What are the material issues the company has identified?

In its 2019 Sustainability Report Toyota Material Handling Europe identified a range of material issues, such as attracting and retaining talent, compliance, customer safety, responsible purchasing. Among these, reducing energy use in its operations stands out as a key material issue for Toyota Material Handling Europe.

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 Toyota Material Handling Europe engages with: 

Stakeholder Group

Employees

Prospective employees

Students

Customers

Suppliers

Distributors

Toyota Industries and its group companies

Local communities

Public authorities

European Works Council

How stakeholder engagement was made to identify material issues

To identify and prioritise material topics Toyota Material Handling Europe engaged, through surveys, with 34 internal stakeholders (including leaders and decision makers across Toyota Material Handling Europe) and 22 external stakeholders who included industry associations, a civil society agency, an external consultant, an auditor, Toyota Material Handling Europe’s owner, a daughter and sister company, academia, media, a local government representative, a worker that was not an employee, and several suppliers and customers.

What actions were taken by Toyota Material Handling Europe to reduce energy use in its operations?

In its 2019 Sustainability Report Toyota Material Handling Europe reports that it took the following actions for reducing energy use in its operations:

• Reducing fleet fuel consumption
• In FY15, Toyota Material Handling Europe launched its green company car guideline, moving to more hybrid company cars and reduced fleet fuel consumption. Since FY12, the share of diesel in Toyota Material Handling Europe’s fuel mix for company cars and service vans has been reduced from 89% to 70%. With four million service visits per year, 60% of Toyota Material Handling Europe’s fuel use and 29% of its total energy use comes from fuel for service vans. By carrying about 20% less weight, getting smaller service vans, using GPS and eco-driving, Toyota Material Handling Europe uses less fuel and reduces CO2 emissions.

• Decreasing fuel use in buildings and factories
• Toyota Material Handling Europe’s factories in Italy and its company in the Czech Republic have achieved ISO 50001, and its company in the Netherlands achieved significant CO2 reductions. These entities continue to act as centres of excellence in energy management. Another factory (France) and two sales and service companies will become ISO 50001 certified in FY21. In FY19, Toyota Material Handling Manufacturing Sweden started to switch to liquefied biogas (LBG) and so reduce the total CO2 output from Toyota Material Handling by more than 5% through one single project. Two customer demo sites for solar charging have also been launched in Toyota Material Handling Europe’s premises:
  • On the Toyota Material Handling Netherlands campus in Ede, energy from solar panels is fed via solar charging stations to electric material handling equipment.
  • Lift Truck Equipment S.p.A. (LTE), Toyota Material Handling Europe’s mast manufacturing company in Italy, installed a hydrogen station in May 2017, producing hydrogen from renewable electricity generated by the company’s solar panels (140 kW). The hydrogen is filled to the company’s fuel cell lift trucks – developed by Toyota Industries Corporation – to contribute to CO2 reduction.
• Due to their commitment to energy efficiency and low-carbon technologies, both entities have already met their 2020 energy and CO2 targets. In FY16, Toyota Material Handling Europe’s sustainability champions visited Toyota Material Handling Netherlands and in FY18 its Lift Truck Equipment factory (LTE) in Ferrara, Italy in order for Toyota Material Handling Europe’s experts to learn from their best practice experience.

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

The GRI Standard addressed in this case is: Disclosure 302-4 Reduction of energy consumption

Disclosure 302-4 Reduction of energy consumption corresponds to:

• Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 7: Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all
• Targets: 7.3
• Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
• Targets: 8.4
• Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 12: Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns
• Targets: 12.2
• Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 13: Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts
• Targets: 13.1

 

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 Toyota Material Handling Europe, 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 Toyota Material Handling Europe: 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 2019 Annual Report FCOT identified a range of material issues, such as economic performance, anti-corruption, marketing and labelling, employment, training and education, labour/management relations. Among these, minimising energy consumption and GHG emissions at its properties stands out as a key material issue for FCOT.

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 FCOT engages with:

Stakeholder Group	Method of engagement
Tenants	·      Tenant engagement programmes ·      Joint community programmes with tenants ·      Tenant surveys ·      Tenant meetings
Employees	·      Performance appraisals ·      Team bonding activities ·      Orientation programme for new staff ·      Communication via the Frasers Property intranet and Workplace ·      Training ·      Company and employee activities such as Annual Dinner & Dance, Family Day, sports events and fitness programmes
Property managers	·      Regular meetings and discussions ·      Emails and phone calls
Unitholders and investor community	·      Local and overseas investor meetings, conferences, roadshows and property tours ·      Post-results briefings for analysts and investors ·      Annual General Meetings ·      Website, announcements, management presentations, press releases, webcasts of half-year and full-year results briefings
Local community	·      Social and community events and activities ·      Sustainability report
Regulators and industry bodies	·      Meetings, briefings and consultations ·      Industry conferences and seminars and memberships in industry bodies such as REITAS (FCOT is one of the pioneer members)

How stakeholder engagement was made to identify material issues

To identify and prioritise material topics FCOT carried out a survey with internal and external stakeholders.

What actions were taken by FCOT to minimise energy consumption and GHG emissions at its properties?

