GRI-304 Archives - SustainCase - Sustainability Magazine https://sustaincase.com/category/gri-standards/gri-304/ Insights on how you can protect the environment, maintain and increase the value of your company, through a structured CSR/Sustainability process with the use of the GRI Standards. Learn how Today's Best-Run Companies are achieving Economic, Social, and Environmental Success - and How You Can Too... Mon, 06 Mar 2023 07:04:29 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=7.1 Case study: How Great Panther protects biodiversity https://sustaincase.com/case-study-how-great-panther-protects-biodiversity/ Fri, 22 Oct 2021 06:08:23 +0000 https://ccprowebs.com/new-sustaincase.com/?p=12997 Headquartered in Vancouver, Canada, Great Panther is a gold and silver mining company focused on evaluating, acquiring, developing, and producing precious metals from its mining properties in the Americas. , regulatory agencies, and access to land. This case study is based on the 2019 Sustainability Report by Great Panther published on the Global Reporting Initiative Sustainability Disclosure Database that can be found at this link. Through all case studies we aim to demonstrate what CSR/ ESG/ sustainability reporting done responsibly means. Essentially, it means: a) identifying a company’s most important impacts on the environment, economy and society, and b) measuring, managing […]

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]]> Headquartered in Vancouver, Canada, Great Panther is a gold and silver mining company focused on evaluating, acquiring, developing, and producing precious metals from its mining properties in the Americas. Adopting responsible practices with respect to biodiversity management is increasingly important to Great Panther’s stakeholders and plays a key role in its relationships with local communities  Tweet This!, regulatory agencies, and access to land.

This case study is based on the 2019 Sustainability Report by Great Panther published on the Global Reporting Initiative Sustainability Disclosure Database that can be found at this link. Through all case studies we aim to demonstrate what CSR/ ESG/ sustainability reporting done responsibly means. Essentially, it means: a) identifying a company’s most important impacts on the environment, economy and society, and b) measuring, managing and changing.

Abstract

Great Panther’s impacts on natural environments affect areas around its mines. Accordingly, Great Panther is serious about its responsibility to avoid, minimise and comprehensively monitor those impacts. In order to protect biodiversity Great Panther took action to:

  • conduct environmental baseline studies
  • implement biodiversity conservation programmes
  • provide biodiversity training

What are the material issues the company has identified?

In its 2019 Sustainability Report Great Panther identified a range of material issues, such as health and safety of employees and contractors, job creation, relationship with communities, business ethics. Among these, protecting biodiversity stands out as a key material issue for Great Panther.

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 Great Panther engages with:

Stakeholder Group
Employees and contractors
Suppliers
Shareholders and investors
Local communities
Governments
Industry associations
NGOs
Educational institutions
Customers
Analysts

How stakeholder engagement was made to identify material issues

To identify and prioritise material topics Great Panther surveyed over 520 people from nearly a dozen stakeholder groups inside and outside its business, spanning four countries. There were face-to-face and phone interviews at each mine location and company headquarters, as well as an online questionnaire.

What actions were taken by Great Panther to protect biodiversity?

In its 2019 Sustainability Report Great Panther reports that it took the following actions for protecting biodiversity:

  • Conducting environmental baseline studies
  • Each of its mine sites is unique, so Great Panther starts with a detailed environmental baseline study to acquire the data needed to recognise and manage changes. This includes identifying the types of ecosystems present and species of flora and fauna and the ecological processes they support. The study allows Great Panther to get to know each mine’s surroundings through the expertise of a multi-disciplinary team of experts. Once they have assessed the area’s specific needs, Great Panther tailors a plan to avoid, minimise, and manage impacts on flora, fauna and their habitat according to local environmental legislation. The study findings also provide timely input into site plans to reduce potentially adverse environmental impacts during the development, operational and closure phases of Great Panther’s mines.
  • Implementing biodiversity conservation programmes
  • Preventing impacts to ecosystems and habitat is more responsible and more cost-efficient than remediating them. To that end, based on its environmental baseline studies, Great Panther creates biodiversity conservation plans to maintain or enhance specific conditions and prevent damage, specific for each site. These include guidelines to avoid water pollution, emission control protocols (air, soil and water) and minimise habitat loss. Great Panther’s biodiversity conservation programmes also include soil erosion prevention and spills prevention technology.
  • Providing biodiversity training
  • When Great Panther identifies a new area of work, it prioritises the conservation of flora and fauna. Great Panther’s biodiversity programmes are guided by local environmental legislation and may include impact mitigation plans, land-use change studies and its associated reports. As employees and contractors begin to work at a new site and each year, they receive biodiversity training that emphasises care, respect and the importance of following Great Panther’s conservation guidelines at and around the site. Additionally, Great Panther is exploring the potential of new technologies to revolutionise biodiversity in mining. This includes using night-vision cameras to identify animals in the forest around Tucano, as well as deploying drones in Mexico and Brazil to monitor the recovery of vegetation. Great Panther also uses a Global Positioning System (GPS) to locate and protect seed-bearing plants and endangered species, in addition to forestry inventory software.

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

The GRI Standards addressed in this case are:

1) Disclosure 304-1 Operational sites owned, leased, managed in, or adjacent to, protected areas and areas of high biodiversity value outside protected areas

2) Disclosure 304-2 Significant impacts of activities, products, and services on biodiversity

3) Disclosure 304-3 Habitats protected or restored

4) Disclosure 304-4 IUCN Red List species and national conservation list species with habitats in areas affected by operations

 

Disclosure 304-1 Operational sites owned, leased, managed in, or adjacent to, protected areas and areas of high biodiversity value outside protected areas corresponds to:

Disclosure 304-2 Significant impacts of activities, products, and services on biodiversity corresponds to:

Disclosure 304-3 Habitats protected or restored corresponds to:

Disclosure 304-4 IUCN Red List species and national conservation list species with habitats in areas affected by operations corresponds to:

 

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 Great Panther, 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 Great Panther: 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.

The post Case study: How Great Panther protects biodiversity appeared first on SustainCase - Sustainability Magazine.

]]> Case study: How PCA protects biodiversity https://sustaincase.com/case-study-how-pca-protects-biodiversity/ Mon, 06 Sep 2021 06:06:13 +0000 https://ccprowebs.com/new-sustaincase.com/?p=12877 PCA is one of the leading suppliers of packaging and paper products in North America, serving 17,000 customers in approximately 35,000 locations. PCA has worked for decades with many types of landowners, especially family and small-scale landowners, providing them with long-term sustainable forest management applications and education, as . This case study is based on the 2019 Responsibility Report by PCA published on the Global Reporting Initiative Sustainability Disclosure Database that can be found at this link. Through all case studies we aim to demonstrate what CSR/ ESG/ sustainability reporting done responsibly means. Essentially, it means: a) identifying a company’s most […]

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]]> PCA is one of the leading suppliers of packaging and paper products in North America, serving 17,000 customers in approximately 35,000 locations. PCA has worked for decades with many types of landowners, especially family and small-scale landowners, providing them with long-term sustainable forest management applications and education, as sustainably managed North American working-forests are essential to PCA’s long-term success  Tweet This!.

This case study is based on the 2019 Responsibility Report by PCA published on the Global Reporting Initiative Sustainability Disclosure Database that can be found at this link. Through all case studies we aim to demonstrate what CSR/ ESG/ sustainability reporting done responsibly means. Essentially, it means: a) identifying a company’s most important impacts on the environment, economy and society, and b) measuring, managing and changing.

Abstract

PCA’s responsibility and commitment to protecting biodiversity is demonstrated by ensuring its fiber sourcing programme and practices fully conform to rigorous forestry, fiber sourcing, and chain of custody standards. In order to protect biodiversity PCA took action to:

  • support research and partner in conservation efforts
  • conduct environmental impact assessments
  • implement Best Management Practices

What are the material issues the company has identified?            

In its 2019 Responsibility Report PCA identified a range of material issues, such as economic performance, climate change, occupational health and safety, labour relations. Among these, protecting biodiversity stands out as a key material issue for PCA.

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 PCA engages with:

Stakeholder Group                Method of engagement
Employees ·      Your Opinion Counts
Customers ·      Customer ConneXions

 How stakeholder engagement was made to identify material issues

To identify and prioritise material topics PCA surveyed over 100 employees and conducted research on 45 of its largest customers.

What actions were taken by PCA to protect biodiversity?

In its 2019 Responsibility Report PCA reports that it took the following actions for protecting biodiversity:

  • Supporting research and partnering in conservation efforts
  • PCA partners with The Forest Resource Association, The Nature Conservancy, Forest Stewards Guild, Longleaf Alliance, Keeping Forests, American Forest Foundation, and National Council for Air and Stream Improvement (NCASI) to accomplish research and support conservation objectives. PCA also conducts annual training with staff on the latest research, conservation priorities and company policies and procedures to broaden the practice of sustainable forest management, and reduce both direct and indirect negative impacts on biodiversity.
  • Conducting environmental impact assessments
  • Utilising NatureServe and state Natural Heritage websites, PCA checks for threatened or endangered species and ecosystem conservation priorities in combination with on the ground inspections prior to harvest activity. This enables PCA to ensure biodiversity constraints are identified and have an effective plan of action in-place before, during and after forest management activity. PCA fully complies with the US Lacey Act, Endangered Species Act, the Clean Water Act, the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, Species at Risk Act, and provincial timber regulations. PCA is also in full conformance with the European Union Timber Regulations (EUTR).
  • Implementing Best Management Practices
  • The forest certification programmes PCA adheres to support the protection of biodiversity through voluntary and compulsory measures. For example, the SFI (Sustainable Forestry Initiative) standard requires a trained Master Logger or Qualified Logging Professional (QLP) on-site during harvest activities and wood suppliers must remain up-to-date on continuing education requirements, including biodiversity protection. In 2019, 99.2% wood sourced directly from forestlands was delivered by QLPs. PCA promotes and financially supports training programmes for logging professionals as part of its commitment to sustainable forestry standards and is dedicated to applying all mandatory and voluntary state Best Management Practices (BMPs) during harvest activity to protect a site’s biodiversity and preserve the quality of water and soil within the landscape.

