Grundfos 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... Fri, 03 Mar 2023 11:06:28 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=7.0.3 Case study: How Grundfos combats corruption https://sustaincase.com/case-study-how-grundfos-combats-corruption/ Mon, 23 Aug 2021 06:11:49 +0000 https://ccprowebs.com/new-sustaincase.com/?p=12834 With operations in 58 countries, 19,060 employees serving its customers worldwide and 35 plants around the world, Grundfos has been working to meet the needs of its customers by developing the most energy-efficient solutions for every aspect of water use, from drinking water and water treatment to sanitation and temperature control. Grundfos’ commitment to fighting corruption at every level of its value chain applies to all employees in every country, including board members and the Grundfos Foundation. This case study is based on the 2019 Sustainability Report by Grundfos published on the Global Reporting Initiative Sustainability Disclosure Database that can be […]

The post Case study: How Grundfos combats corruption appeared first on SustainCase - Sustainability Magazine.

]]> With operations in 58 countries, 19,060 employees serving its customers worldwide and 35 plants around the world, Grundfos has been working to meet the needs of its customers by developing the most energy-efficient solutions for every aspect of water use, from drinking water and water treatment to sanitation and temperature control. Grundfos’ commitment to fighting corruption at every level of its value chain applies to all employees in every country, including board members and the Grundfos Foundation.

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

Abstract

Recognising that corruption negatively impacts sustainable development, encourages illegal activity and diminishes democracy, Grundfos has a zero-tolerance policy for bribery & corruption of any form.  Tweet This! In order to combat corruption Grundfos took action to:

  • implement internal controls and audits
  • conduct compliance screening
  • carry out risk assessments

What are the material issues the company has identified?          

In its 2019 Sustainability Report Grundfos identified a range of material issues, such as business performance, human rights, diversity and inclusion, environmental and water-related issues, climate change initiatives. Among these, combatting corruption stands out as a key material issue for Grundfos.

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 Grundfos engages with: 

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

Stakeholder Group                Method of engagement
Customers

 

 

 ·      Customer survey

·      Materiality assessment

·      Websites

·      E-learning (Grundfos for Installers)

·      Online tool for wholesalers (MyGrundfos)

·      Social media

·      Direct contact through sales

·      Customer meetings

·      Industry trade group meetings

·      Conferences

·      Exhibitions

·      Awards
Employees

 

 

 

 ·      Employee Motivation and Satisfaction (EMS) survey

·      Code of Conduct

·      Intranet

·      Town hall meetings

·      Training & learning warehouse

·      G-learn

·      Whistleblower system

·      Safety week

·      Water2Life

·      Materiality assessment
Suppliers

 

 

 ·      Supplier Code of Conduct and training

·      Direct local engagement

·      Employee volunteers

·      Collaborative partnerships

·      Sponsorships

·      Awards

·      Materiality assessment
Global and local partners

 

 

 ·      For Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) partners, Grundfos has key account managers who hold regular annual meetings

·      Materiality assessment
Local communities

 

 ·      Direct local engagement

·      Employee volunteers

·      Collaborative partnerships

·      Sponsorships

·      Materiality assessment
NGOs

 

 

 

 

 

 ·      Governmental affairs liaisons

·      Direct engagement

·      Meetings

·      Advocacy

·      Dialogue

·      Materiality assessment
Development banks and advocacy organisations ·      Direct engagement

·      Meetings

·      Advocacy

·      Dialogue
Government and policy makers ·      Governmental affairs

·      Liaisons

·      Direct engagement

·      Meetings

·      Advocacy

·      Dialogue

What actions were taken by Grundfos to combat corruption?

