CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

USM is committed to acting in the long-term interests of all its stakeholders. Corporate social responsibility and environmental factors are a core component of its business, from investment analysis through to decision-making. USM's key companies are actively involved in the life of the regions where they operate, including through the implementation of significant social projects.
METALLOINVEST
  • Metalloinvest's mission is to lay the foundation for the evolution of modern metallurgy for future generations and become a world leader in the production of high-quality iron ore, metallized and steel products, creating a responsible metallurgy of the future based on green technologies. The Climate Strategy of Metalloinvest is aimed at achieving these goals, according to which the company should become carbon-neutral by 2050.
  • Metalloinvest’s long-term strategy is based on the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and is focused on consistently improving its contribution to their achievement. Respect for human rights is a fundamental principle of Metalloinvest’s activity and the foundation of relationships between all stakeholders.
  • Metalloinvest is the world's largest manufacturer and supplier of commercial hot briquetted iron, a raw material for the production of green steel with a low carbon footprint.
  • The company has ESG ratings from five leading international agencies: EcoVadis, Sustainalytics, ISS ESG, S&P CSA and CDP. The Board of Directors of Metalloinvest has a Sustainable Development Committee, which is designed to promote risk management in the area of sustainable development, monitor compliance with ESG principles, and further enhance transparency and openness.
  • Metalloinvest is implementing an Environmental and Energy Efficiency Program with a total volume of about RUB 45 billion, calculated until 2025.
  • Metalloinvest cares about the wellbeing of its employees and is committed to providing a safe and secure working environment, opportunities for professional development and career growth, and fair remuneration. In 2020, Metalloinvest invested over RUB 1.8 billion in the improvement of the company’s health and safety. RUB 3.7 billion were allocated for internal social programs.
  • Metalloinvest is a responsible taxpayer, making a significant contribution to the wellbeing of the regions where its enterprises operate. The company implements large-scale initiatives in education, health, sports and culture as part of partnership programmes with the administrations of the Kursk, Belgorod and Orenburg regions.. In 2020, the company's tax payments to the budgets of the regions of presence amounted to more than RUB 31 billion. Metalloinvest allocated RUB 7.1 billion to external social programs. The company allocated about RUB 2 billion for a large-scale program to support medical institutions in the fight against the pandemic.
UDOKAN COPPER
  • Sustainable development principles are apriority for Udokan copper and are outlined in the company's business strategy and mission: "Udokan copper produces metal for a safe and technologically advanced future while remaining in harmony with the nature and people of Transbaikal."
  • Udokan copper has implemented several projects in the interest of improving education, culture, sports and environmental protection in the Kalar District, Chita and the broader Transbaikal region.
  • The “Comprehensive Long-Term Development Program for the Kalar District” is designed to promote the socio-economic development and well-being of the region in which the company is present. The “Comprehensive Program of Support for Indigenous Peoples” is aimed at supporting the traditional activities and culture of the Evenks, as well as preserving their language, holding national holidays, and developing healthcare and education. The program for the development of the Kodar National Park provides for several measures aimed at protecting and preserving the nature and biodiversity of Transbaikal. These include scientific research of the flora and fauna of the region, as well as projects aimed at promoting the National Park as a tourist destination.
  • The company is also implementing a number of socially oriented long-term projects in the Transbaikal region, namely improving the Novaya Chara village and urban space around the theatre and Udokan cinema in Chita, and developing transport infrastructure in the Kalar District (rebuilding the airport and constructing roads).
  • In addition, the Udokan copper regularly holds a grant competition for social projects, "Summit", and the competition "Multi-faceted Udokan". The priority of the company’s charitable activities is to support people with disabilities, the elderly, orphanages and boarding schools, children left without parental and mother's care, as well as victims of natural disasters and catastrophes.
  • Over the course of the pandemic, Udokan copper donated RUB 320 million to fight COVID-19 in the Far East.
AKKERMANN CEMENT
  • Akkerman Cement's environmental projects form the foundation of the company's development. Since 2018, the company has participated in the project "Climate Neutral Economic Activity: Implementing the Best Available Technologies in the Russian Federation". Akkerman Cement intends on equipping chimneys with automatic emission control systems by 2024, and by 2026 will reduce nitrogen oxide emissions by 2.5 times. These projects became part of the Integrated Environmental Permit that the company received in 2019, supporting the first initiative of its kind in the Russian Federation.
  • Thanks to the Akkerman Cement project for processing waste from metallurgical activities in Novotroitsk, slag deposits accumulated for decades have been reduced by 1 million tons per year, which brings significant benefits for the city's ecology and prevents the expansion of slag dumps. The use of metallurgical slag in the raw material mixture can reduce energy consumption by 12-18% (relative to European standards), reduce the consumption of natural raw materials by 30% and the amount of CO2 emissions by 20%.