In its 2019 Annual Report FCOT reports that it took the following actions for minimising energy consumption and GHG emissions at its properties:

• Recommissioning and upgrading lightings at Central Park
• Approximately 70% of the building’s mechanical controls have been recommissioned in the past four years, which has resulted in energy savings and a more comfortable environment for tenants. Recommissioning is one of the most efficient ways to improve the building’s energy performance, as it optimises energy efficiency, building operations and peak building energy demand management. Over the past four years, the lighting system on the tower floors has been upgraded to T5 fluorescent lights or light-emitting diode (LED) lights, which has reduced lighting energy use from 13.2 watts/ sq m to 5 watts/ sq m (a savings of 62.1%). An automatic lighting control system utilising motion sensor has also been installed.

• Implementing sustainable management at China Square Central
• At China Square Central, the usage of a water-cooled chiller plant system designed with energy efficient chillers, variable speed drives (VSD) driven chilled water pumps and tower fans has resulted in energy savings of around 503,000 kWh per annum. The savings are a significant 23% over and above the baseline stated in BCA Green Mark requirements. Additionally, LED and T5 lights and motion sensors installed at common areas resulted in substantial energy savings of approximately 165,000 kWh per annum and achieved a 62.9% improvement over the benchmarked lighting power budget of the BCA Green Mark requirements. China Square Central also uses sustainable materials and products certified under the Singapore Green Labelled Scheme (SGLS) or Singapore Green Building Council (SGBC) extensively to provide a healthier environment for occupants. Sustainable materials and products used include ceiling boards, drywall partitions, wooden door panels, concrete walls, floor screeds, eco-friendly cleaning products, sustainable toilet rolls and paper hand towels.

• Reducing energy consumption at 357 Collins Street through improvements in the mechanical plant
• Close monitoring and proactive improvements to the property’s mechanical chiller plant resulted in a year-on-year reduction in consumption of around 111 mWh or 10.2% in FY2019. The water chiller temperature was also fine-tuned to approximately 1°C. The plant is one of the biggest consumers of electricity in the building. Adjusting the control valves ensures correct staging of the chiller system to maintain high efficiencies.

• Using renewable energy
• FCOT uses renewable energy across its properties, as follows:
  • Central Park: The installation of a solar photovoltaic system generated around 10,000 kWh from solar power in FY2019, providing sufficient renewable energy to power the management office of Central Park.
  • 357 Collins Street: About 20% of the power used in FY2019 was from green power sources which were predominantly generated by wind farms.
  • Farnborough Business Park:
    • Renewable energy: The multi-let buildings in the business park purchased 100% of their energy requirements from renewable sources in FY2019.
    • Promoting green travels: The business park provides comprehensive end-of-trip facilities, bicycle paths throughout the business park and electric vehicle charging stations for both tenants and visitors. In FY2019, two more electric vehicle charging stations were added. The business park’s shuttle busses have low-emission Euro 5 engines which are more environmentally friendly.

• Attaining ISO 50001:2011 and ISO 14001:2015 certifications to boost energy performance
• In FY2019, the environment management systems (EMS) of both properties in Singapore attained ISO 50001:2011 certifications (Energy Management System), in addition to their existing ISO 14001:2015 certifications (Environmental Management System). These certifications are internationally recognised standards for strategic and systematic EMS implementation with proven energy and cost savings. These standards enable and empower the property managers to identify and harness energy-saving opportunities as they materialise. By continuously monitoring and improving energy efficiency, the properties are able to achieve continuous energy savings.

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

The GRI Standards addressed in this case are:

1) Disclosure 302-1 Energy consumption within the organization

2) Disclosure 302-3 Energy intensity

3) Disclosure 305-2 Energy indirect (Scope 2) GHG emissions

4) Disclosure 305-4 GHG emissions intensity

 

Disclosure 302-1 Energy consumption within the organization corresponds to:

• Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 7: Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all
• Targets: 7.2, 7.3
• Business theme: Energy efficiency, Renewable energy
• Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
• Targets: 8.4
• Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 12: Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns
• Targets: 12.2
• Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 13: Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts
• Targets: 13.1

Disclosure 302-3 Energy intensity corresponds to:

• Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 7: Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all
• Targets: 7.3
• Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
• Targets: 8.4
• Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 12: Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns
• Targets: 12.2
• Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 13: Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts
• Targets: 13.1

Disclosure 305-2 Energy indirect (Scope 2) GHG emissions corresponds to:

• Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 3: Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages
• Targets: 3.9
• Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 12: Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns
• Targets: 12.4
• Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 13: Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts
• Targets: 13.1
• Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 14: Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development
• Targets: 14.3
• Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 15: Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss
• Targets: 15.2

Disclosure 305-4 GHG emissions intensity corresponds to:

• Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 13: Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts
• Targets: 13.1
• Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 14: Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development
• Targets: 14.3
• Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 15: Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss
• Targets: 15.2

 

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 FCOT, 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 FCOT: 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 Sustainability Report Mazda identified a range of material issues, such as indirect economic impacts, effluents and waste, occupational health and safety, diversity and equal opportunity. Among these, reducing logistics emissions stands out as a key material issue for Mazda.

