What are the material issues the company has identified?

In its 2019 Sustainability Report RAK Ceramics identified a range of material issues, such as financial performance, corporate governance and compliance, anti-corruption, workforce wellbeing, sustainable production and innovation. Among these, promoting sustainability among its suppliers stands out as a key material issue for RAK Ceramics.

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:

“The reporting organization shall identify its stakeholders, and explain how it has responded to their reasonable expectations and interests.”

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 RAK Ceramics engages with:

To identify and prioritise material topics RAK Ceramics engaged with its stakeholders through the following channels:

Stakeholder Group	Method of engagement
Investors	·      Formal reporting ·      Updates ·      Quarterly meetings ·      Annual general board meeting
Employees	·      Everyday interactions ·      Engagement surveys ·      Newsletters ·      Annual performance appraisals
Customers	·      Key account managers ·      Trade exhibitions ·      Social media platforms ·      Newsletters
Suppliers	·      Procurement process ·      Meetings ·      Workshops
Government and regulatory bodies	·      Meetings ·      Conferences ·      Collaborations
Community	·      Partnerships ·      Sponsorships ·      Volunteering

What actions were taken by RAK Ceramics to promote sustainability among its suppliers?

In its 2019 Sustainability Report RAK Ceramics reports that it took the following actions for promoting sustainability among its suppliers:

• Assessing suppliers
• Prior to becoming a supplier for RAK Ceramics, it is mandatory for all key suppliers to complete a supplier assessment questionnaire, which outlines the minimum requirements for quality, environmental practices, health and safety and ethical standards. Going forward, RAK Ceramics wishes to implement a more sustainable procurement process that will include several sustainability markers which RAK Ceramics will use to assess all future suppliers.

• Implementing Supplier Guiding Principles
• In FY20, RAK Ceramics is looking at implementing Supplier Guiding Principles for all key suppliers, which will focus on additional sustainability requirements that RAK Ceramics expects the suppliers to meet. RAK Ceramics will continue to work on its supply chain strategy, so it continues to meet the demands of the business and be in line with RAK Ceramics’ stakeholder values. Additionally, RAK Ceramics is committed to using local suppliers where possible in order to support the local community. In 2019, RAK Ceramics spent approximately 678 million AED with 1143 direct suppliers (with 64% of those being local suppliers in the UAE – figures include RAK Ceramics, Elegance Ceramics and RAK Porcelain vendors).

Which GRI Standards and corresponding Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) have been addressed?

The GRI Standards addressed in this case are:

1) Disclosure 204-1 Proportion of spending on local suppliers

2) Disclosure 308-1 New suppliers that were screened using environmental criteria

3) Disclosure 414-1 New suppliers that were screened using social criteria

 

Disclosure 204-1 Proportion of spending on local suppliers corresponds to:

• Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

• Targets: 8.3

Disclosure 308-1 New suppliers that were screened using environmental criteria does not correspond to any SDG.

Disclosure 414-1 New suppliers that were screened using social criteria corresponds to:

• Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 5: Gender Equality
• Targets: 5.2
• Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
• Targets: 8.8
• Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
• Targets: 16.1

 

78% of the world’s 250 largest companies report in accordance with the GRI Standards

SustainCase was primarily created to demonstrate, through case studies, the importance of dealing with a company’s most important impacts in a structured way, with use of the GRI Standards. To show how today’s best-run companies are achieving economic, social and environmental success – and how you can too.

Research by well-recognised institutions is clearly proving that responsible companies can look to the future with optimism.

7 GRI sustainability disclosures get you started

Any size business can start taking sustainability action

GRI, ISEP, CPD Certified Sustainability courses (2-5 days): Live Online or Classroom  (venue: London School of Economics)

• Exclusive FBRH template to begin reporting from day one
• Identify your most important impacts on the Environment, Economy and People
• Formulate in group exercises your plan for action. Begin taking solid, focused, all-round sustainability action ASAP. 
• Benchmarking methodology to set you on a path of continuous improvement

See upcoming training dates.
References:

1) This case study is based on published information by RAK Ceramics, 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 original on the Global Reporting Initiative’s Sustainability Disclosure Database at the link:

http://database.globalreporting.org/

2) https://www.globalreporting.org/standards/gri-standards-download-center/

Note to RAK Ceramics: With each case study we send out an email requesting a comment on this case study. If you have not received such an email please contact us.

