk related to the need to achieve the objectives of the CIECH
Group's ESG strategy and EU climate policy
Medium
High
High
Reputation
Revenues
4. Risk of price instability and availability of products offered by
the Group
Medium
Medium
Medium
Financing
13. Risk of inability to service existing debt and maintain liquidity
Low
Low
Low
Revenues, Financing
10. Risk of inability to implement the strategy
High
Medium
High
Costs and expenses, Assets - capital expend-
itures, Assets - value of fixed assets
22. Risk of tightening regulations related to the use of the envi-
ronment
High
High
High
Revenues, Assets - capital expenditures, Fi-
nancing
21. Risk related to the need to achieve the objectives of the CIECH
Group's ESG strategy and EU climate policy
Medium
High
High
PHYSICAL RISKS
Sudden
Revenues, Costs and expenses
2. The risk of disrupting the availability of key raw materials
Medium
High
High
Revenues
4. Risk of price instability and availability of products offered by
the Group
Medium
Medium
Medium
Costs and expenses, Assets - capital expend-
itures
7. Risk of failures and unplanned downtimes
Medium
Medium
Medium
Assets - value of fixed assets
17. Risk related to underinsurance of the assets of the Group
companies
High
Low
Medium
Chronic
Revenues, Costs and expenses
1. The risk of instability and fluctuations in the prices of raw mate-
rials, materials, utilities and services
Medium
High
High
Revenues
5. The risk of uncertainty and deterioration of the economic situa-
tion on the domestic and international markets
Medium
High
High
Revenues, Financing
10. Risk of inability to implement the strategy
High
Medium
High
Revenues
23. Risk of permanent climate change affecting the demand for
the CIECH Group's products
Medium
Medium
Medium
Revenues, Assets - capital expenditures, As-
sets - value of intangible assets
24. Risk of changes in laws and regulations regarding the possibil-
ity of using specific active substances and PPPs
Medium
Medium
Medium
Costs and expenses, Assets - capital expend-
itures, Assets - value of fixed assets
22. Risk of tightening regulations related to the use of the envi-
ronment
High
High
High
Revenues, Assets - capital expenditures, Fi-
nancing
21. Risk related to the need to achieve the objectives of the CIECH
Group's ESG strategy and EU climate policy
Medium
High
High
Liabilities
19. Risk of changes in laws and regulations
Medium
Medium
Medium
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ciechgroup.com 72
OUR EMPLOYEES
AND ASSOCIATES
EMPLOYEE ENGAGEMENT,
CORPORATE CULTURE AND EM-
PLOYEE RELATIONS
3 512 employees
+ 773 new employees
Gander Pay Gap Ratio (GPGR)
LOWER BY 1,7 PP. Y/Y
77% men
23% women
57%
10%
4%
4%
6%
21%
Soda segment
Agro segment
Foams segment
Silicates segment
Packaging segment
Other segment and corporate
functions
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ciechgroup.com 73
ZdrowiejMY Programme
We build a wellbeing culture based on a number of initia-
tives related to movement and physical activity, preventive
health care and psychoeducation.
Purchasing Academy
We have launched an annual programme of training and
workshops for employees engaged in the area of purchas-
ing in the CIECH Group. In 2022, the programme covered
55 people.
ABCD model
Covering all Polish companies with the operational em-
ployee skill and development system thanks to the imple-
mentation of the model in the Packaging and in the Other
segments.
Lider & LiderGO Programmes
350 & 45 participants
More than 100 training hours
In order to respond to the needs of all Managers in our or-
ganisation, we have created three development pro-
grammes: Lider Programme, which includes dedicated pro-
grammes for team leaders and production leaders, and
LiderGO Programme - dedicated to top management.
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The goal of the CIECH Group is to build high employee involve-
ment and ensure the success of its business strategy. By combin-
ing the Remuneration and Employee Development Policy with the
Performance Management System, we are able to address our
goals even more effectively. We want the so-called winning cul-
ture, i.e. organisational culture in which we strive to be successful
together, to enter our bloodstream, and the potential that lies
dormant in employees could be fully used. The attractiveness of
our brand as a potential employer enables us to conduct effective
internal and external communication, allowing us to attract the
attention of the best candidates for the jobs we offer.
These elements are part of an integrated
system that enables us to strengthen and
integrate our organisation.
In the ESG strategy, the theme of human resources management
is one of the key areas. Our ambition is to create the best place
for the development of our employees' talents based on diverse
teams and a system of rewarding for the achievement of set
goals. We believe that diverse teams achieve better results, so at-
tracting more women and giving them the opportunity to fulfil
their full professional potential is a priority for us. We implement
measures with a view to leading to a natural increase in the share
of women in managerial positions. In 2022, we carried out a num-
ber of activities aimed at achieving our goals contained in the ESG
strategy and presented below - more information on their imple-
mentation can be found on page 29.
BUSINESS STRATEGY AND STRATEGIC GOALS OF
THE CIECH GROUP
PERFORMANCE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM
REMUNERATION AND DEVELOPMENT POLICY
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VALUES AND COMPETENCE MODEL AND BUILDING AN ORGAN-
ISATIONAL CULTURE BASED ON THEM
An integrating organisational culture that supports business ac-
tivities is one of the pillars of the CIECH Group's strategy. To sup-
port the process of building it, we have created a comprehensive
action plan for the entire organisation. We began with the first
stage in 2020, with workshops, during which, together with the
top management, we developed a list of values that fit into the
Group's business strategy and reflect the identity of our organisa-
tion. On this basis, we have constructed a model of competencies
necessary to implement and strengthen our values at all levels of
the company. We consistently build the processes of the CIECH
Group around the developed values and competences that have
become an integral part of the Code of Conduct, recruitment pro-
cesses, onboarding, performance management and development
programmes.
The values, skills and behaviours necessary to implement the
strategy were the basis for developing a competency model,
which was then adapted to the role that a specific person plays
within the organisation, i.e. employee and managerial positions
requiring team management competencies.
Our organisational culture is the subject of regular meetings of
the Management Board with dedicated teams of employees. In
addition, selected managers are responsible for the promotion of
individual values, giving an example of their application in prac-
tice. In this way, each employee has a chance to see how to im-
plement values in specific activities that they perform on a daily
basis at work.
More women in middle and senior
management
We provide fair access to employ-
ment and career development oppor-
tunities.
Goal: 35% in 2030
Elimination of differences in the level
of remuneration of women and men
The level of specialists, experts, mid-
dle managers.
Goal: reduce the gap by 50% by
2025, completely eliminate the
gap by 2030
Building a culture of rewarding for
achievements
Goal: implement individual
goals or skill matrices for all
employees by 2023
Building leadership culture and skills
Goal: include leadership assess-
ment in the evaluation of all
people managers by 2023 and
implement individual succes-
sion plans by 2024
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INTEGRATED PERFORMANCE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM
In accordance with one of the key values of our organisation,
which is Development, and as part of the new strategy for 2022-
2024, in which the HR area is one of the priority elements, in 2022
a project to revise the performance management system was car-
ried out.
Performance Management is one of the tools we use to build an
engaging work environment and organisational culture based on
performance management. The system is based on setting goals
that clearly result from the business strategy and serve its opera-
tionalisation. Performance Management is a continuous dialogue
between an employee and a manager about how to translate
business priorities into individual goals, maximise the chances of
achieving them, and how we define the expected final result. Af-
ter implementing the system and getting to know its specifics, we
noticed the possibility of better matching the system to the needs
of the organisation. In 2022, we decided to review and improve
the system.
As a result of the project and close coop-
eration with business units, new rules,
criteria and indicators were developed,
which enabled the revised system to be
more flexible, transparent and respond
to the business needs of the organisa-
tion. Changes made to the system in-
clude: reducing and unifying the number
of bonus groups, adding mandatory
Health & Safety indicators and introduc-
ing an operational efficiency indicator.
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ciechgroup.com 77
SUCCESS FACTORS SYSTEM IMPLEMENTATION
Improving the efficiency of HR processes and their digitisation is
a challenge faced by all departments of the company. In the CIECH
Group, we focused on the implementation of the Success Factors
system, whose modules for managing Performance Management
as well as employee training and development significantly con-
tributed to improving efficiency, automating and reducing man-
ual work in the organisation.
The first module for managing the Performance Management
process, implemented at the beginning of 2022, made it possible
to move away from manual work on excel sheets, saving the time
needed to manage the process and eliminating the risk of errors.
Supervisors have easy and quick access to their team's goals, they
can cascade a goal with one click or create a group goal for all
team members.
After the successful implementation of the first module, we de-
cided to increase the effectiveness of another key process in
CIECH, which is the management of employee training and devel-
opment. Modules devoted to succession management and em-
ployee potential perfectly fit into the development of these areas
in the HR. The training management module allows for full auto-
mation of selected periodical trainings and ongoing monitoring of
the achievement of employees' development goals.
The implementation of training and development management
modules in 2022 will contribute to:
Digitisation of the process - resignation from paper applica-
tions and email requests for participation in training.
Automation of the flow of the training application - shorten-
ing the approval time.
Increasing the involvement of employees and managers in
development processes by providing easier access to the
training offer.
Increased control over timely execution of periodical train-
ings through direct access of the supervisor to information
on employee training and automatic monitoring of the train-
ing expiry date by the system.
Optimisation of e-learning training management tools.
Easier and faster access to L&D indicator reporting.
More efficient management of the talent and succession
process.
Creating a transparent and easily accessible employee devel-
opment path.
DEVELOPMENT AND STANDARDISATION
OF THE REMUNERATION POLICY
BASE SALARIES
In 2022, the process of evaluating newly created jobs in individual
companies was continued. In order to standardise the remunera-
tion policy, the basic salary scale and the table of job classification
in the key Polish companies of the CIECH Group were updated.
Changes have been made to the Remuneration Regulations. The
increase in the minimum wage for 2023 was also taken into ac-
count, and base salary ranges for operational employees at indi-
vidual skill levels were defined (ABCD Model).
BONUS SYSTEM
In 2022, the performance management system was reviewed.
During meetings with the managerial staff held in the form of
workshops, new rules were developed. Both on their basis and in
accordance with the dialogue with the Social Counterparty, the
Bonus Regulations were updated in all Polish companies of the
CIECH Group. The next step will be the implementation of bonus
rules for employees in foreign companies.
The bonus system consists of: an annual system and a quarterly-
annual system, membership of which determines the grade level
of a specific job position. The bonus principles are based on set-
ting individual and team goals as well as dialogue between the
employee and the manager. The amount of the bonus payment
depends on the level of achievement of company-wide, business
segment, team and individual goals.
In order to streamline the process of assigning and settling goals
in 2022, an IT tool was implemented Navigator Portal, built on
the basis of SAP Success Factors technologies. Employees gained
knowledge on how to use the new tool, i.e. how to move around
and send, accept, modify and settle goals in the most efficient
way, during dedicated information training.
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EMPLOYEE BENEFITS
In the CIECH Group, we care for our employees and their family
members, providing them with access to additional benefits. A
uniform benefit offer is in place in the Polish companies of the
CIECH Group. Most companies establish company social benefit
funds, under which employees may be entitled to, among others,
self-arranged countryside holidays, allowances, Christmas bene-
fits for employees and their children.
The offer of benefits in the CIECH Group companies comprises for
instance:
private medical care,
life insurance packages,
sports (membership) cards,
insurance for children up to 26 years of age,
access to trade-specific press,
access to foreign language learning (online platform)
benefits from the company’s social benefit fund,
co-financing for the purchase of glasses.
RELATIONS WITH SOCIAL COUNTRERPARTIES
Within the CIECH Group, there are ten trade union organisations
associating approx. 36% of employees (each operating in at least
one company). We know that good cooperation with trade unions
initiates changes that may affect the state and conditions of em-
ployment in the Group. Accordingly, proper relations with the so-
cial counterparties are one of the managerial staff's priorities.
In 2022, negotiations were held with all trade union organisations
on the content of the updated Remuneration Regulations and Bo-
nus Regulations in the CIECH Group.
EMPLOYEE DEVELOPMENT
GENERAL COMPANY TRAINING
We invest in the development of our employees by providing
them with access to training, workshops, webinars, training
courses, postgraduate studies, coaching and mentoring. We
make sure that our employees can develop, gain new knowledge,
skills and experience. Each department has a specific develop-
ment budget for each year. Based on the competency model, as
well as technical and professional requirements, employees have
the opportunity to participate in training to improve their
knowledge and competencies. Depending on the subject and
scope of the training, employees have the opportunity to partici-
pate in training organised internally or by external training com-
panies.
As part of the company-wide training offer on the e-learning plat-
form, our employees can take advantage of e-learning courses
available to all in business negotiations, finance for "non-financi-
ers", the art of presentation, time management, feedback con-
versations, diversity and inclusiveness, productivity, among oth-
ers, during online meetings or creating multimedia presentations.
Managers also have the opportunity to take advantage of e-learn-
ing courses dedicated to them in team management, planning
and setting goals, delegation, giving feedback or aspects related
to labour law.
In addition to e-learning courses, we also organise a number of
stationary or online trainings in various thematic areas such as
project management, communication and cooperation, infor-
mation security, MS Excel, Power BI or language training.
PROFESSIONALISM
What kind of manager am I?
Planning and goal setting
The role and control of emotions
COMMUNICATION AND COOPERATION
Your team
Effective communication
Change management
DECISION-MAKING
Recruitment process for the Manager
ENGAGING LEADERSHIP
Conducting evaluation interviews
ABCD development discussion
2 219
employees partic-
ipated in training
643
trainings
on offer
9 865
hours spent on
trainings
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ciechgroup.com 79
LIDER AND LIDERGO PROGRAMMES
Lider and LiderGO are leadership competence development pro-
grammes dedicated to all managers in the CIECH Group. Created
internally by the Learning & Development Team, they are aimed
at defining consistent expectations towards managers, support in
everyday work, managing teams and own working time, and
providing practical tools. It is also a time to meet and exchange
good practices.
In order to respond to the needs of all Managers in our organisa-
tion, we have created three development programmes: Lider,
which includes dedicated programmes for Team Leaders and Pro-
duction Leaders, and LiderGO - dedicated to the Top Manage-
ment. Creating content tailored to each of the 3 groups, in which
each module is aimed at developing a specific competence, was
an interesting and engaging experience. We focused on the
blended learning formula so that participants had the oppor-
tunity to take part in live, online workshops, webinars, individual
sessions, or use e-learning.
23 traning groups in 2022
153 tranings
1000 traning hours
In 2022, 350 managers participated in the Lider Programme. We
created 23 training groups and 21 thematic modules. In 2022, we
conducted 153 trainings, which gives us nearly 1 000 training
hours. In 2023, we plan to implement new, extended modules
and periodically launch the programme for new and newly ap-
pointed managers.
45 managers from the top management
76 traning hours
In addition, 45 managers from the top management participated
in the LiderGO programme, who worked in 3 parallel groups. We
carried out several workshops thematically coherent with the
Lider Programme, which gives us nearly 76 training hours.
IMPLEMENTATION OF THE DISC D3 DIAGNOSTIC
TOOL
In 2022, we implemented the DISC D3 questionnaire as a tool to
support the work of managers with their teams. We invited the
entire Top Management group to participate in the survey. The
first step was to organise information webinars, during which
managers could learn more about the survey itself and its meth-
odology. The results of the DISC D3 questionnaire provide infor-
mation on the style of operation preferred by manager, the val-
ues behind the decisions made and how internal motivations
translate into work results. It is also information about the style
of communication preferred by manager and how it affects coop-
eration within the team. The DISC D3 questionnaire is also part of
the AC/DC session and the recruitment process for specific man-
agerial positions.
ABCD MODEL
The ABCD model is a Skills Management System for Operational
Employees (production and production-related positions), which
helps us in:
planning work in production
employee development
motivating employees
ensuring stability of production
Employees covered by the ABCD Model have a developed set of
production skills that includes all technical and soft skills corre-
sponding to the values of the CIECH Group.
The employee's skill set, i.e. the job profile, consists of four soft
skills and technical skills. Profiles also include skill expectation lev-
els on a scale of 1-4.
Thanks to the matrices for assessing the current skills of an em-
ployee in relation to the expected profile, the employee is classi-
fied into one of four levels, which are differentiated by remuner-
ation:
A - learner
B - independent employee
C very versatile person
D - master successor
The evaluation cycle takes place once a year, which is linked to
pay rise moves. Based on the level of competence, we also plan
development activities and career paths for employees in the pro-
duction area and production-related positions.
The implementation of the ABCD Model has helped us to
strengthen the role of the masters as the lower managerial staff.
The masters and managers participated in multi-module work-
shops where they could gain and enhance their team manage-
ment, change implementation, communication and motivating
skills.