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

The GRI Standards addressed in this case are:

1) Disclosure 304-1 Operational sites owned, leased, managed in, or adjacent to, protected areas and areas of high biodiversity value outside protected areas

2) Disclosure 304-2 Significant impacts of activities, products, and services on biodiversity

3) Disclosure 304-3 Habitats protected or restored

4) Disclosure 304-4 IUCN Red List species and national conservation list species with habitats in areas affected by operations

 

Disclosure 304-1 Operational sites owned, leased, managed in, or adjacent to, protected areas and areas of high biodiversity value outside protected areas corresponds to:

Disclosure 304-2 Significant impacts of activities, products, and services on biodiversity corresponds to:

Disclosure 304-3 Habitats protected or restored corresponds to:

Disclosure 304-4 IUCN Red List species and national conservation list species with habitats in areas affected by operations corresponds to:

 

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 PCA, 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 PCA: 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.

The post Case study: How PCA protects biodiversity appeared first on SustainCase - Sustainability Magazine.

]]> Case study: How Asanko protects biodiversity https://sustaincase.com/case-study-how-asanko-protects-biodiversity/ Wed, 23 Sep 2020 12:18:41 +0000 https://ccprowebs.com/new-sustaincase.com/?p=10929 Asanko Gold Inc. is a Canadian gold producer headquartered in Vancouver, Canada, whose flagship asset is the Asanko Gold Mine Joint Venture located on the Asankrangwa gold belt in Ghana, West Africa. This case study is based on the 2018 Corporate Social Responsibility Report by Asanko published on the Global Reporting Initiative Sustainability Disclosure Database that can be found at this link. Through all case studies we aim to demonstrate what CSR/ ESG/ sustainability reporting done responsibly means. Essentially, it means: a) identifying a company’s most important impacts on the environment, economy and society, and b) measuring, managing and changing. Abstract […]

The post Case study: How Asanko protects biodiversity appeared first on SustainCase - Sustainability Magazine.

]]> Asanko Gold Inc. is a Canadian gold producer headquartered in Vancouver, Canada, whose flagship asset is the Asanko Gold Mine Joint Venture located on the Asankrangwa gold belt in Ghana, West Africa. Asanko is committed to respecting the natural environment, carefully managing and maintaining the range of flora and fauna on its mine site.  Tweet This!

This case study is based on the 2018 Corporate Social Responsibility Report by Asanko published on the Global Reporting Initiative Sustainability Disclosure Database that can be found at this link. Through all case studies we aim to demonstrate what CSR/ ESG/ sustainability reporting done responsibly means. Essentially, it means: a) identifying a company’s most important impacts on the environment, economy and society, and b) measuring, managing and changing.

Abstract

Firmly committed to environmental stewardship, Asanko makes sure that all of its staff are taught not to harm wildlife as part of their induction training and also uses local experts to catch and carefully relocate any wildlife, including snakes. In order to protect biodiversity Asanko took action to:

  • protect and preserve IUCN red list plant species
  • apply a policy of progressive reclamation
  • implement a land rehabilitation programme

What are the material issues the company has identified?

In its 2018 Corporate Social Responsibility Report Asanko identified a range of material issues, such as community relations, training and development, ethical conduct, environmental compliance, local purchasing. Among these, protecting biodiversity stands out as a key material issue for Asanko.

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 Asanko engages with:

Stakeholder Group                Method of engagement
Employees

 

 ·      Meetings and regular briefings on operational, safety, health, environmental and social issues and performance

·      Monthly newsletter

·      Engagement surveys

·      Grievance mechanism
Investors and shareholders ·      Press releases

·      Quarterly conference calls

·      Conferences

·      Annual and CSR Reports

·      Annual General Meetings

·      Face-to-face meetings
Traditional structures and heritage ·      Face-to-face meetings

·      Public engagements via company-community forums, associations and committees

·      Grievance mechanism
Suppliers and contractors ·      Regular one-on-one meetings

·      Contract management

·      An open culture that encourages dialogue
Industry bodies

 

 ·      Attendance at quarterly Chamber of Mines meetings

·      Annual Mines Safety Competition

·      Regular inspection visits to project sites

·      Bi-annual proficiency examinations conducted by Inspectorate Division of Minerals Commission based on the various legislative instruments of Ghana
Ghanaian government (all levels)

 

 ·      Face-to-face meetings with company management as part of Asanko’s government relations programme

·      Multi-stakeholder roundtables

·      Site visits

·      Compliance and progress reporting

·      CSR Report
Local communities ·      Face-to-face meetings

·      Public engagements via company-community forums, associations, and committees

·      Open-door policy at site office

·      Community Information Centres

·      Monthly newsletter

·      Asanko website

·      Participation in ceremonial gatherings

·      Grievance mechanism
Public sector partners ·      Active partnerships and collaboration

·      Progress reporting on initiatives

·      CSR Report
Non-governmental organisations ·      Face-to-face meetings

·      Public engagements via company-community forums, associations, and committees

·      Open-door policy at site office

·      Community Information Centres

·      Monthly newsletter

·      Asanko website

·      Participation in ceremonial gatherings

·      Grievance mechanism
Media ·      News releases

·      Asanko website

·      Briefings with management

·      CSR Reports

How stakeholder engagement was made to identify material issues

To identify and prioritise material topics Asanko carried out a survey among both internal and external stakeholders. Internal stakeholders included heads of the relevant departments and the members of the Executive Management Team, while external stakeholders included employees, suppliers, NGOs and civil society, from whom Asanko received 110 responses.

What actions were taken by Asanko to protect biodiversity?

In its 2018 Corporate Social Responsibility Report Asanko reports that it took the following actions for protecting biodiversity:

  • Protecting and preserving IUCN red list plant species
  • Asanko’s mining area is not classified as an area of natural or international conservation concern. However, baseline studies carried out in 2013 and signed off by the Ghanaian EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) identified seven IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) red list plant species within Asanko’s concession area. As part of Asanko’s commitment to protect and preserve these species, these seven species have been integrated into Asanko’s concurrent land rehabilitation and planting programme, and Asanko trialled planting these species as part of the reclamation of the former waste rock dump. No fauna listed on the IUCN Red list have been found in or near Asanko’s concession.
  • Applying a policy of progressive reclamation
  • Asanko has a policy of progressive reclamation to make sure that it keeps the overall footprint of its mine as small as practicably possible. The benefits of concurrent rehabilitation are two-fold: firstly, it helps to minimise and mitigate the impact of Asanko’s activities on local flora and fauna and, secondly, it helps to reduce Asanko’s liabilities at the end of the mine’s life. Asanko also has a land inventory of areas for reclamation in place and has signed a reclamation security agreement with the EPA to ensure adequate provision of material for rehabilitation and topsoil recovery.
  • Implementing a land rehabilitation programme
  • During 2018, Asanko commenced its concurrent land rehabilitation programme, with the aim of restoring land to either a natural or, at the very minimum, economically usable state in good time for mine closure. During the year, work began to restore approximately 5.2 hectares of the eastern section of the Nkran Pit Waste Rock Dump. Restoration work carried out included resloping, erosion control work and tree planting. Restoration and rehabilitation work continued throughout 2019 and was carried out in accordance with the Ghanaian EPA requirements.

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

The GRI Standards addressed in this case are:

1) Disclosure 304-3 Habitats protected or restored

2) Disclosure 304-4 IUCN Red List species and national conservation list species with habitats in areas affected by operations

 

Disclosure 304-3 Habitats protected or restored corresponds to:

  • Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 6: Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all
  • Business theme: Water-related ecosystems and biodiversity
  • Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 14: Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development
  • Business theme: Marine biodiversity
  • 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: Mountain ecosystems, Natural habitat degradation, Terrestrial and inland freshwater ecosystems

Disclosure 304-4 IUCN Red List species and national conservation list species with habitats in areas affected by operations corresponds to:

  • Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 6: Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all
  • Business theme: Water-related ecosystems and biodiversity
  • Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 14: Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development
  • Business theme: Marine biodiversity
  • 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: Mountain ecosystems, Natural habitat degradation, Terrestrial and inland freshwater ecosystems

 

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 Asanko, 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 Asanko: 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.

The post Case study: How Asanko protects biodiversity appeared first on SustainCase - Sustainability Magazine.