What are the material issues the company has identified?

In its 2018 Corporate Social Responsibility Report Walsin Lihwa identified a range of material issues, such as financial performance, legal compliance, health and safety, risk management, product quality and safety, pollution control. Among these, promoting sustainability across its supply chain stands out as a key material issue for Walsin Lihwa.

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:

“The reporting organization shall identify its stakeholders, and explain how it has responded to their reasonable expectations and interests.”

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 Walsin Lihwa engages with: 

Stakeholder Group	Method of engagement
Employees	·      Questionnaire survey for material issue identi­fication ·      Environment, Health and Safety Committee Meeting ·      Labor-management meeting Please refer to section 5.4 Care, Communication and Employee Benefi­ts ·      Employee intranet and e-newsletter ·      Complaints and suggestions mailbox and hotline ·      Mechanism for the involvement of all employees
Government organisations	·      Questionnaire survey for material issue identi­fication ·      Official noti­fication ·      Participation in briefi­ng and conciliation meetings, questionnaires, and training courses on various policies and laws ·      Phone, email and electronic communications platforms ·      Public Information Observance Station
Customers	·      Questionnaire survey for material issue identi­fication ·      Customer satisfaction survey ·      Visits to customers ·      Phone, email and feedback sent through mail
Shareholders	·      General shareholders’ meeting ·      Publication of annual report ·      Investor conferences ·      Questionnaire survey for material issue identi­fication ·      Company website ·      Public Information Observance Station ·      Company spokesperson system ·      Shareholder service centre ·      Complaints and suggestions mailbox and hotline
Suppliers Contractors Outsourcer	·      Questionnaire survey for material issue identi­fication ·      Visits, on-site assessments and audits ·      Phone, email and letters ·      Suppliers’ Meetings

How stakeholder engagement was made to identify material issues

To identify and prioritise material topics Walsin Lihwa engaged with its stakeholders through questionnaire surveys.

What actions were taken by Walsin Lihwa to promote sustainability across its supply chain?

In its 2018 Corporate Social Responsibility Report Walsin Lihwa reports that it took the following actions for promoting sustainability across its supply chain:

• Promoting local and green procurement
• In recent years, Walsin Lihwa continued to engage in local procurement, with 15.6% of procurements made by its key suppliers in Taiwan, 99.7% of procurements made by key suppliers in mainland China and 16.9% of procurements made by key suppliers in Malaysia sourced from local suppliers. Overall, in 2018, approximately 52.3% of Walsin Lihwa’s key suppliers were local suppliers, up 6.3% compared with 2017. Walsin Lihwa is also dedicated to green procurement, and recycles old wood iron shaft and seal plate for reuse, reducing the amount of new wood iron shaft and seal plate procured, along with the consumption of environmental resources. Green procurements in Taiwan are for recycled packaging materials, such as old wood iron shaft and seal plate, and recycled raw materials. In 2018, Green procurements amounted to NT$9.4 billion or 11.75% of all procurements, up NT$1.8 billion compared with 2017.

• Implementing a supplier assessment mechanism
• In accordance with policies revised by its CSR Committee in recent years and in order to comply with corporate policies, Walsin Lihwa’s Customer and Supplier committee revised Walsin Lihwa’s Supplier Management Commitment to Social Responsibility at the end of 2018. Contents that were revised include occupational safety and health, emergency response mechanisms and procedures, ethical conduct and environmental protection. Starting from 2019, procurement personnel of each OU (operating unit) sent the new version of the Commitment Letter to suppliers to fi­ll out. To make sure its supply chain fulfi­lls its commitment to CSR, 85% or 377 of Walsin Lihwa’s new 443 suppliers in 2018, signed the Supplier Management Commitment to Social Responsibility, up 5% compared with 2017. Moreover, to implement the principles for supplier CSR performance appraisal, in addition to signing the Supplier Management Commitment to Social Responsibility, in 2018 Walsin Lihwa also asked key suppliers to ­fill out a Supplier CSR Performance Self-Assessment Form. Walsin Lihwa requires suppliers to comply with both domestic and overseas CSR related laws, regulations, and standards for corporate governance, trade secret protection, supplier management, labour relationships management, health and safety management and environmental protection. Of Walsin Lihwa’s 111 key suppliers, 96 returned the Supplier CSR Performance Self-Assessment Form in 2018 and about 86% of suppliers completed questionnaires for sustainability self-assessment. To comprehensively implement the principles for supplier CSR performance appraisal, Walsin Lihwa planned to increase the number of key suppliers assessed in 2019 and to include new suppliers among those that conducted CSR performance self-assessments, so that suppliers collaborating with Walsin Lihwa would jointly promote sustainable development.

