What are the material issues the company has identified?

In its 2017 Corporate Sustainability Report Getac identified a range of material issues, such as corporate governance and transparency of information disclosure, economic performance, operational risk management, social/economic compliance, information security and customer privacy. Among these, promoting product safety stands out as a key material issue for Getac.

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 Getac engages with:

Stakeholder Group	Method of engagement
Employees	·      Performance appraisal ·      Internal announcement ·      Employee meeting ·      Labour management meeting/supervisor meeting/training ·      Employee consultation hotline
Customers/resellers	·      Customer service section on corporate website ·      Non-disclosure agreement ·      Telephone customer service hotline ·      Channel partner conference ·      Consumer service mailbox
Suppliers	·      Supplier visit ·      Supplier procurement contract ·      Supplier audit ·      Supplier query mailbox
Shareholder/investor	·      Shareholders’ meeting/ investor conference ·      Corporate website ·      Market observation post system ·      Investor query mailbox/ hotline
Government	·      Official documents ·      Regulatory meetings and training ·      Seminars

How stakeholder engagement was made to identify material issues

To identify and prioritise material topics Getac engaged with its stakeholders through a questionnaire survey, retrieving 184 questionnaires.

What actions were taken by Getac to promote product safety?

In its 2017 Corporate Sustainability Report Getac reports that it took the following actions for promoting product safety:

• Limiting the use of hazardous substances
• Since establishing a dedicated Green Product Team in early 2005, Getac has been promoting green designs and limited the use of toxic hazardous substances, as well as monitored the latest directions of green initiatives. In recent years, Getac has incorporated sustainability issues into its supply chain management indicators, requesting full compliance of its suppliers. Getac makes sure that the supply chain and manufacturing processes are in line with ethical and environmental standards at all times, in order to protect users’ safety and health. All of the products comply 100% with international environmental directives, including RoHS (Restriction of Hazardous Substances), REACH (Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals), and SVHC (Substance of Very High Concern). Getac has also installed an online green product management system and classified restricted substances into three categories:
  • Class A. There are currently 202 Class A substances, which are substances prohibited or restricted for use in existing products, materials of critical parts, or production processes.
  • Class B. Class B substances are prohibited or restricted for use in packaging materials.
  • Class C. Class C substances are prohibited or restricted for use in batteries or battery packs and must comply with the restrictions of the EU 2006/66/EC directives.
• For new raw materials, a product inspection report must be provided within two years in order to make sure that the product does not contain any hazardous substances. A new report must be provided every two years, otherwise the system will suspend the use of the material and critical parts involved. Getac Kunshan, which specialises in the assembly of electronic products, MPT Kunshan and MPT Suzhou, which specialise in the production of plastic injection mechanical parts have incorporated the IECQ QC 080000 Hazardous Substance Process Management (HSPM) system for electrical and electronic components and products, and comply with international directives for environmental protection, including the REACH, SVHC, and RoHS, to prevent the use of materials, parts, or products containing hazardous substances which would otherwise impact the ecosystem. The quality assurance division inspects incoming materials from eligible suppliers and, in 2017, all incoming materials passed the inspection, and no hazardous substances were found. Additionally, 100% of the automotive parts produced and metal materials purchased in 2017 complied with the specifications of automobile customers, and were also in line with national environmental protection regulations and the EU Restriction of Hazardous Substances Directive (RoHS).

• Complying with international environmental and safety standards
• In 2017, all of Getac‘s products complied with international environmental regulations. As required by product environmental regulations adopted in the country of origin of the product, electronic products were certified by international safety standards, in compliance with regulations on product safety, radio frequency, electromagnetic compatibility (EMC), and other safety issues adopted in the country of origin (e.g., UL and FCC in the U.S., CE and RED in the EU, and BSMI in Taiwan). Getac‘s products and packages are also labelled with information on safety regulations, energy conservation, and environmental communication certification and, in 2017, there were no violations of product labelling regulations.

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

The GRI Standards addressed in this case are:

1) Disclosure 416-1 Assessment of the health and safety impacts of product and service categories

2) Disclosure 416-2 Incidents of non-compliance concerning the health and safety impacts of products and services

3) Disclosure 417-1 Requirements for product and service information and labeling

4) Disclosure 417-2 Incidents of non-compliance concerning product and service information and labeling

 

Disclosure 416-1 Assessment of the health and safety impacts of product and service categories does not correspond to any SDG.

Disclosure 416-2 Incidents of non-compliance concerning the health and safety impacts of products and services corresponds to:

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

Disclosure 417-1 Requirements for product and service information and labeling corresponds to:

• Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 12: Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns
• Business theme: Product and service information and labeling

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

Disclosure 417-2 Incidents of non-compliance concerning product and service information and labeling corresponds to:

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

 

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

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

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

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 Getac, 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 Getac: 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 Kerry Properties identified a range of material issues, such as quality management and after-sales service, customer health and safety, employee diversity and equal opportunities, discharge, handling and disposal of effluent and waste. Among these, promoting fair operating practices stands out as a key material issue for Kerry Properties.

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 Kerry Properties engages with:

Stakeholder Group

Employees

Residents

Tenants

Contractors and suppliers

Community

How stakeholder engagement was made to identify material issues

To identify and prioritise material topics Kerry Properties engaged with over 850 internal and external stakeholders (employees, contractors, suppliers and tenants) through an in-depth interview, workshops, focus group discussions and surveys.

What actions were taken by Kerry Properties to promote fair operating practices?

In its 2017 Sustainability Report Kerry Properties reports that it took the following actions for promoting fair operating practices:

• Protecting customer data
• Kerry Properties makes every effort to protect customers’ personal data, including their personal information, communications, bank account/ credit card information and use of the Internet and digital applications as customers access Kerry Properties’ information, products and services. Guidelines on handling paper documents and digital documents are available to all staff. In addition, Kerry Properties implements a Personal Data (Privacy) Policy, stating the types of information it collects, the purpose for which it collects personal data, and to whom it may disclose such data. Customers can get in touch with Kerry Properties’ data protection officers by email or in writing, to request access to and/or correction of their personal data or to inquire on Kerry Properties’ privacy policy and practice.