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 Mazda engages with: 

Stakeholder Group	Method of engagement
Customers	·      Establishment of call centres ·      Mazda Official Website and social media ·      Day-to-day sales activities ·      Customer satisfaction surveys ·      Holding events ·      Interviews with customers ·      Meetings with Mazda vehicle owners
Shareholders and investors	·      Website for shareholders and investors ·      Publication of the asset securities report and the quarterly financial reports ·      Publication of the summary of financial results ·      Quarterly presentation of financial results ·      Publication of shareholder reports ·      Holding ordinary general meetings of shareholders ·      Publication of the Annual Report ·      Publication of corporate governance reports ·      Presentations and plant tours for investors
Business partners	·      Hotlines linking Mazda with dealerships ·      Day-to-day purchasing activities ·      Supplier communication meetings ·      Conferences with representatives of dealerships ·      Conferences with supplier executives ·      Commendation of outstanding suppliers and dealerships
Employees	·      Labour-Management Council ·      Direct communication with senior management (MBLD) ·      Global Employee Engagement Survey ·      Career meetings ·      Career Challenge System (in-house recruitment and “Free Agent”) ·      Group and optional training ·      Lectures
Global society and local communities	·      Opening to the public of the Mazda Museum and plant tours ·      Execution of social contribution activities and participation in and promotion of volunteer activities ·      Dialogue through economic and industry organisations ·      Interaction/exchange of views with the local community ·      Response to hearings, information disclosure, etc. ·      Dialogue, cooperation and support through collaboration of industry, academia and government
Next generation people (environment)	·      Holding and participating in environmental events ·      Setting targets and reporting the results under Mazda Green Plan 2020, midterm environmental plan

How stakeholder engagement was made to identify material issues

To identify and prioritise material topics Mazda engaged with its stakeholders through a questionnaire survey, obtaining their opinions and evaluations.

What actions were taken by Mazda to reduce logistics emissions?

In its 2018 Sustainability Report Mazda reports that it took the following actions for reducing logistics emissions:

• Reforming transportation by consolidating logistics centres
• Mazda consolidated its logistics centres nationwide, with the aim of combining delivery routes with low shipping volumes while ensuring timely shipments. Continuously reviewing the operation of car carriers (domestic vessels) according to their shipping volumes has enabled Mazda to improve loading efficiency. To make more effective use of the domestic vessels on the return journey, collaborative transportation has also been promoted with other companies. In February 2016, Mazda started the operation of a new domestic vessel and in May of the same year existing vessels were modified, resulting in a 30% improvement in transportation capacity. In FY March 2018, Mazda reduced CO2 emissions by around 3,800 tons, by enhancing fuel economy as well as transportation capacity through full-fledged operations of these domestic vessels. Moreover, by loading completed vehicles into ships as directly as possible from their manufacturing sites, Mazda succeeded in curbing around 17 tons of CO2 emissions.

• Improving the ratio of modal shift for the transportation of service parts
• Mazda is seeking to improve the rate of modal shift regarding the transportation of service parts and, in May 2016, started to use large returnable containers, originally introduced to transport parts overseas, for domestic transportation. This was aimed at reducing transportation CO2 emissions by improving the load efficiency of JR (JapanRail) In FY March 2018, Mazda promoted the use of JR for domestic transportation, in accordance with the relocation of parts sales companies beginning in FY March 2016. As a result, Mazda increased the rate of transportation by JR from 25% to 45% per transportation volume (ton-kilometre), reducing CO2 emissions by around 400 tons.

• Promoting “straight” logistics without distribution centres
• After the manufacture of parts to be exported to overseas assembly plants is completed, they are packaged and loaded into containers at the same location, eliminating the need for shipment between production locations and distribution centres. At present, the coverage of this logistics system is expanding to engines, transmissions and auto body parts produced at the Hiroshima Plant and the Hofu Plant. In FY March 2018, Mazda also expanded the quantity of transmissions vanned at plants to be exported to the Mexico plant.

• Reducing the transportation distance for procured parts for overseas production
• Previously, the parts procured in Asia to be used for overseas production were transported via Japan to Mazda’s Mexico plant. In July 2016, this was changed to direct transportation, so that now these parts are transported from existing distribution centres in Thailand and China, leading to a reduced transportation distance. In Japan, in FY March 2017 Mazda started to land parts imported from overseas at the ports close to production sites, in order to reduce the transportation distance between the Hiroshima Plant and Hofu Plant. In FY March 2018, Mazda enlarged the scope of models to which this measure is applied, reducing CO2 emissions by about 8 tons.

• Reducing the transportation distance for repair parts
• When Mazda’s Mexico plant started to run, repair parts were transported via North America to Europe, since their transpiration volume was small. Three years after the plant’s startup, however, the volume was on the rise. For this reason, the shipping method was changed to direct transportation to Europe. By reducing the transportation distance through straight logistics, Mazda succeeded in reducing CO2 emissions by approximately 1,400 tons.

• Improving transportation efficiency for procured parts
• For domestically produced parts, deployment of the Milk-Run system was completed throughout Japan by FY March 2008. Today, Mazda is introducing the same system in overseas production sites, with deployment in the Mexico plant completed in FY March 2014 and in the transmission plant in Thailand completed in FY March 2016, aiming to reduce CO2 emissions by further promoting efficiency in the purchasing and logistics processes across the entire supply chain. Mazda is continuing its initiatives to optimise its packaging volume for purchasing parts, reflecting the logistics needs at the beginning of the product development process, so as to further improve the load efficiency of trucks and reduce the number of trucks required. In Japan, Mazda introduced the Cloud-based Transportation/Delivery Progress Management Service for Logistics Operators in 2016. This service has been proven effective in reducing delivery time and costs and improving the quality of transportation, as well as in mitigating the burden on drivers, easing traffic congestion, and reducing CO2 emissions through efficient transportation. Mazda plans to apply this service to 600 vehicles in five years after its launch. In FY March 2018, the number of vehicles covered by this service increased to 350 from 220 at its inception.

