Case study: How Solaris creates economic value for its stakeholders
Solaris is one of the leading European producers of buses and trolleybuses, enjoying the most comprehensive portfolio of electric vehicles and services in continental Europe. Building trust and distributing sustainable value through responsible action, is a top priority for Solaris. Tweet This!
This case study is based on the 2022 Sustainability Report by Solaris, prepared in accordance with the GRI Standards, that can be found at this link. Through all case studies we aim to demonstrate what CSR/ ESG/ sustainability reporting done responsibly means. Essentially, it means: a) identifying a company’s most important impacts on the environment, economy and society, and b) measuring, managing and changing.
Abstract
Generating, through its operations, long-term value for employees, providers of capital and all its stakeholders, has always been of key importance for Solaris. In order to create economic value for its stakeholders Solaris took action to:
- create economic value for employees
- create economic value for providers of capital
- create economic value for suppliers
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With this case study you will see:
- Which are the most important impacts (material issues) Solaris has identified;
- How Solaris proceeded with stakeholder engagement, and
- What actions were taken by Solaris to create economic value for its stakeholders
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What are the material issues the company has identified?
In its 2022 Sustainability Report Solaris identified a range of material issues, such as energy consumption and ways to reduce it, minimising the volume of waste, recycling, occupational health and safety, reducing energy and fuel consumption by vehicles. Among these, creating economic value for its stakeholders stands out as a key material issue for Solaris.
Stakeholder engagement in accordance with the GRI Standards
The Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) defines the Principle of Stakeholder Inclusiveness when identifying material issues (or a company’s most important impacts) as follows:
Stakeholders must be consulted in the process of identifying a company’s most important impacts and their reasonable expectations and interests must be taken into account. This is an important cornerstone for CSR / sustainability reporting done responsibly.
Key stakeholder groups Solaris engages with:
| Stakeholder Group | Method of engagement |
| Employees | · Internal communication tools (such as the Intranet, Przystanek magazine, internal newsletter sent out by e-mail, information on bulletin boards and TV screens) · Social media channels · Company’s multilingual website · CAF Group website · Meetings with trade unions · Work of the OHS Committee · Dual education programmes · Meetings of the Solaris Club for the Elderly · Whistle-blower channel · Regular Medical Check-ups in the Organisation |
| Consumers
| · Company’s multilingual website · Social media channels · CAF Group website |
| Suppliers
| · Company’s multilingual website · CAF Group website · Social media channels |
| Customers
| · Company’s multilingual website · CAF Group website · Social media channels · Solaris Customer Magazine · Industry-specific events · Company’s bilingual website promoting e-mobility (eCity by Solaris) · #SolarisTalks conferences for customers · Regular customer satisfaction surveys, Net Promoter Score (NPS) analysis · Customers’ reports following their tests of demo buses · Magbus spare parts platform for customers · Study visits by customers to production facilities |
| Media | · Online press office · Social media channels · Company’s multilingual website · CAF Group website · Press conferences and relations with the media · Industry-specific events promoting e-mobility |
| Local governments
| · Social media channels · Company’s multilingual website · CAF Group website |
| Local communities
| · Social media channels · Company’s multilingual website · CAF Group website · Social campaigns · Visits of students from local schools focused on technical education relevant to Solaris’s business |
| Industry organisations
| · Social media channels · CAF Group website · Participation in trade fairs · Membership in associations and industry organisations · Vehicle launch events |
| Public administration
| · Social media channels · Company’s multilingual website · CAF Group website |
| Social organisations
| · Social media channels · Company’s multilingual website · CAF Group website · Social campaigns |
| Scientific institutions and higher education institutions | · Social media channels · CAF Group website · Company’s multilingual website |
How stakeholder engagement was made to identify material issues
To identify and prioritise material topics Solaris engaged with its stakeholders through a survey.
What actions were taken by Solaris to create economic value for its stakeholders?
In its 2022 Sustainability Report Solaris reports that it took the following actions for creating economic value for its stakeholders:
- Creating economic value for employees
- In 2022, Solaris paid 66,925 thousand euros for employee wages, salaries and benefits.
- Creating economic value for providers of capital
- In 2022, Solaris paid 22,858 thousand euros to providers of capital.
- Creating economic value for suppliers
- In 2022, Solaris paid 483,902 thousand euros in purchases of materials.
Which GRI Standards and corresponding Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) have been addressed?
The GRI Standard addressed in this case is: Disclosure 201-1 Direct economic value generated and distributed
Disclosure 201-1 Direct economic value generated and distributed corresponds to:
- Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
- Targets: 8.1, 8.2
- Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
- Targets: 9.1, 9.4, 9.5
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References:
This case study is based on published information by Solaris, located at the link below. For the sake of readability, we did not use brackets or ellipses. However, we made sure that the extra or missing words did not change the report’s meaning. If you would like to quote these written sources from the original please revert to the following link:
https://www.solarisbus.com/public/assets/content/firma/esg/Solaris_Sustainability_Report_2022.pdf
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