• Implementing an Anti-corruption Policy
• To ensure compliance with relevant laws and regulations such as the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance of Hong Kong, Kerry Properties implements an Anti-corruption Policy. The policy states that all employees must not engage in any form of corruption activity, including bribery, extortion, fraud and money laundering. Additionally, Kerry Properties’ Whistleblowing Policy enables employees and any person dealing with the Group to raise concerns on possible improprieties within the Group, in confidence. The Chairman of the Audit and Corporate Governance Committee is responsible for overseeing this policy, carrying out independent investigations and taking appropriate follow-up actions. All records are handled with confidentiality and whistleblowers’ identity is not revealed without their consent. In 2017, in addition to the anti-corruption training provided for all new employees, Kerry Properties invited expert speakers from the Hong Kong Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) to arrange a series of seminars for nearly 200 employees from the property services, sales and marketing, as well as the finance teams in Hong Kong. To manage corruption risks in its supply chain, Kerry Properties’ Vendor Code of Conduct states that no vendors and subcontractors shall accept any forms of corruption or bribery, including any payment or other forms of benefit conferred on any government official.

• Promoting fair competition
• Kerry Properties is committed to promoting fair competition and carrying out procurement and tenders for products and services in a fair and transparent manner. Guidelines and standard work procedures provide definitions about restrictive agreements with competitors, price fixing, market sharing, output limitation, bid rigging and information exchange. All directors and employees have to adhere to these guidelines.

• Fostering responsible marketing communications
• Kerry Properties seeks to ensure that its marketing communications are truthful, geared to the interests of customers, and measured up to rigorous ethical standards. Accordingly, Kerry Properties has developed a set of internal procedures to make sure its sales brochures and marketing materials are fully compliant with the Hong Kong Residential Properties (First-hand Sales) Ordinance.

• Training security personnel on human rights
• Kerry Properties is committed to respecting and promoting human rights across its business activities. Accordingly, for its property management business, all security personnel, including security guards hired directly or from security service companies, have received training and attained relevant certifications before reporting for duty.

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

The GRI Standards addressed in this case are:

1) Disclosure 205-3 Confirmed incidents of corruption and actions taken

2) Disclosure 206-1 Legal actions for anti-competitive behavior, anti-trust, and monopoly practices

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

4) Disclosure 417-3 Incidents of non-compliance concerning marketing communications

5) Disclosure 418-1 Substantiated complaints concerning breaches of customer privacy and losses of customer data

 

Disclosure 205-3 Confirmed incidents of corruption and actions taken 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: Anti-corruption

Disclosure 206-1 Legal actions for anti-competitive behavior, anti-trust, and monopoly practices corresponds to:

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

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 417-3 Incidents of non-compliance concerning marketing communications does not correspond to any SDG.

Disclosure 418-1 Substantiated complaints concerning breaches of customer privacy and losses of customer data corresponds to:

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

 

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 Kerry Properties, 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 Kerry Properties: 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 Corporate Responsibility Report Woolworths identified a range of material issues, such as employee conditions, wellbeing and communications, energy and emissions, end-to-end reduction of waste, labour rights in the supply chain. Among these, making healthy choices easier for its customers stands out as a key material issue for Woolworths.

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 Woolworths engages with:

Stakeholder Group

Consumers

Customers

Employees

Government

Investors

Peers

Suppliers

How stakeholder engagement was made to identify material issues

To identify and prioritise material topics, Woolworths carried out an assessment of its material sustainability issues using, among others, customer insights and employee surveys.

What actions were taken by Woolworths to make healthy choices easier for its customers?

In its 2017 Corporate Responsibility Report Woolworths reports that it took the following actions for making healthy choices easier for its customers:

• Improving the nutritional profile of brand foods
• In 2009, Woolworths adopted the Food and Health Dialogue targets, a joint government and food industry initiative focusing on reducing the sodium content of foods from nine commonly consumed categories. In 2017, Woolworths met all targets when it completed a 20% salt reduction across seven hams and 30% salt reduction in Woolworths cheese slices.

• Committing to health and nutrition targets
• When the New Zealand government launched the Obesity Action Plan in 2016, Woolworths’s New Zealand team pledged to commit to health and nutrition targets. This included nutrition renovations, at least one confectionery free checkout in 95% of stores, nutrition information on the website and health stars on front of pack.

• Using the health star rating
• Over 80% of Woolworths’s own brand range – that’s more than 2,000 products – has the voluntary health star rating on front of pack. Customer research found shoppers like the simplicity of the health star ratings, to make ‘at 
a glance’ choices. These ratings appeal to time poor shoppers, to those less confident in their food health knowledge and to families, making it easy to point out healthier choices to children.

• Collaborating with nutrition experts
• Woolworths has a team of accredited nutritionists to guide healthier product development, food labelling and communications. Transparent labelling, the removal of additives and an improved nutritional profile of Woolworths’s products help its customers make better-informed choices when shopping.

• Joining the Healthy Food Partnership
• Woolworths is an invited member of the Healthy Food Partnership. This is a joint initiative between government, industry, retailers and public health advocates, to improve the dietary habits of all Australians by making healthy food choices easier.

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

The GRI Standards addressed in this case are:

1) Disclosure 416-1 Assessment of the health and safety impacts of product and service categories

2) Disclosure 417-1 Requirements for product and service information and labeling

 

Disclosure 416-1 Assessment of the health and safety impacts of product and service categories does not correspond to any SDG.

Disclosure 417-1 Requirements for product and service information and labeling corresponds to:

• Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 12: Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns
• Business theme: Product and service information and labeling

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

 

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

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

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

7 GRI sustainability disclosures get you started

Any size business can start taking sustainability action

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

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

See upcoming training dates.

 

References:

1) This case study is based on published information by Woolworths, 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 Woolworths: With each case study we send out an email requesting a comment on this case study. If you have not received such an email please contact us.

What are the material issues the company has identified?

In its 2016 Sustainability Report PepsiCo identified a range of material issues, such as human rights, workplace safety, talent attraction, engagement and growth, corporate governance, risk management and compliance, packaging and waste. Among these, marketing its products to children responsibly stands out as a key material issue for PepsiCo.

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 PepsiCo engages with:

Stakeholder Group

Consumers

Retail and Food Service Customers

Communities

Employees

Suppliers

Investors

Partnerships

NGOs

How stakeholder engagement was made to identify material issues

To identify and prioritise material topics PepsiCo obtained feedback from key internal and external stakeholders through interviews, surveys, and a review of source materials.

