What are the material issues the company has identified?

In its 2017 Sustainability Report BP identified a range of material issues, such as people and ethics, climate change and the energy transition, safety, society (e.g. community engagement), governance and risk. Among these, protecting human rights across its operations stands out as a key material issue for BP.

Stakeholder engagement in accordance with the GRI Standards

The Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) defines the Principle of Stakeholder Inclusiveness when identifying material issues (or a company’s most important impacts) as follows:

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

Stakeholders must be consulted in the process of identifying a company’s most important impacts and their reasonable expectations and interests must be taken into account. This is an important cornerstone for CSR / sustainability reporting done responsibly.

Key stakeholder groups BP engages with:

Stakeholder Group

Communities

Employees

Governments

Industry associations

Non-governmental organisations

Shareholders and analysts

How stakeholder engagement was made to identify material issues

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

What actions were taken by BP to protect human rights across its operations?

In its 2017 Sustainability Report BP reports that it took the following actions for protecting human rights across its operations:

• Protecting labour rights
• BP’s code of conduct requires employees to report any human rights abuses in its operations or those of its business partners. BP expects contractors and their employees to act in accordance with its code of conduct, human rights policy and its expectations of suppliers. BP’s standard procurement contracts include requirements for suppliers to respect internationally recognised human rights, including a specific ban on the use of forced, trafficked or child labour. In 2017, in a number of locations, including Brazil, Indonesia, Iraq and the UK, BP held supplier events to communicate its expectations on labour rights and discussed the action it is taking, the need to raise concerns and the importance of its suppliers communicating this to their own employees, suppliers and business partners. In addition, drawing on its work with industry peers, BP developed a human rights due diligence process that can be used to screen suppliers in a consistent manner anywhere in the world, and is using it with suppliers on a risk-prioritised basis, to understand how they manage these risks in their business and supply chain. BP also carries out labour rights audits or assessments when appropriate, focusing on working hours, recruitment processes, freedom of movement, employment contracts, and channels for workers to raise complaints without retaliation.

• Conducting modern slavery risk reviews
• As some parts of its supply chain may pose a higher risk of labour rights and modern slavery issues than others, BP takes a risk-based approach to monitoring its contractors and suppliers by considering countries that pose a high degree of risk, activities that rely on manual labour, and factors related to the vulnerability of the workforce, such as poverty levels. Using this approach, in 2017 BP prioritised 17 businesses for modern slavery risk reviews and mapped its supply chain in these cases to identify high risk contractors. In some instances, this initial screening led to further assessment through questionnaires or on-site labour rights assessments, including worker interviews. These assessments focus on key warning signs such as passport retention, recruitment or other fees, wage deductions, employment contracts, working hours, shift patterns and living conditions.

• Preventing negative impacts on communities
• BP works hard to prevent and reduce any negative impacts on the livelihoods, land, environment, culture, health and wellbeing of people in communities near its activities, including indigenous peoples. Accordingly, BP screens its major projects to identify and manage any potential impacts, including human rights. If BP does cause or contribute to adverse impacts on the human rights of communities near its operations, it is firmly committed to providing for, or co-operating in, making it right.

• Training security forces on human rights
• BP works with security forces who protect its facilities around the world to reinforce the importance of respecting human rights. BP supports the Voluntary Principles on Security and Human Rights, and these principles guide how BP works with the security forces that protect its facilities. The principles emphasise the need to understand and respect the human rights of BP’s workforce, and people living in communities near its operations. BP provides training on the principles for its employees accountable for managing security, and carries out assessments to identify areas for improvement.