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

The GRI Standard addressed in this case is: Disclosure 302-2 Energy consumption outside of the organization

Disclosure 302-2 Energy consumption outside of the organization corresponds to:

• Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 7: Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all
• Business theme: Energy efficiency, Renewable energy
• Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 8: Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all
• Business theme: Energy efficiency
• Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 12: Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns
• Business theme: Energy efficiency, Transport
• Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 13: Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts
• Business theme: Energy efficiency

 

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 & ISEP recognised Sustainability Course | Venue: London LSE

By registering for the next 2-day FBRH GRI Standards Certified & ISEP recognised 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 Mazda, 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 Mazda: 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 Sustainability Report Honda identified a range of material issues, such as responding to climate change and energy issues, reducing traffic fatalities, assuring outstanding product quality, respecting human rights. Among these, reducing logistics emissions stands out as a key material issue for Honda.

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 Honda engages with:

Stakeholder Group	Method of engagement
Customers	·      Customer satisfaction surveys ·      Enjoy Honda
Shareholders and Investors	·      Shareholder meeting and briefings for institutional investors
National/Local government	·      Dialogues concerning local government policies and available technologies ·      Feasibility studies
Economic and Industry organisations	·      Participation in councils
International organisations	·      Participation in international initiatives
NGOs	·      Regular communication ·      Response to surveys and questionnaires
Research institutes	·      Merchantability verification for products ·      Co-development of technologies
Media	·      Communication with journalists ·      New model launch events
Suppliers	·      Supplier networking events ·      Supplier risk assessments
Dealers	·      Dealer Conferences/briefings
Local communities	·      Plant tours ·      Social activities by associates
Associates	·      Associate satisfaction surveys ·      Dialogue between executives and associates

How stakeholder engagement was made to identify material issues

To identify and prioritise material topics Honda engaged in dialogue with leading environmental, social and corporate governance (ESG) rating agencies and NGOs in Europe and the United States.

What actions were taken by Honda to reduce logistics emissions?

In its 2018 Sustainability Report Honda reports that it took the following actions for reducing logistics emissions:

• Identifying global CO2 emissions
• Honda is working to improve transportation efficiency in the shipping of vehicles and equipment, parts shipped between plants, parts for services and repairs, and parts collected from suppliers. Additionally, in FY2017 Honda started managing CO2 emissions in the transportation of automobile production parts, which make up the majority of international marine transport. In FY2018, Honda continued its efforts to identify CO2 emissions for all products around the world, by steadily expanding the scope to other product domains.

• Expanding modal shifts
• Honda tries to expand its modal shift, i.e. switching means of transportation from trucks to ship and rail transportation, with a focus on transportation to distant regions. For example, in Vietnam, the distance between Honda’s production facility on the outskirts of Hanoi in the north and the major market of Ho Chi Minh City in the south is over 1,700 km. For this reason, Honda is replacing conventional trucks with ship and rail transport for long-distance shipments between north and south. As a result, Honda will achieve reductions in CO2 of 27% with rail transport and 65% with ship transport, compared with conventional truck transport. In addition, Honda is working to increase efficiency in each transport mode and is introducing, in rail transport, freight cars specially designed for shipping automobiles with high load efficiency.

• Increasing the ratio of longer carriers
• In India, Honda reduced CO2 emissions by approximately 6,226t per year by improving the transport efficiency of completed vehicles from its factory to dealers. Honda India implemented this initiative in collaboration with logistics service providers and dealers, in which longer carriers transport two or more dealers’ clubbed orders on the same route, if one dealer order is less than six cars. Previously, Honda India used small carriers with four car capacity for small quantity dealer orders.

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

The GRI Standard addressed in this case is: Disclosure 302-2 Energy consumption outside of the organization

Disclosure 302-2 Energy consumption outside of the organization corresponds to:

• Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 7: Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all
• Business theme: Energy efficiency, Renewable energy
• Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 8: Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all
• Business theme: Energy efficiency
• Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 12: Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns
• Business theme: Energy efficiency, Transport
• Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 13: Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts
• Business theme: Energy efficiency

 

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 Honda, 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 Honda: 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 Global Citizenship Report FedEx identified a range of material issues, such as ethics, bribery and corruption, data security and privacy, driver and workplace safety, business preparedness, resiliency and disaster response. Among these, increasing facilities efficiency stands out as a key material issue for FedEx.

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 FedEx engages with:  

Stakeholder Group

Customers

Industry groups

Investors

Sustainability experts

Nonprofits

Government agencies

Team members

How stakeholder engagement was made to identify material issues

To identify and prioritise material topics FedEx engaged with its stakeholders through a survey and roundtable engagement session.

What actions were taken by FedEx to increase facilities efficiency?