What actions were taken by PepsiCo to market its products to children responsibly?

In its 2016 Sustainability Report PepsiCo reports that it took the following actions for marketing its products to children responsibly:

• Implementing a global policy on responsible advertising to children
• PepsiCo’s Responsible Advertising to Children Policy provides that on a global basis, the company will advertise to children under age 12 only those products that meet PepsiCo’s Global Nutrition Criteria for Advertising to Children. The Responsible Advertising to Children Policy also includes a prohibition on advertising products that do not meet certain nutritional requirements in television programmes whose audience profile is made up of more than 35% children under the age of 12. In addition, PepsiCo adheres to all relevant laws and regulations within the countries in which it operates and has adopted the International Council of Beverages Associations Guidelines on Marketing to Children, which restrict beverage categories that may be marketed to children. PepsiCo has also signed on to industry-led voluntary initiatives through various global, regional and national Pledge Programmes, which are based on the principle that signatories advertise only products that meet specific common nutrition criteria to children under the age of 12.

• Promoting compliance, monitoring and reporting
• Every division and region within PepsiCo around the globe has a process for reviewing and approving marketing campaign materials to, among others, drive compliance with PepsiCo’s Responsible Advertising to Children Policy and Pledge Programmes. These processes require cross-functional review, consultation and approval prior to the release of any content, to ensure PepsiCo’s campaigns are in compliance with local laws, clear and truthful, not misleading, and in line with PepsiCo’s Values and Code of Conduct. PepsiCo also monitors and reports compliance with its Responsible Advertising to Children Policy. Thus, in the third quarter of 2016, PepsiCo achieved 95% compliance with its responsible Advertising to Children Policy in globally representative markets such as Colombia, India, New Zealand, Philippines and South Africa – and, in the first quarter of 2017, in six EU countries.

• Applying a global policy on the sale of beverages to schools
• Outside of the U.S., PepsiCo’s global policy for beverage sales in schools focuses on providing water, juice, milk and low-calorie beverages for students. PepsiCo-owned bottling operations offer nutritious hydration options for students and collaborate with schools to eliminate full-calorie soft drinks in primary and secondary schools. Additionally, PepsiCo works with its independent franchise bottlers, third-party vending companies and other PepsiCo beverage distributors, schools and local authorities, to implement this policy beyond PepsiCo’s direct operations. In the U.S., PepsiCo Beverages North America provides schools, through its bottling partners and third-party distributors, with a portfolio of low-calorie and nutritious beverage choices which includes bottled waters, juices, no- or low-calorie carbonated soft drinks, juice-flavoured drinks and iced teas.

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

The GRI Standard addressed in this case is: Disclosure 417-3 Incidents of non-compliance concerning marketing communications

 

Disclosure 417-3 Incidents of non-compliance concerning marketing communications 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 PepsiCo, 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 PepsiCo: With each case study we send out an email requesting a comment on this case study. If you have not received such an email please contact us.

What are the material issues the company has identified?

In its 2016 Integrated Report Sanofi identified a range of material issues, such as carbon emissions, waste management, talent development, business ethics, medicine pricing and innovation. Among these, protecting patient safety stands out as a key material issue for Sanofi.

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 Sanofi engages with:  

Stakeholder Group

Employees

Healthcare professionals

Authorities and payers

Business partners

Patients

International and local organisations

Investors

Local communities

Media

How stakeholder engagement was made to identify material issues

To identify and prioritise material topics Sanofi organised an international stakeholder panel, gathering more than 40 external stakeholders from around the globe, and also set up internal working groups.

What actions were taken by Sanofi to protect patient safety?

In its 2016 Integrated Report Sanofi reports that it took the following actions for protecting patient safety:

• Promoting effective quality management
• Sanofi’s Global Quality vision involves five key areas: quality systems, inspection readiness, quality risk management, quality performance and quality culture. The company’s quality team is dedicated to making sure that products and services provided are fully compliant with all requirements, effective, safe and easy to use. Sanofi uses a mature risk management process, handling quality issues including recalls when necessary, and identifying emerging quality risks, taking measures to avoid them or mitigate their consequences. Sanofi also monitors the quality performance of its own entities and key suppliers or subcontractors through audits, taking appropriate corrective and preventive measures if needed.

• Enhancing product security
• Sanofi seeks to ensure optimal product security through a number of initiatives. These include controlled transport conditions and anti-counterfeit measures, such as tamper evidence, authentication technologies, and serialisation. In addition, Sanofi makes sure it adapts to evolutions in the regulatory environment and supports digital health software development, while at the same time making sure all applications are compliant with applicable legal requirements. 

• Monitoring product safety
• Sanofi’s Global Pharmacovigilance and Epidemiology (GPE) organisation monitors the safety of its products around the globe: prescription medicines and vaccines, consumer health products, generics and medical devices. GPE constantly assesses the benefit-risk profile of Sanofi’s products at every stage of their life cycle to determine, together with the health authorities, the best conditions of their use. GPE also provides physicians, healthcare professionals and patients with complete, up-to-date safety information, including possible risks associated with a product. Additionally, Sanofi’s GPE Department collects pharmacovigilance data from all sources of information, building strong interactions with patients and healthcare professionals globally, during both clinical development and product life cycle management. In this way, it ensures the completeness of the safety data collection process and the effectiveness of Sanofi’s safety evaluations, in compliance with all applicable regulations and policies. Sanofi also makes safety information on its products available through its websites.

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

The GRI Standards addressed in this case are:

1) Disclosure 416-1 Assessment of the health and safety impacts of product and service categories

2) Disclosure 417-1 Requirements for product and service information and labeling

 

Disclosure 416-1 Assessment of the health and safety impacts of product and service categories does not correspond to any SDG.

Disclosure 417-1 Requirements for product and service information and labeling corresponds to:

• Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 12: Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns
• Business theme: Product and service information and labeling
• Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 16: Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels
• Business theme: Compliance with laws and regulations

 

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

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

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

7 GRI sustainability disclosures get you started

Any size business can start taking sustainability action

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

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

See upcoming training dates.

