Calculate Your Impact

Equator Principles

E+Co has established an Environmental Management System covering policy, procedures, resources, per the Equator principles  in 2006 and the SEF facility, established using Global Environmental Facility funding, for which IFC is the Executing Agency since November 2005.

In adopting the Equator Principles, E+Co undertakes to provide funding only to those projects whose sponsors can demonstrate their ability and willingness to comply with comprehensive processes aimed at ensuring that projects are developed in a socially responsible manner and according to sound environmental management practices. 

The Equator Principles, established in 2003, use a screening process for projects that categorizes projects as high, medium or low environmental or social risk.  Issues taken into account include the use of natural resources; protection of human health, cultural properties and biodiversity; dangerous substances, major hazards, occupational health, fire prevention and life safety; land acquisition and use; involuntary resettlement and impacts on indigenous peoples and communities; delivery and use of energy; pollution prevention and waste minimization, pollution controls, solid and chemical waste management and other environmental and social issues.(see tables below for E+Co’s projects categories) .

To ensure compliance, E+Co’s enterprises participate in a bi-annual Monitoring and per the requirements of Section 5.3 of the GEF Trust Fund Project Agreement for the SEF initiative. This system has been operating according to plan since November 2005 – present, March 2008 and will be on-going. E+Co has achieved and provide the with regard to the SEF facility, established using Global Environmental Facility funding, for which IFC is the Executing Agency. During the above period, activities financed under relevant operations (e.g. project finance, corporate finance, leasing, equity, guarantees, and any other instrument) were conducted in compliance with applicable environmental, occupational health and safety requirements of the host country where our project are located.(see location map below).

E+Co by project category below according to the equator requirements .Each of these companies have  a corresponding environmental check list that is filled by the investment officer and followed up on by monitoring and evaluation officer every 6 months ,reviewed by the impact coordinator for compliance.

*Investments below through 12/31/2009

DEFINITIONS OF CATEGORY A, B, C INVESTMENTS

Category A Investments
A proposed investment is classified as Category A if it is likely to have significant adverse environmental impacts that are sensitive , diverse or unprecedented.  These investments may affect an area broader than the sites or facilities subject to physical works.  Environmental Assessment (EA) for a Category A investment examines the potential positive and negative impacts, compares them with those of feasible alternatives (including the “without project” scenario), and recommends any measures needed to prevent, minimize, mitigate, or compensate for adverse impacts and improve performance.  A full environmental assessment is required which is normally an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA).

Category B Investments
A proposed investment is classified as Category B if its potential adverse environmental impacts on human populations or environmentally important areas – including wetlands, forests, grasslands, and other natural habitats – are less adverse than those of Category A.  These impacts are site-specific; few if any of them are irreversible; and in most cases mitigatory measures can be designed more readily than for Category A projects.  The scope of EA for a Category B investment may vary from project to project, but it is narrower than that of an EA for Category A.  Like a Category A EA, it examines the potential positive and negative impacts and recommends any measures needed to prevent, minimize, mitigate, or compensate for adverse impacts and improve environmental performance.  A wide range of environmental guidelines have been developed by local or country authorities, as well as by a number of organizations, including the World Bank Group (e.g., Pollution Prevention and Abatement Handbook, Occupational Health and Safety Guidelines).

Category C Investments
A proposed investment is classified as Category C if it is likely to have minimal or no adverse environmental impacts.  Beyond screening, no further EA action is required for a Category C project.