environmentally friendly products Archives - SustainCase - Sustainability Magazine Insights on how you can protect the environment, maintain and increase the value of your company, through a structured CSR/Sustainability process with the use of the GRI Standards. Learn how Today's Best-Run Companies are achieving Economic, Social, and Environmental Success - and How You Can Too... Thu, 23 Feb 2023 09:42:24 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=7.0.2 Case study: How Ford reduces vehicles’ end-of-life environmental impacts https://sustaincase.com/case-study-how-ford-reduces-vehicles-end-of-life-environmental-impacts/ Mon, 16 Sep 2019 11:51:21 +0000 https://ccprowebs.com/new-sustaincase.com/?p=9936 As a leading global automaker, Ford seeks to understand all the impacts its products and services have, so that it can manage them more effectively. To achieve this, Ford looks at them holistically, over their entire life cycle, to be better able to reduce its environmental footprint –including automobiles’ end-of-life impacts. This case study is based on the 2017/18 Sustainability Report by Ford published on the Global Reporting Initiative Sustainability Disclosure Database that can be found at this link. Through all case studies we aim to demonstrate what CSR/ ESG/ sustainability reporting done responsibly means. Essentially, it means: a) identifying a […]

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]]> As a leading global automaker, Ford seeks to understand all the impacts its products and services have, so that it can manage them more effectively. To achieve this, Ford looks at them holistically, over their entire life cycle, to be better able to reduce its environmental footprint –including automobiles’ end-of-life impacts.

This case study is based on the 2017/18 Sustainability Report by Ford published on the Global Reporting Initiative Sustainability Disclosure Database that can be found at this link. Through all case studies we aim to demonstrate what CSR/ ESG/ sustainability reporting done responsibly means. Essentially, it means: a) identifying a company’s most important impacts on the environment, economy and society, and b) measuring, managing and changing.

Abstract

Automobiles are some of the most highly recycled consumer products in the world, and most of the materials they contain can be recovered at the end of their useful lives. Ford tries to achieve the highest level of economically and environmentally viable recovery of vehicles  Tweet This! through the careful selection of materials, and by sharing information about the materials its vehicles contain with dismantlers. In order to reduce vehicles’ end-of-life environmental impacts Ford took action to:

  • implement take-back schemes
  • apply alternative end-of-life treatments
  • promote recycling

What are the material issues the company has identified?

In its 2017/18 Sustainability Report Ford identified a range of material issues, such as product carbon footprint and fuel economy, supply chain management, assessment, capacity building and performance, ethical business practices, human rights, customer satisfaction, product quality and safety. Among these, reducing vehicles’ end-of-life environmental impacts stands out as a key material issue for Ford.

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 Ford engages with:   

Stakeholder Group                Method of engagement
Communities ·      Community Relations Committees

·      Interactions with governments

·      Membership of associations

·      Dialogue with nongovernmental organisations

·      Ford Fund

·      Driving Skills for Life programme
Customers ·      Consumer Insight process

·      Market research

·      Customer care programmes

·      Dealer interactions

·      Ford.com website

·      Ford Owners magazine
Dealers ·      Intranet communications

·      Brand sales and service representatives

·      Brand Dealer Councils

·      Dealer roundtables

·      President’s Circle

·      Salute to Dealers

·      Advertising and public service announcements

·      U.S. NADA Dealer Attitude Survey
Employees

 

 ·      Intranet site

·      Sustainability Report and executive summary

·      Social media applications

·      Union representatives

·      Joint labour–management committees

·      Webcasts, videos, blogs and executive Q&A sessions with senior management

·      “Town Hall” meetings

·      Employee surveys

·      Employee Resource Group initiatives

·      Test drive and product reveal events
Investors ·      Investment community forums

·      Quarterly earnings communications

·      Annual shareholders’ meeting

·      Annual report

·      Proxy statement

·      SEC filings (e.g., 10-K, 10-Q, 8-K)

·      Ratings and rankings
Suppliers ·      Top Supplier meetings

·      Ford Partnership for a Cleaner Environment (PACE)

·      Aligned Business Framework supplier dialogue sessions

·      Supplier quality roundtables

·      Supplier Diversity Development Networking

·      External supplier organisations

·      Coalitions including EICC

How stakeholder engagement was made to identify material issues

To identify and prioritise material topics Ford engaged with both internal and external stakeholders through interviews, inviting stakeholders to comment on material topics and rate them according to importance.

What actions were taken by Ford to reduce vehicles’ end-of-life environmental impacts?

In its 2017/18 Sustainability Report Ford reports that it took the following actions for reducing vehicles’ end-of-life environmental impacts:

  • Implementing take-back schemes
  • Across Europe, Ford offers car owners a cost-free take-back network, with take-back points that meet Ford’s waste-quality standards. The recycling network is set by each European market and licensed by the appropriate national environment agency. As part of this procedure, Ford’s Environmental Quality Office and End-of-Life teams perform a structured duty-of-care audit process, visiting take-back points to make sure Ford’s vehicles are treated responsibly at the end of their useful life, and keeping the latest end-of-life network information available on Ford National EU web portals.
  • Applying alternative end-of-life treatments
  • None of Ford’s current components contain mercury, but to address end-of-life issues associated with mercury in older vehicles, Ford was instrumental in getting the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to work with state authorities, dismantlers, steelmakers and environmental groups to recycle mercury switches. With over 10,000 participants in the scheme, 7 metric tons of mercury were recovered by the end of 2017. Ford also supports treatment technologies that make the recycling of end-of-life vehicles more economically and ecologically viable, and co-sponsored a life cycle assessment that showed the environmental benefits of diverting plastic, foam and other nonmetallic materials from landfill and using them for energy recovery.
  • Promoting recycling
  • At its U.S. dealership service centres Ford recycles, reuses and reprocesses the parts removed during servicing, such as headlights, bumpers and windshield-wiper motors. Dealers are charged for new parts, but are reimbursed if they are recycled through Ford’s Core Recovery Programme. Parts that can be remanufactured are cleaned, machined and tested before being used in new vehicles; otherwise, they are used to make new parts. The scheme forms part of Ford’s voluntary Go Green Dealer Sustainability Programme, to which approximately half of Ford’s U.S. Ford and Lincoln Mercury dealers belong.