In its 2018 Global Citizenship Report FedEx reports that it took the following actions for increasing facilities efficiency:

• Improving energy efficiency
• As in previous years, lighting retrofits are a priority for FedEx and, in FY17, it upgraded an additional 28 facilities. Collectively, all facilities upgraded helped FedEx save 220,390,449 kWh of electricity and avoid, in FY17, 164,018 metric tons of CO2e emissions. Since 2007, lighting retrofits at 1,085 facilities have saved more than 1 billion kWh of electricity. In FY17, FedEx Office also began piloting an energy management system that allows for more efficient climate control and monitors the health of office equipment, with the aim of ultimately reducing energy and repair costs.

• Certifying facilities
• Certifying facilities to external standards is one way for FedEx to take a more comprehensive look at its performance, across a number of environmental criteria. During FY17, FedEx Express completed two more LEED-certified facilities in the U.S., bringing the total number to 14 and covering an area of 218,698 square meters. FedEx Express also operates three LEED-certified facilities outside the U.S., which include the FedEx International Centre (formerly TNT Centre) in Hoofddorp, the Netherlands. FedEx Ground has six LEED-certified facilities in the U.S., and the FedEx Office Headquarters in Plano, Texas is also LEED-certified. During FY17 FedEx Freight began work on its first LEED facility, expected to open in Sheboygan, Wisconsin in FY19. The number of FedEx Express facilities certified to the ISO 14001 environmental management system standard grew to 649 in almost 50 countries in FY17, primarily as a result of the acquisition of TNT. In addition, one FedEx Supply Chain facility in the U.S. is ISO 14001-certified.

• Implementing sustainability programmes
• The FedEx Ground sustainability champion programme, designed to increase employee participation and engagement in sustainability initiatives, grew significantly in FY17, adding 214 champion sites. Since implementing the programme, 574 sustainability champions volunteered to lead new sustainability initiatives and programmes, at 81 percent of the nearly 600 FedEx Ground facilities in the U.S. and Canada. Additionally, the FedEx Freight GREEN Site internal certification programme, which recognises facilities that complete certain actions to reduce environmental impacts, like recycling and conserving energy, saw the number of GREEN Sites more than double in FY17 compared to FY16, to extend GREEN Site Level 1 certification to all FedEx Freight locations.

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

The GRI Standards addressed in this case are:

1) Disclosure 302-1 Energy consumption within the organization

2) Disclosure 302-4 Reduction of energy consumption

 

Disclosure 302-1 Energy consumption within the organization corresponds to:

• Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 7: Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all
• Business theme: Energy efficiency, Renewable energy
• Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 8: Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all
• Business theme: Energy efficiency
• Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 12: Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns
• Business theme: Energy efficiency, Transport
• Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 13: Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts
• Business theme: Energy efficiency

Disclosure 302-4 Reduction of energy consumption corresponds to:

• Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 7: Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all
• Business theme: Energy efficiency
• Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 8: Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all
• Business theme: Energy efficiency
• Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 12: Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns
• Business theme: Energy efficiency
• Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 13: Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts
• Business theme: Energy efficiency

 

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 FedEx, 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 FedEx: 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 2016-17 Sustainability Report Ashok Leyland identified a range of material issues, such as business growth and profitability, regulatory compliance, customer satisfaction, product safety and quality, waste management, occupational health and safety. Among these, reducing its energy consumption stands out as a key material issue for Ashok Leyland.

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 Ashok Leyland engages with:

Stakeholder Group	Method of engagement
Employees	·      Monthly and quarterly meet ·      Personal review and visits ·      Surveys ·      Training ·      Annual day ·      Events
Suppliers	·      Suppliers meet ·      Tech days ·      Mutual visits ·      Monthly meetings with leadership ·      Events
Dealers	·      Events ·      Dealer panel engagement
Customers (Institutional and Retail)	·      Events ·      Survey ·      Ashok Leyland initiatives
Government and Regulatory authorities	·      One to one meetings ·      Events and conferences

How stakeholder engagement was made to identify material issues

To identify and prioritise material topics, Ashok Leyland engaged with its stakeholders through questionnaires and interactions.

What actions were taken by Ashok Leyland to reduce its energy consumption?

In its 2016-17 Sustainability Report Ashok Leyland reports that it took the following actions for reducing its energy consumption:

• Using natural gas instead of propane
• In Ashok Leyland’s Pantnagar plant, propane was used for heating application in the paint process. With the arrival of the GAIL pipeline at the Pantnagar industrial area, Ashok Leyland switched from using propane to Regasified Liquefied Natural Gas (RLNG). Natural gas is safer, much lighter and rapidly dissipates into the air when released. In addition, Ashok Leyland achieved savings in diesel consumption during transportation, as natural gas is transported through a pipeline, and also saved 1 lakh kWh during the winter season, as vaporiser is not required for natural gas. Until March 2017, Ashok Leyland had saved 105 tCO2e.

• Investing in renewable energy sources
• Ashok Leyland seeks to increase its share of renewable energy sources in its overall energy mix and sources wind power from external source at its Hosur, Bhandara and Ennore plants and VVC centre. Additionally, Ashok Leyland commissioned roof top solar plants at various units, amounting to a total of 5 MW, and installed the same at the Hosur 1 & 2, Bhandara and Ennore units. These installations will annually generate 15 lakh units, resulting in a reduction of 1,230 tCO2e. In FY 2016-17, Ashok Leyland utilised 150,499 GJ of energy from renewable sources – 17 per cent of the overall energy consumption.