In 2022, the system covered the Packag-
ing segment and the company CIECH Ser-
wis i Remonty (the Other segment),
which closes the process of implement-
ing the ABCD Model in all our Polish com-
panies. Currently, approximately 80% of
production employees are already cov-
ered by the Skills Management System
for Operational Employees.
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ciechgroup.com 80
PROCUREMENT ACADEMY
In 2022, we launched the Procurement Academy - an annual pro-
gramme of training and workshops for all employees engaged in
the area of procurement in the CIECH Group. Over 50 people
were covered by the programme.
The purpose of the programme is mainly:
development of key competences as an element of the im-
plementation of the assumptions of the Purchasing Depart-
ment development strategy
addressing the needs of employees reported in the Em-
ployee Opinion Survey in terms of improving qualifications,
development opportunities and training
increasing the level of involvement
The Procurement Academy includes training in negotiations, sup-
plier evaluation and management (supplier TCO analysis), inter-
national sales conditions (Incoterms), legal aspects related to pur-
chases and procurement project management.
After completing the training cycle with an attendance rate of
85%, employees will receive an internal certificate of completion
of the Procurement Academy at the CIECH Group.
DEVELOPMENT OF SALES FORCE IN BUSINESS SEG-
MENTS
We want to best respond to the challenges and expectations of
the changing market, including the needs of our customers, which
is why we invited 18 Key Account Managers (KAMs) from our larg-
est segments, Soda and Agro, to participate in the Development
Centre (DC) session. Each participant received individual feedback
on their strengths and areas for development. The next step will
be to plan development activities tailored to the individual needs
of DC participants.
In addition, in 2022, we implemented a development programme
for KAMs and the Sales Support Team from the Soda segment in
the area of salt products. A series of trainings and workshops was
created around effective team cooperation, customer relation-
ship management and improving sales skills.
We also continued development activities for KAMs from the
Soda segment in the area of soda products. The series of work-
shops focused on practical ways of dealing with difficult sales sit-
uations (raising prices, negotiating complaints), strengthening
sales skills based on non-price arguments and enhancing the habit
of being well prepared for business talks.
LANGUAGE PLATFORM
The Interactive Platform contains hundreds of dialogues, scenes,
exercises, ready-made templates to facilitate writing emails,
word revisions, language games, films, tests, etc. Available to our
employees, there are over 900 lessons at all levels (from basic to
advanced) in the field of general, business, travel-related lan-
guage, as well as industry and departmental dictionaries. The
platform includes a pronunciation trainer, a built-in multimedia
dictionary and other useful functionalities and gamification; it
also gives you the option of using a mobile application on
smartphones. The CIECH Group finances this form of develop-
ment of employee language competences in 100%. In 2022, it was
used by approximately 600 employees of the Group.
COACHING AND MENTORING
Responding to the individual needs of our managers, in 2022 we
conducted individual coaching sessions for 11 employees. The
processes are carried out by both external and internal coaches.
We want the coaching process to bring the expected results.
Therefore, we always start the process with a 3-way session, dur-
ing which the coach establishes the consistency of the goals of the
supervisor and the person entering the coaching process. Some
of the processes are already completed with a summary of the
goals achieved by the coachee, some are still ongoing and subse-
quent processes are successively started. In 2022, each of the
managers using coaching completed an average of 10 to 15 ses-
sions, which gives a total of about 220 hours of coaching sessions.
In addition, 5 women from our organisation started participating
in external cross-mentoring programmes, which will undoubtedly
support the achievement of their individual development goals,
enable them to gain knowledge in the area of their choice, de-
velop specific competences and support networking activities.
11
employees bene-
fited
from coaching
and mentoring
Each of them
had
10-15
sessions
In total
220
coaching and
mentoring hours
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ciechgroup.com 81
WE CHECK THE PULSE OF OUR
ORGANISATION
360-DEGREE EVALUATION
The 360-degree evaluation process enables us to diagnose the
level of managerial competences in the CIECH Group and provides
the necessary information to prepare an action plan for the de-
velopment of the management staff to be implemented this year.
This process takes place every year, each time we evaluate the
competences of a different managerial group. In 2022, we as-
sessed the competencies of the managerial staff at CIECH Salz.
The assessment was carried out for 9 managers of various levels,
who were evaluated by their associates, superiors and direct sub-
ordinates. The survey turnout was over 88%. After the survey was
completed and the results were compiled, individual feedback
sessions were carried out. The results of the survey are very help-
ful in designing and selecting the most appropriate development
activities for a given manager.
The following competencies are assessed: decision making,
safety, credibility, professionalism, cooperation and communica-
tion, engaging leadership, striving for development, continuous
improvement of processes.
PULSE CHECK 2021
In 2022 we organised another PULSE CHECK survey in the CIECH
Group. The aim of the survey is to check whether as a Group we
are heading in the right direction, whether the decisions made by
the Management Board are properly interpreted and support the
daily work of managers and their teams. We want to check the
"pulse of the organisation" and how to support employees on a
daily basis to make CIECH an even better place to work for them.
All managers and independent employees who coordinate pro-
jects in the Group were invited to the survey. To ensure full ano-
nymity, the survey was carried out by, in its entirety, by an exter-
nal company that has been on the market for years and special-
ises in opinion polling.
The survey was carried out electronically. It consisted of 28 ques-
tions (including 3 open-ended questions) within the following cat-
egories:
Engagement,
Organisational culture and image,
Business agility,
Change,
Engaging leadership Top Managerial Staff.
In 2022, the turnout in the survey was 62%. We have clearly ob-
served increases in the percentage of results in each of the afore-
mentioned categories compared to 2021:
Engagement +5 p.p
“Change +3 p.p
“Engaging Leadership +8 p.p
“Organisational culture and image” +7 p.p
“Business agility +4 p.p
The increase in employee satisfaction in all areas throughout the
year may prove that the activities we undertake as a Group are
noticed and appreciated by our employees. Based on the results
of the employee opinion survey and Pulse Check from previous
years, we are continuously implementing changes and improve-
ments that respond to the needs expressed in the surveys. The
results of the survey provide the basis for planning the most ade-
quate actions.
DEVELOPING AN ATTRACTIVE
BRAND ON THE LABOUR MAR-
KET
CLEAR RECRUITMENT RULES
Recruitment processes within the CIECH Group are based on the
adopted standards. We belong to the “Friendly Recruitment” Co-
alition, which means that we comply with the provisions of the
Code of Good Recruitment Practices.
The recruitment process is standardised for the entire Group and
involves meetings in the presence of an HR Employee and a busi-
ness representative. Depending on the grade of the position, the
recruitment processes consist of one or more stages.
A competency interview is conducted with candidates, and their
substantive knowledge and knowledge of foreign languages are
also checked. Additionally, if necessary, competency tests and
knowledge tests are carried out. An important element of the re-
cruitment process is the feedback for persons applying for a given
position, which is provided to each candidate, regardless of the
recruitment result. In communication with candidates, we are
supported by the recruitment system, thanks to which the flow of
information exchanged with candidates is monitored.
In 2022, we also introduced the Assessment Centre as an obliga-
tory stage in the recruitment of senior management and the DISC
D3 survey for this group of candidates. On the basis of the reports,
decisions are made on the selection of a candidate and planning
their further development activities in the case of employment in
the CIECH Group.
We continue the remote recruitment standard developed during
the COVID-19 pandemic. In the case of positions for which
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ciechgroup.com 82
recruitment cannot be carried out remotely (e.g. production
area), recruitment is performed while maintaining all security
measures.
The CIECH Group cares about continuous improvement in the re-
cruitment process. Just like in the previous years, we collect valu-
able feedback from candidates participating in recruitment pro-
cesses using an anonymous online survey. The information ob-
tained helps the organisation to continuously improve its recruit-
ment standards.
All available job offers in the CIECH Group can be found on the
corporate website in the career tab at https://kari-
era.ciechgroup.com
In 2022, we introduced the Employee Recommendation Pro-
gramme in all our companies in Poland and Germany. It assumes
a cash gratification for employees who decide to recommend a
person to work in the CIECH Group. The programme applies to all
job offers available on the internal information site.
WORK PLACEMENTS AND INTERNSHIPS
In 2022, substantive internships and school work placements
were organised once again at the CIECH Group companies, giving
the opportunity to acquire knowledge and the opportunity to de-
velop in many areas. Internship is understood as a paid pro-
gramme implemented by students or graduates in organisational
units of CIECH S.A. and the Group’s companies, in the agreed
time. The internships at the CIECH Group are in line with the as-
sumptions of Top quality internships”. The areas for which in-
terns were recruited include: Production, Finance, Logistics, IT,
R&D, Sales, Administration and Purchasing.
Each intern, acquired in the recruitment process, was assigned a
substantive tutor who was responsible for the implementation,
familiarisation with the organisational structure and activities of
the Group, monitoring the tasks performed by the intern and
providing ongoing feedback. After the end of the programme, the
supervisor was obliged to issue written references regarding the
tasks completed by the intern and the skills acquired during the
internship. However, each intern had the opportunity to provide
feedback on the implemented programme.
In 2022, as part of the CIECH STARTER
Summer Internship Programme, we in-
vited 23 interns to cooperate. The intern-
ships were organised in 20 teams in 6 lo-
cations. During the 3-month programme,
the interns also participated in 4 general
development trainings. From among the
group of interns, we have established
and continue long-term cooperation with
7 people who currently support selected
organisational units.
Additionally, we continued a programme enabling students of
many schools and universities to complete their work placement.
It is a free programme, implemented by school and university stu-
dents as part of professional practice in organisational units of
CIECH S.A. and other companies in the agreed time.
PRE-BOARDING AND ONBOARDING
The first stage of a new employee joining the organisation is the
pre-boarding process, which has been standardised for each of
the CIECH Group companies. Roles have been separated in the
process, based on responsibility for individual tasks. A future em-
ployee of the Group is provided with permanent HR and payroll
services by a dedicated employee of the Human Resources and
Payroll Department. Communication with the future employee
takes place by phone and email. At each stage of employment,
the future employee can count on the support of the HR Depart-
ment.
The CIECH Group operates an Onboarding Programme. Its objec-
tive is quick and easy adaptation of new employees by providing
them with basic knowledge about the CIECH Group, products, in-
ternal acts, development opportunities and social offer. The
Onboarding process includes training, company presentation, de-
livery of welcome kits and information on hiring a new employee
through internal communication.
In 2022, the HR Department conducted
over 40 onboarding sessions for new em-
ployees. Sessions were held at least once
a month in each company of the CIECH
Group. The onboarding process covered
over 700 new employees of the CIECH
Group
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ciechgroup.com 83
As part of HR onboarding, meetings with managers, meetings
with the team and meetings with a dedicated supervisor are or-
ganised. During the onboarding training, trainees become ac-
quainted with the history, mission, vision and values of the com-
pany, learn about the current strategy, discuss the organisational
structure, company procedures and work rules, they are pre-
sented non-wage benefits and the rules for using them, discuss
the circulation of HR and payroll documents, IT, administrative
and finance issues, issued related to information and data man-
agement, quality, security and the adopted ESG strategy. As part
of making the onboarding process more attractive and better in-
tegrating new people, welcome packages and elements of gami-
fication with prizes are also used.
Functional onboarding, which is conducted by the new employ-
ee's supervisor and team, consists in introducing the new em-
ployee to the tasks and responsibilities of a given position, getting
to know the work culture in a given team and establishing formal
and informal relationships with co-workers. During this process,
the scope of tasks for a given position is discussed, the work plan
for the next period is presented, the team gets acquainted, and
development opportunities for a given position are presented.
The entire onboarding process has no end date - it lasts until the
new employee is completely independent in a given position and
is able to effectively navigate the everyday life of the organisa-
tion.
EMPLOYER BRANDING
The CIECH Group continuously undertakes a number of activities
related to maintaining the image of a good employer. In 2022, we
continued activities focused on the promotion of our Production
Plants. We participated in job fairs for both students and people
actively looking for employment. Our representatives of business
units and HR were able to meet directly with people interested in
joining the CIECH Group, talk about the nature of work, develop-
ment opportunities in the company and our plans for the future.
Together with universities and high schools, as well as organisa-
tions associating employers, we organised meetings for pupils,
students and people active on the labour market, during which
we presented the nature of work in the CIECH Group companies.
Once again, CIECH Sarzyna became involved in the educational
project “CIECH Days” connecting the world of business with the
academic community by organising a unique series of educational
and development meetings for students of the Rzeszów Univer-
sity of Technology. The purpose of the event is to promote the
use of chemical sciences in business and to support students in
choosing further career paths. In addition to scheduled lectures
and training sessions conducted by experts, students can also visit
the CIECH Sarzyna factory and laboratory.
In the School Complex in Nowa Sarzyna, the idea of a chemical
class is continued under the patronage of the Rzeszów University
of Technology and CIECH Sarzyna. A modern chemistry labora-
tory, attractive topics and the form of classes are designed to de-
velop students' passion for chemistry, and in the future - to open
the doors to their dream universities and enable them to find an
interesting and valuable job.
In 2022, companies located in Kujawy undertook long-term pat-
ronage cooperation with the John Paul II Complex of Chemical
and Electronic Schools in Inowrocław. As a result, students of the
school are given a chance for work placement in the quality con-
trol department. We also started a long-term partnership with
the Railway Technical School in Bydgoszcz.
REWARDS AND DISTINCTIONS
In 2022, once again we received the certificate: HR of the Highest
Quality, awarded by the Polish Association of Human Resources
Management (PSZK). The certification process is divided into two
stages, including completing a questionnaire (about 50 questions)
covering all HR processes and analysing a selected HR project.
PZSK examines the practical dimension of the HR policy and tools
used by the company (including recruitment, incentive and remu-
neration systems, employee development, internal communica-
tion, employer branding and CSR). HR of the Highest Quality is a
confirmation for employees and candidates that the company is
a good, credible and reliable employer, using the latest human
capital management solutions.
Another title that we obtained in 2022 is the Reliable Employer
and the Reliable Employer of the 20
th
Anniversary awarded for
all initiatives in the area of HR.
The assessment criteria are broad, they
concern every aspect of the operation of
a modern enterprise, e.g. working condi-
tions, career paths, development activi-
ties, employee evaluation model, incen-
tive systems, standards and equal treat-
ment as well as external opinions about
the company.
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ciechgroup.com 84
INTERNAL COMMUNICATION
AND EMPLOYEE ENGAGEMENT
The CIECH Group is developing dynamically and communication
activities, especially during the transformation of the organisa-
tion, are key to ensuring the sense of comfort and security of em-
ployees. We are expanding our online and offline communication
tools to reach our employees as effectively as possible in the most
convenient way for them. We currently use three communication
channels:
online tools and platforms,
traditional message carriers and
direct communication.
If possible, we try to combine communication activities with ac-
tions involving employees, which translates into higher effective-
ness of communication and its positive reception.
ONLINE, DIRECT AND TRADITIONAL (OFFLINE) COMMUNICA-
TION
We regularly communicate to employees about organisational
changes taking place inside the company at all levels of employ-
ment (personnel and reorganisation changes) as well as about in-
itiatives that relate to the Group and current activities. In addition
to written communication in the form of regular mailings and in-
formation newsletters, we organise information meetings -
Global Communications Day. These are half-yearly meetings
where, in addition to a dose of information about the current re-
sults of the company and the projects we are currently imple-
menting, employees have the opportunity to ask questions to
which the speakers provide live answers.
In 2022, we organised a large event - CIECH Celebrations - sum-
marising the Group's 3-year strategy and presenting new direc-
tions for 2022-2024. The event was broadcast live to four coun-
tries and over 3 000 Group employees. In a very solemn atmos-
phere, we awarded over 50 managers of the Group, without
whose work and commitment there would be no success in re-
cent years, achieved in such demanding times.
ENGAGING EMPLOYEES AND SUPPORTING THEIR INITIATIVES
We promote a culture of mutual appreciation. We have intro-
duced a company-wide competition, the CIECH Value Hero,
where we promote employees’ attitudes in line with the Group’s
values - the CIECH Value Hero. An Employee may nominate any
other employee to this award. Nominations are made by com-
pleting a questionnaire with a descriptive justification why the
person concerned should receive an award. A separate Jury in
each of our locations, the composition of which includes employ-
ees, casts its votes. In 2022, we awarded each other 16 employees
in the Value Heroes competition.
In 2022, we returned to full-scale CIECH Fest family picnics, which
are becoming our annual tradition. In previous years, during the
pandemic, the initiative was suspended or held in a limited form
of internal employee meetings. 2022 brought the opportunity to
organise the CIECH Fest in the form of family picnics, where our
employees could have fun and integrate with their dearest ones.