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

The GRI Standard addressed in this case is: Disclosure 301-3 Reclaimed products and their packaging materials

 

Disclosure 301-3 Reclaimed products and their packaging materials 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: Resource efficiency of products and services
  • Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 12: Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns
  • Business theme: Resource efficiency of products and services

 

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 Ford, 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 Ford: 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.

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]]> Case study: How Compal reduces the environmental impact of its products https://sustaincase.com/case-study-how-compal-reduces-the-environmental-impact-of-its-products/ Tue, 29 Jan 2019 15:16:21 +0000 https://ccprowebs.com/new-sustaincase.com/?p=8543 As one of the world’s leading manufacturers of notebook PCs, smart devices, data centre equipment and LCD products, with factories in Taiwan, China, North and South America, , preventing hazardous substances from being released into the environment. This case study is based on the 2017 Corporate Social Responsibility Report by Compal published on the Global Reporting Initiative Sustainability Disclosure Database that can be found at this link. Through all case studies we aim to demonstrate what CSR/ ESG/ sustainability reporting done responsibly means. Essentially, it means: a) identifying a company’s most important impacts on the environment, economy and society, and b) […]

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As one of the world’s leading manufacturers of notebook PCs, smart devices, data centre equipment and LCD products, with factories in Taiwan, China, North and South America, Compal seeks to design its products in ways that minimise environmental pollution  Tweet This!, preventing hazardous substances from being released into the environment.

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

Abstract

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Abstract

The rapid advancement of technology has shortened the life cycle of consumer electronics, making it increasingly important for electronics manufacturers to design and manufacture their products with a focus on waste reduction and the re-use of resources. In order to reduce the environmental impact of its products Compal took action to:

  • make products easier to recycle and environmentally friendly
  • optimise packaging

What are the material issues the company has identified?

In its 2017 Corporate Social Responsibility Report Compal identified a range of material issues, such as economic performance, market presence, labour-management relations, customer health and safety. Among these, reducing the environmental impact of its products stands out as a key material issue for Compal.

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 Compal engages with:

Stakeholder Group                Method of engagement
Employees

 

 ·      Labour-management communication

·      Internal publications

·      Welfare Committee

·      Internet and employee comment box, sexual harassment complaint hotline, fraud or violation of ethical conduct report mailbox

·      Compal_CSR FB fan page push notification and opinions response

·      Education and training
Customers

 

 ·      Regular communication and discussion conference

·      Email discussion

·      Customer audits

·      Customers’ supplier conferences
Investors/ Shareholders ·      Shareholders’ meeting

·      Shareholder hotline/mailbox

·      Investor seminar

·      Market Observation Post
Suppliers

 

 ·      Supplier conferences

·      Email discussion

·      Supplier online assessment and on-site audit

·      Supplier complaints mailbox

·      Internal supplier system
Government

 

 ·      Correspondence

·      Participation in Government Projects

·      Participation in regulatory seminars/conferences

·      Actual Visits
Non-profit Organisations ·      Participation in charity events

·      On-site Visits

·      Email

·      Telephone Contact
Media ·      Press releases

·      Press conferences
Community ·      Participation in community activities

·      Email Discussion

·      Telephone Discussion

How stakeholder engagement was made to identify material issues

To identify and prioritise material topics, Compal engaged with its stakeholders through questionnaires, which were complemented by a new round of stakeholder surveys in 2018.

What actions were taken by Compal to reduce the environmental impact of its products?

In its 2017 Corporate Social Responsibility Report Compal reports that it took the following actions for reducing the environmental impact of its products:

  • Making products easier to recycle and environmentally friendly
  • When designing its products Compal uses, as much as possible, environmentally friendly materials, also introducing numerous design improvements to make products easier to recycle. The environmental, sustainable and renewable designs that Compal implements include the following:
    • prohibiting or reducing the use of hazardous substances
    • using only one type of plastic materials, where appropriate
    • introducing renewable and bio-degradable plastics into electronic products
    • using plastic materials compatible with surface treatment materials, so that products can be recycled and reused
    • designing products in ways that make them easy to disassemble and recycle
    • using modularised designs so that main parts can be replaced and upgraded, extending the product life cycle
    • printing recycling labels on packaging materials, as a reminder to consumers
    • making sure all plastic objects weighing 25 grams or more have contents labelled in detail, to facilitate recycling
  • In addition, Compal designs all its products in accordance with WEEE (Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment) standards, which require that at least 65% of the materials used are recyclable. For main notebook brand clients, Compal designs products to enable an even higher recycling rate (96%-100%).
  • Optimising packaging
  • Compal is constantly improving packaging design to reduce, simplify and make the optimum use of packaging materials, minimising their environmental impacts. Compal’s achievements in recent years include:
    • In 2011, Compal launched its patented square package design, which not only requires fewer resources but also enables consumers to keep the package and use it as a storage box.
    • In 2012, Compal replaced EPE (Expanded Polyethylene) materials with 100% recyclable cardboard.
    • In 2014, Compal increased the number of products per pallet from 78-84 to 102-120.
    • In 2015, Compal optimised EPE cushions for notebook PCs by consolidating the old 3-piece design into a single piece. By doing so, Compal reduced the use of packaging materials by 50% and materials surface by 48%.
    • In 2017, Compal greatly increased the use of automated equipment for picking, sealing, labelling and exterior examining before shipping, to reduce the human error rate.

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

The GRI Standards addressed in this case are:

1) Disclosure 301-1 Materials used by weight or volume

2) Disclosure 301-3 Reclaimed products and their packaging materials

 

Disclosure 301-1 Materials used by weight or volume corresponds to:

Disclosure 301-3 Reclaimed products and their packaging materials 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: Resource efficiency of products and services
  • Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 12: Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns
  • Business theme: Resource efficiency of products and services

 

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

The post Case study: How Compal reduces the environmental impact of its products appeared first on SustainCase - Sustainability Magazine.