 

References:

1) This case study is based on published information by Sanofi, 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 Sanofi: 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 2516/2016 Corporate Responsibility & Sustainability Report CCE identified a range of material issues, such as energy efficiency and carbon reduction, innovation in packaging, water consumption, supply chain traceability, use of recycled materials. Among these, selling and marketing its products responsibly stands out as a key material issue for CCE.

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 CCE engages with:

Stakeholder Group

Government/regulators

Customers

Academia and networks

NGOs/associations

Suppliers

Investors

Employees and Employee networks

How stakeholder engagement was made to identify material issues

To identify and prioritise material topics, CCE carried out a series of stakeholder roundtables.

What actions were taken by CCE to sell and market its products responsibly?

In its 2516/2016 Corporate Responsibility & Sustainability Report CCE reports that it took the following actions for selling and marketing its products responsibly:

• Providing clear nutritional information
• CCE is committed to providing clear and transparent nutritional labelling on its products and has voluntarily included ingredients and nutrition information on all product labels, since 2003. In addition, since 2007, CCE has featured Guideline Daily Amount (GDA) and in 2013 joined with UNESDA (Union of European Beverages Associations) to feature front-of-pack Reference Intake (RI) labels across all products. In Great Britain, CCE joined, in 2014, the UK Government’s voluntary, colour-coded, front-of-pack nutrition labelling scheme and committed to double its media investment in no- and low-calorie variants of Coca-Cola. CCE also provides extra information about ingredients on pack labels, to help consumers make the right personal choices. For example, energy drinks carry a statement indicating that they are not suitable for children and pregnant and breast-feeding women.

• Establishing Responsible Marketing Guidelines
• CCE has established Responsible Marketing Guidelines, to encourage the sale of no- and low-calorie beverages. CCE seeks to make no- and low-calorie beverages most prominent in any meal deal or snack promotion, and developed guidance for its sales teams on how to work with customers to develop meal and snack promotions that showcase healthier food choice options of a proper portion size.

• Never marketing products to children under 12
• CCE has, since 2009, committed to not market any of its products to children under the age of 12. Through UNESDA, CCE committed to not advertise in printed media, on websites or during broadcast programmes specifically aimed at children. In addition, CCE never provides free samples to children under 12, unless an adult or carer is present. CCE’s internet sites and content are also designed for visitors aged 12 or above, using features and elements that appeal mostly to visitors over the age of 12. CCE has additionally committed to not undertake direct commercial activity in primary schools, unless requested by school authorities or parents, and has signed the UNESDA initiative to ensure energy drinks are not marketed to under-16s.

• Responsibly marketing products in relation to alcohol
• CCE recognises that adult consumers may choose to drink its products in combination with alcohol. Accordingly, CCE provides guidance to its sales teams to ensure products promoted in association with alcohol are directed to consumers above the legal drinking age, and that materials depict moderate and responsible drinking, containing appropriate responsible drinking statements. Additionally, CCE promotes its drinks as a non-alcoholic alternative, and works in conjunction with the THINK! driver friendly programme in Great Britain to offer a free second drink during Christmas when ordering a Coca-Cola Zero, Schweppes or Appletiser product. In 2015, this programme was supported by approximately 8,000 bars and pubs across the UK.

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

The GRI Standards addressed in this case are:

1) Disclosure 416-1 Assessment of the health and safety impacts of product and service categories

2) Disclosure 416-2 Incidents of non-compliance concerning the health and safety impacts of products and services

3) Disclosure 417-1 Requirements for product and service information and labeling

4) Disclosure 417-2 Incidents of non-compliance concerning product and service information and labeling

5) Disclosure 102-2 Activities, brands, products, and services

6) Disclosure 417-3 Incidents of non-compliance concerning marketing communications

 

Disclosure 416-1 Assessment of the health and safety impacts of product and service categories does not correspond to any SDG.

Disclosure 416-2 Incidents of non-compliance concerning the health and safety impacts of products and services corresponds to:

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

Disclosure 417-1 Requirements for product and service information and labeling corresponds to:

• Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 12: Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns
• Business theme: Product and service information and labeling
• Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 16: Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels
• Business theme: Compliance with laws and regulations

Disclosure 417-2 Incidents of non-compliance concerning product and service information and labeling corresponds to:

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

Disclosure 102-2 Activities, brands, products, and services corresponds to:

• Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 4: Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all
• Business theme: Education for sustainable development

Disclosure 417-3 Incidents of non-compliance concerning marketing communications 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 CCE, 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 CCE: With each case study we send out an email requesting a comment on this case study. If you have not received such an email please contact us.

What are the material issues the company has identified?

In its 2016 Sustainability Report KBC identified a range of material issues, such as quality of products and services, financial performance, privacy and data protection, user-friendliness of products and services. Among these, promoting business integrity and compliance stands out as a key material issue for KBC.

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 KBC engages with:   

Stakeholder Group	Method of engagement
Clients	·         Annual client satisfaction, NPS and reputation surveys ·         Regular client panels ·         Continuous suggestions and complaints management
Employees	·         Annual Group Employee Survey ·         Regular consultation with the Health & Safety Committees, prevention advisors and union representatives ·         Annual meeting of the European Works Council ·         Annual evaluation of all staff
Shareholders, investors and financial analysts, sustainability analysts	·         Annual General Meeting ·         Investor days ·         Regular investor roadshows ·         Sustainability assessments such as DJSI, CDP, Sustainalytics, Bankwijzer Belgium and Ethibel
Local and federal government and regulators	·         Membership of the banking and insurance sector federations in the different core countries and of other national and international representative bodies ·         Active participation at networking events
NGOs, communities, social organisations	·         Annual stakeholder dialogue ·         Regular meetings with NGOs ·         Membership of the local business councils for sustainable development in several core counties ·         Research papers and media analysis
Suppliers	·         CSR questionnaire as integral part of the supplier assessment ·         Supplier screening process by EcoVadis

How stakeholder engagement was made to identify material issues

In 2016, to identify and prioritize material topics, KBC conducted a survey among 2018 stakeholders (1802 external stakeholders and 216 internal stakeholders). The survey was conducted  through an independent third party and KBC asked respondents to rate issues according to importance.

What actions were taken by KBC to promote business integrity and compliance?