• Using energy efficient pumps
• Ashok Leyland replaced conventional electric heaters used to heat flood washing machines – which consumed 48 kW per machine – with air source heat pumps. These energy efficient pumps absorb heat from one part and release it in another, instead of converting it from a fuel like a conventional heater, reducing, accordingly, energy consumption and the carbon footprint. Ashok Leyland achieved a saving of 5 units per engine, resulting in an overall saving of 38 kW per machine.

• Conserving energy through Variable Frequency Drives
• The paint booth in the Vehicle Test Shop in Hosur 2 consists of a 75 kW supply blower and 4 nos. of 22 kW exhaust motors, which run continuously to maintain air balancing inside the booth, resulting in high energy consumption. To reduce energy use, Ashok Leyland introduced VFD (Variable Frequency Drives) panel and booth balancing, conserving 1,12,700 kWh of energy every year.

• Optimising power consumption through pyro blocks
• Ashok Leyland replaced fire clay bricks in heat treatment furnaces with high density monolithic CF blocks (pyro blocks), which have excellent heat reflection properties. This has reduced heat loss and helped Ashok Leyland save power, achieving an annual saving of 58,000 kWh.

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

The GRI Standards addressed in this case are:

1) Disclosure 302-1 Energy consumption within the organization

2) Disclosure 302-4 Reduction of energy consumption

 

Disclosure 302-1 Energy consumption within the organization corresponds to:

• Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 7: Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all
• Business theme: Energy efficiency, Renewable energy
• Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 8: Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all
• Business theme: Energy efficiency
• Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 12: Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns
• Business theme: Energy efficiency, Transport
• Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 13: Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts
• Business theme: Energy efficiency

Disclosure 302-4 Reduction of energy consumption corresponds to:

• Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 7: Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all
• Business theme: Energy efficiency
• Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 8: Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all
• Business theme: Energy efficiency
• Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 12: Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns
• Business theme: Energy efficiency
• Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 13: Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts
• Business theme: Energy efficiency

 

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 Ashok Leyland, 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 Ashok Leyland: 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 2017/2018 Corporate Responsibility Report Merck & Co. identified a range of material issues, such as pricing & commercialisation, research & development, privacy of patient data, ethics in sales & marketing. Among these, improving energy use at its facilities stands out as a key material issue for Merck & 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 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 Merck & Co. engages with:

Stakeholder Group

Patients and caregivers

Health care professionals

Payers

Governments, multilateral organisations and regulators

Shareholders

International and local organisations

Local communities

Environmental stakeholders

Employees

Suppliers and business partners

Trade and industry associations

How stakeholder engagement was made to identify material issues

To identify and prioritise material topics Merck & Co. carried out consultative interviews with both internal and external stakeholders.

What actions were taken by Merck & Co. to improve energy use at its facilities?

In its 2017/2018 Corporate Responsibility Report Merck & Co. reports that it took the following actions for improving energy use at its facilities:

• Establishing an Energy Capital Fund
• Merck & Co. has established an Energy Capital Fund of up to US$12 million per year, to switch to more energy-efficient technology and respond to energy demands in the future. The Energy Capital Fund supports the realisation of projects with a simple four-year payback, averaged over the entire portfolio. In 2017, Merck & Co. spent US$3.8 million on projects that resulted in US$1.4 million in annual savings and a reduction of over 9,100 metric tons of carbon dioxide from the company’s facilities. In 2018, Merck & Co. had more than 100 projects in progress, to reduce carbon dioxide emissions from its facilities by more than 35,000 metric tons.

• Creating an energy road map
• Merck & Co.’s Energy Center of Excellence (CoE) has created an “energy road map” to help facilities reduce energy demand and related GHG emissions – through large-scale metering and monitoring to assess and identify opportunities for constant improvement. Energy savings are sought by improving the reliability of the equipment, by the efficient operation of utility systems and by building efficiencies into systems design. 

• Carrying out Energy Treasure Hunts 
• Since 2010 Merck & Co. has conducted Energy Treasure Hunts at 13 facilities worldwide, identifying more than 1,000 energy-efficient project opportunities, many of which have been successfully implemented. In addition, Merck & Co. carries out online Energy Treasure Hunts to engage employees, using their unique expertise and local understanding of their facilities –obtaining high-level recommendations such as renewable energy assessments and lighting systems optimisation.

• Organising Energy Kaizens
• In 2017, thirteen Merck & Co. facilities participated in Energy Kaizens, which helped them reduce heat energy losses from missing or damaged insulation. These kaizen events identified more than US$500,000 in energy savings. In addition, through these events, employees received training and acquired assessment skills and knowledge that they can apply to the rest of their facilities.

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

The GRI Standards addressed in this case are:

1) Disclosure 302-4 Reduction of energy consumption

2) Disclosure 305-5 Reduction of GHG emissions

 

Disclosure 302-4 Reduction of energy consumption corresponds to:

• Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 7: Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all
• Business theme: Energy efficiency
• Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 8: Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all
• Business theme: Energy efficiency
• Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 12: Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns
• Business theme: Energy efficiency
• Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 13: Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts
• Business theme: Energy efficiency

Disclosure 305-5 Reduction of GHG emissions corresponds to:

• Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 13: Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts
• Business theme: GHG emissions
• Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 14: Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development
• Business theme: Ocean acidification
• Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 15: Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss
• Business theme: Forest degradation

 

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

Note to Merck & Co.: 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 2017 Sustainable Business Report Vodafone identified a range of material issues, such as digital rights including privacy, data protection and security, socio-economic benefits arising from Vodafone’s products and services, business conduct and ethics, employee equality and diversity. Among these, reducing energy use in its general business and administrative activities stands out as a key material issue for Vodafone.