]]> Case study: How Petropavlovsk protects biodiversity https://sustaincase.com/case-study-how-petropavlovsk-protects-biodiversity/ Fri, 18 Sep 2020 07:03:47 +0000 https://ccprowebs.com/new-sustaincase.com/?p=11411 Petropavlovsk is a London premium-listed, Russia-focused gold mining and R&D business and one of Russia’s major gold mining companies, in terms of both production and Reserves and Resources. Protecting biodiversity remains one of Petropavlovsk’s main priorities, and This case study is based on the 2019 Annual Report by Petropavlovsk published on the Global Reporting Initiative Sustainability Disclosure Database that can be found at this link. Through all case studies we aim to demonstrate what CSR/ ESG/ sustainability reporting done responsibly means. Essentially, it means: a) identifying a company’s most important impacts on the environment, economy and society, and b) measuring, managing […]

The post Case study: How Petropavlovsk protects biodiversity appeared first on SustainCase - Sustainability Magazine.

]]> Petropavlovsk is a London premium-listed, Russia-focused gold mining and R&D business and one of Russia’s major gold mining companies, in terms of both production and Reserves and Resources. Protecting biodiversity remains one of Petropavlovsk’s main priorities, and Petropavlovsk works hard to make sure that wildlife and local habitats are protected for future generations through all stages of mine life.  Tweet This!

This case study is based on the 2019 Annual Report by Petropavlovsk published on the Global Reporting Initiative Sustainability Disclosure Database that can be found at this link. Through all case studies we aim to demonstrate what CSR/ ESG/ sustainability reporting done responsibly means. Essentially, it means: a) identifying a company’s most important impacts on the environment, economy and society, and b) measuring, managing and changing.

Abstract

Petropavlovsk recognises that its mining operations have the potential to negatively impact the natural environment. Accordingly, Petropavlovsk’s main aim is to prevent environmental harm wherever possible. In order to protect biodiversity Petropavlovsk took action to:

  • identify potential impacts of operations on wildlife
  • develop a biodiversity management programme
  • protect flora and fauna

What are the material issues the company has identified?

In its 2019 Annual Report Petropavlovsk identified a range of material issues, such as economic performance, environmental compliance, training & education, waste management, occupational health and safety, water management. Among these, protecting biodiversity stands out as a key material issue for Petropavlovsk.

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 Petropavlovsk engages with:

Stakeholder Group                Method of engagement
Shareholders, lenders, bondholders

 

 ·      AGM

·      Annual Report

·      Investor conferences, conference calls, one-to-one meetings

·      Site visits
Employees

 

 ·      Website

·      Intranet

·      Corporate newspaper Pokrovka Plus, Social media accounts

·      Trade Union

·      Meetings and face-to-face communication with management
Suppliers and contractors ·      Direct correspondence

·      Meetings

·      Contractual relationships
Local communities, including Indigenous communities

 

 

 ·      Public hearings

·      Corporate newspaper Pokrovka Plus, Social media accounts

·      Social and charity activities

·      Company website

·      Site visits

·      Grievance procedure
Government and industry authorities

 

 

 ·      Meetings, round-table conferences

·      Industry conferences

·      Direct correspondence

·      Company website

·      Circulation of information (brochures, factsheets, leaflets, etc.)

How stakeholder engagement was made to identify material issues

To identify and prioritise material topics Petropavlovsk engaged with its stakeholders via an online survey.

What actions were taken by Petropavlovsk to protect biodiversity?

In its 2019 Annual Report Petropavlovsk reports that it took the following actions for protecting biodiversity:

  • Identifying potential impacts of operations on wildlife
  • Before a mine becomes operational, Petropavlovsk outlines potential impacts of the operations on wildlife, along with the measures and actions to be taken in order to manage and mitigate these possible risks. This procedure, which is part of the EIA (Environmental Impact Assessment), has an important role in Petropavlovsk’s decision-making. Biodiversity management plans, outlining preventative measures and prohibited activities, are also developed and implemented at all Petropavlovsk’s operations.
  • Developing a biodiversity management programme
  • Petropavlovsk has developed a biodiversity management programme based on the following initiatives:
    • Preventing pollution and minimising its environmental impact;
    • Minimising noise levels as far as possible;
    • Minimising and controlling the disposal of food waste which could attract wildlife;
    • Use of “cat’s eye” road reflectors and other wildlife deterrents near areas close to moving vehicles, as well as wildlife awareness warning signs for drivers;
    • Monitoring discharges to air, soil and water;
    • Installing digital bird repellent systems to protect waterfowl; and
    • Maximising use of all brownfield sites.
  • Protecting flora and fauna
  • Petropavlovsk has various biodiversity strategies in place to protect flora and fauna and to avoid contamination of local rivers, ponds or streams, which include:
    • Prohibition of felling trees or clearing wooded areas using heavy machinery, such as bulldozers, flooding of forest land, dumping waste or rubbish, fishing, hunting or poaching and driving vehicles outside designated zones or existing roads;
    • Replenishing aquatic biodiversity in local rivers, in partnership with the Federal Authority on Fishery and Biological Resources Preservation of Amur region (Amurybvod), with over US$185,000 having been spent in restocking over the last six years; and
    • Annual information campaigns to raise awareness of forest fires, which can have a potentially devastating impact on biodiversity. Petropavlovsk’s experience shows that the use of billboards, posters and warning signs at its operations as well as in the surrounding area (such as at rest areas on the motorways) has a noticeable positive effect.

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

The GRI Standard addressed in this case is: Disclosure 304-1 Operational sites owned, leased, managed in, or adjacent to, protected areas and areas of high biodiversity value outside protected areas

 

Disclosure 304-1 Operational sites owned, leased, managed in, or adjacent to, protected areas and areas of high biodiversity value outside protected areas corresponds to:

 

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 Petropavlovsk, 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 Petropavlovsk: 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.

The post Case study: How Petropavlovsk protects biodiversity appeared first on SustainCase - Sustainability Magazine.

]]> Case study: How ITC protects biodiversity https://sustaincase.com/case-study-how-itc-protects-biodiversity/ Fri, 15 May 2020 06:57:48 +0000 https://ccprowebs.com/new-sustaincase.com/?p=10799 ITC is one of India’s foremost private sector companies with a market capitalisation of US $ 50 billion and a diversified presence in FMCG (fast-moving consumer goods), Hotels, Packaging, Paperboards & Specialty Papers and Agri-Business. Given the essential ecosystem services that nature provides, especially to rural households, ITC recognises that the preservation and nurture of biodiversity is crucial for the long-term sustainability of agriculture and for ensuring a sustainable future for communities residing in ITC’s agri-business areas. This case study is based on the 2019 Sustainability Report by ITC published on the Global Reporting Initiative Sustainability Disclosure Database that can be found […]

The post Case study: How ITC protects biodiversity appeared first on SustainCase - Sustainability Magazine.

]]> ITC is one of India’s foremost private sector companies with a market capitalisation of US $ 50 billion and a diversified presence in FMCG (fast-moving consumer goods), Hotels, Packaging, Paperboards & Specialty Papers and Agri-Business. Given the essential ecosystem services that nature provides, especially to rural households, ITC recognises that the preservation and nurture of biodiversity is crucial for the long-term sustainability of agriculture and for ensuring a sustainable future for communities residing in ITC’s agri-business areas.

This case study is based on the 2019 Sustainability Report by ITC published on the Global Reporting Initiative Sustainability Disclosure Database that can be found at this link. Through all case studies we aim to demonstrate what CSR/ ESG/ sustainability reporting done responsibly means. Essentially, it means: a) identifying a company’s most important impacts on the environment, economy and society, and b) measuring, managing and changing.

Abstract

ITC has taken up biodiversity conservation as a major intervention in its operational areas  Tweet This! through various initiatives, seeking, among others, to preserve India’s rich biodiversity. In order to protect biodiversity ITC took action to:

  • minimise the adverse impacts of agriculture on biodiversity
  • implement community driven biodiversity conservation
  • develop ‘Sustainable Agriscape for Future’

What are the material issues the company has identified?

In its 2019 Sustainability Report ITC identified a range of material issues, such as financial performance, climate change, employee engagement, product packaging & labelling. Among these, protecting biodiversity stands out as a key material issue for ITC.

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 ITC engages with:

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

Stakeholder Group                Method of engagement
Providers of financial capital

 

 ·      Annual General Meeting

·      Exclusive section in Corporate Website on ‘Shareholder Value’ which serves to inform and service shareholders

·      Exclusive e-mail id: isc@itc.in for direct interaction with shareholders

·      Regular interaction with institutional investors
Government and regulatory authorities ·      Representation on policy issues through industry associations and other bodies

·      Participation in policy advocacy discussions at various forums
Customers ·      Market surveys

·      Direct connect/visits

·      Personalised lifestyle privilege programme

·      Customer satisfaction surveys

·      Key account management
Employees ·      Induction programmes/trainings/workshops

·      Individual performance appraisal

·      Employee engagement survey

·      Grievance handling processes

·      Trade union meetings
Farmers

 

 ·      Regular formal/informal conversations

·      Farmer training programmes and workshops

·      Agreements for all procurement activities

·      e-Choupal and Choupal Pradarshan Khets (demonstration farms)

·      Participatory rural appraisals to identify needs and challenges
Supply chain partners

 

 ·      Manufacturers’ meets

·      Vendor meets

·      Pre-agreement negotiations

·      Procurement agreements
Media ·      One-on-one media interaction

·      Press conferences/press releases

·      Advertisements/promotions

·      Interviews with senior management
Civil society

 

 ·      Partnerships for implementation of CSR programmes under ‘Mission Sunehra Kal’

·      Discussions on community issues with civil society organisations
Local communities ·      Community needs assessment activities undertaken in collaboration with independent parties/civil society organisations

·      Formation of village institutions and regular meetings thereon

·      Public hearings for greenfield/expansion projects

·      Assessment of direct and indirect impacts of ITC’s social investments on communities

What actions were taken by ITC to protect biodiversity?