In its 2016 Sustainability Report KBC reports that it took the following actions for promoting business integrity and compliance:

• Promoting compliance through the Corporate Compliance Division
• The Corporate Compliance Division helps KBC make sure that, in providing the company’s banking and insurance services, rules, regulations and guidelines are observed. In addition, the Corporate Compliance Division helps make sure that the confidentiality of information and respect of privacy are guaranteed.

• Raising employee awareness about integrity and compliance issues
• KBC makes every effort to raise its employees’ awareness of integrity and compliance issues. Such efforts include a number of training programmes (both classroom and web-based), newsletters and journals, and e-learning and web-based courses designed to ensure flexible learning by specific targets groups.

• Promoting professional integrity through the Dilemma of the Month campaign
• KBC has developed the Dilemma of the Month campaign. The campaign is intended to encourage employees to think about dilemmas they face (different dilemmas at every level of the organization), share, and discuss them. Moreover, the Dilemma of the Month campaign is focused on ensuring professional integrity, and responsible sales and advice.

• Promoting ethical conduct through the Code of Conduct and other policies
• In order to promote ethical conduct, KBC implements specific policies and processes. These include:
  • the Code of Conduct for KBC Group Employees
  • the Anti-Money Laundering Policy
  • the Ethics & Fraud Policy
  • the Anti-Corruption and Bribery Policy
  • the Policy for the Protection of Whistleblowers

Which GRI Standards have been addressed?

The GRI Standards addressed in this case are:

1) Disclosure 205-1 Operations assessed for risks related to corruption

2) Disclosure 205-2 Communication and training about anti-corruption policies and procedures

3) Disclosure 206-1 Legal actions for anti-competitive behavior, anti-trust, and monopoly practices

4) Disclosure 417-1 Requirements for product and service information and labeling

 

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 KBC, 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 KBC: 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 Corporate Responsibility Report Merck & Co. identified a range of material issues, such as pricing and commercialization, intellectual property, privacy of patient data, continuity of supply, capacity building. Among these, promoting patient and product safety stands out as a key material issue for Merck & Co., recognizing that when people take its medicines and vaccines, they must feel that they are safe to use.

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 Merck & Co. engages with:

Stakeholder Group

Patients and caregivers

Healthcare professionals

Payers

Governments, multilateral organizations and regulators

Shareholders

International and local organizations

Local communities

Environmental stakeholders

Employees

Suppliers and business partners

Trade and industry associations

How stakeholder engagement was made to identify material issues

From a list of hundreds of potentially material issues, Merck & Co. identified 42 to test with internal and external stakeholders. Internally Merck & Co. engaged with senior executives from key functional areas and business units including Ethics & Compliance, Global Clinical Development, Scientific Affairs, Global Health Innovation, Global Medical Affairs, Global Public Policy, Human Resources, Manufacturing, Market Access, Philanthropy, Safety and Environment, Vaccines and others. Merck & Co.’s goal was to understand which of the 42 material issues were most linked to the company’s business strategy and to its business success. Merck & Co. asked its business leaders to select the issues of highest importance in terms of their impact on:

• Financial value and revenue
• Operational excellence
• Compliance with regulations
• Corporate reputation
• Shareholders
• Employees and their level of engagement

Externally, Merck & Co. engaged more than 30 stakeholder groups that represented a cross section of advocacy interests, including on-the-ground implementation partners, socially responsible investors, environmental NGOs, public health advocates and health providers. Through in-person interviews, Merck & Co. asked its stakeholders to indicate which issues were important to their groups or communities; where action from the private sector, and from the company in particular, is critical; and how Merck & Co. can drive excellence through its corporate responsibility efforts.

Stakeholders were asked to rank the list of 42 material issues and impacts; assess the company’s performance on these priority issues; and share their expectations related to strategy, reporting and stakeholder engagement. This process was less of an accounting exercise and more of a strategic one, designed to both understand Merck & Co.’s impacts and articulate its priorities. Merck & Co. asked stakeholders to evaluate its 42 priority issues based on criteria heavily influenced by the International Integrated Reporting Council (IIRC), including impacts on and contributions to the six “capitals”: Financial, Manufactured, Intellectual, Social and Relationship, Human and Natural. Merck & Co. augmented these criteria with considerations such as critical risk factors, unique opportunities for the private sector and for the company, and contributions to the global sustainability agenda set by the United Nations.

What actions were taken by Merck & Co. to promote patient and product safety?

In its 2014 Corporate Responsibility Report Merck & Co. set the following targets for promoting patient and product safety, based on the company’s approach to materiality – on taking action on what matters, where it matters:

• Promoting monitoring and compliance

The Global Clinical and Pharmacovigilance Compliance (GC&PVC) function at Merck & Co. is part of the company’s Research Laboratories (MRL) Compliance organization, which in turn is part of the Global Compliance Organization (GCO). This group is responsible for conducting independent, periodic audits of the processes, computerized systems, technology and collaborative partners supporting the Human Health and Animal Health divisions within the company. Merck & Co.’s research laboratories have a comprehensive, risk-based audit and compliance oversight program that encompasses a broad range of GC&PVC audits and assessments of the following:

Clinical investigator sites: Audits to assess compliance with the protocol and with GC&PVC regulations and guidelines

Collaborative partners: Pre-contractual assessments and selected post-contractual audits of contracted research organizations (CROs), central laboratories and other third-party business partners and vendors

Computerized systems and technology: Audits and assessments of the computerized systems and technology supporting clinical development

Internal process/systems audits: Systematic evaluations of compliance of clinical and animal health development processes with standard operating procedures, Global Development Procedures (ICH-GCP) and other applicable regulations and guidance

Country operations audits: Periodic and systematic assessments of the company’s clinical trial and animal health operations and activities carried out by its subsidiaries worldwide

Business partner audits: Audits of external companies with which a licensing or development agreement exists in which compliance with contractual and regulatory requirements is assessed

Verification audits: Audits to verify that the corrective actions that have been implemented are effective at remediating the noncompliance

Through the oversight and implementation of this comprehensive audit program, GC&PVC provides independent assurance to the company’s senior management that the operations, processes and computerized systems and technology supporting Merck & Co.’s Human Health and Animal Health development activities comply with applicable global regulations and guidelines as well as internal company policies and procedures.