This year's edition of CIECH Fest was full of attractions. We pre-
pared 5 thematic zones for our employees, an unlimited catering
zone, artistic highlights, live music and activities with prizes.
In the "Strefa sportowych uCIECH" (Sports Fun Zone), em-
ployees were able to feel the spirit of healthy competition
and take part in football triathlon as a team, i.e. football
games, accuracy challenge and XXL table football. At the end
of each picnic, all teams were honoured on stage by the
Management Board Members.
"Strefa Kreatywnych uCIECH" (Creative Fun Zone) showed
the possibilities of using CIECH products in a creative way.
Young and old took part, among others, in: workshops for
making pillows from CIECH foams, lanterns or fragrant
slimes, and face painting for the youngest.
"Strefa rodzinnych uCIECH" (The Family Fun Zone) greeted
the youngest with inflatables, eurobungee and an animation
zone where parents were able to leave their children under
the care of professional animators.
"Strefa Zdrowia" (The Health Zone) was part of the
ZdrowiejMy programme and gave the opportunity to take
advantage of on-site consultations with health specialists
such as: an ophthalmologist, cosmetologist, dietician or
physiotherapist.
In the "Strefa Bezpieczny CIECH" (Safe CIECH Zone), employ-
ees used an accident simulator, scenario games, fire brigade
demonstrations, first aid repetitions, which also included
tasks for the youngest.
We also emphasise the traditions that our employees value. Dur-
ing Christmas, we distributed 3 500 packages to employees in Po-
land, Germany, Romania and Spain.
NEW WELLBEING PROGRAMME AND EMPLOYEE HEALTH SUP-
PORT
In 2022, we launched the ZdrowiejMY programme to build a cul-
ture of wellbeing in our Organisation and support the health of
employees.
The programme was developed with all CIECH Group employees
in mind and is based on a number of initiatives related to move-
ment and physical activity, preventive health care and psycho-ed-
ucation. It is an important step in the development of the Group's
pro-health policy. Its purpose is to develop good habits in terms
of physical and mental health care. This proprietary initiative is
also one of the elements of the implementation of CIECH's long-
term strategy, which assumes the construction of a modern and
innovative organisation, which is a friendly and attractive work-
place.
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ciechgroup.com 85
The project was inaugurated during the series of the aforemen-
tioned summer employee picnics, "CIECH Fest". Their participants
had the opportunity to take advantage of comprehensive consul-
tations with health specialists.
In 2022, we also guaranteed our employees access to a number
of mobile diagnostic possibilities - free consultations with physio-
therapists as part of the Health Days in all locations, and as part
of the Prevention Days - ultrasound examinations of a selected
area (abdomen, breasts, testicles and thyroid gland) and ECG
tests in specially adapted cardiobuses. And all this on a stationary
basis, directly at the workplace - in our offices and production
plants.
In addition to the actual access to qualified medical personnel, we
focused on the promotion of physical activity through campaigns
and competitions in which our employees had, among others, an
opportunity to obtain funding for the proposed ideas for joint, in-
tegrating sports initiatives.
We supplemented the programme with a series of psycho-educa-
tional webinars on methods supporting healthy sleep and the im-
portance of building relationships in the workplace.
Our activities as part of the ZdrowiejMY project are one of the
elements of the CIECH Group's strategy for 2022-2024, imple-
mented under the motto "We build future-proof and modern
chemical holding that generates value for its stakeholders." The
priority of the HR area under this strategy is to strengthen positive
changes in the Group's organisational culture and to build an en-
gaging work environment in order to increase the attractiveness
of CIECH as an employer.
FIGURES AND RATIOS
2020
2021
2022
Total number of employees at the end of the period
3 415
100%
3 322
100%
3 512
100%
Breakdown by gender:
Women
804
24%
767
23%
824
23%
Men
2 611
76%
2 555
77%
2 688
77%
Breakdown by age:
Under 30
415
12%
492
15%
531
15%
30-50
1 741
51%
1 539
46%
1 643
47%
Over 50
1 259
37%
1 291
39%
1 338
38%
Breakdown by region:
Poland
2 874
84%
2 610
79%
2 779
79%
Germany
441
13%
618
19%
650
19%
Romania
75
2%
67
2%
54
2%
Spain
25
1%
27
1%
29
1%
Breakdown by business segment:
Soda segment
1 757
51%
1 891
57%
1 991
57%
Agro segment
248
7%
308
9%
339
10%
Foams segment
128
4%
120
4%
124
4%
Silicates segment
106
3%
133
4%
126
4%
Packaging segment
202
6%
195
6%
194
6%
Other segment and corporate functions
974
29%
675
20%
738
21%
2020
2021
2022
New employees
447
100%
463
100%
773
100%
Breakdown by gender:
Women
97
22%
84
18%
221
29%
Men
350
78%
379
82%
552
71%
Breakdown by age:
Under 30
139
31%
162
35%
288
37%
NON-FINANCIAL REPORT 2022
ciechgroup.com 86
2020
2021
2022
30 - 50 years
244
55%
234
51%
374
48%
Over 50
64
14%
67
14%
111
14%
Breakdown by region:
Poland
402
90%
284
61%
659
85%
Germany
41
9%
168
36%
104
13%
Romania
1
0%
6
1%
4
1%
Spain
3
1%
5
1%
6
1%
2020
2021
2022
Employee departures
851
520
594
Breakdown by gender:
Women
225
26%
138
27%
149
25%
Men
626
74%
382
73%
445
75%
Breakdown by age:
Under 30
247
29%
142
27%
181
30%
30 - 50 years
341
40%
216
42%
230
39%
Over 50
263
31%
162
31%
183
31%
Breakdown by region:
Poland
368
43%
436
84%
495
83%
Germany
0
0%
66
13%
77
13%
Romania
482
57%
14
3%
18
3%
Spain
1
0%
4
1%
4
1%
Age
2020
2021
2022
M
W
Total
M
W
Total
M
W
Total
Under 30
292
123
415
360
132
492
388
143
531
30-50
1 294
447
1 741
1 118
421
1 539
1 180
463
1 643
Over 50
1 025
234
1 259
1 077
214
1 291
1 120
218
1 338
TOTAL
2 611
804
3 415
2 555
767
3 322
2 688
824
3 512
Type of employment
2020
2021
2022
M
W
Total
M
W
Total
M
W
Total
Employment contract for indefinite
period
2 077
588
2 665
2 041
578
2 619
2 134
611
2 745
Employment contract for a definite
period (incl.: trial period, under-
study, practical job placement)
534
216
750
513
189
702
554
213
767
Total
2 611
804
3 415
2 555
767
3 322
2 688
824
3 512
Type of employment
2020
2021
2022
M
W
Total
M
K
Total
M
W
Total
Full-time
2 575
788
3 363
2 454
733
3 187
2 594
804
3 398
Part-time
36
16
52
101
34
135
94
20
114
Total
2 611
804
3 415
2 555
767
3 322
2 688
824
3 512
NON-FINANCIAL REPORT 2022
ciechgroup.com 87
Employment area
2020
2021
2022
M
W
Total
M
W
Total
M
W
Total
OHS
7
6
13
5
9
14
13
12
25
Controlling, Accounting, Finance
50
106
156
53
118
171
64
115
179
Power sector
167
7
174
161
8
169
160
8
168
Other
113
89
202
101
64
165
136
59
195
Investments
34
13
47
25
10
35
22
8
30
Quality control
20
163
183
19
156
175
34
165
199
Logistics/Warehouse
163
36
199
153
37
190
153
46
199
Environmental protection
6
7
13
6
8
14
4
7
11
Production
1 527
170
1 697
1 467
144
1 611
1 496
161
1 657
Sales and marketing
64
73
137
66
75
141
71
82
153
Maintenance
364
21
385
393
22
415
414
17
431
Purchases
42
28
70
48
29
77
36
36
72
Management, administration, HR,
IT
54
85
139
58
87
145
85
108
193
Total
2 611
804
3 415
2 555
767
3 322
2 688
824
3 512
Employment level
2020
2021
2022
M
W
Total
M
W
Total
M
W
Total
Executive managers
19
3
22
54
5
59
54
4
58
Under 30
1
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
30-50
12
3
15
33
4
37
36
2
38
Over 50
6
6
21
1
22
18
2
20
Middle managerial staff
130
49
179
130
55
185
141
54
195
Under 30
1
3
4
3
1
4
3
1
4
30-50
86
34
120
76
40
116
91
35
126
Over 50
43
12
55
51
14
65
47
18
65
Non-production operational posi-
tions
713
508
1 221
731
493
1 224
814
468
1 282
Under 30
65
48
113
115
102
217
140
94
234
30-50
411
322
733
344
279
623
384
287
671
Over 50
237
138
375
272
112
384
290
87
377
Production operational positions
1 749
244
1 993
1 640
214
1 854
1 679
298
1 977
Under 30
259
38
297
242
29
271
245
48
293
30-50
773
100
873
665
98
763
669
139
808
Over 50
717
106
823
733
87
820
765
111
876
Total
2 611
804
3 415
2 555
767
3 322
2 688
824
3 512
Gender Pay Gap Ratio (GDPR)
2020
2021
2022
Operational employees production area
-0,3%
-4,3%
-5,4%
Operational employees areas other than production
-2,9%
-5,9%
-4,8%
Middle managerial staff and executive managers
20,3%
15,9%
2,1%
Specialists, experts, middle managers
-1,8%
-6,4%
-4,7%
All employees
-1,4%
-5,0%
-5,0%
NON-FINANCIAL REPORT 2022
ciechgroup.com 88
2020
2021
2022
Number of employees entitled to parental leave
3 415
3 322
3 512
Women
24%
23%
23%
Men
76%
77%
77%
Number of employees who had parental leave
35
35
43
Women
97%
71%
63%
Men
3%
31%
37%
Number of employees who returned to work after parental leave
34
39
39
Women
97%
77%
64%
Men
3%
26%
36%
NON-FINANCIAL REPORT 2022
ciechgroup.com 89
SAFETY AND HEALTH OF
OUR EMPLOYEES AND
CRITICAL INCIDENT
MANAGEMENT
People are the most important to us. The Group's priority is to
ensure the safety of our employees and suppliers, subcontrac-
tors, as well as guests visiting the Group's plants and offices. By
providing technical, organisational, and social conditions to sup-
port their health and safety, we are able to ensure continuity of
production and business development in the long term. Accord-
ing to the WHO definition, we assume that health is complete
physical, mental and social well-being, therefore safety has its
place in all our management processes, from recruitment or pur-
chasing, production and logistics areas, to the broadly under-
stood development of leaders and employees.
In the Strategy for 2022-2024, we put safety first - to become an
industry leader, we have committed to reducing the frequency of
injuries by 30% by the end of 2024.
Thanks to the implementation of comprehensive measures aimed
at improving safety, we have already achieved this goal in 2022,
recording a decrease in the LTIF rate to 2.48 (-51% y/y).
1
LTIF - lost time injury frequency rate - the number of "record-
able" injuries standardised to 1 million hours worked.
Six of our companies received
awards from the Management
Board of CIECH S.A. for achieving
“zero accidents” recordable
throughout 2022
Safe CIECH (internal campaign
from November 2021) - spectacu-
lar results in the first year of the
campaign
5M and 5xWhy analysis
new tools for investigating acci-
dents and near misses
No heavy injuries in the entire
CIECH Group in 2022
The LTIF
1
injury ratio at 2.48 - well
below the strategic target of 3.50
NON-FINANCIAL REPORT 2022
ciechgroup.com 90
LABOUR SAFETY MANAGE-
MENT
Work safety is one of the priorities of our ESG strategy and the
business strategy of the CIECH Group. In accordance with our
Health and Safety Policy, we manage occupational safety in a sys-
temic manner and in line with the principle of continuous im-
provement. Our health and safety management system includes
a wide range of stakeholders, including visitors and subcontrac-
tors.
Our OHS Policy is based on the international ISO 45001 standard
and applies to all our stakeholders, from whom we require com-
pliance with the CIECH Group's safety standards.
This document contains, above all, an obligation to ensure safe
and hygienic working conditions in order to prevent injuries and
health ailments. To achieve this, in our Policy, we commit our-
selves to meeting legal requirements, eliminating hazards, reduc-
ing risks, and continuously improving the OHS management sys-
tem. An important element to support effective management of
the safety area is also consultation and participation of employ-
ees in making decisions related to OHS and implementing actions
resulting from such decisions.
In accordance with the principle of continuous improvement in-
scribed in the ISO Standards, we pay attention to the fact that our
management system is alive and continuously improved. Espe-
cially in today's dynamic legal, social and market environment, we
must be ready to respond to current needs and new challenges.
To ensure effective management of this area, we are also devel-
oping a Team of Health & Safety specialists.
In companies with more than 250 employees, OHS Committees
have been established that meet, as a minimum, on a quarterly
basis to discuss current occupational health and safety challenges
and plans. The meetings are attended by representatives of the
Management Board, OHS service and employees' representa-
tives, most often representatives of trade unions. Representa-
tives of the Social Labour Inspectorate also participate in, among
others, regular Health and Safety Reviews, identifying areas for
improvement in this regard, post-accident proceedings, occupa-
tional risk assessment process.
An important right of an employee, and
an obligation within the CIECH Group, is
to refrain from work if the working condi-
tions pose such a hazard that the health
or life of anyone is at risk.
We continuously monitor hazards in the work environment
through regular inspections carried out not only by OHS services,
but also as a team, with the participation of area owners (manag-
ers of organisational units) or representatives of the Maintenance
Department. Identified threats or irregularities are prioritised and
appropriate corrective actions are carried out by designated per-
sons.
2022 was the first year of the Group's new corporate strategy, the
horizon of which reaches 2024. We put safety first we intend to
become an industry leader and reduce the incidence of injuries
by 30%.
management commitment to health and safety is-
sues,
proper perception and analysis of health and safety
risks in each process,
an effective training and development system in the
area of safety,
wherever possible, the reliance on data as a basis
for decision making,
supporting safety both from the level of investment
in infrastructure and the awareness of each person
and its impact with every day, small decisions on the
level of safety in the immediate environment.
NON-FINANCIAL REPORT 2022
ciechgroup.com 91
Thanks to the commitment of the OHS team and all employees of
the Group, not only did we achieve this ambitious goal, but we
also exceeded it already in the first year of the Strategy. However,
we do not rest on our laurels and make every effort to ensure full
safety for our employees, contractors, and guests.
In 2022, we recorded a record low LTIF
injury rate: 2.48 (-51% y/y)
Six of our companies received awards from the Management
Board of CIECH S.A. for achieving a "zero injuries" recordable re-
sult throughout 2022.
We have not recorded any fatal injuries in the Group since 2015,
and last year we did not record any serious injuries.
Regular meetings and periodic mutual visits of employ-
ees of OHS services in individual plants, aimed at ex-
changing good practices and harmonising safety stand-
ards while respecting the specificity of the Group's vari-
ous business lines.
We periodically published messages in the form of
emails and posters, strengthening the message of our 10
Safety Principles with additional attractions in the form
of, for example, quizzes for employees.
We carried out a series of trainings "See? React, raising
awareness of responsibility for safety in the workplace,
first aid skills and risk identification.
In 2022, we implemented the 5M and 5xWhy analysis
tools for systemic analysis of injury and near miss events,
identification of causes and prevention of similar events
in the future. We communicate the results of analyses in
OHS Alerts and during meetings.
WE ARE CONDUCTING A NUMBER OF ACTIVITIES TO STRENGTHEN OUR HEALTH AND SAFETY COMMUNICATION, INCLUDING:
NON-FINANCIAL REPORT 2022
ciechgroup.com 92
We keep our workplace tidy and
clean.
We only use designated traffic routes.
We hold the handrail when ascending
and descending the stairs.
We follow the traffic regulations.
I use safety guards and safety devices
and do not conduct unauthorised re-
pairs.
I only use technically efficient and
tools and equipment in accordance
with my qualifications.
I follow the rules of safe manual han-
dling
I use safety devices and personal pro-
tective equipment appropriate to the
hazards that may occur
I follow the ban of smoking, consump-
tion of alcohol and intoxicants
I follow all safety rules when working
with dangerous substances
I come to work in a good health and
spirit!
NON-FINANCIAL REPORT 2022
ciechgroup.com 93
"SAFE CIECH" PROJECT
As part of the Safe CIECH project:
We have updated the OHS Policy to meet the requirements
of ISO 45001. One of our companies, Ciech Sarzyna S.A. was
the first company in the Group to receive a certificate of
compliance with this standard in 2021. By 2024, we plan to
raise the certification level of our production companies to
50%.
We refreshed 10 safety rules of the CIECH Group, which are
the basis for talks on safety, from which, among others, we
are now starting internal meetings.