In its 2019 Sustainability Report ITC reports that it took the following actions for protecting biodiversity:

  • Minimising the adverse impacts of agriculture on biodiversity
  • ITC’s Biodiversity Risk and Opportunity Assessment (BROA) tool was deployed by its Agri Business Division in its core crop growing regions to identify impacts and dependencies of business operations on biodiversity of a given agricultural landscape. This was followed by an assessment of the various risks and opportunities that emerge, based on which plans were made and actions undertaken to address them. Based on the risk assessment, ITC has specifically promoted initiatives such as micro-irrigation promotion, farmer education cum awareness programmes on pesticide waste disposal, soil protection and conservation, and Integrated Pest Management in crops, covering around 65,000 farmers in Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka. In 2018, ITC’s Agri Business Division had additionally covered crops such as Chilli, Cumin, Turmeric, Celery and Coffee under Rain Forest Alliance (RFA) certification. Rainforest Alliance Certified farms are audited regularly to verify that farmers are compliant to the standard’s comprehensive requirements, which require continual improvement on the journey to sustainable agriculture. The farmers strictly follow the standard principles of sustainable farming, which include biodiversity conservation, improved livelihoods and human well-being, and natural resource conservation. With support from ITC, the farmers in Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Rajasthan and Punjab undertook an effective planning and farm management system which benefits communities, forests, native vegetation, ecosystem services and wildlife. ITC’s Paper business has committed to Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) principles and has got its pulpwood plantations and supply chain certified under FSC. Till 2018, 37,089 hectares belonging to 32,313 farmers were certified under FSC by Rain Forest Alliance as per which no rare, threatened and endangered species were in the land considered under the scope of certification, also providing assurance that methods for enhancing biodiversity potential of the planted areas like retention of old growth/snag trees, retention of large woody debris, creation of water bodies, etc., were being practised.
  • Implementing community driven biodiversity conservation
  • ITC implements community driven biodiversity conservation with focus on livelihood generation, to make sure that communities understand and value the importance of biodiversity conservation. As part of the programme, studies are undertaken to understand the current status of floral and faunal species richness in the watersheds, plans prepared for landscape level restoration to improve green cover and native floral species population and mosaic restoration to rehabilitate degraded common lands as biodiversity hotspots. Studies to assess species diversity and dominance have been carried out in Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Maharashtra states in the watersheds where ITC is implementing its water stewardship programme. The studies showed that ITC had successfully rehabilitated degraded areas as biodiversity conservation plots to enhance floral and faunal biodiversity and ensure adequate livelihood and employment generation for local communities through creation of fodder, fuel and other wood sources. Under this programme, ITC has cumulatively developed 793 biodiversity plots involving famers and community members covering a total area of 22,031 acres in 18 districts of 7 states. The initiative has also helped in conserving myriad species of floral and faunal diversity, including birds, butterflies, reptiles and amphibians. Regular biodiversity indexing is also being carried out in biodiversity conservation plots, to measure the success of the programme in terms of enhancing the species diversity and dominance.
  • Developing ‘Sustainable Agriscape for Future’
  • ITC collaborated with the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) in Munger (Bihar) to develop ‘Sustainable Agriscape for Future’. IUCN had taken up studies and surveys to identify key issues that are affecting, and will in future affect the ecosystem service potential of the agriscape and farm profitability. Pressures on forest for fodder and fuelwood from the communities residing in adjoining area thus leading to increased top soil erosion and reduction of flows in water streams, encroachment and invasion of exotic species in community water bodies, excess usage of external input in agriculture located along the river Ganges, reduction of native trees and shrubs in agriculture fields that sustain birds and insect population, were identified as some of the critical factors that will impact the agriscape ecosystem service potential. Based on the challenges identified, IUCN suggested three varied landscape profiles for demonstrating the revival of ecosystem services: forest and lakes, lacustrine (pond), and riverine (Ganga riverbed) landscapes. Plans for all three types of landscapes have been developed and based on the action plans developed by IUCN, work is being implemented in all three landscapes at pilot scale. Interventions include creating fuelwood and fodder source within villages to bring down dependence on forests through suitable native tree species plantation, hyacinth based composting to reduce the growth of this invasive species growing in lakes, native species plantation along Ahar & Pyne banks to ensure a long life of the system through bank stabilisation, and multi-tiered native species plantation on fields adjacent to the Ganga river to minimise damage by floods.

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

The GRI Standard addressed in this case is: Disclosure 304-1 Operational sites owned, leased, managed in, or adjacent to, protected areas and areas of high biodiversity value outside protected areas

Disclosure 304-1 Operational sites owned, leased, managed in, or adjacent to, protected areas and areas of high biodiversity value outside protected areas corresponds to:

  • Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 6: Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all
  • Business theme: Water-related ecosystems and biodiversity
  • Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 14: Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development
  • Business theme: Marine biodiversity
  • 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: Mountain ecosystems, Natural habitat degradation, Terrestrial and inland freshwater ecosystems

 

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 ITC, 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 ITC: 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.

The post Case study: How ITC protects biodiversity appeared first on SustainCase - Sustainability Magazine.

]]> Case study: How GAR protects biodiversity https://sustaincase.com/case-study-how-gar-protects-biodiversity/ Fri, 13 Sep 2019 13:55:12 +0000 https://ccprowebs.com/new-sustaincase.com/?p=9896 Listed on the Singapore Exchange since 1999, GAR is a leading global integrated palm oil plantation company, whose primary activities are located in Indonesia and range from cultivating and harvesting oil palm trees, to refining crude palm oil (CPO) into industrial and consumer products. This case study is based on the 2018 Sustainability Report by GAR published on the Global Reporting Initiative Sustainability Disclosure Database that can be found at this link. Through all case studies we aim to demonstrate what CSR/ ESG/ sustainability reporting done responsibly means. Essentially, it means: a) identifying a company’s most important impacts on the environment, […]

The post Case study: How GAR protects biodiversity appeared first on SustainCase - Sustainability Magazine.

]]> Listed on the Singapore Exchange since 1999, GAR is a leading global integrated palm oil plantation company, whose primary activities are located in Indonesia and range from cultivating and harvesting oil palm trees, to refining crude palm oil (CPO) into industrial and consumer products. Forest protection and biodiversity conservation have been a key focus of GAR’s environmental efforts, for many years.  Tweet This!

This case study is based on the 2018 Sustainability Report by GAR published on the Global Reporting Initiative Sustainability Disclosure Database that can be found at this link. Through all case studies we aim to demonstrate what CSR/ ESG/ sustainability reporting done responsibly means. Essentially, it means: a) identifying a company’s most important impacts on the environment, economy and society, and b) measuring, managing and changing.

Abstract

Over the years, GAR has implemented a number of initiatives aimed at forest conservation and biodiversity protection, identifying and conserving 72,000 hectares of land made up of High Carbon Stock (HCS) forests and High Conservation Value (HCV) areas. In order to protect biodiversity GAR took action to:

  • preserve and protect HCV areas
  • educate stakeholders on biodiversity protection
  • prevent fires

What are the material issues the company has identified?

In its 2018 Sustainability Report GAR identified a range of material issues, such as labour relations and human rights, occupational health and safety and employee wellbeing, rights of communities and indigenous peoples, corporate governance, ethics and integrity. Among these, protecting biodiversity stands out as a key material issue for GAR.

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 s 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 GAR engages with:                       

Stakeholder Group                Method of engagement
Customers and consumers

 

 ·      Multi-stakeholder forums and industry groups

·      GAR website

·      Social media

·      GAR Sustainability Dashboard

·      Presentations and meetings

·      Field visits

·      Consumer Focus group discussions

·      Monthly e-update

·      Annual Report

·      Sustainability Report

·      Materiality assessment
Employees

 

 ·      Annual appraisals

·      Townhall meetings

·      Celebration of major festivals

·      HR Training/e-learning & testing

·      Internal campaigns e.g. International Women’s Day

·      Trade union meetings

·      GAR website

·      GAR Sustainability Dashboard

·      Social media

·      Materiality assessment
Financial community (investors, banks,

financial analysts)

 

 ·      Quarterly analyst briefings

·      One-on-one communication

·      Field visits

·      Monthly e-update

·      GAR website

·      GAR Sustainability Dashboard

·      Social media

·      Annual Report

·      Sustainability Report

·      Webinar

·      Materiality assessment
Governments and Regulatory bodies ·      One-on-one meetings

·      Field visits

·      Multi-stakeholder forums and events

·      GAR website

·      GAR Sustainability Dashboard

·      Annual Report

·      Sustainability Report

·      Webinar

·      Materiality assessment
Industry bodies and

trade associations

 ·      HCV/HCS Working groups

·      HCSA Board meeting

·      Executive committee meetings

·      Multi-stakeholder forums and events

·      Materiality assessment
Local communities ·      Participatory Mapping and Participatory Conservation approach and community development programmes

·      Complaint handling, grievance procedures and conflict resolution mechanisms

·      Dialogue and consultation with community groups and representatives

·      Community programmes

·      Outreach programmes to combat fire and haze
Media ·      One-on-one communication

·      GAR website

·      GAR Sustainability Dashboard

·      Social media

·      Field visits

·      Briefings and interviews

·      Articles and op-eds

·      Multi-stakeholder forums events

·      Monthly e-update

·      Annual Report

·      Sustainability Report

·      Materiality assessments
Civil Society

Organisations (CSOs)

 ·      Multi-stakeholder forums and events

·      GAR website

·      GAR Sustainability Dashboard

·      Social media

·      One-on-one communication

·      Monthly e-update

·      Annual Report

·      Sustainability Report

·      Webinar

·      Materiality assessment
Suppliers ·      Supplier Support Team and dedicated e-helpline

·      One-on-one communication

·      Workshops and training sessions

·      Site visits

·      Questionnaires and self-assessments

·      GAR website

·      GAR Sustainability Dashboard

·      Social media

·      Annual Report

·      Sustainability Report

·      Materiality assessment
Certification bodies:

RSPO, ISPO, ISCC

 ·      Working groups

·      One-on-one meetings

·      RSPO Roundtable meetings

·      RSPO ACOP

·      ISCC Report

·      Materiality assessment

How stakeholder engagement was made to identify material issues

To identify and prioritise material topics GAR engaged with its stakeholders through surveys – 170 surveys sent to internal stakeholders and 300 surveys sent to external stakeholders – and interviews.