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

The GRI Standards addressed in this case are:

1) Disclosure 407-1 Operations and suppliers in which the right to freedom of association and collective bargaining may be at risk

2) Disclosure 408-1 Operations and suppliers at significant risk for incidents of child labor

3) Disclosure 409-1 Operations and suppliers at significant risk for incidents of forced or compulsory labor

4) Disclosure 410-1 Security personnel trained in human rights policies or procedures

5) Disclosure 411-1 Incidents of violations involving rights of indigenous peoples

6) Disclosure 412-3 Significant investment agreements and contracts that include human rights clauses or that underwent human rights screening

7) Disclosure 414-2 Negative social impacts in the supply chain and actions taken

 

Disclosure 407-1 Operations and suppliers in which the right to freedom of association and collective bargaining may be at risk corresponds to:

• Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 8: Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all
• Business theme: Freedom of association and collective bargaining

Disclosure 408-1 Operations and suppliers at significant risk for incidents of child labor corresponds to:

• Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 8: Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all
• Business theme: Abolition of child labor
• Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 16: Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels
• Business theme: Abolition of child labor

Disclosure 409-1 Operations and suppliers at significant risk for incidents of forced or compulsory labor corresponds to:

• Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 8: Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all
• Business theme: Elimination of forced or compulsory labor

Disclosure 410-1 Security personnel trained in human rights policies or procedures corresponds to:

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

Disclosure 411-1 Incidents of violations involving rights of indigenous peoples corresponds to:

• Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 2: End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture
• Business theme: Indigenous rights

Disclosure 412-3 Significant investment agreements and contracts that include human rights clauses or that underwent human rights screening does not correspond to any SDG.

Disclosure 414-2 Negative social impacts in the supply chain and actions taken corresponds to:

• Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 5: Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls
• Business theme: Workplace violence and harassment
• Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 8: Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all
• Business theme: Labor practices in the supply chain
• Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 16: Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels
• Business theme: Workplace violence and harassment

 

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

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

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

7 GRI sustainability disclosures get you started

Any size business can start taking sustainability action

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

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

See upcoming training dates.

 

References:

1) This case study is based on published information by BP, located at the link below. For the sake of readability, we did not use brackets or ellipses. However, we made sure that the extra or missing words did not change the report’s meaning. If you would like to quote these written sources from the original, please revert to the original on the Global Reporting Initiative’s Sustainability Disclosure Database at the link:

http://database.globalreporting.org/

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

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

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

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

What are the material issues the company has identified?

In its 2017 Sustainability Report Stantec identified a range of material issues, such as economic performance, energy use, environmental compliance, occupational health and safety, non-discrimination, anti-corruption, customer privacy. Among these, supporting Indigenous communities stands out as a key material issue for Stantec.

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 Stantec engages with: 

Stakeholder Group	Method of engagement
Employees	·      Employee engagement surveys ·      Focus groups ·      One-on-one meetings ·      Integrity Hotline (third party) ·      Post-acquisition surveys ·      Diversity and Inclusion councils ·      Career Development Performance Reviews ·      Employee Resource Groups
Clients	·      Regular meetings with account managers ·      Ad-hoc meetings and calls with account and project managers and senior leaders ·      Brown-bag get-togethers to share lessons learned and best practices ·      Client surveys, questionnaires, and requests for proposals ·      Debriefs and bidder conferences for proposed projects ·      Informal discussions at industry and professional association events ·      Joint participation on technical committees
Investors	·      Annual General Meetings ·      Earnings conference calls ·      Investor conference presentations ·      Ad-hoc meetings and calls with Investor Relations and Finance teams ·      Investor disclosure requests ·      Industry research and publications ·      Informal discussions at industry and professional association events
Communities	·      Stantec in the Community Week (across the Company) ·      Locally driven engagement initiatives (varies by region and locale)
Subcontractors and business partners	·      Subcontractor prequalifications ·      Joint project work ·      Ad-hoc meetings with project managers and senior leaders
Vendors	·      Contract negotiations ·      Quarterly business reviews ·      Ad-hoc meetings with Procurement team
Regulators	·      Interactions during project work ·      Informal discussions at industry and professional association events ·      Joint participation on technical committees
Industry	·      Informal discussions at industry and professional association events ·      Joint participation on technical committees

How stakeholder engagement was made to identify material issues

To identify and prioritise material topics Stantec engaged, through various tools and processes, with key stakeholders, asking them to identify the sustainability topics that they considered most important.

What actions were taken by Stantec to support Indigenous communities?