]]> Case study: How Inventec reduces the environmental impact of its products https://sustaincase.com/case-study-how-inventec-reduces-the-environmental-impact-of-its-products/ Mon, 17 Dec 2018 06:44:53 +0000 https://ccprowebs.com/new-sustaincase.com/?p=8398 Inventec is a global ICT (information and communications technology) leader focused on innovation and product research and development, whose product portfolio includes notebook and tablet PCs, desktop computers and computer peripherals, personal digital products and mobile devices. Minimising the environmental footprint of its products is, thus, a key priority. This case study is based on the 2016 Corporate Social Responsibility Report by Inventec published on the Global Reporting Initiative Sustainability Disclosure Database that can be found at this link. Through all case studies we aim to demonstrate what CSR/ ESG/ sustainability reporting done responsibly means. Essentially, it means: a) identifying a […]

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Inventec is a global ICT (information and communications technology) leader focused on innovation and product research and development, whose product portfolio includes notebook and tablet PCs, desktop computers and computer peripherals, personal digital products and mobile devices. Minimising the environmental footprint of its products is, thus, a key priority.

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

Abstract

Layout 1

Abstract

Besides complying with the requirements of international laws and regulations, Inventec makes every possible effort to consider consumer health and environmental protection when designing and manufacturing its products.  Tweet This! In order to reduce the environmental impact of its products Inventec took action to:

  • implement green design
  • produce green products
  • help customers achieve green product certification

What are the material issues the company has identified?

In its 2016 Corporate Social Responsibility Report Inventec identified a range of material issues, such as employee welfare, financial performance, customer satisfaction, supplier management, labour laws conformity. Among these, reducing the environmental impact of its products stands out as a key material issue for Inventec.

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 Inventec engages with:

Stakeholder Group                Method of engagement
Employee
·      Employee caring conferences

·      Employee symposiums

·      Leader symposiums

·      Employee suggestion boxes
Customer

 
·      Standards, audit or questionnaire survey proposed by customers
Government agency
·      Corporate annual report, CSR report preparation rules

·      Official documents from government department, in-plant inspection and declaration requirements

·      Government policy propaganda and project applications
Supplier (including contractor)
·      Questionnaire filled in by supplier
Shareholder/investor
·      Website

·      Board of Shareholders

·      Media news
Community ·      Suggestions or questionnaire survey proposed by community
Reporters ·      Questionnaire survey proposed by Reporter
Non-governmental organisations ·      Suggestions or questionnaire survey proposed by non-governmental organisations

How stakeholder engagement was made to identify material issues

To identify and prioritise material topics, Inventec obtained feedback from its stakeholders through a questionnaire.

What actions were taken by Inventec to reduce the environmental impact of its products?

In its 2016 Corporate Social Responsibility Report Inventec reports that it took the following actions for reducing the environmental impact of its products:

  • Implementing green design
  • Inventec integrates aspects such as environmental protection and safety into product development, design and life cycle, as well as into the manufacturing process. The company uses a selection of raw materials and product design of easy disassembly, to reduce products’ environmental impacts while retaining a competitive product price, efficiency and quality. Inventec’s green design strategy means that the company:
    • spares no efforts in seeking new ways to reduce environmental impacts
    • reduces total energy consumption in the product life cycle
    • relieves land burden
    • designs products for durability, best operability, reuse, recovery and recycling
    • avoids using, in products, raw materials that contain toxic substances
  • Producing green products
  • Starting in 2006, Inventec has established the “IECQ QC 080000 Hazardous Substance Process Management System” and has, since, been passing 3rd Party SGS validation on an annual basis. In addition, Inventec has established a green number list to strengthen the requirements for manufacturing greener products, including the properties of materials used, which are subject to green product design requirements. In its plants, Inventec uses XRF (X-ray fluorescence) instruments to examine materials entering the production line and also performs spot tests to further prevent incoming non-conforming materials, to achieve the goal of 100 per cent green product identification, green component incoming rates, and green process execution rates.
  • Helping customers achieve green product certification
  • Responding to environmental protection legal issues in various countries and seeking to provide global customers with more environmentally friendly products and services, Inventec helps customers acquire product green mark certification, including the Taiwan Green Mark, the China Green Mark (SEPA), the China Energy Saving Mark (CECP), the China Energy Label (CEL), Energy Star, and the Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool (EPEAT).

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

The GRI Standard addressed in this case is:

Disclosure 302-5 Reductions in energy requirements of products and services

Disclosure 302-5 Reductions in energy requirements of products and services corresponds to:

 

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

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

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

7 GRI sustainability disclosures get you started

Any size business can start taking sustainability action

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

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

See upcoming training dates.

 

References:

1) This case study is based on published information by Inventec, 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 Inventec: 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.

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]]> Chartered Institute of Marketing (UK): Millennials love CSR https://sustaincase.com/chartered-institute-of-marketing-uk-millennials-love-csr/ Tue, 19 Dec 2017 17:17:47 +0000 https://ccprowebs.com/new-sustaincase.com/?p=2042 Based on the findings of relevant surveys, the Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM) identified a number of key behaviour patterns in millennial consumers (18- to 34-year-olds) regarding Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR): 81% of millennials would like companies to publicly commit to CSR values 92% of millennials would choose to buy from a company committed to ethical business practices 64% of millennial females bought, in the past year, a cause-related product 82% of millennials would strive to be employed by a company recognized for its commitment to business ethics More than 9 out of 10 millennials would change brands to a […]

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Based on the findings of relevant surveys, the Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM) identified a number of key behaviour patterns in millennial consumers (18- to 34-year-olds) regarding Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR):

  • 81% of millennials would like companies to publicly commit to CSR values
  • 92% of millennials would choose to buy from a company committed to ethical business practices
  • 64% of millennial females bought, in the past year, a cause-related product
  • 82% of millennials would strive to be employed by a company recognized for its commitment to business ethicsunnamed2
  • More than 9 out of 10 millennials would change brands to a cause-related one
  • 73% of millennials would pay extra for sustainable offerings – a significant increase from 50% in 2014

Moreover, according to the surveys, millennials would:

  • buy environmentally or socially beneficial products
  • offer voluntary support for a cause promoted by a trusted company
  • express their views to a company regarding its CSR programs
  • mention to their friends and family a company’s CSR initiatives

 

References:

This article was compiled using a publication by the Chartered Institute of Marketing. For the sake of readability, we did not use brackets or ellipses but made sure that the extra or missing words did not change the publication’s meaning. If you would like to quote these written sources from the original please revert to the links below:

https://exchange.cim.co.uk/infographic/millennials-love-csr/?utm_source=Exchange%20newsletter&utm_campaign=Exchange%20newsletter&utm_medium=Email&_cldee=c2ltb25AZmJyaC5ldQ%3d%3d&recipientid=contact-45545ffae8f4e4118103c4346bad1218-c1c53dcf21664731945075fba1549b47&esid=6f74b51b-5aaa-e611-80ef-5065f38bc591&urlid=2

https://www.philanthropy.com/items/biz/pdf/AflacCorporateSocialResponsibility.pdf

http://www.conecomm.com/research-blog/2015-cone-communications-millennial-csr-study

http://www.nielsen.com/us/en/insights/reports/2015/the-sustainability-imperative.html

 

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]]> Case study: How Huawei is developing eco-friendly products https://sustaincase.com/case-study-how-huawei-is-developing-eco-friendly-products/ Sat, 18 Mar 2017 14:04:37 +0000 http://sustaincase.com/?p=1118 As a leading global information and communications technology (ICT) solutions provider, with ICT solutions, products and services used in more than 170 countries and regions, serving nearly 3 billion people around the world, Huawei, realizing that the ICT industry will inevitably play a major role in addressing challenges such as climate change, pollution and resource shortages, strives to provide customers with world-leading green and energy-efficient products and solutions. This case study is based on the 2014 Sustainability Report by Huawei published on the Global Reporting Initiative Sustainability Disclosure Database that can be found at this link. Through all case studies we […]

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]]> As a leading global information and communications technology (ICT) solutions provider, with ICT solutions, products and services used in more than 170 countries and regions, serving nearly 3 billion people around the world, Huawei, realizing that the ICT industry will inevitably play a major role in addressing challenges such as climate change, pollution and resource shortages, strives to provide customers with world-leading green and energy-efficient products and solutions.

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

Huawei has incorporated green ICT concepts into the entire lifecycle of products  Tweet This!, constantly looking for innovative ways to enhance the energy efficiency of Huawei products and minimize their environmental impact. After measuring and setting targets, Huawei took action to increase the energy efficiency of its wireless products, reduce the energy consumption of smartphones, adopt the Quick-LCA methodology to assess the environmental impact of Huawei’s product design, assess the water footprint of mobile phones – Huawei’s Honor 6 Plus became the world’s first mobile phone to be issued with a Product Water Footprint Verification Statement –, utilize eco-friendly materials to reduce the environmental impact of its products and, also, use packaging materials that are eco-friendly, safe, reusable, renewable and meet sustainability requirements.

What are the material issues the company has identified?

In its 2014 Sustainability Report Huawei identified a range of material issues, such as integrity and operational compliance, product safety, communications for all, ICT application. Among these, realizing that the ICT industry will inevitably play a major role in addressing challenges such as climate change, pollution and resource shortages, developing eco-friendly products stands out as Huawei’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 Huawei engages with:

Stakeholder Group                Method of engagement
Customers/Consumers

 

 ·         Customer satisfaction surveys

·         Onsite dialogues with customers concerning sustainability

·         Industry exhibitions and forums

·         Consumer surveys

·         Huawei Club
Employees ·         Communication with employee representatives

·         Employee well-being activities

·         Organizational climate surveys

·         Communication with the management and suggestion mailbox
Suppliers ·         Global Supplier Sustainability Conference

·         Supplier training and workshops

·         Supplier audits and appraisals
Governments

 

 

 ·         Cooperation on sustainability initiatives

·         Workshops

·         Policy communication meetings
Industry/Standards

Associations

 

 ·         Industry forums and association activities

·         Standards workshops

·         Publication of research achievements
NGO ·         Sustainability conferences

·         Joint cooperation projects

·         Workshops
Media ·         Sustainability conferences

·         Media interviews
Research Institutes/

Academia

 

 ·         Workshops

·         Sustainability report

·         Cooperation on ICT training and development
Community groups

 

 ·         Regular meetings

·         Charitable donations

·         Training

How stakeholder engagement was made to identify material issues

By managing its material sustainability issues, Huawei can fully understand and prioritize stakeholders’ concerns and respond to them in a more comprehensive and transparent way. In addition, Huawei can effectively identify areas for improvement and optimize sustainability management.

To identify the issues most important to stakeholders, Huawei surveyed over 230 stakeholders in 2014, including customers, employees, suppliers, consumers, governments and NGOs. The survey was conducted through onsite interviews, phone calls and questionnaires. It elicited an extremely active response from stakeholders, with a response rate of 98%.

What actions were taken by Huawei to develop eco-friendly products?

In its 2014 Sustainability Report Huawei set the following targets for developing eco-friendly products, based on the company’s approach to materiality – on taking action on what matters, where it matters:

  • Increasing the energy efficiency of wireless products

Through continuous innovation, Huawei has made huge breakthroughs in new power amplifier applications and new energy-saving technologies for LTE and HetNet (heterogeneous network). In 2014, Huawei increased the energy efficiency of its wireless products by nearly 23% compared to 2012 and sold energy-saving features and solutions to a huge number of carriers worldwide.

  • Reducing the energy consumption of smartphones

A long battery life is crucial for smartphones. To save energy, a mobile phone must have a powerful chip. In 2014, Huawei launched the Kirin 920 and 925 chips, which boast leading octa-core big.LITTLE architecture and 28 nm technology. These chips ensure high performance while decreasing energy consumption. Coupled with Huawei’s smart energy-saving technology, they boost smartphones’ performance and battery life. Powered by the Kirin 925 chip, the battery of the Huawei Ascend Mate7 smartphone can last for over two days with ordinary use.

  • Adopting the Quick-LCA methodology to assess the environmental impact of Huawei’s product design

In the ICT industry, Huawei is one of the leaders in ecological impact assessment and standardization, especially when it comes to ICT equipment lifecycle assessment (LCA) and mobile device eco-rating. In 2014, Huawei facilitated and contributed to the agreement between ITU (International Telecommunication Union) and ETSI (European Telecommunications Standards Institute) on the environmental impact assessment methodology and standards for ICT products, networks and services. Huawei also played a crucial part in setting and promoting eco-rating standards for the mobile phone industry. Over the years, Huawei has been adopting the Quick-LCA methodology to assess the environmental impact of its product design. In 2014, Huawei expanded this methodology and combined key product ecological indicators to develop the EcoSmarT methodology that guides the product eco-design and development process.