What actions were taken by GAR to protect biodiversity?

In its 2018 Sustainability Report GAR reports that it took the following actions for protecting biodiversity:

  • Preserving and protecting HCV areas
  • Operating in Indonesia places GAR in or near areas of rich biodiversity. Through HCV (High Conservation Value) assessments conducted by licensed HCV assessors, GAR identified the rare and endangered species within its concessions and surrounding areas, including threatened species under Indonesia’s National Law of Protected Species (Indonesian Government Regulation No. 7 of 1999) or on the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) Red list. GAR continues to work to preserve and protect HCV areas, and implements a strict Zero Tolerance Policy towards hunting, injuring, possessing and killing of rare and endangered wildlife.
  • Educating stakeholders on biodiversity protection
  • GAR continuously educates its employees, local communities and related stakeholders on the importance of protecting rare and endangered species. GAR also continues to work on orangutan conservation as a special focus area, and renewed its partnership with Orangutan Foundation International (OFI) to rehabilitate and release wild-born, formerly captive primates. GAR aims to release another 60 orangutans by 2021 back into the wild, specifically back to the Seruyan Forest in Central Kalimantan. Most importantly, the new partnership agreement focuses on local community and school education programmes on orangutan conservation.
  • Preventing fires
  • GAR continues to maintain its vigilance on fire prevention and management and has over 10,000 fire fighters on standby across all its plantations. Outside its own concessions, GAR implements its community collaboration programme on long-term fire prevention – Desa Makmur Peduli Api (DMPA) – which, in 2018, was rolled out to 15 more villages. Aside from training and equipping local community members to suppress fires rapidly, GAR also works with schools to educate the younger generation and drive long-term change in the community. Noting that in 2018 there was an increase in fire incidents involving some of the original pilot villages, GAR strengthened mitigation plans and focused on:
    • Prevention: raise fire prevention awareness, community empowerment and improve water management system
    • Preparedness: have well-trained and well-equipped personnel and improve infrastructure
    • Early warning systems: hot spot maps; effective and efficient fire patrol systems; implementation of rating system for potential for fires
    • Quick response teams

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

The GRI Standards addressed in this case are:

1) Disclosure 304-1 Operational sites owned, leased, managed in, or adjacent to, protected areas and areas of high biodiversity value outside protected areas

2) Disclosure 304-2 Significant impacts of activities, products, and services on biodiversity

3) Disclosure 304-3 Habitats protected or restored

4) Disclosure 304-4 IUCN Red List species and national conservation list species with habitats in areas affected by operations

 

Disclosure 304-1 Operational sites owned, leased, managed in, or adjacent to, protected areas and areas of high biodiversity value outside protected areas corresponds to:

  • Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 6: Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all
  • Business theme: Water-related ecosystems and biodiversity
  • Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 14: Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development
  • Business theme: Marine biodiversity
  • 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: Mountain ecosystems, Natural habitat degradation, Terrestrial and inland freshwater ecosystems

Disclosure 304-2 Significant impacts of activities, products, and services on biodiversity corresponds to:

  • Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 6: Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all
  • Business theme: Water-related ecosystems and biodiversity
  • Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 14: Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development
  • Business theme: Marine biodiversity
  • 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: Mountain ecosystems, Natural habitat degradation, Terrestrial and inland freshwater ecosystems

Disclosure 304-3 Habitats protected or restored corresponds to:

  • Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 6: Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all
  • Business theme: Water-related ecosystems and biodiversity
  • Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 14: Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development
  • Business theme: Marine biodiversity
  • 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: Mountain ecosystems, Natural habitat degradation, Terrestrial and inland freshwater ecosystems

Disclosure 304-4 IUCN Red List species and national conservation list species with habitats in areas affected by operations corresponds to:

  • Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 6: Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all
  • Business theme: Water-related ecosystems and biodiversity
  • Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 14: Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development
  • Business theme: Marine biodiversity
  • 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: Mountain ecosystems, Natural habitat degradation, Terrestrial and inland freshwater ecosystems

 

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 GAR, 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 GAR: 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.

The post Case study: How GAR protects biodiversity appeared first on SustainCase - Sustainability Magazine.

]]> Case study: How Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group promotes biodiversity protection https://sustaincase.com/case-study-how-mandarin-oriental-hotel-group-promotes-biodiversity-protection/ Thu, 13 Jun 2019 08:03:25 +0000 https://ccprowebs.com/new-sustaincase.com/?p=9683 Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group is an international hotel investment and management group, with deluxe and first-class hotels, resorts and residences in sought-after destinations around the globe. Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group has set as its goal to promote biodiversity protection, and prevent any potential adverse impacts to protected areas, within its sphere of influence. This case study is based on the 2016 Sustainability Report by Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group published on the Global Reporting Initiative Sustainability Disclosure Database that can be found at this link. Through all case studies we aim to demonstrate what CSR/ ESG/ sustainability reporting done responsibly means. Essentially, […]

The post Case study: How Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group promotes biodiversity protection appeared first on SustainCase - Sustainability Magazine.

]]> Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group is an international hotel investment and management group, with deluxe and first-class hotels, resorts and residences in sought-after destinations around the globe. Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group has set as its goal to promote biodiversity protection, and prevent any potential adverse impacts to protected areas, within its sphere of influence.

This case study is based on the 2016 Sustainability Report by Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group published on the Global Reporting Initiative Sustainability Disclosure Database that can be found at this link. Through all case studies we aim to demonstrate what CSR/ ESG/ sustainability reporting done responsibly means. Essentially, it means: a) identifying a company’s most important impacts on the environment, economy and society, and b) measuring, managing and changing.

Abstract

Recognising that biodiversity enables the continuous flow of ecosystem services such as food production, clean water and climate regulation, which are critical to local economies and experienced throughout its hotels, Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group has engaged in a formal process to assess biodiversity risk and sponsor local initiatives to support biodiversity. In order to promote biodiversity protection Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group took action to:

  • assess biodiversity risks
  • incorporate biodiversity into planning and operations
  • care for river basins and coasts
  • promote education and awareness

What are the material issues the company has identified?

In its 2016 Sustainability Report Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group identified a range of material issues, such as guest health and safety, supply chain management, human rights and diversity, anti-corruption, local community impacts. Among these, promoting biodiversity protection stands out as a key material issue for Mandarin Oriental Hotel 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 Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group engages with:  

Stakeholder Group                Method of engagement (in 2016)
Guests

 

 ·      Guest Satisfaction Survey

·      Solicitation of Direct and Target Feedback to Inform Quality Programmes
Colleagues

 

 ·      Colleague Engagement Survey

·      Career Development Plans and Performance Reviews

·      Hotel Corporate Responsibility Committees

·      Safe, Sound and Sustainable Programme
Owners and developers

 

 ·      Close Partnerships and Regular Communications Throughout Design, Development, Construction and Management of Properties
Local communities ·      Participation in Local Stakeholder Groups Including:

– Hotel Associations

– Chambers of Commerce

– Business Development Councils

– Convention and Visitors’ Bureaus and Promotion      Organisations

– Travel and Tourism Associations

– Community Benefit Organisations

– Local Heritage Preservation Initiatives

– Training and Local Talent Retention Organisations

– Local Collectives for Recycling

– Employer Organisations and Professional Associations
Shareholders ·      Ongoing and Routine Discussions With the Controlling Shareholder Jardine Matheson Group on Financial Performance, Risk Management and other current issues

·      Financial and Sustainability Reporting

·      Shareholder Feedback Mechanisms
Vendors, suppliers and contractors ·      Supplier Meetings to Discuss Sustainable Sourcing Opportunities

·      Food and Beverage Conference

·      Partnerships with Local Farmers, Ranchers and Fisheries
Industry peers and trade associations ·      Participation in World Travel and Tourism Council’s Task Force on Industry Strategies for Climate Change

·      Participation in Industry Hotel Carbon and Water Measurement Initiatives

·      Monitoring and Evaluating Industry Corporate Responsibility Initiatives
NGOs and outside advisors ·      Interviews and Panel Discussion to Discuss Opportunities to Improve Corporate Responsibility Programmes and Reports

How stakeholder engagement was made to identify material issues

To identify and prioritise material topics Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group organised a stakeholder panel which incorporated perspectives from various organisations that included Conservation International, the International Tourism Partnership, National Geographic Traveler, the United States Green Building Council and the World Wildlife Fund.