• Organising supplier CSR meetings
• Walsin Lihwa began making an effort to comply with international CSR standards in 2014. To properly implement related measures and achieve corporate sustainability, Walsin Lihwa began to request its suppliers to sign the Supplier Management Commitment to Social Responsibility and carried out supplier assessments in recent years. This allows suppliers to clearly understand Walsin Lihwa’s CSR policy and expectations, engage in direct communication and obtain feedback. Walsin Lihwa’s Changshu Walsin plant in Mainland China and its Hsinchuang Plant organised supplier CSR meetings and plan to continue organising supplier meetings, to further discuss CSR-related contents. Walsin Lihwa planned to help suppliers understand how to establish sustainable supply chain-related management mechanisms in 2019, and included results of sustainability questionnaires as an indicator in supplier assessments, hoping its suppliers jointly comply with the principles, and use their social influence to achieve a balance between economic, social, and environmental aspects that will enable sustainable development.

Which GRI Standards and corresponding Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) have been addressed?

The GRI Standard addressed in this case is: Disclosure 204-1 Proportion of spending on local suppliers

Disclosure 204-1 Proportion of spending on local suppliers corresponds to:

• Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
• Targets: 8.3

 

78% of the world’s 250 largest companies report in accordance with the GRI Standards

SustainCase was primarily created to demonstrate, through case studies, the importance of dealing with a company’s most important impacts in a structured way, with use of the GRI Standards. To show how today’s best-run companies are achieving economic, social and environmental success – and how you can too.

Research by well-recognised institutions is clearly proving that responsible companies can look to the future with optimism.

7 GRI sustainability disclosures get you started

Any size business can start taking sustainability action

GRI, ISEP, CPD Certified Sustainability courses (2-5 days): Live Online or Classroom  (venue: London School of Economics)

• Exclusive FBRH template to begin reporting from day one
• Identify your most important impacts on the Environment, Economy and People
• Formulate in group exercises your plan for action. Begin taking solid, focused, all-round sustainability action ASAP. 
• Benchmarking methodology to set you on a path of continuous improvement

See upcoming training dates.
References:

1) This case study is based on published information by Walsin Lihwa, 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 original on the Global Reporting Initiative’s Sustainability Disclosure Database at the link:

http://database.globalreporting.org/

2) https://www.globalreporting.org/standards/gri-standards-download-center/

Note to Walsin Lihwa: With each case study we send out an email requesting a comment on this case study. If you have not received such an email please contact us.

What are the material issues the company has identified?

In its 2018/2019 Environmental, Social and Governance Report Roma Group identified a range of material issues, such as compliance with laws and regulations, service quality, talent attraction, customer satisfaction and company reputation, privacy protection. Among these, promoting responsible business practices across its supply chain stands out as a key material issue for Roma Group.

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:

“The reporting organization shall identify its stakeholders, and explain how it has responded to their reasonable expectations and interests.”

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 Roma Group engages with:

Stakeholder Group	Method of engagement
Employees	·      Channels for employees’ feedback (form, suggestion box, intranet, etc.) ·      Regular performance evaluations ·      Trainings ·      Departmental meeting
Customers	·      Account-in-charge ·      Customer meetings and company visits ·      Social media platform
Communities, NGOs and the media	·      Donations and charity work ·      Participation in charity events ·      Press conferences and interviews
Government and regulatory bodies	·      Announcements and circulars ·      ESG report
Investors and shareholders	·      Annual general meeting ·      Financial reports ·      Announcements and circulars
Suppliers and consultants	·      Communication channels with consultants (emails, meetings, etc.) ·      Announcements and circulars ·      Conferences for suppliers and consultants

How stakeholder engagement was made to identify material issues

To identify and prioritise material topics Roma Group invited stakeholders – including employees, management, investors, suppliers, consultants and customers – to participate in a materiality survey and rate potential material topics.

What actions were taken by Roma Group to promote responsible business practices across its supply chain?