  • Assessing the water footprint of mobile phones

The product water footprint refers to the amount of freshwater consumed directly or indirectly throughout a supply chain to produce a product. It is a multidimensional indicator involving total water consumption, water source type, total pollution and pollution type. The product water footprint assessment is designed to evaluate the direct and indirect water use of a consumer or producer. It can be viewed as a comprehensive indicator for measuring water use. In cooperation with TUV SUD (an international certification organization) and based on industry standards, in 2014, Huawei developed its capabilities at analyzing the water footprint of device products. As a result, Huawei was able to assess the water footprint of two mobile phones. Huawei’s Honor 6 Plus became the world’s first mobile phone to be issued with a Product Water Footprint Verification Statement. Huawei is the first company to assess the water footprint of mobile phones and attaches great importance to water management and protection. Huawei’s efforts are conducive to promoting environmental protection in the mobile phone industry. Mobile phones are now an integral part of daily life. Therefore, Huawei mobile phones that feature the Product Water Footprint Verification Statement will greatly raise consumers’ environmental awareness and reshape their consumption habits. During product design and manufacturing, results of water footprint assessments are taken into account to maximize water utilization and minimize water consumption and pollution. In the future, Huawei will continue to adopt leading sustainability assessment methodologies and tools during its operations, product design, manufacturing and sales processes. Huawei aims to offer more eco-friendly products to consumers.

  • Utilizing eco-friendly materials to reduce the environmental impact of products

Eco-friendly materials promise multiple benefits to minimize negative environmental impacts. At the beginning of the product lifecycle, eco-friendly materials can indirectly reduce resource consumption and environmental damage. At the end of the product lifecycle, they can minimize waste and reduce the amount of energy needed for waste disposal. Compared to traditional materials, eco-friendly materials can be applied more flexibly and on a larger scale. Huawei has enthusiastically explored and utilized new eco-friendly materials to reduce environmental impact to the greatest extent possible.

Use of Bioplastics: Huawei has used bioplastics in its mobile phones since 2013. Bioplastics are much more eco-friendly than traditional plastics because they are made from plant extracts rather than petroleum – a non-renewable energy source. Therefore, bioplastics can help greatly reduce environmental pollution and damage. In 2014, bioplastics were used in more Huawei products, including the G730, P7, Mate7 and Honor 6 Plus mobile phones. The bioplastics of each product contain over 10% of castor oil.

Soy Ink for Greener Printing: Soy ink contains a proportion of soy oil. It reduces reliance on petroleum, prints well and is much safer than traditional inks due to fewer volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Products printed with soy ink are easy to de-ink, which enables packaging materials to be recycled. Huawei has extensively used soy ink in its device product packaging since January 2014.

  • Using packaging materials that are eco-friendly, safe, reusable, renewable and meet sustainability requirements

At Huawei, compliance with environmental protection requirements has always been a top priority throughout the lifecycle of packaging materials, from selection and manufacturing to use and disposal. Huawei uses packaging materials that are eco-friendly, safe, reusable, renewable and that meet sustainability requirements. Huawei’s commitment to green packaging reduces both resource use and CO2 emissions. Huawei has developed the green packaging strategy of “6R1D”: Right Packaging (the core), Reduce, Returnable, Reuse, Recycle, Recovery, and Degradable. In 2014, Huawei shipped a total of 247,193 units in green packaging, saving 44,164 m3 in wood and cutting CO2 emissions by 19,130 tons.

Which GRI indicators/Standards have been addressed?

The GRI indicators/Standards addressed in this case are:

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

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

3) G4-EN28: Percentage of products sold and their packaging materials that are reclaimed by category– the updated GRI Standard is: Disclosure 301-3 Reclaimed products and their packaging materials

 

References:

1) This case study is based on published information by Huawei, 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 Huawei: 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.

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]]> Case study: How AT&T provides consumers with environmentally friendly, recyclable and reusable products https://sustaincase.com/case-study-how-att-provides-consumers-with-environmentally-friendly-recyclable-and-reusable-products/ Tue, 21 Feb 2017 13:13:05 +0000 http://sustaincase.com/?p=819 The world population is growing and currently each human being adds significant waste to the planet, over his or her lifetime. Americans toss millions of cell phones each year in favor of newer technology and all those discarded phones are taking a toll on the environment. , accessories and other products responsibly. This case study is based on the 2014 Annual Sustainability Update by AT&T published on the Global Reporting Initiative Sustainability Disclosure Database that can be found at this link. Through all case studies we aim to demonstrate that CSR/ sustainability reporting done responsibly is achieved by identifying a company’s most […]

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]]> The world population is growing and currently each human being adds significant waste to the planet, over his or her lifetime. Americans toss millions of cell phones each year in favor of newer technology and all those discarded phones are taking a toll on the environment. AT&T tries to provide avenues for its customers to reuse, recycle and dispose of phones  Tweet This!, accessories and other products responsibly.

This case study is based on the 2014 Annual Sustainability Update by AT&T published on the Global Reporting Initiative Sustainability Disclosure Database that can be found at this link. Through all case studies we aim to demonstrate that CSR/ sustainability reporting done responsibly is achieved by identifying a company’s most important impacts on the environment and stakeholders and by measuring, managing and changing.

Rapid technology change – with newer cell phone models and other accessories constantly replacing older ones – and low initial cost have resulted in an increasing amount of electronic waste around the globe.  AT&T works with its community of suppliers, customers and community groups to ensure the reuse, recycling and proper disposal of cell phones and other products. After measuring and setting targets, AT&T took action to develop a rating system that helps customers understand the environmental and social factors associated with their devices (the AT&T Eco-Rating system), consider sustainability in product packaging, engage customers about sustainability, provide energy efficient products, encourage customers to use paperless billing and ensure responsible cell phone recycling.

What are the material issues the company has identified?

In its 2014 Annual Sustainability Update AT&T identified a range of material issues, such as social & environmental innovation, network reliability, customer privacy, compensation and benefits, network/data security, greenhouse gas emissions. Among these, given the growing significance of electronic waste as a global problem, providing customers with recyclable and reusable cell phones, accessories and other products stands out as a key material issue for the company.

