Code of Conduct
The Code of Conduct helps us manage the actual negative impacts identified, which include the use of water from water-stressed areas, such as freshwater withdrawals for products and/or services in regions with limited water availability. This can have significant regional implications for the availability of water for nature and local communities. Our commitment to respecting water as a precious limited resource and focus on its sustainable and efficient use is clearly outlined in our Code of Conduct. We respect the right of our stakeholders, especially our local communities, to water, minimize the impact of water use (for instance by reducing freshwater withdrawals, especially in water-scarce areas), and discharge (for instance by improving (waste) water quality). The Code of Conduct focuses on OMV’s commitments as a company, and we seek to work with business partners who share and subscribe to our values and respect our principles, especially in our operations and value chain.
For the Code of Conduct unless otherwise specified, the process for monitoring, the scope of the policy, involvement of senior-level management, reference to third-party standards (where relevant), interests of key stakeholders in setting the policy (where relevant), and how the policy is made available to potentially affected stakeholders are covered in E1 Climate Change.
Environmental Management Standard
OMV’s EM Standard requires all OMV businesses and activities to minimize the impact of effluent on the environment and on local communities, and outlines specific requirements for wastewater discharge onshore and offshore. The guidelines and measures in this policy help address the negative impacts identified related to the use of water from water-stressed areas involving freshwater withdrawals for products and/or services in regions with limited water availability. Direct discharges of wastewater to land, wetlands, or water bodies without prior treatment are prohibited, and wherever possible, all business units and activities within OMV are required to assess and apply Best Available Technologies (BATs) and international standards to reduce the volume of wastewater and the load of pollutants, and to optimize the efficiency of water according to the reduce, reuse, recycle principle. No discharge may alter or diminish the value of the receiving environment and must be systematically monitored based on national legislation and permits. Any environmental impact must be managed appropriately. Local regulatory and river basin authorities are involved to ensure that OMV complies with local environmental regulations and has obtained all the required permits.
OMV’s EM Standard also covers detailed guidance on the development and implementation of Water Management Plans. Our Water Ambition Statement is OMV’s public commitment to water management, and is publicly available on our website. Every OMV employee is responsible for minimizing the impact of our activities on water resources.
For the EM Standard, unless otherwise specified, the scope of the policy, involvement of senior-level management, reference to third-party standards (where relevant), interests of key stakeholders in setting the policy (where relevant), and how the policy is made available to potentially affected stakeholders are covered in E1 Climate Change.
Within OMV’s EM Standard, processes and mechanisms have been defined to prevent, mitigate, and remediate the actual and potential negative impacts and risks identified. These include:
Risk Management
High-level water stress assessments are conducted annually. In order to identify operations in areas affected by water scarcity and water stress, OMV uses international tools and indexes such as the Verisk Maplecroft Water Stress Index, which is based on the World Resources Institute (WRI) Aqueduct Baseline Water Stress Index, and its own assessments as required. Some regions where OMV operates have already experienced water stress in dry years and a further decline in water availability is expected, mainly due to climate change.
A bottom-up approach in the assessment of water-related risks is followed in accordance with OMV’s Group-wide Environmental Risk Assessment (ERA) guideline to ensure consistent qualitative assessments of operational risks and impacts related to the environment, including water. Significant risks are integrated into OMV’s Enterprise-Wide Risk Management (EWRM) system. When entering a new country or considering new operational activities, OMV primarily uses the World Resources Institute (WRI) Aqueduct tools and Verisk Maplecroft indices to identify future potential water-related constraints, such as baseline water stress, groundwater stress, and seasonal variability. Water management-related risks are closely linked with the topic of spill prevention. Read more about spill prevention in the section E2 Pollution.
Water Management Plans
Water Management Plans are an essential tool for OMV to address all water-related topics, issues, and tasks, with the aim of improving water management performance. They provide information about current water uses and chart a course for water efficiency improvements, conservation activities, and water reduction goals.
Every location in OMV must develop, implement, and maintain a Water Management Plan, which should include at least the following elements: the scope and objectives, including a site description; applicable legislation, other requirements, and permits; identification of water sources, discharges, including water quality parameters, and monitoring plans; a water map, inventory, and balance, including discharges; water transport, storage, and treatment systems; significant water-related risks and mitigation measures; and water conservation and water efficiency measures, including an action plan.
Operating facilities located in areas affected or likely to be affected by water scarcity issues, and operations utilizing significant water resources (e.g., Tunisia), were prioritized when developing and implementing Water Management Plans. These plans aim to allow sustainable long-term production with minimal effects on the environment.
Best Available Technologies
We implement measures to reduce freshwater withdrawal to a minimum. These include reduction of operational complexity, upgrading equipment (boilers), maintenance of equipment to reduce water loss, the use of desalinated seawater rather than freshwater, the installation of recirculating cooling systems, the use of air or glycol as a cooling agent instead of water (e.g., at Oltenia’s 2 Bustuchin compressor station asset), and optimization of pipeline routes for water supply. In addition to implementing measures to reduce freshwater withdrawal, we implement the Best Available Technology (BAT) to sustainably treat water. We also aim to improve water efficiency in our daily operations at our filling stations. Water recycling technology in our car wash business is an important element in using and conserving OMV’s water resources efficiently and sustainably, as it is one of the main consumers of water in this business segment.
In 2024, OMV Tunisia implemented a series of water withdrawal optimization measures at the Nawara Central Processing Facility (CPF). These measures included a combination of smaller improvements, such as enhanced monitoring and tracking, automation, and minor design changes. These actions were aimed at reducing emissions and reusing water, ultimately contributing to a significant reduction in water withdrawal.
Stakeholder Engagement
Our impact on water resources is important to various stakeholders. We engage with government authorities, such as river basin management authorities, on compliance with water use rules and environmental parameters relating to any wastewater generated. We also engage with local water utility companies to discuss the supply of freshwater for OMV operations and the treatment of wastewater. We also work with NGOs on environmental preservation and water resource conservation, as well as with local communities on the sharing of details regarding local water resources and the quality of discharged wastewater. For instance, in Austria, where local people fish in the Danube in Schwechat, close to both the refinery and the Lobau Tank Farm, and in the harbor there, with which we have maintained active and open dialogue for several years. In areas where OMV operations require large amounts of water, or areas that suffer from water stress, it is particularly important to include local stakeholders in water management activities to secure a “social license to operate.” OMV’s water management activities pursue socially equitable water use, and OMV regularly carries out supplier audits to ensure compliance with our human rights requirements.
To ensure that the interests of local communities are known and taken into account during the project life cycle, OMV conducts social baseline studies and community needs assessments as part of Social Impact Assessments (SIAs). If these assessments identify the need, OMV launches community projects aimed at increasing access to clean water for local communities. Our Community Grievance Mechanisms also enable communities to raise concerns about water-related issues. For more information, see S3 Affected Communities.