• Promoting risk management for all products

Clinical Safety and Risk Management (CSRM) leads the Risk Management & Safety teams for all products, from the beginning of Phase IIb through the end of the product life cycle. CSRM is responsible for the formation of a proactive clinical safety risk-management strategy, including the Risk Management Plan, which is a regulatory requirement in many countries for marketed drugs and vaccines. Development of the overall risk-management strategy incorporates all available internal information (e.g., basic research data and animal and human studies with the product and/or related products) and external information (e.g., literature and public data related to the class of drugs and/or therapeutic target) that contribute to the overall risk-benefit assessment of the product. The strategy focuses on activities needed to identify, evaluate and manage potential patient-safety risks. The Risk Management & Safety teams assess patient safety using product labeling, physician and patient educational programs, and other risk-minimization strategies, as appropriate. The Risk Management & Safety teams also implement strategies to determine the effectiveness of these interventions, as appropriate.

• Rigorously studying products and working with regulators and healthcare professionals to characterize their safety profile

Merck & Co. rigorously studies its products and works with regulators and healthcare professionals over many years to characterize their safety profiles. Initially, test compounds are evaluated in the laboratory. If they pass stringent laboratory tests, the compounds move into next-stage testing in animals. Only a few compounds ever make it that far. If the compound makes it through the animal-testing stage, Merck & Co. then begins clinical development, during which multiple studies are conducted over several years. Clinical testing begins in Phase I in a small number of people and progresses through Phase III, in which the safety and efficacy of a medicine is rigorously evaluated. If the clinical studies are successful, Merck & Co. submits extensive documentation and data to regulators in a product-licensing application. Before approving a medicine or vaccine for use, regulators scrutinize these extensive data and analyses. Even after a product is approved, Merck & Co. continues to actively monitor the safety of its medicines and vaccines in various ways, including post-marketing studies. If Merck & Co. identifies safety issues following a product’s approval, it works closely with the regulatory authorities to communicate promptly and appropriately with healthcare professionals and patients.

• Communicating about product risks

Merck & Co.’s information leaflets in its product packaging contain information on possible side effects and, if appropriate, how to avoid some potential problems. Merck & Co. includes contact details on its corporate website for patients, caregivers and health professionals to report adverse experiences in the U.S. Outside the U.S., adverse events are reported according to local laws and practices. Depending on label changes and their context, Merck & Co. may determine, in consultation with regulatory agencies, that more extensive communications may be appropriate. In such cases, Merck & Co. works with regulatory authorities to contact healthcare professionals in a timely manner, so that they can communicate these findings to patients through appropriate mechanisms. Contacting healthcare professionals might include “Dear Doctor” letters and media releases.

• Identifying, evaluating and reporting adverse experiences occurring in association with the use of products

Although regulations vary by country, most countries require drug manufacturers to promptly review adverse experience (AE) information they receive from any source, both domestic and foreign, relating to the use of their products. Manufacturers are also required to have written procedures in place for evaluating and reporting adverse experiences. In accordance with global regulatory reporting requirements, Merck & Co. has developed a written procedure to provide personnel worldwide – including all contractors – with a consistent and thorough process for identifying, evaluating and reporting AEs occurring in association with the use of its products. These procedures cover the reporting of AEs originating in clinical studies and those associated with the use of marketed products. Adherence to these procedures ensures timely and accurate monitoring of the safety profile of Merck & Co.’s investigational and marketed products globally. To report an adverse experience to regulatory authorities, Merck & Co. needs at least minimal information: the name of the product involved, the adverse experience, an identifiable patient and an identifiable reporter. In addition to submission of individual AE reports to regulatory authorities, either within 15 calendar days or periodically, Merck & Co. also files aggregate reports either quarterly, twice a year or annually for as long as it markets a product. Merck & Co.’s Risk Management & Safety teams review adverse experience information received from all sources (foreign, domestic, clinical trials, published literature, post-marketing) for its products and determine what actions may need to be taken with reference to the evolving safety profile of Merck & Co.’s products. These teams include physicians and epidemiologists who are trained to review this type of data. It can be difficult to determine the exact cause of an adverse experience because many patients have more than one condition and may be taking multiple products. Merck & Co.’s Global Safety staff takes great care to make sure that AE reporting is as accurate as possible. Merck & Co. reviews the data to determine if there are any patterns or emerging trends that need additional surveillance. Another major safety focus is the ongoing oversight and monitoring of Merck & Co.’s product labels. Merck & Co.’s Label Review teams monitor information on its products and work with the company’s Product Safety teams to develop or update product labeling. Information is then communicated to regulatory agencies worldwide. Employees responsible for monitoring and reporting adverse experiences undergo rigorous training every other year. New employees within Merck & Co.’s research laboratories – including all contract personnel – working in areas related to clinical research and global safety undergo training on Merck & Co.’s AE policies and procedures when they join the company. All other employees are trained in AE reporting procedures as part of Merck & Co.’s Code of Conduct training.

Which GRI indicators/Standards have been addressed?

The GRI indicators/Standards addressed in this case are:

1) G4-PR1: Percentage of significant product and service categories for which health and safety impacts are assessed for improvement – the updated GRI Standard is: Disclosure 416-1 Assessment of the health and safety impacts of product and service categories

2) G4-PR3: Type of product and service information required by the organization’s procedures for product and service information and labeling, and percentage of significant products and service categories subject to such information requirements – the updated GRI Standard is: Disclosure 417-1 Requirements for product and service information and labeling

 

References:

 

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

http://database.globalreporting.org/

http://www.msdresponsibility.com/ (September 2015)

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

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

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

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

What are the material issues the company has identified?

In its 2015 Sustainability Report Miele identified a range of material issues, such as product safety, longevity and reliability, employee satisfaction, compliance with social and ethical standards, pollution-free products. Among these, as the company takes an all-encompassing approach to developing durable products, designing all of its appliances to deliver top performance and superior results while using as little energy, water and chemicals as possible, developing and manufacturing energy efficient products stands out as a Miele’s top material issue.