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 AT&T engages with:

Stakeholder Group
Customers
Employees
Consumer and Privacy Interest Groups
Suppliers
Industry analysts
Environmental and non-governmental organizations (NGOs)
Education and research organizations
Public policy makers
Investors
Community agency groups

How stakeholder engagement was made to identify material issues

AT&T engages a diverse range of stakeholders across all parts of its business. Its Stakeholder Engagement Principles guide its collaboration with its stakeholders. Through a regular materiality assessment, it systematically engages stakeholders and captures their view into what is most important for the company. The assessment provides critical clarity about how AT&T should focus its resources, reporting and communications. In 2013, AT&T worked with Deloitte to conduct its third materiality assessment. With their guidance, AT&T created a list of 47 sustainability-related topics and then collected input from internal and external stakeholders to understand the relative importance of the topics.

Fifty-two stakeholders representing 10 different types of groups provided insight into the prioritization of these topics. AT&T engaged most groups directly through surveys and interviews. When direct engagement was not feasible, it relied on other resources (such as websites, sustainability reports and other communications) as proxies to glean insight into their priorities. These groups included advocacy organizations, employees, consumers, enterprise customers, government, suppliers and analyst firms. Internally, AT&T interviewed 17 business executives who oversee departments that touch these sustainability-related topics to assess and rank their impact on business success.

What actions were taken by AT&T to provide consumers with environmentally friendly, recyclable and reusable products?

In its 2014 Annual Sustainability Update the following targets were set by AT&T for providing consumers with environmentally friendly, recyclable and reusable products, based on the company’s approach to materiality – on taking action on what matters, where it matters:

  • Developing a rating system that helps customers understand the environmental and social factors associated with their devices

It’s easy for customers to compare products on attributes such as cost, technology and appearance. But it’s harder for them to gauge the environmental aspects of a phone, which can encompass everything from how it was manufactured and shipped to how easy it is to recycle. That’s why AT&T developed the AT&T Eco-Rating system, a rating system that provides customers with an easy way to understand the environmental – and now social – factors associated with their devices. The system addresses five environmental attributes using various performance criteria. Device and accessory manufacturers evaluate their products against these attributes, assign 1–5 star consumer labels and submit their assessments, which AT&T reviews to confirm reported data. The composite score – featured in both online and in-store collateral – is based on criteria comprising: a) substances of concern, b) environmentally preferred materials, c) energy efficiency and charging, d) end-of-life and recycling, e) environmentally and socially responsible manufacturing. The program was launched in 2012 with AT&T-branded, postpaid handsets. In 2013, eco-ratings were expanded to cover pre-paid devices and accessories such as power supplies, headsets, speakers and battery cases. The system is complementary to existing standards on sustainable design, but is designed to simplify those complex frameworks for consumers. In 2014 AT&T worked to refresh the system, raise the bar on performance and incorporate social sustainability criteria, as its customers have indicated they’d like more information about labor and human rights practices for the products they buy. AT&T also expanded the system to rate AT&T-branded tablet devices and anticipates that the ratings will continue to evolve and respond to the shifting sustainability landscape and technological advances. The system was developed in collaboration with BSR, a global business network and consultancy focused on sustainability. When AT&T launched the system it was excited to empower consumers, but also found that the system is driving innovation as the company works with manufacturers to continuously improve performance. Rather than focusing on a single device or environmental attribute, it helps AT&T gain a holistic view of its entire portfolio across its life cycle – from design to end-of-life – and advance accordingly. AT&T’s portfolio of devices was rated at about 3 stars out of a total of 5 at launch and has risen to more than 4 stars out of 5.

  • Considering sustainability in product packaging

The useful life of packaging is brief when compared to the lifecycle of products. As a result, it is important to consider sustainability in product packaging to help minimize its environmental footprint. AT&T is working to improve its product packaging throughout its life cycle, including material reuse and reduction, use of environmentally friendly materials from renewable sources, increasing recycled content and end-of-life recyclability and improving transportation efficiency. AT&T is beginning to use a life-cycle approach to evaluate impacts of packaging changes on key sustainability metrics such as energy and water use, greenhouse gas emissions and packaging waste and strives to ensure that the changes made do minimize the environmental impacts of packaging.

  • Engaging customers about sustainability

AT&T also strives to engage its customers about sustainability at EcoSpace, an award-winning online hub that serves as a one-stop consumer site for sustainability information. Designed to motivate customers to participate in AT&T’s sustainability efforts such as paperless billing and phone recycling, AT&T EcoSpace also showcases eco-ratings for devices and accessories, as well as information on initiatives such as It Can Wait, support for the military and the company’s commitment to education.

  • Providing energy efficient products

In 2013, AT&T joined a consortium of industry-leading multi-channel video providers and device manufacturers to launch an unprecedented Set-Top Box Energy Conservation Agreement that would result in annual residential electricity savings of $1.5 billion or more. Through the terms of the program, at least 90 percent of all new set-top boxes purchased and deployed after 2013 would meet the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) ENERGY STAR 3.0 efficiency levels. In 2015, AT&T joined several other companies and industry associations in announcing a voluntary agreement to improve the energy efficiency of internet modems, routers and other in-home equipment that delivers broadband service to millions of Americans. The agreement – to which AT&T is a signatory – set rigorous requirements designed to improve the energy efficiency of small network equipment by 10 to 20 percent compared to typical, recently deployed devices. It covered more than 90 percent of U.S. broadband households – roughly 80 million homes. The new agreement runs through 2017 and is modeled on the successful voluntary agreement for set-top box energy conservation.

  • Encouraging customers to use paperless billing

AT&T encourages customers to use paperless billing and its website www.att.com/simplify is a one-stop resource to choose paperless billing and self-service. In 2014, more than 1.1 million additional customers opted to receive only an electronic bill, bringing the total number of customers going paperless to approximately 20.9 million by the end of 2014. AT&T’s goal is to continue to grow the number of customers using this service.