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 Vodafone engages with:

Stakeholder Group

Consumer and enterprise customers

Shareholders

Employees

Suppliers and partners

Governments and regulators

Local communities

Non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and civil society activists

Industry peers

How stakeholder engagement was made to identify material issues

To identify and prioritise material topics Vodafone engaged with peers, NGOs, civil society activists and sustainable business specialists to obtain their views on the most important social, economic, environmental and ethical issues for the company and society as a whole.

What actions were taken by Vodafone to reduce energy use in its general business and administrative activities?

In its 2017 Sustainable Business Report Vodafone reports that it took the following actions for reducing energy use in its general business and administrative activities:

• Achieving a green building certification
• Many Vodafone offices are certified to the green building certification LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design), which provides a set of rating systems for the design, construction, operation and maintenance of green buildings. Accordingly, the following Vodafone buildings have been awarded a certification under the category for Commercial Interiors:
  • Vodafone Spain headquarters – platinum standard
  • Vodafone Germany headquarters – platinum standard
  • Vodafone Turkey office and call centre – platinum standard
  • Vodafone Czech Republic headquarters – gold standard
  • Vodafone Italy – silver standard for headquarters building in Milan and gold standard for offices in Padua
  • Vodafone India – seven Vodafone buildings have LEED certification

• Implementing innovative sustainable building techniques
• Vodafone’s carbon-neutral SSIC (Site Solution Innovation Centre) in South Africa generates enough renewable energy to meet comfortably its own power consumption. It was the first ever building to be awarded the maximum six stars from the Green Building Council of South Africa. The building incorporates a wide range of innovative sustainable building techniques, such as thermal rock stores to capture and store thermal energy, mechanical solar panels that move with the sun and technologies which reuse greywater to limit freshwater consumption.

• Modernising stores
• Vodafone owns and operates almost 8,000 retail stores worldwide. To modernise all stores (including those that are operated under franchise) and improve their energy efficiency, Vodafone is implementing an extensive programme, with 5,500 stores already refurbished.

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

The GRI Standards addressed in this case are:

1) Disclosure 302-1 Energy consumption within the organization

2) Disclosure 302-4 Reduction of energy consumption

3) Disclosure 305-4 GHG emissions intensity

4) Disclosure 305-5 Reduction of GHG emissions

 

Disclosure 302-1 Energy consumption within the organization corresponds to:

• Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 7: Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all
• Business theme: Energy efficiency, Renewable energy
• Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 8: Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all
• Business theme: Energy efficiency
• Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 12: Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns
• Business theme: Energy efficiency, Transport
• Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 13: Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts
• Business theme: Energy efficiency

Disclosure 302-4 Reduction of energy consumption corresponds to:

• Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 7: Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all
• Business theme: Energy efficiency
• Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 8: Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all
• Business theme: Energy efficiency
• Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 12: Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns
• Business theme: Energy efficiency
• Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 13: Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts
• Business theme: Energy efficiency

Disclosure 305-4 GHG emissions intensity corresponds to:

• Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 13: Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts
• Business theme: GHG emissions
• Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 14: Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development
• Business theme: Ocean acidification
• Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 15: Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss
• Business theme: Forest degradation

Disclosure 305-5 Reduction of GHG emissions corresponds to:

• Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 13: Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts
• Business theme: GHG emissions
• Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 14: Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development
• Business theme: Ocean acidification
• Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 15: Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss
• Business theme: Forest degradation

 

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 Vodafone, 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 Vodafone: 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 2015 Sustainability Performance Report ABB identified a range of material issues, such as products and services, responsible sourcing, human rights, integrity. Among these, improving energy efficiency in its operations stands out as a key material issue for ABB.

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 ABB engages with:

Stakeholder Group

ABB employees

Customers

Suppliers

Investors

Civil society

How stakeholder engagement was made to identify material issues

To identify and prioritise material topics ABB engaged with its stakeholders through a sustainability report review panel, whose members represented key market and non-market stakeholders.

What actions were taken by ABB to improve energy efficiency in its operations?

In its 2015 Sustainability Performance Report ABB reports that it took the following actions for improving energy efficiency in its operations:

• Implementing energy efficiency projects
• During 2015, ABB implemented over 190 individual energy efficiency projects that resulted in 32.2 GWh of energy savings. These projects focused on the efficiency of compressed air systems and heating, ventilation and cooling (HVAC) processes, and on the energy efficiency of ABB’s buildings, including heat recovery from machines and processes. ABB also achieves energy savings as side benefits in other projects. At its robotics operation in Västerås, Sweden, a programme designed to improve water filtration and cleaning in degreasing processes also helped ABB achieve a 75% reduction in energy used to heat the cleaning water. At ABB’s factory in Roigheim, Germany, changing a raw material to improve product quality also helped the facility save approximately 220 MWh during manufacturing processes.