We conduct a series of trainings on risk perception and re-
acting to dangerous situations, See? React!. After the pilot
programme for 50 people in managerial positions from two
companies in 2021, in 2022 we extended the programme to
include the other Group entities and we trained another 238
people. The next step will be to train all employees, including
previously selected internal trainers.
In 2022, we implemented Safety Visits carried out by repre-
sentatives of the top management in production areas,
aimed at talking to employees about safety and listening to
and taking into account the voice of each of our employees.
We increased the number of employees of the team re-
sponsible for security at the headquarters and in individual
companies.
We changed the structure of the OHS team, e.g., by separat-
ing in 2022 a team for management systems and a team for
training and communication.
We developed a new, comprehensive procedure for report-
ing and analysing accidents with a focus on finding the sys-
tem root cause.
We conducted several OHS competitions among our em-
ployees.
We celebrate our successes together - at the beginning of
the year we always appreciate companies from the Group
that stand out with high scores in safety statistics, and now
we are expanding the scope of awards to emphasise the in-
dividual commitment of our employees.
Our activities under the #BezpiecznyCIECH (#SafeCIECH) pro-
gramme have been appreciated by external institutions - in No-
vember 2022, we were nominated for the Safe Work Leaders Fo-
rum at the Central Institute for Labour Protection.
In connection with further improvements in the coming years, we
also plan the following:
introduction of comprehensive software gathering data
from the companies, facilitating their verification, analysis,
assignment of consistent corrective actions and their man-
agement,
continuation of training for all employees of the Group as
part of the “See? React!”
conducting first aid training for all employees of the Group,
development of the training system, including the compe-
tence of leaders in the field of safety,
improving a coherent system of inspections and internal au-
dits,
further modernisation of production plants in the area of in-
frastructure,
Certification of further production companies in accordance
with the ISO 45001 standard.
SAFETY TRAINING
The competences of our employees in the area of occupational
safety are of key importance to us, as they are a guarantee of
safety for themselves, associates, contractors, and therefore our
entire organisation. Therefore, in addition to mandatory training,
resulting directly from the regulations, such as introductory or pe-
riodic training, we hold a number of dedicated meetings. As far as
possible, we try to make these trainings take the form of practical
workshops, taking into account the needs of various target
groups.
In 2022, we continued the extensive
"Safe CIECH" project, under which
we focus on developing a safety cul-
ture, both in the area of the work envi-
ronment and the behaviour of our em-
ployees at each level of the organisa-
tion.
NON-FINANCIAL REPORT 2022
ciechgroup.com 94
COMPREHENSIVE COMMUNICATION IN
THE SAFETY AREA
Information on occupational health and safety is provided primar-
ily through direct meetings between supervisors and employees,
as well as the internal portal of the CIECH Group, posters, or
online meetings, depending on the group of employees con-
cerned.
We also organise periodic meetings dedicated to, among others,
discussing inspection recommendations, procedures after inju-
ries and near misses, observations e.g., during safety visits of
leaders. They are attended by key people responsible for individ-
ual areas, which allows for efficient management of assigned ac-
tivities.
After injury and near miss incidents, the so-called Safety Alerts
are prepared, as discussed during local operational meetings,
OHS Team meetings and meetings of the Management Boards of
Group companies. We start internal meetings with discussing
safety issues, and the "safety slides" prepared by the Health and
Safety Team contain current statistics and news, such as the sub-
ject of the month or the new Safety Alert.
Our main training activities in Health & Safety area in 2022 were:
Conducting See? React! for all employees of the CIECH
Group, broken down by target groups:
Top management - responsibility and care for teams,
safety visits
Operational management - safety psychology, sense of
responsibility for the area, practical support for em-
ployee safety
All employees - mutual care for health and life within
the team.
Conducting first aid training for all employees of the Group -
the project started in 2022 and will be continued in 2023.
Including in the LEADER programme the issue of responsibil-
ity for occupational safety and leadership for safety - build-
ing a safety culture based on care for employees.
Taking over trainings conducted by external companies to
conduct them as practically as possible and with reference
to local conditions and expectations of the CIECH Group.
Continuous improvement of the health and safety part dur-
ing the induction programme to communicate our safety ex-
pectations to new employees from the beginning of their en-
gagement.
”SEE? REACT!” is our largest training programme, fo-
cused primarily on:
Trainings are conducted taking into account the language of the
recipients - for example, trainings for contractors engaging em-
ployees from Ukraine are conducted in the presence of an inter-
preter to ensure the greatest possible effectiveness and under-
standing of our expectations and safety rules.
Training takes place during working hours. With a view to facili-
tating the participation of people working in shifts, we organise
them on varied days and times.
After the training, participants are provided with questionnaires
evaluating the entire training, including e.g., the quality of inter-
preting ambiguities or usefulness in everyday work. This supports
the assessment of contractors (if it is an external training) and ad-
justment of the scope and content in subsequent editions of pe-
riodical training.
Keeping up with the times, we introduce modern technologies,
such as VR (Virtual Reality), to OHS training. Given this type of so-
lutions, the employee is able to learn much more effectively and
faster. Under stressful conditions and in a real environment, they
will act more consciously and avoid costly errors.
Development of risk perception
competencies even despite long-
term work in the same place, similar
conditions and threats.
Responsibility of the management
for OHS and development of com-
munication skills with employees in
terms of responsibility for the work-
place, activities in the sphere of influ-
ence and developing own solutions
to improve work
Responsibility of employees for
their own work area and strengthen-
ing the feeling that all health and
safety activities are carried out for
them, so that they can return home
safely and in full health every day.
NON-FINANCIAL REPORT 2022
ciechgroup.com 95
RISK ASSESSMENT
For us, risk assessment means a compre-
hensive approach that allows minimising
the risk to the health and safety of our
employees and other stakeholders. It is
an integral part of our processes, such as
purchases or investments.
The risk assessment process is an important element of systemic
occupational health and safety management. In the CIECH Group,
we have extended it beyond the mandatory occupational risk as-
sessment. Based on global good practices, the CIECH Group is cur-
rently implementing the Risk Assessment Standard - a unified set
of processes, including risk assessment for non-routine, non-
standard works that always occur in the industry. The occupa-
tional risk assessment process has also been unified, targeting
work processes and not only formal positions.
The risk assessment process is also an important component of
the Subcontractor Safety Management Standard, as the way they
perform their work may affect the safety of our employees and
the other way round. Only effective cooperation in this area is
able to ensure a safe return home for both groups of people work-
ing for CIECH.
In order to prevent ill-considered actions and shortcuts, we have
implemented the so-called Five-step method (5S), which allows
for an effective assessment of our preparation for the safe per-
formance of work.
Occupational risk assessment is a continuous process, i.e. it is doc-
umented, reviewed and updated. The occupational risk assess-
ment process is initiated in each of the following cases:
When creating new workplaces
When introducing (technological or organisa-
tional) changes to workplaces)
A change in the applicable legal and other re-
quirements with regard to the assessed work-
places
Changes in the applied protective measures,
equipment, devices and substances
Occurrence of a near-accident or accident at
work.
The occupational risk assessment process, coordinated by repre-
sentatives of the OHS service, involves employees from a specific
area, and, if necessary, also industry experts. As part of this pro-
cess, we take into account all environmental factors and perform:
defining general requirements for rooms/premises and
workstations,
describing the type of work, including hazard zones,
assessing compliance with the requirements for each job,
describing and evaluating any hazards that may occur during
the performance of work,
estimating the value of occupational risk and determining its
admissibility
developing a plan of corrective and preventive actions.
NON-FINANCIAL REPORT 2022
ciechgroup.com 96
FIGURES AND RATIOS
All injuries, incidents and near misses are recorded in the IT sys-
tem, which enables tracking of ratios, results and trends in the
area of occupational safety.
Accidents at work in the countries where we operate are defined
in accordance with the requirements of local law. In order to har-
monise standards in international operations, we have imple-
mented a uniform definition and method of calculating CIECH in-
juries, the so-called recordable. It is the basis for calculating one
of our main ratios in occupational safety - LTIF.
The LTIF ratio includes all incidents in which our employees were
involved, however, it does not include injuries on the way to and
from work and injuries of subcontractors on the way to and from
work and incidents of subcontractors, which we record sepa-
rately.
CIECH (Recordable) injury is an injury at work that:
required professional medical assistance (except first aid
and/or administering or prescribing painkillers)
and at the same time
whose effects caused a serious impact on the further life and
everyday functioning of the injured.
LTIF ratio calculated as the number of CIECH (recordable) injuries
per 1 million of hours worked.
Employees
2020
2021
2022
Women
Men
Total
Women
Men
Total
Women
Men
Total
Number of fatal injuries
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Number of lost (working
time) injuries
0
34
34
8
44
52
1
30
31
Number of all reported inju-
ries
2
66
68
10
51
61
5
53
58
LTIF
5,76
5,08
2,48
Subcontractors
Women
Men
Total
Women
Men
Total
Women
Men
Total
Number of fatal injuries
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Number of lost (working
time) injuries
0
9
9
0
14
14
0
6
6
Number of all reported inju-
ries
0
10
10
1
14
15
0
6
6
NON-FINANCIAL REPORT 2022
ciechgroup.com 97
OPERATIONAL
EXCELLENCE
In accordance with the CIECH Group's strategy for 2022-2024, as
part of the implementation of the “Build future-proof business
goal in terms of building a cost advantage, activities in the area of
operational excellence were implemented.
The activities were concentrated in two streams:
strengthening the Lean Manufacturing approach,
introduction of additional management techniques to in-
crease production efficiency.
LEAN MANUFACTURING
Lean Manufacturing is a production management system in a
manufacturing company, which is designed to reduce waste and
eliminate unnecessary operations and procedures in the produc-
tion process, while providing products and services of the highest
quality expected by customers, maintaining low production costs
and using a relatively low amount of raw materials. The following
Lean Manufacturing tools were used in the CIECH Group:
5S - sorting, stabilisation, cleaning, standardisation, system-
atics,
TMP (Total Productive Maintenance) - global maintenance
management,
Visual Management management by presenting re-
sults/stages of processes,
SMED (Single Minutes Exchange of Die) quick changeover
method,
Kobetsu Kaizen - continuous rectification and improvement
of the management and production process,
S&OP (Sales and Operations Planning) - an integrated oper-
ational planning process in the enterprise.
A Value Stream Analysis was carried out in the Packaging seg-
ment. Based on the results of the analysis, 9 initiatives were de-
fined to increase operational efficiency. These initiatives con-
cerned specific issues along with an indication of tools and prac-
tices whose implementation will allow achieving the assumed
goals:
Improvement of communication - daily management - or-
ganization of a team of employees.
Organisation of workstations - daily management - organisa-
tion of the 5S workplace.
Permanent problem solving - Kobetsu Kaizen.
Optimisation of the changeover process - SMED.
Improvement of the production planning system - S&OP.
Verification of quality standards - Standardisation.
Maintaining the efficiency of machines, devices and infra-
structure. Spare parts management TPM.
Standardisation of work - Standardisation, Visual Manage-
ment.
Improvement of logistics processes - Standardisation.
In the next stage, these initiatives were transformed into projects
implemented by dedicated project teams consisting of employ-
ees. In addition to the measurable goals set for individual pro-
jects, the objective of building lasting competencies in the organ-
isation that can be used in similar activities in the future was also
achieved.
A Value Stream Analysis was also carried out in the Silicates seg-
ment. Seven initiatives have been defined:
Streamlining communication and standardising meetings.
Effective problem solving.
Standardisation of assortment change and cleaning.
Development of standards for performed operations.
Optimisation of waste management.
Organisation of workstations and work area in the plant.
Optimisation of maintenance and repair of installations, in-
frastructure.
Initiatives were transformed into projects and implemented
within appointed project teams.
Process optimisation activities were also carried out in the follow-
ing areas:
Organisation of technical warehouses.
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Optimisation of the process of loading finished products in
warehouses.
Effective rules of cooperation with carriers.
MANAGEMENT TECHNIQUES TO INCREASE PRODUCTION EFFI-
CIENCY
In the second stream concerning the introduction of manage-
ment techniques to increase production efficiency, the following
activities were implemented:
1. Implementation of the 5S practice:
Production areas in all production plants of the CIECH Group
in Poland were inventoried in terms of the implementation
of the 5S practice - effective and safe organised workplace.
A team of employees has been established whose task is to
support the employees of the Ciech Group in the implemen-
tation of 5S practices.
An operating standard for the implementation of the 5S
practice has been prepared.
In 2022, the 5S practice was implemented in 73 areas, which
corresponds to 29% of the implementation of the total plan.
In order to continuously improve and maintain the appropri-
ate level of 5S in the implemented areas, a process of the so-
called maintenance reviews was prepared and introduced,
the purpose of which is to systematically assess the level of
practice maintenance and assess the possibility of extending
it.
2. Building a standard and starting to implement team organi-
sation practices. The aim of this activity is to prepare team
leaders for effective team organisation through systematic
structured operational meetings, ability to work with KPIs,
submitting proposals for improvements within the PDCA
(Plan, Do, Check, Act) practice.
3. Actions have been initiated in selected production plants to
launch selected TPM (Total Productive Maintenance) ele-
ments. The activities were carried out under two pillars: Au-
tonomous Maintenance and Planned Maintenance.
4. An activity related to building structural problem-solving
competencies in the organisation was launched. It consists
of:
Training employees in the theoretical foundations of struc-
tural problem solving.
Preparation of application regulations.
Implementation of the RCFA (Root cause and failure analy-
sis) IT application for the analysis of failures in production
processes and permanent elimination of their causes.
GOALS AND PLANS FOR 2023
Full implementation of the RCFA IT application
Continuation of TPM activities
Including leaders in building effective team organisa-
tion competences in the training cycle
Full launch of the process of maintaining the imple-
mented practices, the so-called Maintenance Review
Continuation of 5S implementations. The full imple-
mentation of the 5S practice will end in mid-2024
Launching a Value Stream Analysis in other business
areas
Standaryzacja pracy - budowa w organizacji kompe-
tencji w zakresie przygotowania, wdrażania i pracy
w oparciu o standardy pracy; z wykorzystaniem po-
dejścia TWI (Training Within Industry)
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OUR
ENVIRONMENT
MEMBERSHIP IN ORGANISA-
TIONS
UN GLOBAL COMPACT
The CIECH Group has been a member of the United Nations
Global Compact since 2020. By joining this initiative, the Group is
able to draw on the knowledge and experience of this interna-
tional organisation in the area of sustainable development, but
also to bring its own extensive experience related to activities for
climate protection, especially in the areas of energy and minimis-
ing the impact of production on the environment.
All UNGC principles are reflected in our internal regulations and
actively promoted among the Group's business partners. Our
partners are required to comply with our Business Partner Code,
which is evidenced by relevant clauses incorporated into the con-
tracts binding between us. The Code defines the basic principles
of respecting human rights, environmental protection, and busi-
ness ethics. This practice also results from one of the eight key
commitments of the ESG Strategy of the CIECH Group, adopted in
May 2021 - its provisions are related, among others, to willingness
to cooperate with business partners who share the Group's val-
ues and with whom it jointly implements the idea of sustainable
development.
All CIECH Group companies have joined the Declaration of Adop-
tion of the United Nations Ethical Programme Standard, thus
committing themselves to comply with international standards of
labour and human rights. As part of this commitment, the CIECH
Group will promote the freedom of association and the elimina-
tion of slavery and forced labour and will contribute to the actual
abolition of work by adolescents under the age of 18.
The employees of the CIECH Group also participate in the UN
Global Compact Network Poland Ethics Standard project, and
within its framework they co-create the Working Group for ethi-
cal standards and responsible communication. The initiative aims
to create a Responsible Communication Standard, which will be a
set of principles defining ethical information management at the
external and internal level in the organisation and will also pro-
vide tools for implementing the developed solutions.
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HUMAN RIGHTS
Businesses should:
Comply with and support internationally recognised human rights
Eliminate all human rights violations by the company.
LABOUR STANDARDS
Businesses should:
Support uphold the freedom of association and the effective recognition of the right to collective
bargaining
Support the elimination of all forms of slavery and forced labour
Contribute to the effective abolition of child labour
Counteract discrimination in the employment area
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
Businesses should:
Support a precautionary approach to environmental issues
Undertake initiatives to promote greater environmental responsibility
Support the development and diffusion of environmentally friendly technologies.
ANTI-CORRUPTION
Businesses should:
Work against corruption in all its forms, including bribery and extortion.