In its 2018/2019 Environmental, Social and Governance Report Roma Group reports that it took the following actions for promoting responsible business practices across its supply chain:

• Carrying out supplier assessments
• To make sure its suppliers have met its requirements regarding quality as well as environmental and social standards, Roma Group has formulated standards and stringent procedures in selecting suppliers and consultants. Prior to making any procurement decisions, Roma Group will conduct due diligence and assessments on suppliers and consultants to avoid environmental and social risks. Roma Group has maintained a list of approved suppliers and consultants, and they may subject to suspension or removal from the approved list if they fail to fulfill Roma Group’s During the reporting period, there were no material changes on the locations of the Group’s primary suppliers, the supply chain structure and relationship with suppliers (including selection and termination).

• Implementing Socially Responsible Procurement
• Roma Group implements the policy of Socially Responsible Procurement. Accordingly, Roma Group assesses suppliers’ environmental and social performances in its procurement process and only purchases products that meet relevant standards. Roma Group also assesses suppliers’ compliance in environmental and social aspects, to protect the environment and prevent social risks in its supply chain. Additionally, Roma Group has adopted the policy of Local Procurement and seeks to select local suppliers for its business operations, so as to support local companies, create job opportunities for local communities, promote local economic development and fulfill its social responsibilities. In addition, Roma Group has formulated rules and procedures to make sure suppliers and consultants participate and compete in an open and fair way. To promote fair and open procurement, Roma Group stresses the integrity of its suppliers and consultants with good business track records and with no material violation of laws or business ethics in the past, and strictly monitors and prohibits any kind of business bribery and discrimination against any supplier or consultant.

Which GRI Standards and corresponding Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) have been addressed?

The GRI Standards addressed in this case are:

1) Disclosure 204-1 Proportion of spending on local suppliers

2) Disclosure 419-1 Non-compliance with laws and regulations in the social and economic area

 

Disclosure 204-1 Proportion of spending on local suppliers corresponds to:

• Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 12: Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns
• Business theme: Procurement practices 

Disclosure 419-1 Non-compliance with laws and regulations in the social and economic area corresponds to:

• Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 16: Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels
• Business theme: Compliance with laws and regulations

 

78% of the world’s 250 largest companies report in accordance with the GRI Standards

SustainCase was primarily created to demonstrate, through case studies, the importance of dealing with a company’s most important impacts in a structured way, with use of the GRI Standards. To show how today’s best-run companies are achieving economic, social and environmental success – and how you can too.

Research by well-recognised institutions is clearly proving that responsible companies can look to the future with optimism.

7 GRI sustainability disclosures get you started

Any size business can start taking sustainability action

GRI, ISEP, CPD Certified Sustainability courses (2-5 days): Live Online or Classroom  (venue: London School of Economics)

• Exclusive FBRH template to begin reporting from day one
• Identify your most important impacts on the Environment, Economy and People
• Formulate in group exercises your plan for action. Begin taking solid, focused, all-round sustainability action ASAP. 
• Benchmarking methodology to set you on a path of continuous improvement

See upcoming training dates.

 

References:

1) This case study is based on published information by Roma Group, 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 original on the Global Reporting Initiative’s Sustainability Disclosure Database at the link:

http://database.globalreporting.org/

2) https://www.globalreporting.org/standards/gri-standards-download-center/

Note to Roma Group: With each case study we send out an email requesting a comment on this case study. If you have not received such an email please contact us.

What are the material issues the company has identified?

In its 2014 Sustainability Report Tiffany & Co. identified a range of material issues, such as ethical sourcing, governance, building footprint, Tiffany & Co. employees, charitable giving. Among these, collaborating with other forward-looking leaders in the jewelry industry and with nongovernmental organizations to heighten public awareness of responsible mining issues and support the development of broadly acceptable standards for responsible mining stands out as a key material issue for Tiffany & Co.

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:

“The organization should identify its stakeholders, and explain how it has responded to their reasonable expectations.”

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 Tiffany & Co. engages with:

Stakeholder Group

Employees

Stockholders

Nongovernmental organizations (NGOs)

Industry members

Supply chain partners

Local communities

Industry associations

How stakeholder engagement was made to identify material issues

Sustainability is inherently collaborative and stakeholder-driven. Tiffany & Co. has long recognized and embraced the integral role that stakeholders play in its business, including Tiffany & Co. employees, stockholders, nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), industry members and supply chain partners. Tiffany & Co. values its stakeholders’ involvement in improving practices across the industry and throughout the jewelry supply chain.