In its 2017 Sustainability Report Stantec reports that it took the following actions for supporting Indigenous communities:

• Building Aboriginal Partnerships
• For 18 years, Stantec has been the minority partner in and legal operator of various Aboriginal Partnerships. Accordingly, in 2017, seven Aboriginal Partnerships generated $16.8 million in gross revenue for Stantec and partners. Stantec’s Aboriginal Partnerships create shared value for partners, clients, and Stantec that extends beyond revenue. Stantec connects clients to local resources and offers to local Indigenous community members employment, training, hands-on skills development and direct investment, supporting economic growth. Through Stantec’s projects, Indigenous sub- contractors and employees were able to take on increased responsibility as crew leads, attend post-secondary education, and, in one case, start an Indigenous-owned environmental monitoring business. Additionally, Stantec participated in community engagement initiatives – valued at $35,000 – relating directly to the communities of its Aboriginal Partnerships and supported programmes such as Students on Ice, Polar Bike, Food First, Aboriginal Sport Circle-Youth Traditional Games, and the Aboriginal HIPPY reading programme.

• Implementing an Indigenous Relations Programme
• Stantec’s Indigenous Relations Programme promotes positive, productive relationships with Indigenous communities and businesses, supports diversity and inclusion, raises awareness and mutual respect, and guides planning, procurement, project pursuits and project execution. Stantec is also a member of the Canadian Council of Aboriginal Business (CCAB), which promotes Indigenous relationships and an economy based on shared prosperity and, in 2017, Stantec’s vice president of Indigenous Relations joined CCAB’s board of directors. Stantec is firmly committed to receiving certification in CCAB’s Progressive Aboriginal Relations (PAR) programme, which supports Indigenous employment, community relations, leadership, and business development. PAR certification signals to communities that a company is a good business partner, supports a workplace that is inclusive of Indigenous Peoples, and is committed to contributing to the growing prosperity of Indigenous communities. In 2017, Stantec supported Indigenous educational programmes in Canada as follows:
  • Sponsored the University of Alberta’s Indigenous Partnership Development Programme and the Indspire Youth Career Fair (an ongoing annual sponsorship)
  • Sponsored the Aboriginal Day Live initiative for the Aboriginal Peoples Television Network
  • Observed National Indigenous Peoples Day
  • Participated in Orange Shirt Day to honour people who survived abuse in Canadian residential schools
  • Volunteered for Reconciliation Week
  • Sponsored 20 Indigenous students in Stantec’s Edmonton office during Take Our Kids to Work Day, providing a full day of presentations and workshops

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

The GRI Standard addressed in this case is: Disclosure 411-1 Incidents of violations involving rights of indigenous peoples

Disclosure 411-1 Incidents of violations involving rights of indigenous peoples corresponds to:

• Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 2: End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture
• Business theme: Indigenous rights

 

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

What are the material issues the company has identified?

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

Stakeholder engagement in accordance with the GRI Standards

The Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) defines the Principle of Stakeholder Inclusiveness when identifying material issues (or a company’s most important impacts) as follows:

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

Stakeholders must be consulted in the process of identifying a company’s most important impacts and their reasonable expectations and interests must be taken into account. This is an important cornerstone for CSR / sustainability reporting done responsibly.

Key stakeholder groups Tiffany & Co. engages with:

Stakeholder Group

Employees

Stockholders

Nongovernmental organizations (NGOs)

Industry members

Supply chain partners

Local communities

Industry associations

How stakeholder engagement was made to identify material issues

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

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

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

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

• Developing a globally recognized standard for responsible mining

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

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

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

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

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

• Identifying best practices across the entire jewelry supply chain

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

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

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

Which GRI indicators/Standards have been addressed?

The GRI indicators/Standards addressed in this case are:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

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

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

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

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

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

 

References:

1) This case study is based on published information by Tiffany & Co., located at the link below. For the sake of readability, we did not use brackets or ellipses. However, we made sure that the extra or missing words did not change the report’s meaning. If you would like to quote these written sources from the original, please revert to the original on the Global Reporting Initiative’s Sustainability Disclosure Database at the link:

http://database.globalreporting.org/

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

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

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

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