  • Ensuring responsible cell phone recycling

In 2014, AT&T’s consumer Recycle and Reuse programs collected approximately 4.3 million phones for reuse and recycling, as well as 282,500 pounds of cell phone batteries and accessories. At AT&T, customers can recycle their old phones by dropping them off at an AT&T retail store recycle bin, by taking advantage of the Buyback Program with an AT&T retail associate or online with att.com/buyback and by returning their AT&T Next phone when they upgrade. When customers turn in a phone, AT&T’s goal is to see if a phone can be reused. First, its priority is to protect the customer’s privacy, offering customers tips and detailed information on wiping their devices before they return at www.att.com/recycle. As an additional protection to its customers, once it receives the device, AT&T wipes it of customer-saved data. If the phone can be refurbished, the company does so and puts it back into the marketplace. This is beneficial from an environmental perspective and has the benefit of making phones more affordable to those who might not be able to purchase a new phone at full cost. If the phone can’t be reused in its entirety, AT&T takes it apart and pulls out individual parts that might be reusable (e.g., the camera). The remaining plastics and metals are recycled responsibly. These materials end up in consumer products such as cell phones, PCs and tablets. To ensure responsible recycling, AT&T’s device recycling vendors are R2 certified. The R2 Standard for electronics recycling and refurbishment facilities cover areas such as worker health and safety, environmental protection, chain-of-custody reporting and data security. In summer 2014, AT&T began a pilot project to see how consumers would respond if the company made a charitable donation on their behalf when they traded in a phone for reuse or recycling. When customers brought in a phone for recycling, it facilitated a $5 donation to DonorsChoose, a nonprofit that matches donations to public school teachers in need of supplies, materials and technology for classroom projects. AT&T tested the program in four markets — Austin, Charlotte, Pittsburgh and Seattle — and will be using the findings to inform how it can continue to educate and engage customers about the importance of recycling.

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-EN28: Percentage of products sold and their packaging materials that are reclaimed by category – the updated GRI Standard is: Disclosure 301-3 Reclaimed products and their packaging materials

 

References:

1) This case study was compiled using published information by AT&T which is located at the link below. For the sake of readability, we did not use brackets or ellipses but made sure that the extra or missing words did not change the report’s meaning. If you would like to quote these written sources from the original please revert to the following link:

http://www.about.att.com/csr/reporting (May 2016)

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 AT&T: 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.

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]]> Cone Communications research: Millennials embrace CSR https://sustaincase.com/cone-communications-research-millennials-embrace-csr/ Thu, 26 Jan 2017 12:06:49 +0000 https://ccprowebs.com/new-sustaincase.com/?p=2077 According to the 2015 Cone Communications Millennial CSR Study, based on the findings of a survey among 1,003 18- to 34-year-olds, Millennials show strong support, in a number of ways, for Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) efforts by companies. More specifically: (of comparable quality and price) 87% of Millennials would buy environmentally or socially beneficial products and 59% bought such a product in the past year 88% of Millennials would stop buying products from a company with bad business practices When deciding what to buy or where to go shopping, 81% of Millennials take into account a company’s social and environmental […]

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According to the 2015 Cone Communications Millennial CSR Study, based on the findings of a survey among 1,003 18- to 34-year-olds, Millennials show strong support, in a number of ways, for Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) efforts by companies. More specifically:

  • 91% of Millennials would change brands to a cause-related one  Tweet This! (of comparable quality and price)
  • 87% of Millennials would buy environmentally or socially beneficial products and 59% bought such a product in the past year
  • 88% of Millennials would stop buying products from a company with bad business practices

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  • When deciding what to buy or where to go shopping, 81% of Millennials take into account a company’s social and environmental initiatives
  • 70% of Millennials would pay more for sustainable products
  • A company supporting a social or environmental cause would be seen more positively by 93% of Millennials
  • For 86% of Millennials companies should not just make profits but tackle social and environmental issues
  • 81% and 82% of Millennials, respectively, would like companies to report on their progress in their CSR efforts and generate and communicate outcomes

 

References:

This article was compiled using a study by Cone Communications. For the sake of readability, we did not use brackets or ellipses but made sure that the extra or missing words did not change the study’s meaning. If you would like to quote these written sources from the original please revert to the link below:

http://www.conecomm.com/research-blog/2015-cone-communications-millennial-csr-study

 

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]]> Research by Mintel: 2 out of 4 major consumer trends relate to sustainability https://sustaincase.com/research-by-mintel-2-out-of-4-major-consumer-trends-relate-to-sustainability/ Mon, 28 Nov 2016 13:07:11 +0000 https://ccprowebs.com/new-sustaincase.com/?p=2007 Four major consumer trends were recently identified by market research firm Mintel, affecting both consumer behaviour and how businesses engage with shoppers, and two relate to sustainability:   Bad business practices do not go unnoticed by consumers Consumers, increasingly aware of their rights, using digital platforms to express their views on companies, brands and products, pay greater attention to corporate practices and policies, feeling empowered to condemn and, possibly, change bad company practices: Company policies, such as a company’s ethical treatment of workers (44%) significantly influence consumers in their purchasing choices In the US, for 82% of restaurant customers the […]

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Four major consumer trends were recently identified by market research firm Mintel, affecting both consumer behaviour and how businesses engage with shoppers, and two relate to sustainability:

 

Bad business practices do not go unnoticed by consumers

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  • Consumers, increasingly aware of their rights, using digital platforms to express their views on companies, brands and products, pay greater attention to corporate practices and policies, feeling empowered to condemn and, possibly, change bad company practices:
    • Company policies, such as a company’s ethical treatment of workers (44%) significantly influence consumers in their purchasing choices
    • In the US, for 82% of restaurant customers the fair treatment of its employees will influence them in choosing a restaurant
    • In the UK, for 79% of consumers a clothing company’s returns policy will affect them in their shopping decisions

 

Consumers expect companies to care more about the environment

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  • Consumers across the globe increasingly care about emissions, urban pollution and the environmental impact of products, alongside a company’s environmental protection initiatives, using technology (relevant apps) that enables them to examine a product’s environmental performance:
    • 76% of UK adults consider the green credentials of products they buy, together with manufacturing and distribution practices and a company’s or brand’s reputation
    • 64% of US consumers expect companies to be more environmentally friendly
    • For 91% of Brazilian consumers, “green actions from companies can really have an effect on the world’s environment”
    • 41% of US consumers said they care about the environmental impact of products they buy

 

 

References:

This article was compiled using a report by Mintel. For the sake of readability, we did not use brackets or ellipses but 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 link below:

http://www.mintel.com/press-centre/social-and-lifestyle/mintel-identifies-four-key-uk-consumer-trends-for-2015

 

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]]> How not to be accused of Greenwashing https://sustaincase.com/how-not-to-be-accused-of-greenwashing/ Sat, 09 Apr 2016 09:36:54 +0000 https://ccprowebs.com/new-sustaincase.com/?p=5918 Greenwashing (misleadingly using green PR or green marketing to create a perception that a company’s products or services are environmentally friendly and/or socially responsible) is not new, but is being increasingly used by businesses due to heightened consumer demand for environmentally friendly/ socially responsible brands and services.   The three key questions you should be asking to make sure your company is not greenwashing are: Have you already identified your most important impacts (materiality), the effect your company has on the economy, the environment and/or society – which in turn can illustrate your organization’s contribution to sustainable development? Are you […]

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]]> Greenwashing (misleadingly using green PR or green marketing to create a perception that a company’s products or services are environmentally friendly and/or socially responsible) is not new, but is being increasingly used by businesses due to heightened consumer demand for environmentally friendly/ socially responsible brands and services.