Longstanding relationships with NGOs provide Tiffany & Co. with important perspectives on environmental and labor issues facing its industry. Tiffany & Co. co-hosts and participates in dialogues and multistakeholder initiatives convened by NGOs on a variety of topics affecting its industry and beyond. Engaging with mining companies, the luxury industry, local communities and industry associations gives Tiffany & Co. an opportunity to shape best practices across the sector. It also ensures that diverse points of view are considered in efforts to raise the bar on responsible mining standards and supply chain management matters.

What actions were taken by Tiffany & Co. to heighten public awareness of responsible mining issues and support the development of broadly acceptable standards for responsible mining?

In its 2014 Sustainability Report Tiffany & Co. set the following targets for heightening public awareness of responsible mining issues and supporting the development of broadly acceptable standards for responsible mining, based on the company’s approach to materiality – on taking action on what matters, where it matters:

• Developing a globally recognized standard for responsible mining

Tiffany & Co. believes the jewelry sector needs an independently verifiable mining assurance system that establishes rigorous standards for social and environmental performance. To that end, Tiffany & Co. is a founding member and continues to serve on the steering committee of IRMA (Initiative for Responsible Mining Assurance). Tiffany & Co. is hopeful that by working collaboratively with a diverse group of stakeholders, IRMA will be successful in developing a consensus-based, third-party certification standard that will be widely embraced by companies that use mined materials, the mining sector, civil society and, most importantly, consumers. After years of important dialogue, debate and productive compromise, IRMA released its draft Standard for Responsible Mining for public comment in 2014 and solicited feedback from diverse audiences. This process represented a critical milestone for the multistakeholder initiative. In 2015, IRMA planned to pilot the draft standard and release a revised draft for a second round of review, comments and revisions before a final standard was adopted. IRMA seeks to launch a standard that includes: a) a certification standard developed through a multistakeholder approach with participation from mining companies, retailers, nonprofits, labor groups and indigenous peoples, b) independent third-party verification, c) fair and equitable distribution of benefits to affected mining communities and the protection of their rights, d) the avoidance of, and effective responsiveness to, potential negative impacts to the environment, health, safety and culture, d) enhancement of shareholder value.

• Advancing responsible business practices throughout the diamond, gold and platinum jewelry supply chain

Tiffany & Co. is a founding member of the Responsible Jewellery Council (RJC). The RJC is an international nonprofit organization established to advance business practices throughout the diamond, gold and platinum jewelry supply chain. The RJC developed the Principles and Code of Practices, which outline responsible business practices to which all RJC members must adhere. Tiffany & Co. was initially certified in 2011. In 2014, Tiffany & Co. again received RJC Member Certification for its global operations through 2017. This certification demonstrates that Tiffany & Co. operates in conformity with the RJC Principles and Code of Practices. However, Tiffany & Co. encourages the RJC to strengthen its standard – from developing a true multi-stakeholder governance model that incorporates civil society to raising the bar for minimum certification requirements.

• Embracing social, human rights and environmental standards for the extraction of gold

Tiffany & Co. was the first jeweler to embrace the objectives of EARTHWORKS’ No Dirty Gold campaign 10 years ago. No Dirty Gold established aspirational social, human rights and environmental standards for the extraction of gold that retail jewelers can use as they seek responsible mining sources.

• Identifying best practices across the entire jewelry supply chain

In 2003, Tiffany & Co. helped lead a pioneering multistakeholder conference – including NGOs, retailers, investors, insurers and technical experts – to identify best practices across the entire jewelry supply chain. The resulting dialogue led to the publication of the Framework for Responsible Mining: A Guide to Evolving Standards. The Framework’s goal was to advance productive debate – and, ultimately, action – by governments, retailers, civil society, the mining industry and others.

• Supporting the development of standards for the responsible mining of precious metals and gemstones at the artisanal level

The Tiffany & Co. Foundation’s Responsible Mining Program provides strategic grants to support the development of standards for the responsible mining of precious metals and gemstones not only at the large-scale level, but also at the artisanal level. There are 20 to 25 million artisanal miners around the world and the Foundation supports nonprofit organizations working directly with artisanal mining communities to improve working conditions and provide equitable livelihoods. Given the often decentralized or informal nature of artisanal mining, certification and standards requirements present unique challenges for this sector. For this reason, artisanal standards-setting requires a different approach than large-scale standards efforts. The development of consensus-based third-party standards is a long-term process, but essential in moving the industry towards a responsible and sustainable future.