What actions were taken by Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group to promote biodiversity protection?

In its 2016 Sustainability Report Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group reports that it took the following actions for promoting biodiversity protection:

  • Assessing biodiversity risks
  • To better understand potential negative natural and cultural impacts from a loss in biodiversity, Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group carried out a Group-wide biodiversity risk assessment for its current properties, in addition to those that are planned or in development. The assessment considered the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Protected Areas, Ramsar Wetlands of International Importance, UNESCO World Heritage Sites, Biosphere Reserves recognised within the framework of UNESCO’s Man and Biosphere Programme and Natura 2000 sites. The biodiversity risk assessment confirmed that no properties were located in internationally-determined protected areas. However, three properties were located near IUCN protected areas and Mandarin Oriental, Milan was located near Valle del Ticino, an ecologically important ecosystem where two key rivers meet, recognised as a biosphere reserve within UNESCO’s Man and Biosphere Programme. Based on the findings, these four properties will be subject to future evaluation, and Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group plans to engage with these properties’ Corporate Responsibility Committees to determine future actions and opportunities.
  • Incorporating biodiversity into planning and operations
  • During the planning stage for new projects, Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group’s Technical Services department identifies whether planned projects are located in sensitive areas and carries out detailed assessments, as required. Any potential risks and considerations are reviewed to inform execution during the construction stage and, once hotels are open and operational, Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group utilises its Safe, Sound and Sustainable Programme to audit environmental practices. The Group’s hotels have also been working on local opportunities to support the protection of biodiversity, with a focus on ecosystem protection and educational initiatives.
  • Caring for river basins and coasts
  • Mandarin Oriental, Tokyo partners with the local community to help keep the Nihonbashi River clean. This river runs behind the hotel, and many tourists enjoy boat trips on the river. Employees take pride in doing their part to keep the river clean and healthy, particularly when fish can be seen in small shoals, indicating the health of the river system. In addition, Mandarin Oriental, Boston has been participating, for several years, in the International Coastal Clean Up event at a nearby beach. Mandarin Oriental, Miami also participated in the International Coastal Clean Up Event in 2016, collecting approximately 70 pounds of waste.
  • Promoting education and awareness
  • Mandarin Oriental, Sanya engages guests on coral conservation through its Kid’s Resort Passport programme. In 2016, a coral painting activity was introduced at its MO Kids Camp, to educate children on the importance of coral reef protection. Additionally, employees at the hotel helped coordinate the release of turtles with Sea Turtle 911, a non-profit organisation focused on protecting turtles in the South China Sea.

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

The GRI Standard addressed in this case is: Disclosure 304-1 Operational sites owned, leased, managed in, or adjacent to, protected areas and areas of high biodiversity value outside protected areas

 

Disclosure 304-1 Operational sites owned, leased, managed in, or adjacent to, protected areas and areas of high biodiversity value outside protected areas corresponds to:

  • Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 6: Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all
  • Business theme: Water-related ecosystems and biodiversity
  • Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 14: Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development
  • Business theme: Marine biodiversity
  • 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: Mountain ecosystems, Natural habitat degradation, Terrestrial and inland freshwater ecosystems

 

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 Mandarin Oriental Hotel 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 Mandarin Oriental Hotel 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.

The post Case study: How Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group promotes biodiversity protection appeared first on SustainCase - Sustainability Magazine.

]]> Case study: How Fortum protects biodiversity https://sustaincase.com/case-study-how-fortum-protects-biodiversity/ Mon, 10 Jun 2019 07:46:23 +0000 https://ccprowebs.com/new-sustaincase.com/?p=9671 Fortum is a leading clean-energy company that develops and offers solutions for customers in electricity, heating, cooling, and solutions to improve resource efficiency. Seeking to constantly reduce the environmental impacts of its operations, Fortum actively takes part in research activities in the sector and implements voluntary and permit-based measures to develop the biodiversity, fish populations and the multi-use of water systems where it produces hydropower. This case study is based on the 2016 Sustainability Report by Fortum published on the Global Reporting Initiative Sustainability Disclosure Database that can be found at this link. Through all case studies we aim to demonstrate […]

The post Case study: How Fortum protects biodiversity appeared first on SustainCase - Sustainability Magazine.

]]> Fortum is a leading clean-energy company that develops and offers solutions for customers in electricity, heating, cooling, and solutions to improve resource efficiency. Seeking to constantly reduce the environmental impacts of its operations, Fortum actively takes part in research activities in the sector and implements voluntary and permit-based measures to develop the biodiversity, fish populations and the multi-use of water systems where it produces hydropower.

This case study is based on the 2016 Sustainability Report by Fortum published on the Global Reporting Initiative Sustainability Disclosure Database that can be found at this link. Through all case studies we aim to demonstrate what CSR/ ESG/ sustainability reporting done responsibly means. Essentially, it means: a) identifying a company’s most important impacts on the environment, economy and society, and b) measuring, managing and changing

As the degradation of biodiversity is one of the biggest environmental problems globally, Fortum tries to identify its impacts and dependencies on biodiversity and ecosystem services, and assess the related risks and opportunities.  Tweet This! In order to protect biodiversity Fortum took action to:

  • set biodiversity guidelines
  • restore habitats

What are the material issues the company has identified?

In its 2016 Sustainability Report Fortum identified a range of material issues, such as energy and resource efficiency, customer satisfaction, business ethics and compliance, personnel well-being, operational and occupational safety. Among these, protecting biodiversity stands out as a key material issue for Fortum.

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 Fortum engages with:

Stakeholder Group
Lenders and shareholders
Customers
Personnel
Service and goods suppliers
Authorities and decision makers
Media
Energy sector organisations
Non-governmental organisations
Local communities

How stakeholder engagement was made to identify material issues

To identify and prioritise material topics, Fortum conducted a sustainability survey among a total of 2,133 stakeholder representatives.

What actions were taken by Fortum to protect biodiversity?

In its 2016 Sustainability Report Fortum reports that it took the following actions for protecting biodiversity:

  • Setting biodiversity guidelines
  • Fortum’s biodiversity guidelines set the principles for taking biodiversity into consideration and for managing the biodiversity impacts of Fortum’s operations. Since 2014, Fortum has participated in the activities of the Finnish Business & Society’s (FiBS) Business and Biodiversity programme and is also a member of the Bettercoal initiative, using the Bettercoal Code and tools in assessing the sustainability of the coal supply chain. Biodiversity aspects related to coal mining, are covered in Bettercoal assessments. Seeking to minimise its negative impact on biodiversity, Fortum also assesses the impacts of its new projects, offsetting and reducing the impacts of hydropower production on biodiversity by stocking and over-dam transferring fish and through voluntary environmental projects in Sweden. In addition, Fortum annually collects data on the volume of certified wood-based biomass fuel used in its power plants in Finland, Sweden, Poland and the Baltics. Certified wood-based biomass fuel originates from sustainably managed forests, in which special attention is paid to biodiversity.
  • Restoring habitats
  • Most of Fortum’s habitat restorations and other projects improving biodiversity, are related to hydropower production. They include the following:
  • Restoring river stretches by tearing down dams: In Sweden, Fortum has mapped out the old dams that have low value for hydropower production but have environmental impacts 
on riverine ecosystems, to restore habitats and river continuum in places with benefits for biodiversity. In 2016, two such projects were initiated.
  • Enhancing natural reproduction of migratory fish populations: In Finland, a migratory fish project continued in 2016, in cooperation with local stakeholders, at River Oulujoki. Fortum also has hydropower production on the River Oulujoki and, to minimise environmental impacts, transported salmon spawners to the reproduction areas at tributaries, supported the salmon and sea trout population with releases of young fish, and followed up the migratory fish population. Additionally, Fortum started construction of a permanent structure for trapping fish by the Montta hydropower plant, in order to transport them to the reproduction areas upstream.
  • Restoring a wetland: In the River Dalälven area in Sweden, Fortum took part in financing the restoration of a rich wetland, Ambrick, which is partly on Fortum’s property. The area is 23 hectares, hosts different kinds of endangered species of plants, like orchids, and birds, like curlew, and was opened up by clearing small trees and bushes.

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

The GRI Standard addressed in this case is: Disclosure 304-3 Habitats protected or restored

Disclosure 304-3 Habitats protected or restored corresponds to:

  • Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 6: Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all
  • Business theme: Water-related ecosystems and biodiversity
  • Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 14: Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development
  • Business theme: Marine biodiversity
  • 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: Mountain ecosystems, Natural habitat degradation, Terrestrial and inland freshwater ecosystems

 

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 Fortum, 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 Fortum: 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.

The post Case study: How Fortum protects biodiversity appeared first on SustainCase - Sustainability Magazine.