 

How can you make sure your company is not greenwashing?   Tweet This!

The three key questions you should be asking to make sure your company is not greenwashing are:

  • Have you already identified your most important impacts (materiality), the effect your company has on the economy, the environment and/or society – which in turn can illustrate your organization’s contribution to sustainable development?
  • Are you taking real, specific, continuous actions to minimise negative and increase positive impacts (measure > manage > change)?
  • Are you dealing with your impacts in an all-round, complete way? Is your company dealing openly and effectively with its environmental, economic and social impacts – instead of just focusing on actions that are good for publicity and PR?

Building trust with key stakeholders which are important for business success

Meaningful sustainability reporting that builds trust with stakeholders (such as top talent, investors, customers, suppliers, business partners, regulators, NGOs and local communities) is of key importance for any company producing a sustainability report. It can be achieved by:

  • demonstrating that you have a plan of action and will benefit from the sustainable “Green” economy.
  • providing, through the report, a balanced view of the organization’s sustainability performance, including both positive and negative aspects
  • engaging stakeholders based on internationally recognized guidelines
  • mapping the organization’s value chain and taking action on all impacts (due diligence)
  • making sure material topics chosen are consistent with industry best practices.
  • providing information on material topics and narrative context for significant impacts
  • connecting sustainability impacts and the company’s business strategy

Applying GRI’s Reporting Principles is the key to avoid ‘greenwashing’ – especially the following:

  • Balance: Both positive and negative impacts should be reported on, to allow a reasoned evaluation of sustainability performance.
    • Does the emphasis on the various topics reflect their relative priority?
    • Are both favourable and unfavourable results and topics being covered?
  • Comparability: Stakeholders should be able to analyze the organization’s performance in comparison with other organizations and over time.
    • Can information be compared on a year-to-year basis?
  • Timeliness: Organizations should produce reports regularly, providing information in time for stakeholders to make informed decisions.
  • Accuracy: The reported information should be accurate and detailed.
    • The margin of error for quantitative data is not sufficient to influence substantially the ability of stakeholders to reach appropriate and informed conclusions.
  • Clarity: Information should be comprehensible and accessible to stakeholders.
    • Excessive and unnecessary detail must be avoided.
    • Is information available to stakeholders, including those with particular accessibility needs, such as differing abilities, language or technology?
  • Verifiability: The processes used to gather, record, compile, and analyze information in such a way that the information can be examined to establish its quality.
    • Is the scope and extent of external assurance identified?
    • Has your assurance provider passed the GRI exam and is a GRI Certified Sustainability Professional (name published on the GRI website)?

Taking action to ensure that you are not greenwashing with the use of the GRI Standards

We propose you use the GRI Standards: an all-round, complete, structured, methodical and highly flexible approach adopted by 80% of the world’s 250 largest companies. Whether you are seeking to take action on the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) or need to implement a sustainable development plan for your company, the GRI Standards guide you every step of the way to identify and implement the decisions that matter. Most importantly, detailed requirements and guidance are provided, so you can begin to take action to minimise not only your company’s negative impacts, but also negative impacts within your supply chain.

Key facts about the Global Reporting Initiative’s (GRI) Standards:

  • 80% of the world’s 250 largest companies issue sustainability/ ESG reports using GRI’s Sustainability Reporting Guidelines.
  • GRI is co-constructing with the EU the Directive for non-financial reporting (CSRD)
  • The GRI Standards can be used by any organization, regardless of sector, size and location.
  • GRI and the UN Global Compact have joined forces to enable measuring and reporting on the SDGs with the use of the GRI Standards.
  • Under the terms of a Memorandum of Understanding signed in 2010, the UN Global Compact adopts the GRI Standards as the recommended reporting framework for companies to communicate on progress made.
  • The Global Reporting Initiative has global strategic partnerships with the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development, the United Nations Environment Programme and the United Nations Global Compact, with its framework enjoying synergies with the guidance of the International Finance Corporation, the International Organization for Standardization’s ISO 26000, the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development and the Earth Charter Initiative.
  • The GRI Standards main focus focused on taking action on what matters where it matters: companies identify their impacts on the environment and stakeholders, measure, set targets, take action to minimise their negative impacts and increase their positive impacts, report the outcomes in their ESG/ Sustainability report.


GRI Standards Certified & ISEP recognised course – LONDON

Geared for busy professionals:

This GRI Certified, ISEP Approved and CIM recognised course is geared for busy professionals who want to understand how to proceed and create a 1st Class GRI Standards Sustainability Report and have a plan for immediate action without wasting time.

Learn how to prepare a 1st Class GRI Standards Sustainability Report to address:

• the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

• the EU Directive for Non-Financial Reporting

• Stock Exchange ESG Rules

• other frameworks /regulations

The FBRH GRI Certified courses take place every month in London (realtime remote training or classroom courses). You can book your place at this link.

Successful participants receive certificates from the Global Reporting Initiative, Continuous Professional Development (CPD) and the Institute of Environmental Management & Assessment (ISEP).

 

 

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.

 

References:

This article was compiled using publications by GRI and information at www.fbrh.co.uk. For the sake of readability, we did not use brackets or ellipses. We made sure that the extra or missing words did not change the publications’ meaning. If you would like to quote these written sources from the original please revert to the links below:

https://www.globalreporting.org/resourcelibrary/Meaningful-reporting-How-to-avoid-greenwashing.pdf

GRI 1: Foundation

www.fbrh.co.uk

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