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OTHER ASSOCIATIONS AND ORGANISA-
TIONS IN WHICH THE CIECH GROUP IS
ENGAGED:
Association of Stock Exchange Issuers,
Bilateral Polish-Romanian Chamber of Commerce and Indus-
try,
Polish Chamber of Chemical Industry,
Employers of the Republic of Poland,
“Lewiatan” Confederation,
“Polska Sól” (Polish Salt) Foundation,
Polish Society for Human Resources Management,
Chamber of Industrial Power and Energy Recipients,
CEFIC European Chemical Industry Council,
The National Association of Candle and Gravelight Produc-
ers,
Railway Business Forum,
European Association of Flexible Polyurethane,
Foam Blocks Manufacturers,
SPOT System Assistance System in the Carriage of Danger-
ous Materials,
Polish Crop Protection Association (PSOR),
ECCA,
Foundation for the Development of the Rzeszów University
of Technology.
RELATIONS WITH LOCAL COM-
MUNITIES
The CIECH Group actively fulfills its mission of being a "good
neighbour" incorporated into its ESG strategy and supports local
initiatives in the environments where the Group's production
plants operate. It actively participates in the organisation of
sports and cultural events and educational programmes. These
activities take the form of sponsorship and partnership. The
Group implements charitable and volunteer projects, giving em-
ployees the opportunity to actively participate in them.
CIECH Pianki became a sponsor
of the Polonia Bydgoszcz speedway team
- a seven-time team Polish Speedway
Champion.
BYDGOSZCZ
CIECH Cargo started a long-term cooperation with the Byd-
goszcz Railway Technical Secondary School. In 2022, stu-
dents took part in a meeting with representatives of the
company in order to learn about the details of internship of-
fers, professional development opportunities and the com-
pany's business profile.
INOWROCŁAW
CIECH has become a sponsor of the "ZHR Przystań" Polish
Scouting Association, Kuyavian-Pomeranian District. The
sponsorship supports educational, patriotic, sports, ecologi-
cal and administrative activities carried out at Przystań
Kajakowo-Żeglarska ZHR. CIECH Soda Polska was also in-
volved in the Eko-rzeka project - Spring Cleaning of the Noteć
River at Przystań Kajakowo-Żeglarska ZHR.
We organize regular meetings with residents and the Man-
agement Board of Osiedle Mątwy (a housing estate adjacent
to the CIECH Soda Polska production plant) to inform them
about initiatives and conduct dialogue with residents.
We support sports initiatives in the region - during the
2021/2022 season, CIECH Soda Polska was the titular spon-
sor of the CIECH KSK Noteć Inowrocław Basketball Club. It is
a professional sports club striving for promotion to a higher
league. The matches played in Inowrocław are very popular
with the inhabitants of the city.
CIECH Soda Polska in 2022 became a sponsor of the Mątew-
ski Noteć Football Club, operating in the immediate vicinity
of its production plant in Inowrocław. The company also
sponsored the Inowrocław "DAMY RADĘ" Beach Handball
Association, the Inowrocław "Noteć" Table Tennis Club, the
"Akro - Sól" Inowrocław Sports Acrobatics Club Association,
as well as the Inowrocław CUIAVIA Sports Club - a fourth-
league football club. All clubs and associations are socially
important sports centres for the inhabitants of Inowrocław,
and the company, by undertaking sponsorship activities,
cares for diversity in terms of sports disciplines and sports
level, while emphasising the support of children and youth
teams as part of the aforementioned activities.
The CIECH Group became the sponsor of the Poland-Indone-
sia match as part of the Davis Cup tournament. Davis Cup is
the world's largest international tennis competition, and
thus one of the most important tournaments in this sport.
The event was held in the sports and entertainment hall of
the Sports and Recreation Centre in Inowrocław, being an
important element of the city's promotion at the regional
and national level.
The CIECH Group provided support, among others, to the Lit-
tle Footballer Inowrocław Football Academy, the Piast Run-
ning Festival, the Second National Basketball Festival -
"Kasper Kids Cup" and the National Youth Tennis Tourna-
ment in Inowrocław. CIECH Cargo also supported the Na-
tional Sports Acrobatics Tournament for Children and Youth.
Involvement in these events reflects care for the education
and youth in the spirit of sports competition and care for
physical culture.
CIECH Soda Polska took its patronage over two classes of a
technical secondary school with the profile of an analyst
technician at the John Paul II Chemistry-Electronics School
Complex in Inowrocław, which is another element of the
CIECH Group's wider cooperation in improving the quality of
vocational education in the Kuyavian-Pomeranian region.
The partnership will enable students to have traineeship,
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and at the same time will provide the opportunity to gain
practical experience and direct contact with specialists in the
industry. The company also supported the 100th anniversary
of Primary School No. 9. In addition, in 2022, CIECH Serwis i
Remonty, together with the Mechanical and Electrical
School Complex in Inowrocław, started joint activities pro-
moting industry professions such as: mechanic, electrician,
electro-automatic technician, to name but a few, through
the organisation of apprenticeships and internships for stu-
dents and study visits of industry business representatives to
the school.
In 2022, CIECH Soda Polska supported cultural centres and
events in Inowrocław, including Kuyavian Cultural Centre -
INO CLASSIC FESTIVAL, initiative of the Inowrocław Jan
Kasprowicz Museum and the Outdoor Exhibition Dedicated
to the 20
th
Anniversary of the Interwar Period and the His-
torical Festival in Inowrocła.
The CIECH Group donated to a member of the local commu-
nity in need. In 2022, CIECH Cargo donated funds to the Or-
phanage in Orłowo (Inowrocław County).
JANIKOWO
In 2022, CIECH Soda Polska remained the sponsor of the local
third-league football team - Unia Janikowo. The company
also supported the Janikowska ZaDyszka marathon.
NOWA SARZYNA
CIECH Sarzyna continuously maintains its patronage over the
chemical class, which is part of the CIECH project under the
name "Chemistry connects people". In 2022, the company
donated PLN 10,000 for class development. The partners of
the project are the Rzeszów University of Technology and
the Nowa Sarzyna Town and Commune Office. As part of the
agreement, the company created a special offer for students
of the University of Technology. The laboratory regularly
hosts meetings of students who have chosen chemistry at
the advanced level with employees of CIECH Sarzyna on re-
cruitment in the chemical industry and the process of devel-
oping and registering products on individual global markets.
On 7 December 2022, the CIECH DAYS event was held - a se-
ries of educational and development meetings for students
of the Rzeszów University of Technology, organised by CIECH
Sarzyna together with the Faculty of Chemistry of the
Rzeszów University of Technology. The event was aimed at
promoting the use of chemical sciences in business and sup-
porting students in choosing further career paths.
CIECH Sarzyna takes patronage over the Unia Nowa Sarzyna
football club.
CIECH Sarzyna co-financed the purchase of equipment for lo-
cal authorities and allocated PLN 20,000 to restocking ponds
located in the recreational area used by employees and their
families.
STASSFURT
We became a sponsor of the HV Rott Weiss Stassfurt hand-
ball club.
WE SUPPORT YOUNG TALENTS
"The Academy of School Talents" is a free, long-term support pro-
gramme for children of employees of enterprises from the port-
folio of companies of the initiator of the Academy - Sebastian
Kulczyk, including the CIECH Group. Programme participants will
receive help from graduates of the world's best universities in de-
veloping their talents and skills and choosing the best educational
path. Advisors from the Nativated Foundation will prepare them
for their final exams, as well as for studying at foreign universities.
The credibility of the programme is guaranteed by its partner -
the Nativated Foundation, which promotes and supports the ed-
ucation of Poles at the best universities in the United Kingdom
and the United States on a daily basis. The foundation has exper-
tise of student learning needs and school systems in the US, UK
and elsewhere.
In September 2018, the CIECH Group started recruitment for the
first year of the Academy of School Talents in its production plants
throughout the country. The intensive information campaign was
well received by employees. As a result, several dozen children of
employees applied for the programme, of which ten winners
were selected. The winner of the first edition of the Academy,
coming from Inowrocław, continues her studies at the University
of Southampton in the United Kingdom, majoring in "Biomedical
Sciences" and is still a beneficiary of the programme, receiving fi-
nancial support for the duration of her education.
Seventeen participants of the Academy of School Talents com-
pleted over 1,800 hours of lessons in the 2021/22 school year un-
der the supervision of mentors from the Nativated Foundation.
Three of this year's high school graduates have taken their final
exams and will apply for courses such as law, medicine and com-
puter science.
In 2022, the Academy of School Talents operated in an extended
formula, providing support to those already studying and organ-
ising the recruitment of new participants. Four new participants
were admitted to the Academy of School Talents.
For more information go to: www.akademiaszkolnychtalentow.pl
WE SUPPORT THE LARGEST CHARITY
FUNDRAISER IN POLAND
In 2022, the CIECH Group donated over 200 thousand top-quality
filtering masks for the organisation of the 30th Final of the Great
Orchestra of Christmas Charity (in Polish: Wielka Orkiestra
Świątecznej Pomocy). The masks reached 1633 staff members
preparing for the Final, which took place on 30 January 2022. Cer-
tified FFP3 class protective masks ensured the safety of the
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ciechgroup.com 103
organisers of the Final and 120 thousand volunteers collecting
money all over Poland.
The CIECH Group started the production of the highest quality
face masks at its production plant in Bydgoszcz in November
2020. They are manufactured in 100% in Poland, and mainly raw
materials from Polish producers were used for their production.
The complicated and meticulous certification process was also
carried out in Poland by an authorised institution - the Central In-
stitute for Labour Protection. The masks effectively protect the
respiratory system against solid and liquid particles forming aer-
osols (dusts, fumes, mists), which is confirmed by the EN 149:
2001 certificate awarded to them in the FFP2 and FFP3 protection
classes.
The Great Orchestra of Christmas Charity Foundation is an organ-
isation enjoying the greatest social trust in Poland. Founded in
1993, it has organised each year, in January, a fundraiser, the
WOŚP Finale. With the collected funds, the WOŚP Foundation
purchases and donates top-of-the-class medical equipment to
children’s hospitals in Poland. Since the beginning of its activity,
the Foundation has collected over PLN 1.7 billion to support
Polish medicine and purchased nearly 70,000 devices.
WE PROMOTE HELPING OTHERS AND
EMPLOYEE VOLUNTARY INITIATIVES
One of the initiatives by Employees are colleague fundraisers for
local organisations and institutions in need. In 2022, charity do-
nations were continued for children from the Orphanage in
Orłowo and for the charges of the “Dar Serca” Association in Jani-
kowo. The CIECH Group provided, among others, a donation to a
member of the local community in need and co-financed Anna
Grzelak's professional development towards providing medical
assistance. During the CIECH Fest picnics, employees collected
funds for selected organisations in need of help.
WE SUPPORT THE UKRAINIAN COMMU-
NITY
The CIECH Group supported the victims of the war in Ukraine. The
assistance arranged by the Group was mainly aimed at supporting
people fleeing the war - both as part of local initiatives carried out
by individual companies and from the level of the headquarters
in Warsaw.
Since the beginning of hostilities, the CIECH Group has donated
over 1,500 mattresses for the needs of refugee accommodation
points, e.g. in Warsaw, Leżajsk and Inowrocław, and equipped the
refugee aid points in Warsaw with 50,000 highest quality certified
FFP2 protective masks. The group was also involved in equipping
the refugee centre in Inowrocław (among others, by making a do-
nation to the local Caritas), purchased power generators for the
Ukrainian Caritas and donated medical equipment worth PLN
50,000 to Ukraine.
The CIECH Group intends to continue its involvement in helping
refugees, hoping to minimise the effects of the war inflicting
Ukraine.
WE SPONSOR THE MOST PRESTIGIOUS
TRIATHLON COMPETITION IN POLAND
In 2022, the CIECH Group became the titular sponsor of the Tri
Tour series of triathlon competitions and the main partner of JBL
Triathlon Poznań. CIECH Tri Tour is the most prestigious series of
triathlon competitions in the country, in which athletes compete
for the shortest total race completion time. All events included in
the series are independent, in each of them the competitors re-
ceive separate starting packages, medals and prizes, in accord-
ance with the regulations prevailing in the competition con-
cerned. As part of the competition, the CIECH Group and the
Pho3nix Foundation, together with the participants and thou-
sands of triathlon fans, collected PLN 4,500,000 for the Techno-
logically Supported Rehabilitation Centre of the Wiktor Dega Or-
thopaedic and Rehabilitation Teaching Hospital of the Karol
Marcinkowski Medical University of Poznań.
WE PROMOTE GREEN TRANSFOR-
MATION OF THE INDUSTRY
As part of the promotion and exchange of information on the
green transformation, the CIECH Group has started cooperation
with the WNP.PL portal. The result of the cooperation is the cre-
ation of the Green Index, i.e., a special zone on the portal dedi-
cated to issues related to the green transformation of industry.
CIECH is the initiator and strategic partner of this initiative. As part
of the cooperation, two Rankings of Decarbonisation Initiatives
were held. The aim of the ranking is to promote interesting, inno-
vative ways to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and save natural
resources.
For more information go to Green Index: CO
2
emissions in busi-
nesses and economies of European countries - link: Zielony in-
deks: emisje CO2 w firmach i gospodarkach państw Europy -
wnp.pl
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PUBLIC AID
In 2022, the CIECH Group companies continued with their pro-
jects launched in previous years and co-financed from public
funds. Substantive work related to the implementation of the ma-
terial scope of the projects as well as their settlement enabled the
Group to obtain a refund in the amount of:
The CIECH Group companies receive grants for research and de-
velopment work, for the purchase of tangible fixed assets and for
adapting their investment projects to environmental require-
ments. Subsidies received by the CIECH Group companies come
mainly from the National Centre for Research and Development,
the National Fund for Environmental Protection and Water
Management, and the Ministry of Development.
In 2022, the CIECH Group companies also received de minimis aid
for training and assistance in the form of greenhouse gas emission
allocation systems.
The CIECH Group companies also use the corporate income tax
exemption in connection with investments carried out on the ba-
sis of permits to operate in Special Economic Zones or on the basis
of decisions on support within the Polish Investment Zone.
PLN 3,158 thousand
by CIECH R&D Sp. z o. o. as part of the completed project:
“Establishment of the Research and Development Centre of
CIECH R&D Sp. z o.o.”.
PLN 798 thousand
by CIECH Sarzyna S.A. for the implementation of the pro-
ject: “Development and verification in actual conditions of
a more efficient and energy-saving technology for the pro-
duction of an innovative herbicide with a reduced content
of the active substance”.
PLN 455 thousand
by Smart Fluid S.A. as part of the project: “Development
and validation in actual conditions of technology for the
production of smart materials that absorb the impact force
by using the properties of shear thickening fluids (STF)”.
PLN 526 thousand
by CIECH R&D Sp. z o.o. as part of the completed project:
“Optimisation of the production of soda and soda-derived
products through the use of concentrated CO
2
waste
streams together with the carbon dioxide chemisorption
process in postdistillation suspension in order to improve
the properties of post-soda lime”.
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CORPORATE
GOVERNANCE
GOVERNANCE STRUCTURE
CIECH
The highest governing body of CIECH is the General Meeting
of Shareholders, the powers and authorities of which arise
from the Commercial Companies Code and the Articles of As-
sociation of CIECH. The procedure at the General Meetings of
Shareholders complies with the Regulations of the General
Meeting of Shareholders.
There is a Supervisory Board at CIECH, the powers and author-
ities of which are specified in the Articles of Association of
CIECH, and its proceedings by the Regulations of the Supervi-
sory Board. According to the Articles of Association of CIECH,
the Supervisory Board shall consist of 5 to 9 members, ap-
pointed by the General Meeting of CIECH.
The Management Board of CIECH shall consist of at least two
members appointed by the Supervisory Board. The President
of the Management Board presides over the Management
Board and coordinates its work. The President shall also have
a decisive vote in adopting resolutions where there is an
equal number of votes for and against the resolution, the Pres-
ident of the Management Board shall have the casting vote.
CZŁONKOWIE ZARZĄDU CIECH S.A.:
DAWID JAKUBOWICZ
President of the Management Board of CIECH
S.A. since 10 September 2018
He completed a Program for Leadership Development (PLD) at
the Harvard Business School in Boston and holds the MBA title
from the Georgia State University and the University of Economy
in Poznań. A graduate of the Faculty of Economy at the University
of Economy in Poznań.
He is an esteemed expert with the international operational ex-
perience in building the value of companies from the chemical,
mining, energy, automotive and new technologies sectors. En-
listed as a qualified auditor by the National Chamber of Statutory
Auditors since 2014. In the past, he worked for international com-
pany KPMG Audyt, where he was responsible for audit of sepa-
rate and consolidated financial statements of entities from many
industries.