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 Miele engages with:

Stakeholder Group	Method of engagement
Customers	·         Dialogue with customers of the domestic and commercial appliance divisions through direct on-site interaction with Miele Service and in sales conversations ·         Customer Hotline ·         Survey of retail and commercial customers by Miele’s internal market research team ·         Survey of retail and commercial customers on the topic  of sustainability every two years
Dealers	·         Dialogue with dealers for the domestic and commercial appliance divisions ·         Survey of dealers on the topic of sustainability, currently once every two years
Suppliers and service providers	·         Joint development of concepts and proposed solutions in working groups ·         Communication during audits and training sessions ·         Survey of suppliers and service providers on the topic of sustainability every two years
Employees	·         Employee involvement in major decisions on the basis of the co-determination arrangement ·         Dialogue in the form of regular meetings with employees ·         Employees contribute their own suggestions through the  employee suggestion scheme /idea management system ·         Annual employee survey
Associations and interest groups	·         Membership and active involvement in national and international associations and interest groups such as Z VEI and CECED ·         Participation in conferences
Science and research	·         Longstanding product development and enhancement collaborations with various academic institutions ·         Research projects awarded for specialised subjects
Non-governmental organisations	·         Dialogue with non-governmental organisations ( NGOs) on relevant industry topics
Local communities	·         Close interaction with citizens at company locations in the form of direct contact and through collaborations/events ·         Social commitment at company locations
Policy makers and legislators	·         Dialogue with political decision-makers at both the national and European level through participation in committees, working groups and conferences ·         Dialogue at the regional level with heavy personal interaction
Society/ The public	·         Contact persons for enquiries related to the Sustainability Report
Media	·         Contact persons for sustainability communications

How stakeholder engagement was made to identify material issues

As part of an expert stakeholder survey conducted in financial year 2013/14, 22 experts from the economic, scientific and political fields, as well as from non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and media, were invited to offer their assessments. In a second, publicly conducted survey, Miele asked 600 customers and 25 dealers and retailers for their input. Both surveys were intended to evaluate relevant topics and assess Miele’s sustainability performance.

The internal perspective on relevant sustainability topics was determined in a survey of 39 managerial staff members and plant managers and also in special workshops involving employees in positions of accountability in relevant areas of the company, such as production, human resources, purchasing, quality and environmental management and outbound logistics.

A comparison of the internal company perspective with that of the external stakeholders allowed Miele to create an updated materiality matrix, which provided increased clarity regarding the relevance of the individual topics. Using this updated matrix, it was then possible to illustrate where the identified and prioritised sustainability issues were relevant on the value chain – be it inside or outside the company. The results showed that the topics considered most relevant by the external stakeholders were also viewed as vital to the company’s long-term success from an internal standpoint.

What actions were taken by Miele to develop and manufacture energy efficient products?

In its 2015 Sustainability Report Miele set the following targets for developing and manufacturing energy efficient products, based on the company’s approach to materiality – on taking action on what matters, where it matters:

• Increasing the energy efficiency of Miele’s domestic appliances

In the reporting period, a number of measures and developments contributed to a continued increase in the energy efficiency of Miele’s domestic appliances. In business year 2013/14, 63 percent of all Miele washing machines produced for EU countries were rated in the highest energy efficiency class (A+++). This figure had been at 54 percent in business year 2011/12 and the resulting change was equal to a 17-percent increase. Today (as per 11/2015) all washing machines from the new generation to which energy labelling applies are in the top A+++ category, exceeding the required level by up to 40 percent (depending on the model). A large part of the energy-efficiency improvement in the Miele product portfolio was due to the introduction of the new “PowerWash” washing system (2013) and the enhanced “PowerWash 2.0” (starting in 2014). The innovative system features an additional water pump that soaks laundry faster and more effectively. This in turn shortens programme cycle times, reduces the amount of water used in the main washing process and, as a result, also lowers energy consumption. This allows PowerWash appliances to outperform the class A+++ limits by up to 40 percent (depending on the model) – with programme cycle times under three hours. The introduction of the new energy label for dryers in early 2013 has made it possible to more accurately differentiate dryers in terms of their energy consumption. For Miele, this means that the 57 percent of its appliances with an A+ rating under the old label in financial year 2012/13 increased to a much higher 70 percent in financial year 2013/14 with the advent of the new label. Miele has also enhanced the energy efficiency of its dishwashers. In financial year 2011/12, 22 percent of the company’s dishwashers were rated in the A+++ class, with that number growing to 30 percent in 2013/14. This was equal to a 22-percent increase. The percentage of Miele dishwashers in the A++ class remained unchanged. Positive trends were also noticeable for Miele’s refrigeration products. In financial year 2013/14, 67 percent of all models were rated in either the A++ or A+++ energy efficiency classes. Both of these segments showed growth: the amount of A+++ models grew from 3 percent in 2011/12 to 8 percent in 2013/14, while the proportion of models with an A++ rating increased from 35 percent to 59 percent over the same period. Overall, Miele was able to increase the amount of washing machines, dishwashers and refrigeration products produced in the top two energy efficiency classes (A++ and A+++) by 28 percent in the reporting period. The internal target for dryers manufactured for the European market was an A+ rating on 60 percent of all models. At 73 percent by the close of financial year 2013/14, Miele actually exceeded this mark by a clear margin.

• Increasing the energy efficiency of Miele’s commercial appliances

Miele’s Professional division, whose product lineup includes commercial appliances manufactured for use in medical facilities and laboratories, made further consumption-related improvements to its machines in 2014. Fully demineralised water from Miele disinfection appliances, which are used to reprocess surgical instruments, for example, is collected in a tank and can then be reused in Miele’s large-capacity cleaning units (for containers and transport trolleys). Depending on the number of cleaning cycles, this can provide substantial energy and water savings. In 2013, Miele launched a new generation of commercial freshwater dishwashers to market. The special feature of these appliances is that, unlike tank-based dishwashers, they use fresh water for each new washing cycle (the freshwater system is the more economical option when less than 40 washing cycles are performed per day). Depending on the programme selected, these new machines can use up to 50 percent less electricity than the previous models – while delivering the same cleaning excellence.