]]> Case study: How C.P. Group protects biodiversity https://sustaincase.com/case-study-how-c-p-group-protects-biodiversity/ Wed, 27 Feb 2019 07:06:36 +0000 https://ccprowebs.com/new-sustaincase.com/?p=8856 As Thailand’s largest private company and one of world’s largest conglomerates, consisting of three core businesses that operate in agribusiness and food, retail and distribution, and the telecommunications industries, with investments in more than 30 countries, , constantly assessing the risks and impacts from its operations. This case study is based on the 2017 Sustainability Report by C.P. Group published on the Global Reporting Initiative Sustainability Disclosure Database that can be found at this link. Through all case studies we aim to demonstrate what CSR/ ESG/ sustainability reporting done responsibly means. Essentially, it means: a) identifying a company’s most important impacts […]

The post Case study: How C.P. Group protects biodiversity appeared first on SustainCase - Sustainability Magazine.

]]>

As Thailand’s largest private company and one of world’s largest conglomerates, consisting of three core businesses that operate in agribusiness and food, retail and distribution, and the telecommunications industries, with investments in more than 30 countries, C.P. Group (Charoen Pokphand Group) is committed to developing measures to maintain the balance of the ecosystem and biodiversity  Tweet This!, constantly assessing the risks and impacts from its operations.

This case study is based on the 2017 Sustainability Report by C.P. Group published on the Global Reporting Initiative Sustainability Disclosure Database that can be found at this link. Through all case studies we aim to demonstrate what CSR/ ESG/ sustainability reporting done responsibly means. Essentially, it means: a) identifying a company’s most important impacts on the environment, economy and society, and b) measuring, managing and changing.

Abstract

Layout 1

Abstract

To protect the ecosystem and biodiversity, C.P. Group not only manages its resources and raw materials, but also prevents the deterioration of, conserves, restores and develops sources of natural resources. In order to protect biodiversity C.P. Group took action to:

  • assess biodiversity risks
  • promote traceability of raw materials for animal feed
  • prevent impacts on ecosystem and biodiversity from products and services
  • conserve and restore the ecosystem and biodiversity
  • conserve marine resources

What are the material issues the company has identified?

In its 2017 Sustainability Report C.P. Group identified a range of material issues, such as leadership and human capital development, corporate governance, responsible supply chain management, health and well-being. Among these, protecting biodiversity stands out as a key material issue for C.P. 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 C.P. Group engages with:  

Stakeholder Group                Method of engagement
Employees and Families

 

 ·      Intranet and internal magazine

·      Employee surveys

·      Meeting with executives

·      Open dialogues

·      Presentation on innovation

·      Volunteer programmes

·      Channels for voicing
opinions
Customers and Consumers

 

 ·      Customer surveys

·      Customer visits

·      Website and newsletters for consumers

·      Meetings

·      Consumer complaint centre

·      Consumer centre
Shareholders and Investors

 

 ·      Quarterly meetings

·      Annual general meeting

·      Visits

·      Office of Company Secretary

·      Office of Investor Relations

·      Other communication channels such as website
Business Partners

 

 ·      Meetings

·      Visits and open dialogues

·      Joint initiatives to create innovation

·      Audits, and advisory and academic services

·      Capacity-building programmes
Communities and Societies ·      Public participation forums

·      Ongoing dialogues and visits

·      Complaint channels

·      Initiatives to promote quality of life
Governments ·      Joint initiatives, projects and activities

·      Participation in public policy-making

·      Meetings

·      On-site visits
Creditors ·      Letter to creditors

·      Meetings

·      Knowledge sharing
Non- governmental Organisations

 

 ·      Open dialogues through various channels and meetings to facilitate collaboration

·      Networking
Media ·      Public relations activities through multiple communication channels

·      Media tours

·      Participation in media events

·      Executive interviews
Competitors ·      Participation in industry organisations, such as the Federation of Thai Industries

·      Obtain information from the media and public forums

How stakeholder engagement was made to identify material issues

To identify material topics C.P. Group carried out interviews with external stakeholders and, to prioritise the topics, conducted an online Materiality Prioritisation Survey, to seek opinions and views from executives across all Business Groups and representatives from various stakeholder groups.

What actions were taken by C.P. Group to protect biodiversity?

In its 2017 Sustainability Report C.P. Group reports that it took the following actions for protecting biodiversity:

  • Assessing biodiversity risks
  • C.P. Group carries out a biodiversity risk assessment in both Thailand and overseas, using internationally recognised tools. To achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) related to ecosystem and biodiversity protection, in 2017 C.P. Group introduced readiness assessment and track progress activities for sustainable development in various countries, using the SDG Dashboard. Additionally, C.P. Group utilises WBCSD’s (World Business Council for Sustainable Development) Global Water Tool (GWT) to assess biodiversity risks in the different areas where it operates. The GWT is used to assess biodiversity risks of terrestrial and aquatic (both freshwater and saltwater) plants and animals.
  • Promoting traceability of raw materials for animal feed
  • Traceability of key raw materials for animal feed is an important mechanism for C.P. Group to manage significant environmental and social risks, particularly ecosystem and biodiversity protection. C.P. Group’s business partners have to continuously operate in accordance with the traceability system developed by the Group, to ensure raw materials for animal feed come from sources that have a legal title deed and are not from restricted areas or conservation areas. The Feed Ingredients Trading Business Group collaborates with supply chain stakeholders to enhance their understanding of issues related to raw materials for each animal feed, develop policies and criteria for sustainable sourcing of animal feed raw materials, supply raw materials from sources that do not harm the environment, conduct Life Cycle Assessments in order to understand the environmental impacts caused by each farm, implement the Maize Traceability Programme established in 2016, and continue implementing these measures.
  • Preventing impacts on ecosystem and biodiversity from products and services
  • C.P. Group tries to prevent impacts on ecosystem and biodiversity that potentially arise from its products and services, including chemical residues in the ecosystem that could affect biodiversity. Accordingly, C.P. Group has developed chemical product safety data sheets and promotes the correct and safe usage of products. This ensures customers’ safety and maintains ecosystem health and biodiversity.
  • Conserving and restoring the ecosystem and biodiversity
  • Responsibly operating its business by participating in and supporting the conservation of the environment and biodiversity is one of C.P. Group’s priorities. Examples of this include site selection of business partners’ facilities, raw material sourcing, and delivering products and services to customers. C.P. Group carries out activities and projects to drive, protect and restore terrestrial ecosystems, forests, and marine ecosystems, and also participated in the Pracharat Initiative, a public-private collaboration to protect the ecosystem. The organisations with which C.P. Group has cooperated include, among others, the Royal Forest Department, the Department of Fisheries, the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation, and the Marine Department.
  • Conserving marine resources
  • C.P. Group focuses on the protection and conservation of natural marine resources through various projects related to conservation, development, restoration and protection. These projects aim to reduce impacts from pollution, promote and develop the conservation and management of fishery and marine resources along with equal access to fishery resources, and reduce marine impacts due to climate change.

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

The GRI Standards addressed in this case are:

1) Disclosure 304-3 Habitats protected or restored

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

 

Disclosure 304-3 Habitats protected or restored corresponds to:

  • Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 6: Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all
  • Business theme: Water-related ecosystems and biodiversity
  • Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 14: Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development
  • Business theme: Marine biodiversity
  • 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: Mountain ecosystems, Natural habitat degradation, Terrestrial and inland freshwater ecosystems

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

 

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 C.P. 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 C.P. 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.

The post Case study: How C.P. Group protects biodiversity appeared first on SustainCase - Sustainability Magazine.

]]> Case study: How Evergreen Marine makes sure that its new container ships are environmentally friendly and energy efficient https://sustaincase.com/case-study-how-evergreen-marine-ensures-that-its-new-container-ships-are-environmentally-friendly-and-energy-efficient/ Sat, 25 Mar 2017 14:22:12 +0000 http://sustaincase.com/?p=1081 As one of the leading shipping lines in the world, with a service network that connects five continents through 315 business locations in 114 countries and a fleet of approximately 200 container ships with 1 million TEU of cargo space, Evergreen Marine incorporates environmental protection and energy-saving in the design and construction of its new ships, committed to ship management practices that reduce pollution at sea, to the air or on land. This case study is based on the 2014 Corporate Social Responsibility Report by Evergreen Marine published on the Global Reporting Initiative Sustainability Disclosure Database that can be found at […]

The post Case study: How Evergreen Marine makes sure that its new container ships are environmentally friendly and energy efficient appeared first on SustainCase - Sustainability Magazine.

]]> As one of the leading shipping lines in the world, with a service network that connects five continents through 315 business locations in 114 countries and a fleet of approximately 200 container ships with 1 million TEU of cargo space, Evergreen Marine incorporates environmental protection and energy-saving in the design and construction of its new ships, committed to ship management practices that reduce pollution at sea, to the air or on land.

This case study is based on the 2014 Corporate Social Responsibility Report by Evergreen Marine published on the Global Reporting Initiative Sustainability Disclosure Database that can be found at this link. Through all case studies we aim to demonstrate that CSR/ sustainability reporting done responsibly is achieved by identifying a company’s most important impacts on the environment and stakeholders and by measuring, managing and changing.

When it comes to the design and construction of its new ships Evergreen Marine not only considers future operating costs, but also environmental protection and energy-saving. These are incorporated into planning and design at the start of construction, so that new ships – such as the new L-type container ships built for Evergreen Marine in 2014 – will deliver exceptional energy-saving and environmental protection performance when they eventually enter service. After measuring and setting targets, Evergreen Marine took action to voluntarily apply for Green Passport certification of new ships, reduce oil spill risk, comply with NOx Tier III emission regulations, prevent air pollution through Alternative Maritime Power (AMP), prevent water pollution through ballast water treatment equipment and gray water holding tanks and, also, use a variety of energy-saving designs.