Scope of responsibilities in CIECH S.A. supervision over organi-
sational units:
HR and Administration Department
Strategy Department
Legal Department
Internal Audit Department
IR&ESG Director
Strategic Organisational Project Department
Public Relations Manager/Press Officer
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MIROSŁAW SKOWRON
Member of the Management Board of CIECH
S.A. since 10 September 2018
He graduated from the Wrocław University of
Technology, completed an MBA programme at the Wrocław Uni-
versity of Economics, holds the MBA diploma awarded by the
Gdansk Foundation for Management Development. He com-
pleted a course of Strategic Leadership Academy at the ICAN In-
stitute, organised by the Harvard Business Review.
He is an expert with many years of experience in the energy, con-
struction and mining industries. In the CIECH Group he is respon-
sible, among others, for issues related to production, energy and
maintenance. Previously, he was among others, the president of
management boards of companies such as Przedsiębiorstwo
Budowy Kopalń S.A. forming part of the KGHM Group, Polimex-
Energetyka Sp. z o.o., Energa Elektrownie Ostrołęka S.A. and En-
erga Invest S.A., as well as PGE Elektrownia Opole S.A.
Scope of responsibilities in CIECH S.A. supervision over organi-
sational units:
Investment Department (including PMO and Power Engi-
neering)
Asset and Safety Management Department (including OHS)
Environmental Department
Quality Management Department
Strategic Investment Project Department (GRAIN)
Operational Excellence
Logistics / S&OP Department
CIECH R&D
On 31 January 2023, Mirosław Skowron resigned from his posi-
tion of Member of the Management Board. During the next six
months, Mirosław Skowron will remain in the organisation as an
Advisor to the Management Board. His duties were distributed
among the other Members of the Management Board.
KAMIL MAJCZAK
Member of the Management Board of CIECH
S.A. since 1 June 2022
He completed a master’s degree programme in economics at the
University of Cambridge and received a bachelor degree in eco-
nomics the Warsaw School of Economics.
In 2012 2014, he was associated with the PriceWaterhouse-
Coopers consulting company, London, following which, in 2014
2018, he worked for the strategic consulting company Bain &
Company in Warsaw and Melbourne, where he advised large cor-
porate clients and private equity funds. In the period between
2018 and 2021, he was employed with Kulczyk Investments. Since
January 2019, he has been the Strategy Director at CIECH S.A.
responsible for developing and implementing the Group's strat-
egy. In the CIECH Group, he also served as the President of the
Management Board of CIECH Żywice Sp. z o.o. (2020-2021), and
since 2021, he has been a Member of the Management Board of
CIECH Ventures Sp. z o.o.
Scope of responsibilities in CIECH S.A. supervision over the fol-
lowing competences:
Strategy
Business Transformation
Corporate Research and R&D
Corporate Development & New Ventures
PMO
Energy Transformation
Competence Centre.
JAROSŁAW ROMANOWSKI
Member of the Management Board of CIECH
S.A. since 20 April 2020
A graduate of the Faculty of Management at the Poznań Univer-
sity of Economics. He has completed several prestigious courses
in international finance, risk management and business valuation.
He is a manager with long-standing experience in managing global
organisations. An expert in the field of international trade, financ-
ing and project development. For years, associated with the raw
materials sector. In 2003-2006 and 2017-2020, he served as Vice-
President of the Management Board, Chief Financial Officer at
Tele-Fonika Kable S.A. In 2002 - 2016, he was associated with
KGHM Polska Miedź S.A., holding the positions of: General Direc-
tor for Finance, General Director for Sales and Hedging, and from
2013 to 2016, he was the First Vice-President of the Management
Board of KGHM Polska Miedź S.A.
Scope of responsibilities in CIECH S.A. supervision over organi-
sational units:
Controlling Department
Finance Management Department
Accounting Department
Tax Department
Risk Department
Branches (PL, DE, RO)
Purchasing Department
IT Department
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ciechgroup.com 107
SHAREHOLDERS OF THE CIECH
GROUP
Since 2014, the main shareholder
of CIECH S.A. is a long-term strategic
investor - Kulczyk Investments.
It is an international investment group
specialising in initiating and executing
transactions on markets with the great-
est growth potential.
Figure 3. Shareholding structure of CIECH S.A. as at the date
of publication of this report
CIECH S.A. shares debuted on the Warsaw Stock Exchange on 10
February 2005. On 23 August 2016, CIECH S.A. shares were admit-
ted to trading on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange and are listed on
the regulated market there.
Table 2. Basic information on CIECH S.A. shares
2020
2021
2022
Number of shares (pcs.)
52 699
909
52 699
909
52 699
909
Closing price on the last trading
day of the year (PLN)
32,2
42,0
41,5
Company capitalisation at the
end of the year (PLN million)
1 697
2 213
2 185
Maximum price in the year (PLN)
41,7
51,7
46,1
Minimum price in the year (PLN)
21,1
29,5
29,8
Average trading volume per ses-
sion on the WSE (number of
shares)
85 042
96 822
60 404
2020
2021
2022
Average trading value per ses-
sion on the WSE (PLN thousand)
2 702
3 801
2 293
BUSINESS MODEL
We operate based on the Constitution of the CIECH Group,
adopted by the Management Board in March 2019. The Constitu-
tion is the highest-ranking internal legal act applicable to entities
belonging to the CIECH Group, it is a specific agreement between
the companies of the Group. The Constitution creates the foun-
dations of the management system directing our activities to
achieve the common interest. The interest is a benefit achieved
not at the level of individual companies, but at the level of the
Group - through the implementation of common strategic goals
by CIECH, Business Units and Companies that are not part of Busi-
ness Units or constitute independent Business Units. The interest
of the CIECH Group is consistent with the interest of CIECH share-
holders.
CONSTITUTION:
governs mutual relations between entities of the CIECH
Group
identifies the sources of applicable regulations to which all
entities of the CIECH Group shall adhere,
sanctions the CIECH Group,
introduces a BU-centric management model,
enables the adoption and implementation of Corporate Doc-
uments in CIECH Group companies.
The main benefit of the Constitution is the introduction of a BU-
centric management model. Business Units conduct operational
activities based on product specialisation, and CIECH has a strate-
gic and holding role. The established Shared Services Centre
(CIECH Services Sp. z o.o.) runs an auxiliary activity for the entire
CIECH Group. In the BU-centric management system, decisions
are made in Business Units or companies that are not a Business
Unit and not part of any Business Unit, with the advisory and rec-
ommending participation of CIECH structures.
The benefits of the Constitution are corporate documents com-
mon to all companies of the CIECH Group, such as policies, regu-
lations and general procedures. Corporate documents are pre-
pared by CIECH, adopted by the Management Board and then im-
plemented directly in the companies of the Group. Corporate
Documents define: the rules of organisation and conduct in the
business process, the rules of supervising business processes, the
scope of duties, tasks, and competences in business processes.
One of the main Corporate Documents is the DoA (Delegation of
Authorities) (“DoA”) Matrix. The DoA is an instrument used to
support and monitor key business decisions within Business Units
and Companies. The DoA defines the catalogue of key issues and
the thresholds that require the participation of individual govern-
ing bodies and individuals in the decision-making process. Each
Allianz OFE
6%
Other
shareholders
37%
NN OFE
5%
KI Chemistry
SARL
51%
NON-FINANCIAL REPORT 2022
ciechgroup.com 108
company of the CIECH Group has its individualised Delegation of
Authorities Matrix.
The Constitution defines the creation of collegiate bodies of the
CIECH Group. Collegiate Bodies are appointed to carry out perma-
nent tasks or specific projects or ad hoc tasks. The following per-
manent collective bodies operate in the CIECH Group: Executive
Committee, Remuneration and Appointment Committee, Pur-
chasing Committee and Investment Committee. Collegiate bodies
have advisory and decision-making powers. Their decisions are
binding on the Business Units and the companies of the CIECH
Group.
The main permanent collegiate body is the Executive Committee.
It is a collegiate body including members of the Management
Board of CIECH, directors of the largest Business Units and direc-
tors of key CIECH departments. The main tasks of this Committee
are:
defining guidelines, goals and assumptions for the strategy
of the CIECH Group and the strategy of Business Units and
companies of the CIECH Group and issuing recommenda-
tions to the Management Board of CIECH regarding the ap-
proval of these strategies,
support for the Management Board of CIECH in the supervi-
sion of Business Units and companies of the CIECH Group,
assessment of strategic risks and defining preventive and
corrective actions, contingency plans in case these risks
should materialise.
MANAGEMENT STANDARDS
AND COMPLIANCE SYSTEM
We strive to set standards in the area of modern management,
innovation, high-quality products and cooperation with custom-
ers and business partners.
We operate in accordance with the idea of sustainable develop-
ment, where economic, social, and environmental issues are a
key element of our business strategy, with particular emphasis on
such areas as:
relations with employees,
occupational health and safety,
environmental protection,
counteracting unlawful behaviour, including corruption.
These rules are set out in the Code of Conduct of the CIECH
Group, which describes in detail the standards of conduct of the
Group and its employees in individual areas.
The activities undertaken by the CIECH Group are supported by
the implemented management system procedures based on in-
ternational standards, ISO norms and numerous internal regula-
tions.
The Compliance system has been operating in the CIECH Group
since 2018. It is a set of procedures and systems designed to pre-
vent legal risks. The Compliance System is designed to counteract
the legal risk of non-compliance with the law and internal regula-
tions of the CIECH Group. It includes continuously updated poli-
cies and procedures regulating labour, social, environmental, hu-
man rights, anti-corruption and irregularity reporting issues. The
Compliance system is continuously updated to the dynamic regu-
latory changes and changes in the management system of the
CIECH Group.
The Compliance Department of the CIECH Group conducts initial
and regular training in:
rules of the Code of Conduct of the CIECH Group,
rules of the Code of the Business Partner of the CIECH Group,
rules of MAR information obligations,
Management System in the CIECH Group,
The KYC Procedure of the CIECH Group,
Anti-fraud and anti-corruption policy of the CIECH Group,
Procedure of offering and accepting gifts and invitations
within the CIECH Group,
Use of the anonymous violation reporting channel.
CODE OF CONDUCT OF THE
CIECH GROUP
Since 2021, the new Code of Conduct of the CIECH Group has
been in force. The Code is based on 4 fundamental values: re-
sponsibility, reliability, team, and development. It also describes
patterns of behaviour that are addressed to all employees and as-
sociates of our Group - regardless of the form of the concluded
contract. The provisions of the Code are also addressed to our
business partners and shareholders because we are convinced
that common values and principles constitute the foundation for
effective cooperation and sustainable development based on re-
spect for law and honesty. The Code is a guideline for all decisions
made at each level of our Group. Accordingly, internal policies
and procedures are based on the provisions of the Code, creating
a unified system of corporate documents. Below we present the
core values of the CIECH Group contained in the Code of Conduct
of the CIECH Group.
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ciechgroup.com 109
WE CARE ABOUT OUR PEOPLE
WE OBSERVE AND SAFEGUARD HUMAN RIGHTS
The human being is of essence to us. Therefore, we attach great
importance to business ethics, which is permanently inscribed in
our strategy and everyday work. We are proud to be a signatory
of the United Nations Global Compact declaration. We adhere to
internationally recognised human rights and labour standards.
Within our Group and in relations with the market environment,
we support and promote freedom of association. We support the
elimination of all forms of slavery, forced labour, child labour and
the actual abolition of juvenile labour.
SAFETY AT WORK IS THE HIGHEST PRIORITY TO US
We care about the health and safe working conditions of our
employees, customers, suppliers and subcontractors provid-
ing us with their services or staying on the premises of our
plants. We are guided by the following two fundamental prin-
ciples:
zero tolerance for people who violate occupational health
and safety regulations and standards, and
ensuring high OHS standards.
We are continuously improving our activities in the area of occu-
pational health and safety, among others, by modernising our
production technology, taking into account, first of all, our em-
ployees’ safety. We systematically raise the awareness and qual-
ifications of our employees in work safety, striving to eliminate
accidents/injuries at work and occupational diseases. We pro-
mote the participation and involvement of employees in the con-
tinuous improvement of our occupational health and safety sys-
tem, as well as in preventing potentially accidental events (near
misses). The high health and safety standards that we have put in
place apply not only to our employees, but also to our suppliers,
subcontractors and any other individuals staying on our premises.
WE ENSURE A FRIENDLY WORK ENVIRONMENT, FREE FROM
MOBBING AND OTHER FORBIDDEN BEHAVIOUR
Together, we build friendly and partner relations. We have the
common responsibility for professional behaviour to ourselves
and others. We listen to and appreciate our associates, we re-
spect their opinions and decisions, even if they differ from ours.
We create a work environment free from any mobbing, humiliat-
ing, ridiculing or isolating behaviour. We promote the principles
of equal treatment in the recruitment, employment, remunera-
tion and promotion of our employees. We take care of the dignity
and friendly working environment for each employee, showing
them due respect regardless of their religion, skin colour, beliefs,
gender, sexual orientation or age.
We have zero tolerance for alcohol and intoxicants in the work-
place
Work requires conscious thinking and the ability to respond
quickly as the safety of other associates or our business partners
depends on it. We do not tolerate alcohol or drugs in the work-
place, either their consumption or being under their influence at
the time and place designated for carrying out official duties.
WE CARE ABOUT OUR WORLD
WE RESPECT THE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT
We are part of the chemical industry, which is of great benefit to
mankind, but at the same time, there is some price involved,
namely its impact on the environment. This means that while run-
ning our business, we remember about responsibility for the fate
of future generations and our planet. Accordingly, we strive to
eliminate any negative environmental effects of our operations,
and where possible, to minimise them. We make every effort to
ensure that our actions are fully consistent and harmonious with
the idea of environmental protection. We observe generally ap-
plicable environmental protection laws and, where possible,
adopt more restrictive internal standards. We understand the im-
pact of greenhouse gases on the climate and that is why we are
implementing ambitious projects aimed at minimising emissions
and full decarbonisation in the future. We minimise environmen-
tal protection risks, among others, by reducing the use of natural
resources and energy, eliminating or reducing the amount of
harmful emissions, by-products of production processes and
waste. We use water in a sustainable manner, minimising its con-
sumption and taking care of the quality of local resources.
WE SUPPORT LOCAL COMMUNITIES
We care for local communities wherever our production plants
are located. We are aware of our importance as an employer and
work together with local authorities, NGOs and residents to im-
prove their life quality. Our objective is developing good neigh-
bourly relations based on open dialogue, consultation and collab-
oration. We engage in employee volunteering for local initiatives,
and as a Group, we support socially significant initiatives in our
immediate environment.
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ciechgroup.com 110
WE CARE ABOUT OUR GROUP
WE IMPROVE OURSELVES
We are prepared to make bold choices and decisions in line with
our values and the Code. We are continuously expanding our
knowledge and experience to achieve excellence in the chemical
industry. We strive to apply the best practices in all areas of our
operation, while not forgetting about innovative solutions.
WE ENSURE COMPLIANCE
We proactively learn about and comply with applicable laws, in-
ternal regulations as well as industry and ethical standards both
in social and professional relations. Compliance with legal re-
quirements and ethics in all areas of our Group's operations has
a positive effect on our work, regardless of the tasks performed
and the place in the structure of our Group.
WE PROTECT OUR GROUP’S INFORMATION AND SECRETS
Confidential information plays a special role in our Group's busi-
ness strategy, and any loss, destruction of, or access to, such in-
formation by unauthorised individuals may give rise to very seri-
ous consequences. We exercise particular care when accessing
and processing trade secrets, personal data, expertise (know-
how) of our Group and confidential information within the mean-
ing of the public trading regulations. We protect our data against
different types of threats, in particular, those related to cyber-
crime.
WE USE OUR COMPANY ASSETS IN A RESPONSIBLE WAY
We protect the assets and resources of our Group entrusted to us
against damage, destruction, theft or loss. We use the assets of
our Group responsibly because we are aware that they have been
made available to us in order to attain specific business goals. We
use the Group's assets made available to us for personal purposes
to a minimum necessary extent, in line with the Group's internal
regulations. We never use the Group's assets entrusted to us for
our personal gain or for competitive activity.
WE DO NOT TOLERATE ANY FRAUD OR CORRUPTION
We clearly and consistently apply a zero-tolerance policy to all
fraud and corruption. We show honesty in our business opera-
tions and in our daily duties, in relations with our business part-
ners and state and local government officials, in all countries in
which we operate. We also expect honesty and compliance from
our business partners, with whom we work together to develop
best practices to protect the trust, value and reputation of our
Group.
WE COMPLY WITH STOCK EXCHANGE TRADING REGULATIONS
AND GOOD PRACTICES
CIECH S.A. is a company listed on the stock exchange of the War-
saw Stock Exchange and Die Börse Frankfurt. We comply with
Polish and international securities regulations and good practices
in the scope of stock exchange trading. We pursue a transparent
information policy, ensuring equal access to information. We
strive for the financial market to effectively assess the prospects
and risks of our business in the long term, and that is why we are
running a proactive dialogue with analysts, our shareholders, and
potential shareholders, as well as other representatives of the fi-
nancial market.