Which GRI indicators/Standards have been addressed?

The GRI indicators/Standards addressed in this case are:

1) G4-12: Describe the organization’s supply chain – the updated GRI Standard is: Disclosure 102-9 Supply chain

2) G4-16: List memberships of associations (such as industry associations) and national or international advocacy organizations in which the organization:

• Holds a position on the governance body
• Participates in projects or committees
• Provides substantive funding beyond routine membership dues
• Views membership as strategic – the updated GRI Standard is: Disclosure 102-13 Membership of associations

3) G4-EC8: Significant indirect economic impacts, including the extent of impacts – the updated GRI Standard is: Disclosure 203-2 Significant indirect economic impacts

4) G4-EC9: Proportion of spending on local suppliers at significant locations of operation – the updated GRI Standard is: Disclosure 204-1 Proportion of spending on local suppliers

5) G4-HR8: Total number of incidents of violations involving rights of indigenous peoples and actions taken – the updated GRI Standard is: Disclosure 411-1 Incidents of violations involving rights of indigenous peoples

6) G4-HR9: Total number and percentage of operations that have been subject to human rights reviews or impact assessments – the updated GRI Standard is: Disclosure 412-1 Operations that have been subject to human rights reviews or impact assessments

7) G4-HR11: Significant actual and potential negative human rights impacts in the supply chain and actions taken – the updated GRI Standard is: Disclosure 414 -2 Negative social impacts in the supply chain and actions taken

8) G4-SO1: Percentage of operations with implemented local community engagement, impact assessments, and development programs – the updated GRI Standard is: Disclosure 413-1 Operations with local community engagement, impact assessments, and development programs

9) G4-SO2: Operations with significant actual or potential negative impacts on local communities – the updated GRI Standard is: Disclosure 413-2 Operations with significant actual and potential negative impacts on local communities

 

78% of the world’s 250 largest companies report in accordance with the GRI Standards

SustainCase was primarily created to demonstrate, through case studies, the importance of dealing with a company’s most important impacts in a structured way, with use of the GRI Standards. To show how today’s best-run companies are achieving economic, social and environmental success – and how you can too.

Research by well-recognised institutions is clearly proving that responsible companies can look to the future with optimism.

FBRH GRI Standards Certified and ISEP approved Sustainability Course | Venue: London LSE

By registering for the next 2-day FBRH GRI-Standards Certified and ISEP approved Course you will be taking the first step in gaining the many benefits of sustainability reporting.

 

References:

1) This case study is based on published information by Tiffany & Co., 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 original on the Global Reporting Initiative’s Sustainability Disclosure Database at the link:

http://database.globalreporting.org/

2) http://www.fbrh.co.uk/en/global-reporting-initiative-gri-g4-guidelines-download-page

3) https://g4.globalreporting.org/Pages/default.aspx

4) https://www.globalreporting.org/standards/gri-standards-download-center/

Note to Tiffany & Co.: With each case study we send out an email to your listed address in request for a comment on this case study. If you have not received such an email please contact us.

What are the material issues the company has identified?

In its 2015 Sustainability Report Canary Wharf Group identified a range of material issues, such as GHG emissions, tenant and consumer demand and supply, design and construction impacts. Among these, opening up economic opportunities to people living in the areas surrounding its operations within an area of London where many young people are failing to enter the labour market stands out as a key material issue for the Group.

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:

“The organization should identify its stakeholders, and explain how it has responded to their reasonable expectations.”