• Applying energy-efficient lighting solutions
• ABB’s energy-efficient lighting solutions involve increased use of daylighting, replacing old lighting with LED technology, and implementing lighting control systems. For example, at ABB’s production facility in Turgi, Switzerland, ABB and Philips developed a new lighting system that provides better illumination of the production hall while significantly reducing electricity consumption, cutting annual electricity costs and associated CO2 emissions of the production hall by 50%.

• Reviewing processes and investing in new technology
• Many ABB facilities carry out comprehensive reviews of processes and infrastructure to achieve energy savings. For example, ABB’s medium-voltage products plant in Nashik, India, upgraded its lighting system, installed more efficient HVAC technologies, modified the fume extraction system, developed new standby programmes for energy-intensive processes and invested in new technology to control conditions in its cleanroom. These actions reduced electricity consumption by over 50%, eliminated 54,000 litres of diesel consumption and saved over 1,200 MWh per year.

• Implementing energy savings plans
• All ABB manufacturing, workshop and office facilities implement energy savings plans and assess the main sources of GHG emissions, developing action plans to reduce them. Improvement activities across ABB facilities include conducting feasibility studies, modifying processes, updating equipment and infrastructure, working with suppliers and changing behaviours.

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

The GRI Standards addressed in this case are:

1) Disclosure 302-1 Energy consumption within the organization

2) Disclosure 302-3 Energy intensity

3) Disclosure 302-4 Reduction of energy consumption

 

Disclosure 302-1 Energy consumption within the organization corresponds to:

• Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 7: Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all
• Business theme: Energy efficiency, Renewable energy
• Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 8: Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all
• Business theme: Energy efficiency
• Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 12: Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns
• Business theme: Energy efficiency, Transport
• Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 13: Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts
• Business theme: Energy efficiency

Disclosure 302-3 Energy intensity corresponds to:

• Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 7: Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all
• Business theme: Energy efficiency
• Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 8: Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all
• Business theme: Energy efficiency
• Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 12: Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns
• Business theme: Energy efficiency
• Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 13: Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts
• Business theme: Energy efficiency 

Disclosure 302-4 Reduction of energy consumption corresponds to:

• Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 7: Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all
• Business theme: Energy efficiency
• Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 8: Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all
• Business theme: Energy efficiency
• Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 12: Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns
• Business theme: Energy efficiency
• Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 13: Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts
• Business theme: Energy efficiency

 

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 ABB, 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 ABB: 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 2017 Sustainability Report BP identified a range of material issues, such as safety, human rights, governance and risk, people and ethics. Among these, expanding its renewables business stands out as a key material issue for BP.

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 BP engages with:

Stakeholder Group

Communities

Employees

Governments

Industry associations

Non-governmental organisations

Shareholders and analysts

How stakeholder engagement was made to identify material issues

To identify and prioritise material topics BP met with approximately 100 different organisations, from investors to NGOs and business partners, and also held sessions with its employees.

What actions were taken by BP to expand its renewables business?

In its 2017 Sustainability Report BP reports that it took the following actions for expanding its renewables business:

• Using biofuels to reduce transport emissions
• To reduce emissions from transportation, BP produces ethanol from sugar cane in Brazil, as it has life cycle greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions that are 70 per cent lower than conventional transport fuels. In 2017, BP’s three sites produced 776 million litres of ethanol equivalent. In addition, to better connect its ethanol production with Brazil’s main fuels markets, BP partnered with the world’s leading ethanol and sugar trader, Copersucar, to operate a major ethanol storage terminal, located near key transport networks and pipelines. BP’s ethanol production avoided emissions equal to 260,000 fewer European cars on the road in a year.

• Generating biopower
• BP creates biopower by burning bagasse, the fibre that remains after crushing sugar cane stalks, and exports approximately 70 per cent of the biopower it generates to the local electricity grid. This is a low carbon power source, as the CO2 emitted from burning bagasse is offset by the CO2 absorbed by sugar cane during its growth. 

• Investing in solar power
• BP invested $200m over three years in Lightsource, Europe’s largest solar development company. Lightsource focuses on the acquisition, development and long-term management of large-scale solar projects. Accordingly, BP partnered with Lightsource to lead the solar revolution, driving the further growth of solar energy.

• Producing wind energy
• BP is one of the largest wind energy producers in the US, operating 13 sites in seven states and holding an interest in one more facility, in Hawaii. Together, they have a net generating capacity of 1,432MW. The net generating capacity from BP’s portfolio, is enough to power almost 400,000 homes.

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

The GRI Standards addressed in this case are:

1) Disclosure 302-1 Energy consumption within the organization

2) Disclosure 302-3 Energy intensity

 

Disclosure 302-1 Energy consumption within the organization corresponds to:

• Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 7: Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all
• Business theme: Energy efficiency, Renewable energy
• Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 8: Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all
• Business theme: Energy efficiency
• Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 12: Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns
• Business theme: Energy efficiency, Transport
• Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 13: Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts
• Business theme: Energy efficiency

Disclosure 302-3 Energy intensity corresponds to:

• Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 7: Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all
• Business theme: Energy efficiency
• Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 8: Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all
• Business theme: Energy efficiency
• Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 12: Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns
• Business theme: Energy efficiency
• Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 13: Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts
• Business theme: Energy efficiency

 

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 BP, 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 BP: 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.