WE CARE ABOUT OUR BUSINESS PART-
NERS
WE COUNTERACT CONFLICTS OF INTERESTS
A conflict of interest may jeopardise the impartial and objective
performance of official duties for our Group. We take measures
with a view to identifying, explaining and managing cases of con-
nections, relationships, contacts, evidence of gratitude as well as
transactions or any other commitments that may affect, either di-
rectly or indirectly, the loyalty and impartiality of decisions made
by our employees. We disclose the possibility of a conflict of in-
terest to the immediate supervisor or the Ethics Committee of the
CIECH Group in order to make an objective and fair decision
aimed at eliminating or solving the problem.
WE REPORT DOUBTS AND VIOLATIONS
CONTACT WITH THE IMMEDIATE SUPERVISOR
As part of everyday duties and professional situations, doubts, di-
lemmas and questions may arise. There may also be situations in
which we find a violation of ethical principles, law or internal reg-
ulations. In any doubt, we contact our immediate supervisor who
has the adequate knowledge and experience in this regard. We
report violations only in good faith. When reporting doubts or
identified violations, we act in line with the values of our Group.
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ciechgroup.com 111
CODE OF THE BUSINESS PART-
NER OF THE CIECH GROUP
The CIECH Group companies place special emphasis on sustaina-
ble development and responsible business issues. We are aware
of our role in the local environment and the impact we have on
the activities and lives of our stakeholders. We are also aware of
our impact on the natural environment. Products manufactured
by the CIECH Group contribute to the implementation of the UN
Sustainable Development Goals, and our objective is to focus on
strengthening positive, and reducing negative, effects of our op-
erations. We strive towards the long-term, sustainable develop-
ment of the CIECH Group, which will benefit all our stakeholders:
employees, customers, suppliers, neighbours, owners, as well as
future generations. We collaborate with people, institutions and
organisations that share our approach to doing business. Accord-
ingly, we expect our business partners to help us achieve our sus-
tainable development and responsible business conduct objec-
tives and to identify with the values and principles we have
adopted.
The Code of the Business Partner of the CIECH Group (the
“Code”) sets the minimum standards of conduct for: business
partners of the CIECH Group companies, in particular: suppliers,
contractors, distributors, recipients, sellers, service providers,
other counterparties and entities with the help of which business
partners perform business tasks in relation to the companies of
the CIECH Group (“Partners”). The condition for starting and con-
tinuing the business relationship of a CIECH Group company with
Partners is confirmation by the Partners and adoption of the prin-
ciples set out in the Code. The provisions of the Code apply to the
company, members of governing bodies, employees and associ-
ates of our Partners.
HUMAN RIGHTS AND LABOUR STAND-
ARDS
HUMAN RIGHTS
We expect our Partners to observe human rights, both in the con-
text of working conditions of their employees and in business. All
employees and associates of our Partners are treated in a fair, re-
spectful and dignified manner.
OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH AND SAFETY
We expect our Partners to provide their employees and associ-
ates with a safe workplace and comply with all applicable occupa-
tional health and safety standards and regulations. All employees
and associates receive the adequate workplace instructions, incl.
information on the OHS conditions and requirements, protective
measures, and they are provided with appropriate training. Our
ultimate goal is zero accidents/injuries at work.
NO DISCRIMINATION
We expect our Partners not to discriminate, or tolerate any form
of discrimination, against any person based on their gender, race,
ethnicity, nationality, religion, beliefs, disability, age, sexual ori-
entation, health, political beliefs, marital status or membership in
organisations.
NO MOBBING
We expect our Partners not to use, or tolerate any forms of, mob-
bing, harassment, incl. sexual harassment, and to have imple-
mented procedures preventing any type of unlawful behaviour.
PROHIBITION OF FORCED AND SLAVE LABOUR
We expect our Partners not to use any form of slave or forced
labour, both in Poland and abroad. The work carried out by our
Partners' employees is undertaken voluntarily and may be termi-
nated by them on this basis.
NO CHILD LABOUR
We expect our Partners not to use child labour in any form and to
contribute to the actual abolition of any form of juvenile labour.
When and if we employ any young people, their engagement with
our companies complies with the law.
RIGHT OF ASSOCIATION
We expect our Partners to recognise the employees’ right to as-
sociate and organise and respect this right.
NO TOLERANCE FOR ALCOHOL AND INTOXICANTS IN THE
WORKPLACE
We expect our Partners to not tolerate the presence of any alco-
hol and intoxicants in the workplace.
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ciechgroup.com 112
RESPECT FOR THE NATURAL ENVIRON-
MENT
COUNTERACTING CLIMATE CHANGES CAUSED BY GREENHOUSE
GAS EMISSIONS
We expect our Partners and their suppliers to counteract climate
changes caused by greenhouse gas emissions, among others, by
reducing these emissions and increasing the efficiency of energy
use. We have adopted ambitious decarbonisation targets to slow
down and ultimately stop the negative climate changes caused by
the emission of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere we in-
tend to achieve carbon neutrality by 2040.
MINIMISING OTHER ENVIRONMENTAL RISKS
We expect our Partners to minimise other risks related to envi-
ronmental and climate protection, among others, by reducing
other harmful emissions, protecting water quality and resources,
pursuing a policy of rational waste management and thus striving
to ensure that their economic and social activity is environmen-
tally and climate-friendly and contributes to the prevention and
reduction of any negative phenomena in its functioning.
COMPLIANCE WITH ENVIRONMENTAL LAWS AND REGULA-
TIONS
We expect our Partners to comply with the provisions of environ-
mental protection law, in particular, to have all permits and li-
cences required by law and related to their operations, and to ful-
fil all operational and reporting obligations resulting therefrom.
CONDUCTING ECONOMIC ACTIVITY
ETHICAL CONDUCT OF OPERATIONS
We expect our Partners to apply the principles of ethical conduct
in each area of their business and to strive to implement solutions
that build awareness of ethical principles of conduct in the work-
place among their employees and associates.
COMPLIANCE WITH LAW
We expect our Partners to comply with all applicable local and
international laws. In the event that the provisions of local law are
less restrictive than the principles of the Code, we expect our
Partners to apply the principles set out in the Code.
FAIR COMPETITION AND ANTITRUST LAWS
We expect our Partners to act in compliance with all applicable
competition protection regulations, for example, by abstaining
from dumping prices, price fixing or other unlawful arrange-
ments.
COMPLIANCE WITH INTERNATIONAL SANCTIONS
We expect our Partners to comply with international sanctions
imposed on countries, economic operators or natural persons,
and not to conduct any economic activity violating international
restrictions.
ZERO TOLERANCE FOR FRAUD AND CORRUPTION
We expect our Partners to apply a zero-tolerance policy to any
fraud and corruption, regardless of its form. Our partners may
not, directly or indirectly, offer or accept any undue advantage or
promise thereof, including material, financial and personal bene-
fits, unauthorised gifts, etc., in exchange for a specific act or omis-
sion.
HONESTY IN COMMERCIAL ACTIVITIES
We expect our Partners to show honesty in their business activi-
ties, and as part of their daily duties, in relations with their cus-
tomers, counterparties, suppliers and associates.
INFORMATION SECURITY
We expect our Partners to implement and maintain high infor-
mation security standards to enable us to effectively protect con-
fidential information, including any trade/business secrets.
COUNTERACTING CONFLICTS OF INTERESTS
We expect our Partners to avoid and counteract any conflict of
interest that could weaken their credibility, or our trust, or the
trust of third parties in the CIECH Group companies. We expect
our Partners to report any situations that may indicate a conflict
of interest and any cases in which employees or individuals rep-
resenting the CIECH Group companies participate in the Partner's
enterprise or are in any way related to them.
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ciechgroup.com 113
COLLABORATION FOR SUSTAINABLE DE-
VELOPMENT
We encourage our Partners to work together in order to achieve
the goals and strengthen the values described in the Code, in par-
ticular, in the area of exchanging experience, best practices and
implementing joint activities and projects. We are convinced that
the Sustainable Development Goals can only be attained if all in-
terested parties actively collaborate with one another.
AUDITS
We reserve the right to verify compliance with the standards de-
fined in the Code using internal or external control mechanisms
and to request changes that have been identified during con-
ducted audits.
REPORTING VIOLATIONS
We expect our Partners to report any suspected violations of the
Code using one of the available channels, including anonymous.
KYC (KNOW YOUR CUS-
TOMER/SUPPLIER) VERIFICA-
TION
Starting from October 2021, we verify our suppliers using the KYC
Procedure. The KYC verification complements, supplements and
at the same time confirms the application of the CIECH Group
standards, described in item 8.4 (The Code of the Business Part-
ner of the CIECH Group). Through the KYC procedure, we verify
and confirm that our Partners conduct their activities in accord-
ance with the standards of the Code of the Business Partner of
the CIECH Group, especially in the area of human rights, environ-
mental protection and ethics. The KYC verification of our partners
is the fulfilment of one of the obligations that we included in the
CIECH Group ESG Strategy - "we introduce ESG to our purchasing
procedures - we will examine the status and ESG risk of suppliers
responsible for at least 70% of our expenses by 2023". As of Jan-
uary 2023, the ESG status of suppliers responsible for 64% of the
CIECH Group's expenses was verified.
At the Soda segment, we conduct a KYC verification of Partners
with an annual turnover of PLN 4 million net or with a transac-
tion value of PLN 4 million net. In other Business Units and com-
panies, we conduct a KYC verification of Partners with an annual
turnover of PLN 2 million net or with a transaction value of
PLN 2 million net.
The condition for establishing cooperation with a Partner (conclu-
sion of a contract/annex, placing an order or acceptance of an of-
fer) is a positive KYC result, which is entered in the KYC Base. The
condition for the conclusion of a contract/annex, placing an order
or acceptance of an offer of the Partner entered in the Customer
Base is a positive KYC result. Entities with a negative KYC result
are also entered into the KYC Database. The validity period of the
Partner's KYC verification result depends on the KYC risk assess-
ment and is 6, 12 or 24 months.
In the KYC verification process, we ask Partners to complete the
KYC Form, which has been divided into the following parts:
General issues - in this section we ask, among others, about
registration data, industries in which the Partner conducts
business, quotations of the Partner's shares on stock ex-
changes, composition of the Partner's group.
Sanctions - in this section we ask, among others, about the
Partner's activities in the markets covered by international
sanctions, conducting business with persons who are subject
to international sanctions.
Ethical conduct of business - in this section we ask about
compliance with individual standards of the CIECH Group,
specified in the Code of the Business Partner of the CIECH
Group.
Principles of ethical business conduct - in this part we ask the
Partner, among other things, to attach its codes of conduct
or its codes of the business partner.
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ciechgroup.com 114
Target for reducing CO
2
emissions - in this section we ask,
among other things, to provide a target for reducing CO
2
emissions.
Proceedings related to the ethical conduct of business activ-
ity - in this part, we ask for answers to questions regarding
the proceedings conducted, among others, against the part-
ner or members of its bodies, regarding, among others, mo-
nopolistic practices, prohibited employment practices (mob-
bing, discrimination, youth labour, slave labour), money
laundering and terrorist financing, bribery, or corruption.
In 2022, we verified 132 Partners, all
Partners received a positive KYC result.
For 52 Partners the period of validity of
the KYC result is 24 months, for 80 Part-
ners this period is 12 months. Currently,
there are 187 positively verified and 1
negatively verified entities in the KYC Da-
tabase. The result of the KYC verification
of a given Partner, within the validity pe-
riod, is valid for all companies of the
CIECH Group.
LIST OF INTERNAL PROCEDURE
EMPLOYEE AREA
Code of Conduct of the CIECH Group,
Code of the Business Partner of the CIECH Group,
Information Security Policy of the CIECH Group,
Procedure - Regulations of the operation of the Ethics Committee of the CIECH Group,
Anti-fraud and anti-corruption policy of the CIECH Group,
Procedure - offering and accepting gifts and invitations within the CIECH Group,
Procedure - Counteracting mobbing and discrimination in the work environment within the CIECH
Group,
Occupational Health and Safety Policy of the CIECH Group,
Procedure - managing inspections of authorised bodies, services and authorities,
Procedure for reporting violations of law, internal regulations and ethical standards applicable within
the CIECH Group,
Detailed rules and procedure for compliance with the obligation of sobriety by employees within the
CIECH Group.
SOCIAL AREA
Code of Conduct of the CIECH Group,
Code of the Business Partner of the CIECH Group,
Policy of Compliance with Competition Law within the CIECH Group,
Intellectual Property Protection Policy of the CIECH Group,
Information Protection Policy of the CIECH Group,
Policy of Counteracting Conflicts of Interest within the CIECH Group,
Anti-fraud and anti-corruption policy of the CIECH Group,
Procedure - managing inspections of authorised bodies, services, and authorities.
ENVIRONMENTAL AREA
Code of Conduct of the CIECH Group,
Code of the Business Partner of the CIECH Group,
Environmental Protection Policy of the CIECH Group.
RESPECT FOR HUMAN
RIGHTS
Code of Conduct of the CIECH Group,
Code of the Business Partner of the CIECH Group,
Intellectual Property Protection Policy of the CIECH Group,
Information Protection Policy of the CIECH Group,
Procedure - Counteracting mobbing and discrimination in the work environment within the CIECH
Group,
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ciechgroup.com 115
Procedure for reporting violations of law, internal regulations and ethical standards applicable within
the CIECH Group.
ANTI-CORRUPTION
Code of Conduct of the CIECH Group,
Code of the Business Partner of the CIECH Group,
Policy of Compliance with Competition Law within the CIECH Group,
Policy of Counteracting Conflicts of Interest within the CIECH Group,
Anti-fraud and anti-corruption policy of the CIECH Group,
Compliance Policy of the CIECH Group,
Procedure- offering and accepting gifts and invitations within the CIECH Group,
Procedure for reporting violations of law, internal regulations, and ethical standards applicable within
the CIECH Group,
Procedure - rules for monitoring and reporting Compliance Obligations within the CIECH Group,
Procedure- Regulations of the operation of the Ethics Committee of the CIECH Group.
RULES FOR REPORTING VIOLA-
TIONS
The CIECH Group has implemented and maintains a Procedure for
reporting violations of law, internal regulations/procedures, and
ethical standards applicable within the Group.
The procedure describes the rules for reporting any violations of
law, internal regulations/procedures and ethical principles pre-
vailing within the Group, in particular those contained in the Code
of Conduct of the CIECH Group. Violation is understood as an ac-
tual or potential activity contrary to the law, regulations/proce-
dures or ethical standards as in force within the CIECH Group. We
provide fully anonymous and open communication channels for
reporting such violations. Such fully anonymous reporting chan-
nel is provided by: Linia Etyki Sp. z o.o. This reporting channel en-
ables contact with the whistleblower, while maintaining a fully
anonymous nature of the notification report and any correspond-
ence. The reporting channel is run, among others, in Polish, Eng-
lish, German and Romanian.
Each employee or associate, intern, volunteer, individual partici-
pating in the recruitment process, customer, shareholder, and
member of governing bodies of companies of the CIECH Group
may report a violation in any matter which, in the whistleblowers
opinion, constitutes or may constitute a breach. In addition, any
business partner of any company from the Group may also report
the violation referred to above. We ensure the protection and an-
onymity of the whistleblower. In special cases, the CIECH Group
protects the whistleblower who is an employee of the CIECH
Group against the action of the management, employees or any
other persons violating the employees rights, privacy or any
other forms of retaliation. The process of reporting violations and
providing information related to the examination of a violation
report, analysis of violations and carrying out the explanatory
proceedings shall be strictly confidential.
Explanatory proceedings in cases of violations of laws and regula-
tions are carried out by the Compliance Officer of the CIECH
Group, and in cases of violations of ethical principles and conflicts
of interest by the Ethics Committee of the CIECH Group, and
when it comes to mobbing/discriminatory behaviour by the Com-
mittee for Counteracting Unlawful Conduct. In 2022, 1 violation
notification report was received.
COUNTERACTING CORRUPTION
AND FRAUD
As an active participant of business transactions, we apply a policy
of zero tolerance for any fraud and corruption, promoting activi-
ties based on ethical values and attitudes and compliance with
the law regulating the issues of counteracting fraud and corrup-
tion wherever we conduct business. This approach builds and
strengthens the reputation of the CIECH Group as a reliable part-
ner acting in a responsible and transparent manner, gaining a
competitive advantage based solely on market criteria: quality,
price and through the innovative nature of the products, services
and solutions offered. Any abuses, including corrupt behaviour,
involve the risk of legal, financial and image liability by the Com-
pany, the management of the CIECH Group, and the employees
themselves.