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 stakeholders groups Canary Wharf Group engages with:

Stakeholder Group	Method of engagement
Communities	·         Community Forums ·         Corporate Social Responsibility Forums ·         Transport Forums ·         Security and Business Community Forums ·         Recreational, social and cultural activities
Employees and contractors	·         Staff Consultative Committee meetings ·         Employee environmental awareness training ·         Health and Safety Forums ·         Performance reviews
Investors	·         Annual reporting ·         Responses to individual queries
Local government	·         Planning Forums ·         Planning process ·         Advice and response to technical queries
National government	·         Working Groups ·         Consultation ·         Communication programs
Tenants, occupiers and retailers	·         Sustainability Forums ·         Regular meetings on a building-by-building basis ·         Retail Tenant Forums ·         Canary Wharf PR and Communications Forums
Suppliers	·         Meet the Buyer events ·         Business Mentoring and Coaching ·         Local Procurement Partnerships

How stakeholder engagement was made to identify material issues

In late 2015 and early 2016 Canary Wharf Group carried out a materiality assessment, to identify material issues. This materiality assessment included research into key issues identified by stakeholders and, also, a materiality workshop that involved important external stakeholders.

What actions were taken by Canary Wharf Group to generate employment and create opportunities for local businesses in the Canary Wharf Estate?

In its 2015 Sustainability Report Canary Wharf Group reports that it took the following actions for generating employment and creating opportunities for local businesses in the Canary Wharf Estate:

• Taking initiatives to support small and local businesses
• Canary Wharf Group helped establish the East London Business Place (ELBP) and the South London Procurement Network (SLPN), securing more than £1.2 billion worth of contracts for local communities. In 2015:
  • The Fit for Legacy (FfL) programme helped:
    • support 570 SMMEs (small, medium and micro enterprises)
    • win £17 million of local contracts
    • protect approximately 300 jobs and create 130 new jobs
  • The Business Lab:
    • helped support over 300 SMMEs through business mentoring and coaching
    • gave direct access to apprenticeships and accredited training
  • Local SMMEs secured more than £4.3 million in local contracts, through SLPN
  • The Ready to Supply the City (RTSTC) programme supported SMMEs in competing for contracts with City-based businesses and their supply chains

• Creating jobs for local people
• Through Skillsmatch and other initiatives almost 10,000 Tower Hamlets residents have been placed into jobs.
• In partnership with the East End Community Foundation (EECF) and Land Securities, Canary Wharf Group created the 20 Fenchurch Street Legacy Fund. The Fund will support, with annual grants of up to £20,000, non-profit organisations, helping people in Hackney, Newham, Tower Hamlets and the City of London return to work.
• Canary Wharf Group donated £50,000 and 46% of schools in Tower Hamlets signed up to Code Club. Through Code Club, primary school children are taught coding. This is in order to gain the digital skills needed to find a job in the fast-growing tech sector.

Which GRI indicators/Standards have been addressed?

The GRI indicators/Standards addressed in this case are:

1) G4-EC8: Significant indirect economic impacts, including the extent of impacts – the updated GRI Standard is: Disclosure 203-2 Significant indirect economic impacts

2) G4-EC9: Proportion of spending on local suppliers at significant locations of operation – the updated GRI Standard is: Disclosure 204-1 Proportion of spending on local suppliers

 

References:

1) This case study is based on published information by Canary Wharf Group Plc, 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:

http://group.canarywharf.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2016/09/canary-wharf-group-annual-sustainability-report-2015.pdf (Canary Wharf Group Plc Sustainability Report 2015)

2) http://www.fbrh.co.uk/en/global-reporting-initiative-gri-g4-guidelines-download-page

3) https://g4.globalreporting.org/Pages/default.aspx

4) https://www.globalreporting.org/standards/gri-standards-download-center/

 

Note to Canary Wharf Group: With each case study we send out an email requesting a comment on this case study. If you have not received such an email please contact us.

What are the material issues the company has identified?

In its 2014 Sustainability Report Canary Wharf Group identified a range of material issues: UK’s economic prosperity, housing, tenant & consumer demand & supply, developing the Canary Wharf Estate. Among these, opening up economic opportunities to people living in the areas surrounding its operations within an area of London where many young people are failing to enter the labour market stands out as a key material issue for the Group.

 

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:

“The organization should identify its stakeholders, and explain how it has responded to their reasonable expectations.”