• Equipping Miele’s appliances with “Eco-friendly functions”

All of Miele’s appliances come equipped with a number of “Eco-friendly functions”, which give users the option of saving additional energy and can thus help to reduce resource consumption. For example, Miele is an industry leader in the area of automatic detergent dosing, a technique that can significantly reduce the amount of detergent used. In 2006, the company presented LiquidWash, the world’s first dosing system for liquid detergent. In 2010, Miele then introduced AutoDos, the world’s first automatic dosing system for liquid and powder detergents. At the 2013 IFA consumer electronics trade fair, Miele unveiled its TwinDos, the first fully-integrated automatic dosing system that can also be used with whites and heavily soiled laundry. This technology is possible in conjunction with Miele’s two detergents “UltraPhase 1” (for removing grease and protein stains) and “UltraPhase 2” (for removing tough spots), which are dispensed in consecutive programme segments by the TwinDos system. TwinDos uses up to 30 percent less detergent, as verified in 2013 by the independent Oeko-Institut, the European Institute for Applied Ecology. Alternatively, TwinDos can also be used to dispense conventional liquid or powder detergents and fabric conditioners through the classic detergent dispenser. With the EcoFeedback function, which was first introduced by Miele in 2010, users can track current consumption statistics for their washing machine and also change them by selecting a different programme. EcoFeedback predicts the level of water and electricity consumption even before the user starts the selected programme. It shows the estimated consumption levels in the form of bar diagram on the appliance display. This allows users to easily recognize that a programme with longer cycle times or lower temperatures will require less energy, for example. Once the programme has finished, the actual consumption levels are displayed in kilowatt hours and litres. EcoFeedback is a product feature that has been very well received. Of all washing machines (front loaders) sold in the private customer segment in 2013/14, 39 percent (more than one-third) were equipped with the EcoFeedback function. Miele AllWater washing machines also offer significant potential savings, since they can be used with both service water or hot water. To make this possible, the appliances are equipped with two water connections. The use of an existing hot water supply can result in energy savings of up to 43 percent – as confirmed by the Oeko-Institut in Freiburg in 2008. AllWater appliances have been part of Miele’s product lineup since 1993 and have been continuously updated to keep pace with each new series. Miele places great importance on communicating these product features to consumers in advertisements, user manuals and personal consultations in order to promote resource-friendly user behaviour and appeal to consumers’ concern for the environment.

• Introducing energy-intelligent domestic appliances and smart home applications

Miele is the industry pioneer when it comes to networking domestic appliances with other home technology components and the Internet. In the 1990s, the company introduced the first mobile status updates for domestic appliances with the Miele InfoControl. InfoControl made it possible for users to determine the remaining cycle time on a washing machine located in the cellar via a mobile hand-held transmitter, for example. In subsequent years, Miele introduced additional applications for greater comfort, safety and energy efficiency. This group of applications is now referred to as Miele@home. At the 2010 IFA trade fair, Miele introduced the first washing machines and dryers to feature smart grid compatibility. One year later, the company introduced a smart grid-ready dishwasher. Within a preset timeframe, these appliances automatically switch on (“Smart Start”) when energy suppliers offer economical electricity rates or when a particularly high amount of renewable energy is available on the electrical grid. Unfortunately, the necessary infrastructure, e.g. the electric meters required for variable-rate billing (“smart meters”), still only exists in pilot projects and on newer buildings, where smart meters have been mandatory since 2011. Despite this, Miele has been working with the solar technology group SMA to market its smart technology since 2012. In this case, a private photovoltaic system (PV system) takes the place of the smart electrical grid, while still automatically checking online weather forecasts for smart operation. The “Smart Start” occurs when the PV system is able to provide enough energy. This application promotes the use of renewable energy, increases private energy consumption and lessens the load on electrical grids, all while lowering electricity costs – since the private consumption of user-produced energy is ultimately more economical than obtaining energy from the grid. In order to promote new ideas in home appliance networking, Miele has been involved with Deutsche Telekom’s Qivicon Home Management Platform as a founding member since 2011. Qivicon is a cross-industry networking solution which offers a large number of applications for greater comfort, security and energy efficiency. Since 2014, owners of Miele domestic appliances have been able to download the Miele domestic appliance app from the Qivicon portal. This app allows users to control their appliances and check the status from any desired location. It is truly a useful application. Ever wonder whether the cooker at home is actually switched off after leaving the house for work? With a smartphone and the Miele app, users can make sure that the situation is under control when they’re on the go. RWE Effizienz GmbH, a Miele systems partner since 2013, also offers a similar application that includes an app for controlling domestic appliances. Both of these network platforms received the “Security-Tested Smart Home Product” distinction from the AV-TEST Institut in 2014. The AV-TEST Institut is a leading independent provider of security services and anti-virus research in the global IT market. Miele’s international product lineup includes approximately 400 network-capable domestic appliances. These appliances are ready to be networked, which means that they require additional communication components that are easily installed in virtually all cases. For the applications mentioned above, one communication module and one central gateway are required per machine. The communication both between individual appliances and with the gateway is based on a wireless standard, so that no cables need to be routed through the building. The use of solar power generated in the home makes domestic appliances sustainable and cost-effective. With the introduction of its solar-powered tumble dryer in September 2011, Miele unveiled a product which set a new standard for energy-efficient drying in laundry care. To dry clothing and linen, this appliance uses hot water that is generated by a solar-thermal array and stored in a stratified tank from Solvis. The system functions by feeding the heated water from the stratified tank (a component in the home’s water-heating system) to the dryer. Heat exchangers convert the energy stored in the water into hot air for the drying process and return the cooler water and condensate to the storage tank. Because the circulation system connecting the solar-powered dryer and the storage tank is closed, there are minimal losses in the system. The costs of drying with Miele’s solar-powered dryer are roughly 50 percent lower than when using a heat pump dryer and can be as much as 80 percent lower when compared with a condenser dryer. An added benefit of the solar-powered dryer is that it helps to ensure that the capacity of the building’s solar array is fully utilized in the summer months. In 2013, Miele’s solar-powered dryer received the GreenTec Award, one of Europe’s most prestigious environmental awards.

Which GRI indicators/Standards have been addressed?

The GRI indicators/Standards addressed in this case are:

1) G4-EN7: Reductions in energy requirements of products and services – the updated GRI Standard is: Disclosure 302-5 Reductions in energy requirements of products and services

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

3) G4-PR3: Type of product and service information required by the organization’s procedures for product and service information and labeling, and percentage of significant products and service categories subject to such information requirements – the updated GRI Standard is: Disclosure 417-1 Requirements for product and service information and labeling

 

References:

1) This case study is based on published information by Miele, 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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