  • At the production site in the Perm region, the company, using world and European experience, is implementing the Eco-Fuel project, which allows for a 30% reduction in the consumption of exhaustible natural gas, uses environmentally-friendly materials obtained in the woodworking process, and preserves the quality of clinker.
  • The company is a member of the Russian Government's Electricity Demand Management program. To unload the power system, Akkerman Cement plants shut down some of the existing equipment for 20 hours per month. The company is also actively implementing greening projects: around the industrial site in Novotroitsk, Akkerman Cement is creating a "green" belt consisting of 5,000 trees and shrubs with a total area of 4 hectares.
  • Akkerman Cement also implements social programs in the regions of its presence: it improves public gardens and playgrounds, refurbishes educational institutions, and supports an equestrian club, where classes are held for the rehabilitation of children with special needs.
USM DEVELOPMENT
  • USM Development is a development company that implements large-scale and unique residential complex projects in Russia with innovative educational, cultural and sports infrastructure. USM Development builds sports facilities at its own expense, and later transfers them to state ownership.
  • The developer's flagship project is the Novogorsk Olympic Village family sports and educational cluster. Among the socially significant sports facilities of the cluster are the Irina Viner-Usmanova Gymnastics Center, the Ilgar Mamedov Fencing Center, the Volleyball School and the Boxing Academy, headed by the head coach of the Russian national boxing team Alexander Lebzyak.
MEGAFON
  • The main objectives of MegaFon's CSR activities are systematic and effective assistance in solving acute social problems based on professional knowledge and experience, as well as the development of “smart charity” that achieves significant social results.
  • Since 2013, the company has had a Charity Committee that coordinates all social initiatives, reviews and approves projects, monitors their implementation and evaluates the social effect.
  • Among the key areas of MegaFon's philanthropic policy are the creation of an accessible digital environment, the development of digital and information competencies among talented young people, and support to orphans in social adaptation, choosing a profession and finding a job. The company also provides support to people with disabilities in social adaptation, obtaining additional education and finding a job.
  • In 2020, MegaFon supported 20 charitable programs in 84 regions with a total budget of over RUB 433.8 million, while in the first half of 2021 it supported 24 charitable projects. Over the space of a year and a half, more than 192,000 people have become beneficiaries of this widescale work.
  • The company's charitable priority is to develop an accessible digital and educational environment, with more than 90% of the budget allocated towards this goal. One of the key projects was the SkillCity service, which represents 16 companies and 48 digital professions. It currently has more than 45,000 users.
  • Since its inception, MegaFon has been particularly dedicated to supporting sports in its social policy. The operator acted as the General Partner of the 2014 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games in Sochi and the largest international sports event for students: the XXVII World Summer Universiade in Kazan. MegaFon supports the Russian Football Union, the National, Youth and Women's football teams, the Kontinental Hockey League, the All-Russian Volleyball Federation, the All-Russian Federation of Rhythmic Gymnastics and FC Zenit.
  • The company organizes the annual Russian Open Football Championship, "The future depends on you", among teams of orphanages and boarding schools, and also supports the federal program for the development of the Paralympic sport of boccia in Russia - "MegaFon Boccia OPEN".
ALIEXPRESS RUSSIA
  • One of the main goals of AliExpress Russia is to support local manufacturers by developing their businesses.
  • With the outbreak of the pandemic in 2020, AliExpress Russia has given special deals to small and medium-sized businesses, allowing them to operate in a more stable environment.
  • At the height of the pandemic, the company donated 1 million free masks and 50,000 disinfectants to the employees of the Russian Post; with the help of Citymobil company; sent warm clothes and protective equipment to the Nochlezhka charity foundation, which helps homeless people; and provided logistical support to the Russian government for the supply of protective equipment to medical workers and volunteers. This project was funded by the shareholders of the USM holding.
CRPT
  • The Centre for the Development of Advanced Technologies was created on the basis of a public-private partnership as an operator of the Unified National System for Digital Marking and Tracking of Goods - Chestny ZNAK.
  • The mission of the TSPD is to implement global projects in the digital economy based on the principles of socially responsible business. In its daily activities, the company contributes to the sustainable development of the country by building an economy of trust.
  • Chestny ZNAK is a comprehensive system for guaranteeing the authenticity of goods, which is designed to protect millions of people from counterfeit goods, products, medicines, etc. In addition, CRPT is creating a national catalog of goods - an important component of a unified digital labeling and product tracking system, and is also developing a digital platform for the smooth movement of goods across the borders of the Eurasian Union countries.