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 the Canary Wharf Group engages with:

• Community
• Existing and potential tenants, occupiers and retailers
• Suppliers
• Employees
• Local authorities
• Investors

How stakeholder engagement was made to identify material issues

In 2014, the Canary Wharf Group engaged with its stakeholders in the following ways:

Community

• Community Forums
• Community Receptions
• Corporate Social Responsibility Forums

Existing and potential tenants, occupiers and retailers

• Sustainability Forums
• Retail Tenant Forums
• Canary Wharf PR and Communications Forums
• Security and Business Community Forums
• Regular meetings with office occupiers and tenants on a building-by-building basis

Suppliers

• Health and Safety Forums
• East London Business Place (ELBP)
• South London Procurement Network (SLPN)

Employees

• Canary Wharf Group Staff Consultative Committee meetings
• Employee environmental awareness training
• Employee focus groups

Local authorities

• Close collaboration with three local authorities (Tower Hamlets, the City of London and Lambeth)
• Transport Forums

Investors

• Reporting: the CSR report provides investors with all the CSR information needed (social, environmental and ethical information) to make informed decisions about the Group’s performance and prospects

What actions were taken by Canary Wharf Group to generate employment and create opportunities for local businesses in the Canary Wharf Estate?

In its 2014 Sustainability Report Canary Wharf Group set the following targets for generating employment and creating opportunities for local businesses in the Canary Wharf Estate, based on the company’s approach to materiality – on taking action on what matters, where it matters:

• Creating jobs for local people

• In 2014 20% of the Group’s recruits were local.
• 28.1% of the total working population at Canary Wharf reside in the Central Inner East area of London and a further 15% in Central Inner West.
• [tweetthis]More than 10,000 local people were placed, through Skillsmatch, into jobs[/tweetthis] since the Group set it up with the London Borough of Tower Hamlets’ job brokerage team in October 1997.

• Enhancing graduate employment

• October 2014: Canary Wharf Group hosted a two-week training programme for unemployed graduates and provided mentors from Level39, its start-up and financial technology (Fintech) accelerator.
• Canary Wharf Group collaborates with London Works to help local residents and above all graduates gain employment with companies in the City and at Canary Wharf.
• Through its Built Environment Club, held twice a year, the Group invites students on construction-related courses from the higher education institutions in Canary Wharf Group’s local communities to visit its developments.

• Offering internships and placements

• 2014: Canary Wharf Group took on 99 work experience participants. During July and August, the Group took on four placement students for six weeks and also hosted undergraduates from local universities.
• Three Bangladeshi interns joined the Group’s East London Business Place (ELBP) team as business engagement officers.

• Taking initiatives to support local businesses

• 2014: Canary Wharf Group’s total Group spend with companies located near its operations increased to 45%.
• Between 1997 and 2008 the Group’s Local Business Liaison Office (LBLO) helped small, medium and micro enterprises (SMMEs) secure more than £615 million of business with companies on the Estate and in the surrounding area.
• Canary Wharf Group helped establish the East London Business Place (elbp.co.uk) and, more recently, the South London Procurement Network (www.slpn.org.uk).
• By the end of its first year SLPN engaged with 61 buyers and 942 suppliers and helped 300 of them become ready to tender for contracts.
• Using SLPN’s advice, networking, events and workshops registered companies won contracts worth £2.4 million and secured a further £3.1 million of work through Canary Wharf Group’s joint venture with Qatari Diar.
• In 2014 ELBP and SLPN helped local businesses win £7.7 million worth of work.
• Through the Fit for Legacy (FfL) programme SMMEs generated wealth and employment as a result of free assistance with tendering opportunities, finding suppliers or buyers and networking events. The programme provided 569 SMMEs with at least 12 hours of support, helped create 74 new jobs and safeguarded 288 existing roles.

Which GRI indicators/Standards have been addressed?

The GRI indicators/Standards addressed in this case are:

1) G4-EC8: Significant indirect economic impacts, including the extent of impacts – the updated GRI Standard is: Disclosure 203-2 Significant indirect economic impacts

2) G4-EC9: Proportion of spending on local suppliers at significant locations of operation – the updated GRI Standard is: Disclosure 204-1 Proportion of spending on local suppliers

 

References:

1) This case study is based on published information by Canary Wharf Group, 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 original on the Global Reporting Initiative’s Sustainability Disclosure Database at the link:

http://database.globalreporting.org/

2) http://www.fbrh.co.uk/en/global-reporting-initiative-gri-g4-guidelines-download-page

3) https://g4.globalreporting.org/Pages/default.aspx

4) https://www.globalreporting.org/standards/gri-standards-download-center/

Note to Canary Wharf Group: With each case study we send out an email to your listed address in request for a comment on this case study. If you have not received such an email please contact us.