What are the material issues the company has identified?

In its 2014 Corporate Social Responsibility Report Evergreen Marine identified a range of material issues, such as ethics, morality and ethical management, domestic and foreign compliance, competition compliance and response, ship and equipment maintenance/upgrades, improving competitiveness. Among these, making sure that its new container ships are environmentally friendly and energy efficient stands out as a key material issue for Evergreen Marine, in view of its commitment to ship management practices that reduce pollution at sea, to the air or on land.

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 Evergreen Marine engages with:

Stakeholder Group                Method of engagement
Employees ·         Internal company bulletins

·         Regular and ad hoc meetings

·         Education and training

·         E-mail, telephone, in writing
Government Agencies

 

 

 ·         E-mail, telephone

·         Missive, meeting, visit

·         Education and training, symposiums
Non-Government Organizations ·         E-mail, telephone

·         Missive, meeting, symposium, visit
Suppliers

 

 

 ·         E-mail, telephone, work meeting

·         Labor safety organization meeting

·         Supplier evaluation
Customers ·         E-mail, telephone

·         Missive, meeting, visit

·         Information on corporate website
Shareholders ·         Visit, investor service area on the corporate website
Communities ·         Telephone, visit

How stakeholder engagement was made to identify material issues

To communicate with stakeholders in a timely manner, learn what important issues are of concern to stakeholders so they can be incorporated into the corporate sustainable development strategy and establish a mechanism for unobstructed communication and feedback, Evergreen Marine has adopted a rigorous approach based on the methodologies defined in GRI 4.0 and AA1000 as standard. This ensures that stakeholders communications conform to the three principles of Inclusivity, Materiality and Responsiveness. Under these principles, the communication process involves the identification of stakeholders, the channels of communication, the issues of concern and materiality analysis of such issues. The process and conclusion provides Evergreen Marine with important information in sustainable development as well.

Stakeholders are internal and external groups or individuals that have an influence on Evergreen Marine or are influenced by it. To fulfill Evergreen Marine’s stakeholders commitment and respect their rights, the competent departments within Evergreen Marine have used the appropriate channels to set up a platform for stakeholders communication. Positive relations are maintained by responding in a suitable manner to the issues of concern to stakeholders. Evergreen Marine engages with stakeholders through the authoring of the CSR report and the operation of the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Committee.

The identification of stakeholders, their issues of concern, the verification of issues and their materiality analysis all follow a pre-defined procedure as shown below:

  • Identify each unit’s stakeholders and communication channels
  • Investigate and compile the issues of concern
  • CSR team compiles stakeholder types and issues of concern
  • Report and verify stakeholders and issues of concern
  • Sort issues of concern by importance
  • Include material issues in CSR indicator analysis and data collection

The CSR Committee directs each unit to identify their respective stakeholders through systemic analysis. The stakeholders of each unit are then sorted in different categories. The results of internal identification and discussions were reviewed by the CSR Committee. Employees, the government, non-government organizations, suppliers, customers, shareholders/investors and communities were ultimately identified as stakeholders important to Evergreen Marine.

Positive stakeholders communication and interaction plays an important role in Evergreen Marine’s operations. By using a variety of different communication channels, Evergreen Marine hopes to collect and effectively respond to the precious opinions of its stakeholders. The form of communication varies due to the diversity of stakeholders. There are both routine and extraordinary channels. The issues of concern also vary as well.

Once the list of stakeholders was confirmed, internal departmental meetings were convened to compile the issues of concern collected through routine communication channels as well as screen and compile important information from 2014.

What actions were taken by Evergreen Marine to make sure that its new container ships are environmentally friendly and energy efficient?

In its 2014 Corporate Social Responsibility Report Evergreen Marine set the following targets for making sure that its new container ships are environmentally friendly and energy efficient, based on the company’s approach to materiality – on taking action on what matters, where it matters:

  • Voluntarily applying for Green Passport certification

Though not statutorily required, Evergreen Marine took its social responsibility on marine environmental protection into account and voluntarily applied for Green Passport certification of new ships in order to comply with future international conventions on ship recycling.

  • Reducing oil spill risk

The L-type container ship is designed with a double-skinned hull and internal fuel oil tanks to reduce the risk of fuel oil tanks being ruptured during collisions and causing an oil spill. The airspace stern tube sealing system prevents lubricant leaking from the stern tube to pollute the seawater.

  • Complying with NOx Tier III emission regulations

In the L-type container ship space has been reserved in the engineering section so that equipment can be installed in the future to comply with the strict NOx Tier III emission regulations. When nitrous oxides (NOx) produced by the combustion process are released into the atmosphere they not only cause photochemical smog in urban areas but also have a serious impact on human respiratory function. NOx is also readily water-soluble so it leads to acid rain. Acid rain seeping into the soil results in soil acidification, disrupting agricultural production. International NOx emissions regulations are becoming increasingly stringent. NOx Tier III requires the NOx emissions to be kept below 3.4g/kW. From January 1, 2016, ships sailing in Emission Control Areas (ECA) would be required to keep their NOx emissions within Tier III standards. Current NOx ECAs include North America and the US Caribbean. The L-type container ship was therefore designed from the start to provide sufficient space in the engineering section for the future installation of equipment required for compliance with NOx Tier III emission regulations.

  • Preventing air pollution through Alternative Maritime Power (AMP)

The U.S. state of California has instituted the so-called Cold Iron Policy in recent years. Once a ship docks in a Californian port, all of the ship’s internal combustion engines including the shipboard generator must be shut down. This is to prevent waste heat and smog produced by combustion from impacting the air quality and visibility in and around the port. Once a ship has docked, the shipboard generator must be shut down. Shipboard power is then provided from the shore. The L-type container ship is equipped with Alternative Maritime Power (AMP). If ports outside of California also install shore power facilities in the future, the L-type can then connect to shore power when it docks at these ports so that smoke from the ship’s engines and generators doesn’t impact on local air quality.

  • Preventing water pollution through ballast water treatment equipment and gray water holding tanks

Ballast Water Treatment Plant: When a ship is empty or not carrying a heavy enough load, a certain amount of seawater is taken onboard to maintain stability. This is known as “ballast water”. When a ship enters port, excess ballast water is discharged to facilitate loading. The IMO (International Maritime Organization) estimated that around 3 ~ 5 billion tons of seawater are carried from port to port every year. The discharge of this ballast water into the port may harm native species or introduce harmful pathogens that impact on the ecological environment of another region. While no international convention currently requires the installation of ballast water treatment equipment, such equipment is now voluntarily installed on all new L-type ships to conform to conventions.

Gray water holding tank (sewage holding tank): Environment awareness has gained increasing importance in recent years. Nations are now strengthening the protection of their ports as well. Brazil in South America was among the first to impose restrictions on the discharge of gray water in port by commercial shipping. The U.S. East Coast is now beginning to impose such restrictions as well. While there is no international convention on the installation of gray water holding tanks as yet, this was included in the design of the Evergreen L-type.

  • Using a variety of energy-saving designs

[tweetthis]The L-type container ship uses a variety of energy-saving designs[/tweetthis] certified by classification societies as being already compliant with the IMO EEDI 2020 ship efficiency standard:

Optimized hull design: The hulls of Evergreen container ships have adopted the optimized hull design treatment that keeps drag to a minimum, increasing hull efficiency and reducing fuel consumption.

Use of HT47 (Higher Tensile Steel): The L-type makes use of new high tensile-strength steel to achieve the same level of structural strength for less weight of steel. The reduction in hull weight reduces oil consumption, improving energy efficiency and reducing carbon emissions. It is around 2,000 tons lighter than equivalent 8,000 TEU container ships.

Rudder Bulb design: The rudder bulb design reduces drag from following wake to achieve an energy saving of around 2%.

Energy-saving bulbous bow: The energy-saving bulbous bow design is designed to help counter the degradation in fuel efficiency when the ship deviates from its design speed and draught. This design improves energy efficiency by around 12 ~ 21% at operating speeds and draughts.

Electronically controlled engine: The electronically controlled engine can be run at a lower speed and consume less fuel than conventional engines, improving energy efficiency and reducing emissions.

Variable frequency control seawater pump: The seawater pump on the L-type features variable frequency control to reduce ship power consumption, improving energy efficiency and reducing emissions.

Which GRI indicators/Standards have been addressed?

The GRI indicators/Standards addressed in this case are:

1) G4-EN11: Operational sites owned, leased, managed in, or adjacent to, protected areas and areas of high biodiversity value outside protected areas – the updated GRI Standard is: Disclosure 304-1 Operational sites owned, leased, managed in, or adjacent to, protected areas and areas of high biodiversity value outside protected areas

2) G4-EN12: Description of significant impacts of activities, products, and services on biodiversity in protected areas and areas of high biodiversity value outside protected areas – the updated GRI Standard is: Disclosure 304-2 Significant impacts of activities, products, and services on biodiversity

3) G4-EN26: Identity, size, protected status, and biodiversity value of water bodies and related habitats significantly affected by the organization’s discharges of water and runoff – the updated GRI Standard is: Disclosure 306-5 Water bodies affected by water discharges and/or runoff

4) G4-EN27: Extent of impact mitigation of environmental impacts of products and services

 

References:

1) This case study is based on published information by Evergreen Marine, 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/

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