Universal Registration Document 2020

3.7.2 Details relating to the CSR information

3.7.2.1 Details on the issues arising from the materiality matrix of the EDF group

Methodological details

A materiality matrix cross-referencing the priority CSR issues of both stakeholders and the EDF group was published in 2018 on the basis of the methodological principles contained in the AA1000 standard on stakeholder involvement in identifying, understanding and responding to sustainable development issues and concerns, as well as on the basis of the GRI Standard 101, which provides guidelines in relation to quality and content of reporting in order to meet stake holder expectations. The methodology ⁽¹⁾ was implemented through four key stages:

• the first stage was identifying the issues through the mapping of EDF’s existing and emerging sustainable development issues, in the form of interviews with international experts (Key Opinion Leaders), members of the Executive Committee of the Group and its subsidiaries, as well as benchmarks and appropriate bibliographical data. The issues, reflecting both risks and opportunities for all theEDF group’s activities, were selected according to four criteria: link with strategy, governance, performance; ability to substantially influence value creation; potential loss of opportunity if the issue was not followed; importance in the eyes of stakeholders or as part of an existing controversy;
• the second stage aimed to assess and evaluate the materiality of the identified issues. Two processes were simultaneously carried out, with internal and external stakeholders. Stakeholders were consulted on the significance of the issue for the EDF group, as well as on the Group’s perceived performance on the issue. Each stakeholder defined the notion of “significance” according to its position in the Company or its relationship with the EDF group, which could integrate all or part of the criteria of the GRI 101 Standard (economic, environmental, social impacts, stakeholder interest, future challenges, etc.);
• criticality and significance for EDF was assessed by two committees (the non-financial publication committee, bringing together the management of theTrade, Purchasing, Finance and HR Divisions and a second committee bringing together experts and managers from the Strategy, Regulation, Risk, Innovation and CAP 2030 Divisions). Four representatives of trade union organisations (CGT,CFDT, FO, CFE) and four members of the Executive Committee were also consulted at this stage in the form of interviews. This evaluation also made it possible to screen the estimated level of performance (from very good to not taken into account);
• criticality and importance for external stakeholders was assessed by thirteen of the Group’s stakeholders interviewed through open and closed questions aimed at gathering qualitative information on the issues and identifying possible issues not identified during the mapping stage. These stakeholders were chosen in line with EDF group’s stakeholder mapping (see section 3.9.6 “Stakeholder mapping”), representing public authorities, financial players, customers, suppliers and civil society. These thirteen stakeholders each selected ten issues considered to be the most significant by 2030 from the list of issues formulated in phase 1, or adding new ones if necessary and justified. This evaluation also made it possible to screen the estimated level of performance (from very good to not taken into account);
• the third stage of screening of the issues consisted in questioning the consolidated results through an initial materiality matrix summarising on the abscissa the importance of the CSR issues as seen by the EDF group and on the ordinate axis the importance of these issues for the Group’s stakeholders. This phase of dialogue and testing was carried out during a day’s work with the EDF group’s Sustainable Development Council⁽²⁾, both on the substance of the results obtained (the issues and their ranking) and on the form to be given to them (typeof materiality matrix). 35 issues were ultimately selected and prioritised;
• the final stage of collaborative development consisted in a managerial validation process involving the members of the Executive Committee of the SustainableDevelopment Council, then the members of the Executive Committee of the Innovation and Corporate Responsibility Strategy Department (DIRES) of the EDF group. This process was concluded with the validation by the Innovation, Corporate Social Responsibility and Strategy Director (DIRES).

In 2019, EDF’s external stakeholder panel, the Sustainable Development Council, held a new session on the subject of the Group’s materiality analysis. It proposed, inline with the best practices in the market, to summarise the number of issues included in the matrix, reducing them from 35 to 18 issues. In 2020, and following the adoption of the Group’s raison d’être, the formalisation of the Group’s extra-financial issues was again examined by the Sustainable Development Council, particularly with regard to the non-financial risks in the Group’s risk mapping, which was reduced from 18 to 16 priority issues.

Details on the CSR issues