An anti-fraud and anti-corruption policy has been implemented
which applies within the CIECH Group. As an appendix to this pol-
icy, the Group has developed a procedure for offering and accept-
ing gifts within the CIECH Group. The process of counteracting
fraud and corruption consists in compliance with the require-
ments of this policy by all employees, regardless of the type of
employment contract concluded and the entrusted position, as
well as other stakeholders, including associates, suppliers, sub-
contractors and counterparties.
Under the Procedure for offering and accepting gifts, we do not
give any gifts to government officials. Giving or receiving a gift, as
part of a business relationship, with a value exceeding PLN 200
gross, requires the consent of the immediate supervisor and the
NON-FINANCIAL REPORT 2022
ciechgroup.com 116
Compliance Officer of the CIECH Group. Giving and receiving a gift
with a value exceeding PLN 200 gross must be recorded. The rel-
evant gift register is maintained by the Compliance Officer of the
CIECH Group.
CIECH Group employees may not accept any gifts, and in particu-
lar:
from any counterparty or its related entities during negotia-
tions, in connection with ongoing or planned negotiations,
from any counterparty or its related entities in connection
with the performance of the contract, including in particular,
in connection with the work acceptance or work perfor-
mance confirmation.
Employees who are responsible for making a decision in a specific
case or participate in any capacity in the decision-making process
related to a specific case, due to their role or official position, may
not accept any gifts from counterparties associated with the case.
We require our counterparties to accept anti-corruption clauses
when entering the tender procedure or when concluding con-
tracts, in which they oblige themselves to adopt the Anti-Fraud
and Anti-Corruption Policy of the CIECH Group.
OBSERVANCE OF HUMAN
RIGHTS
Within the CIECH Group, we place emphasis on promoting ethical
values and behaviour aimed at observance of human rights
among our stakeholders, predominantly our employees and
counterparties. Accordingly, all companies of the Group joined
the Declaration of Adoption of the Standard of the United Nations
Ethical Program, thus committing themselves to comply with in-
ternationally recognised human rights and labour standards, ac-
cording to which they shall, in particular, support and promote
the freedom of association within the CIECH Group and in rela-
tions with the market environment, support the elimination of all
forms of slavery and forced labour and contribute to the effective
abolition of work by adolescents under the age of 18.
We comply with all applicable laws in terms of working
hours, overtime, pay and other employers benefits. Wages
and salaries are paid in a timely manner, in accordance with
the applicable Remuneration Regulations.
We give our employees the freedom to join or withdraw
their membership in trade unions and/or employee repre-
sentation of their choice.
We appreciate a diverse, inclusive work environment, and
do not discriminate against, or tolerate any discrimination,
on the basis of gender, age, race, religion, disability, sexual
orientation, origin or any other characteristic protected by
law.
We do not use any type of forced labour. Employees have
control over their identity documents and do not pay any
fees related to obtaining or maintaining their employment.
Using any physical and/or mental force, including mobbing,
is prohibited.
COMPETITION PROTECTION
The Policy of Compliance with Competition Law within the CIECH
Group defines rules aimed at protecting fair and healthy compe-
tition. In particular, as part of the observance of the principles of
fair competition:
we avoid making any kind of arrangements, without the con-
sent and knowledge of our Legal Department, with entities
from outside the CIECH Group, in the scope of pricing, sales
and offer policies, production volume, costs and expenses as
well as sales method. This restriction shall also apply to any
contacts and information provided to all types of industry or-
ganisations, chambers of commerce, as well as expressing
opinions on any other economic operator in a non-substan-
tive manner,
we treat as confidential any information on the pricing, sales
and offer policies, and those that may be used to limit free
competition, such as planned price changes, interest in par-
ticipating in any tender and the content of the tender offer,
and
we treat our customers and counterparties in a fair and re-
spectful manner. We exclude practices of unjustified privi-
leging or blocking or limiting access to products from the
CIECH Groups offer.
COUNTERACTING CONFLICTS
OF INTEREST
The Policy of Counteracting Conflicts of Interest within the CIECH
Group defines the rules of procedure aimed at excluding the pos-
sibility of a conflict of interest from the business operations of our
Group. We assume that an employee is in a conflict of interest if,
when acting for their own benefit or for the benefit of any other
person or entity to whom they are obliged, they act against the
interests of the CIECH Group. Such circumstances may threaten
the employees impartial and objective performance of official
duties for the CIECH Group due to family, financial, personal,
emotional reasons, as well as political affiliations, economic inter-
ests, or any other situation the existence or occurrence of which
is or may be detrimental to our Group.
In some cases, a conflict of interest may also be regarded as a
manifestation of corrupt behaviour. Accordingly, we take all steps
in order to identify, clarify and manage cases of connections, re-
lations, contacts, evidence of gratitude, as well as transactions or
any other undertakings that may affect, directly or indirectly, the
loyalty and impartiality of decisions made by the employees of
the CIECH Group.
NON-FINANCIAL REPORT 2022
ciechgroup.com 117
Where a conflict of interest exists, each employee shall immedi-
ately disclose such circumstances to their immediate supervisor
or the Ethics Committee of the CIECH Group in order to make an
objective and fair decision aimed at eliminating or solving the
problem.
We require our counterparties to accept conflict of interest
clauses when entering into contracts with them.
NON-FINANCIAL REPORT 2022
ciechgroup.com 118
ABOUT THIS
REPORT
METHODOLOGIES FORMING THE BASIS
FOR PREPARATION OF THIS REPORT
The non-financial report of the CIECH Group for 2022 is our sixth
report in which we comprehensively present our impact in the
social, employee and environmental areas. The previous non-fi-
nancial report of the CIECH Group for 2021 was published on 29
March 2022. The report was prepared in accordance with the in-
ternational non-financial reporting standard, Global Reporting In-
itiative, in the Core Compliance option. In addition, the Report in-
cludes TCFD (Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures)
indicators.
This report also provides information on the implementation of
the principles of the UN Global Compact (Communication on Pro-
gress) and refers to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The report has not been subjected to any external audit by an in-
dependent verifier/auditor.
OUR STAKEHOLDERS AND THE MANNER
OF INTERACTING WITH THEM
One of the foundations of the CIECH Group's operations is estab-
lishing and maintaining lasting and effective relationships with
numerous groups of internal and external stakeholders. When
conducting our business, we exert a significant impact, both
short- and long-term, on our closer and further environments. To
assess this impact, we engage in dialogue with our stakeholders
and obtain information on issues which are of interest to them.
Investors Employees
Customers Suppliers
Future Generations
Local Communities
NON-FINANCIAL REPORT 2022
ciechgroup.com 119
MATERIALITY ANALYSIS
We carry out an analysis to determine which issues are of essence
to our stakeholders, and then openly inform them about our ac-
tivities in these areas and take their expectations into account.
In order to structure and organise our approach to stakeholder
relevant issues, we have adopted the methodology and concept
developed by SASB (the Sustainability Accounting Standards
Board, currently, the International Sustainability Standards
Board), which identified the most important ESG areas that
should be reported. In addition, we analysed our interaction with
different stakeholder groups and reviewed documents published
by our stakeholders and their representative institutions.
Forms of dialogue and obtaining feedback on areas of areas of essence to our stakeholders
Stakeholder
group
Group characteristics
Forms of dialogue and obtaining feedback
Investors
individuals and institutions that have engaged, or are consid-
ering investing their capital, in the CIECH Group: sharehold-
ers (institutional and individual), potential shareholders as
well as banks and other institutions on the debt capital mar-
ket
individuals and institutions intermediating and supporting
active participants of the financial market in the analysis and
execution of investment decisions: brokerage houses and of-
fices, industry-specific and financial media
institutions organising and supervising the financial market,
managing its infrastructure, and participating in the process
of establishing regulations such as: the Stock Exchange, the
Polish Financial Supervision Authority and the Association of
Stock Exchange Issuers
Information obtained through direct contacts
Analysis of ESG surveys and questionnaires received by
the CIECH Group
Analysis of international non-financial reporting stand-
ards, especially GRI, SASB and TCFD
Analysis of the existing and proposed regulations and
codes of good practice on the Polish market and abroad
Employees
Individuals employed by the CIECH Group companies, re-
gardless of the type and place of employment and position
held
In some cases, also individuals employed by suppliers and
subcontractors of the CIECH Group (e.g., working at our pro-
duction plants)
Potential employees
Former employees, especially people who retired from
CIECH
Direct contacts
Employee opinion survey
Dialogue with trade unions and employee representa-
tion bodies
Interactive communication day events providing em-
ployees with ability to directly ask questions to the
Management Board
Other internal communication tools
Customers
Current, potential and former customers
In some cases, also our customers’ clients
Direct contacts
Analysis of ESG inquiries, questionnaires and surveys re-
ceived by the CIECH Group
Customer ESG strategies and reports
Documents published by industry organisations in which
our customers participate
Suppliers
Suppliers, service providers and subcontractors
Direct contacts
ESG strategies and reports of our suppliers
Dialogue on compliance with our Code of Business Part-
ners and ESG standards by our suppliers
Local communi-
ties
Communities at the locations of our production facilities
Local authorities and local public administration
Direct contacts
Consultation processes
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ciechgroup.com 120
Stakeholder
group
Group characteristics
Forms of dialogue and obtaining feedback
Future genera-
tions
All individuals and institutions who will be our stakeholders
in a long, at least several decades, time perspective.
Represented through long-term policies of governments, in-
ternational and supranational organisations and the activi-
ties of local, regional and global NGOs
Analysis of programme documentation and communica-
tions from governments, international organisations,
and supranational NGOs.
Tracking the results of scientific research and technical
progress in areas like the activities of the CIECH Group
PROCESS
In order to prioritise the areas included in the ESG, we carried out
a detailed materiality analysis. The analysis was performed in De-
cember 2020, and we used it when preparing the reports for 2021
and 2022.
When analysing materiality, we applied the SASB approach.
ESG area materiality analysis
in the CIECH Group
Scope of analysis
As a basis, we adopted the list of ESG areas in the
SASB Standards for the „Resource Transformation”
sector and the chemical industry, which we re-
viewed in terms of the specifics of the CIECH
Group
OUR STAKEHOLDERS’ INTERESTS AND CONCERNS
We verified the level of interest/concern of all
stakeholder groups in particular ESG areas.
FINANCIAL IMPACT AND RISK ASSESSMENT
We assessed the impact of individual ESG areas on:
Revenues/Expenses
Assets/Liabilities
Capital expense/Risk profile
OTHER FACTORS
We also considered: trends in the legal environ-
ment, current and future norms and standards in
our industry and factors influencing long-term
competitiveness, as well as opportunities for inno-
vation.
NON-FINANCIAL REPORT 2022
ciechgroup.com 121
RESULTS OF THE ANALYSIS
Based on the materiality analysis described above, we have se-
lected four areas of priority materiality and eight areas of high
materiality.
Areas of priority materiality:
Greenhouse gas emissions (GHG Emissions)
Energy management
Water and Wastewater management
Employee Health and Safety and Critical Incident Risk Man-
agement
Areas of high priority:
Air Quality
Waste and Hazardous Material Management
Community Relations
Employee Engagement, Corporate Culture and Labour Rela-
tions
Product Quality and Safety
Business Ethics
Priority materiality areas are of great interest to our stakeholders
or have a great impact on our current or future financial results.
High materiality areas are also of interest to our stakeholders and
have a financial impact, however, at a level noticeably lower than
priority areas. The priority and high materiality areas are pre-
sented in this report.
Those areas which do not classify as priority or high materiality
areas have not been described in this report. This does not entail
that they are not significant for the operations of the CIECH
Group. It only means that according to our assessment, their
presentation in this report would bring little benefit or informa-
tive value for our stakeholders.
CHANGES IN RELATION TO THE PREVI-
OUS VERSION
The materiality analysis of the CIECH Group remains unchanged
compared to 2021.
NON-FINANCIAL REPORT 2022
ciechgroup.com 122
INDEXES
GRI CONTENT INDEX
GRI Standard
Title
Page
102-1
Name of the organization
6
102-2
Activities, brands, products, and services
8-19
102-3
Location of headquarters
7
102-4
Location of operations
6-7
102-5
Ownership and legal form
105-127
102-6
Markets served
6
102-7
Scale of the organization
2, 6, 7, 107
102-8
Information on employees and other workers
72-88
102-9
Supply chain
10, 13, 17, 19
102-10
Significant changes to the organization and its supply chain
n/a
102-11
Precautionary Principle or approach
Is not applied
102-12
External initiatives
99
102-13
Membership of associations
99-101
102-14
Statement from senior decision-maker
4-5
102-15
Key impacts, risks, and opportunities
24-30
102-16
Values, principles, standards, and norms of behavior
7, 107-117
102-17
Mechanisms for advice and concerns about ethics
115
102-18
Governance structure
105-106
102-19
Delegating authority
105-106
102-20
Executive-level responsibility for economic, environmental, and social topics
24, 105-106
102-24
Nominating and selecting the highest governance body
105
102-40
List of stakeholder groups
119-120
102-41
Collective bargaining agreements
78
102-42
Identifying and selecting stakeholders
118-120
102-43
Approach to stakeholder engagement
118-120
102-44
Key topics and concerns raised
119-121
102-45
Entities included in the consolidated financial statements
7
102-46
Defining report content and topic boundaries
118,120
102-47
List of material topics
121
102-48
Restatements of information
35-52
102-49
Changes in reporting
121
102-50
Reporting period
118
102-51
Date of most recent report
118
102-52
Reporting cycle
118
102-53
Contact point for questions regarding the report
125
102-54
Claims of reporting in accordance with the GRI Standards
118
NON-FINANCIAL REPORT 2022
ciechgroup.com 123
TABLE OF COMPLIANCE WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE AC-
COUNTING ACT
GRI Standard
Title
Page
102-55
GRI content index
122-123
201-4
Financial assistance received from government
104
205
Anti-corruption
115-116
206
Anti-competitive behavior
116
302
Energy
46-50
302-1
Energy consumption within the organization
48-50
302-4
Reduction of energy consumption
50
303
Water and effluents
51-52
303-1
Interactions with water as a shared resource
51
303-2
Water withdrawal
51-51
303-3
Water discharge
51-52
305
Emissions
32-45
305-1
Direct (Scope 1) GHG emissions
33-41
305-2
Energy indirect (Scope 2) GHG emissions
33-41
305-5
Reduction of GHG emissions
35-36
305-7
Nitrogen oxides (NOX), sulfur oxides (SOX), and other significant air emissions
42-45
306-1
Waste generation and significant waste-related impacts
52-53
306-2
Management of significant waste-related impacts
52-53
306-3
Waste generated
52-53
308-1
New suppliers that were screened using environmental criteria
113-114
401
Employment
72-88
401-1
New employee hires and employee turnover
85-87
401-2
Benefits provided to full-time employees that are not provided to temporary or part-time employees
78
403
Occupational health and safety
89-98
403-1
Occupational health and safety management system
90-92
403-2
Hazard identification, risk assessment, and incident investigation
95
403-4
Worker participation, consultation, and communication on occupational health and safety
93-94
403-5
Worker training on occupational health and safety
94
403-8
Workers covered by an occupational health and safety management
system
89
403-9
Work-related injuries
96
404-2
Programs for upgrading employee skills and transition assistance programs
78-80
Issue
Page
Description of the business model
107
Key non-financial performance indicators
2, 35-41, 42-45, 48-50, 51-54, 85-88,96
Description of policies and outcomes of their application with regard to the following issues:
Social
99-104
Employee-related
72-88
Natural environment
31-53
Observation of human rights
116
Counteracting corruption
115-116
Non-financial risks and description of risk management
66-71
NON-FINANCIAL REPORT 2022
ciechgroup.com 124
STATEMENT OF
THE MANAGE-
MENT BOARD
This non-financial report of the CIECH Group for 2022 was
approved by the Management Board of the Company
on 23 March 2023.
Warsaw, 23 March 2023.
(signed on the polish original)
(signed on the polish original)
(signed on the polish original)
Dawid Jakubowicz
Jarosław Romanowski
Kamil Majczak
President of the Management Board
of CIECH Spółka Akcyjna
Member of the Management Board of CIECH
Spółka Akcyjna
Member of the Management Board
of CIECH Spółka Akcyjna
For more information on the content described in
this report, please contact our Investor Relations
and ESG Department employees:
Magdalena Cumanis
magdalena.cumanis@ciechgroup.com
Anna Zieja
anna.zieja@ciechgroup.com
Natalia Wojnarowska
natalia.wojnarowska@ciechgroup.com.