In its 2019 Sustainability Report Grundfos reports that it took the following actions for combatting corruption:

  • Implementing internal controls and audits
  • To minimise the risk of corruption, Grundfos implements a number of rules regarding day-to-day processes. These include a mandatory ‘foureye’ principle stipulating that all transactions require approval from two people, and contract templates containing strict anti-corruption clauses stipulating Grundfos’ right to terminate in case of a breach. Monthly performance reports provide detailed information about the functioning of various business units. Grundfos’ Group Internal Audit Services (GIAS) issued a handbook that outlines the controls Grundfos expects to have in place within Grundfos companies. Since 2018, GIAS has worked together with central- and local finance organisations to roll out a list of key controls that make the Grundfos control environment stronger and more efficient. Process owners can assess the effectiveness of these controls through a central monitoring system. In 2019, GIAS introduced a fraud response plan, which is accessible on Insite (Grundfos’ internal communication platform). This initiative was undertaken to increase awareness of different types of fraud, and to provide a step-by-step guide for reporting and resolving incidents of fraud. Experience from audit visits and the use of the Fraud Response Plan allow GIAS to revise and update processes, procedures, and controls throughout Grundfos.
  • Conducting compliance screening
  • To minimise risk, Grundfos makes sure that all parties with whom it is affiliated, are screened against embargo- and sanctioned-party lists. Grundfos conducts full risk assessments prior to any acquisition and when performing business activities within a new business area or location. The legal department or other relevant functions (such as tax or treasure) prepare a report, and preapproval may only be obtained if the required due diligence process has been completed. Final approval by the Grundfos Group Board of Directors is required.
  • Carrying out risk assessments
  • Each year, Grundfos identifies its risk on an enterprise level, with local managers and top leaders carrying out the assessments. Group management then consolidates principal risks and sponsors mitigation activities. A Response and Activity Plan was formulated in 2018 by the legal department (amended in 2019) to cover and coordinate company activities designed to mitigate the identified risks. Relevant stakeholders approved the plan to ensure commitment and implementation throughout the organisation. In keeping with this plan, bi-yearly risk assessments are carried out in accordance with the United Nations Global Compact “Risk Assessment Guide.”

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

The GRI Standard addressed in this case is: Disclosure 205-1 Operations assessed for risks related to corruption

Disclosure 205-1 Operations assessed for risks related to corruption 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 Grundfos, 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 Grundfos: 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 Grundfos combats corruption appeared first on SustainCase - Sustainability Magazine.

]]> Case study: How Grundfos promotes sustainable water use https://sustaincase.com/case-study-how-grundfos-promotes-sustainable-water-use/ Sun, 02 Feb 2020 16:29:20 +0000 https://ccprowebs.com/new-sustaincase.com/?p=10406 Grundfos is one of the world’s leading providers of pump solutions, supplying complete pumping systems and solutions for buildings, industry and every aspect of water use, with annual production standing at more than 17 million units. With water scarcity affecting more than 40% of the world’s population, Grundfos seeks to contribute to meeting the global water challenge through technology and by utilising new business models to introduce sustainable solutions. This case study is based on the 2017 Sustainability Report by Grundfos published on the Global Reporting Initiative Sustainability Disclosure Database that can be found at this link. Through all case studies […]

The post Case study: How Grundfos promotes sustainable water use appeared first on SustainCase - Sustainability Magazine.

]]> Grundfos is one of the world’s leading providers of pump solutions, supplying complete pumping systems and solutions for buildings, industry and every aspect of water use, with annual production standing at more than 17 million units. With water scarcity affecting more than 40% of the world’s population, Grundfos seeks to contribute to meeting the global water challenge through technology and by utilising new business models to introduce sustainable solutions.

This case study is based on the 2017 Sustainability Report by Grundfos 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

Operating in 56 countries around the globe, Grundfos has the technology and solutions to make a significant contribution to sustainable water use  Tweet This!, measuring progress qualitatively by reaching ever-more people with sustainable solutions and by the quality and innovation value of the partnerships in which Grundfos engages. In order to promote sustainable water use Grundfos took action to:

  • implement the Water2Life programme
  • deliver Lifelink solutions
  • join partnerships

What are the material issues the company has identified?

In its 2017 Sustainability Report Grundfos identified a range of material issues, such as energy efficiency, product life-cycle, anti-corruption, employee satisfaction, human rights, occupational health & safety. Among these, promoting sustainable water use stands out as a key material issue for Grundfos.

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 Grundfos engages with:

Stakeholder Group                Method of engagement
Customers

 

 ·      Consumer survey

·      Websites

·      Product websites

·      E-learning (Grundfos for installers)

·      Online tool for wholesalers (MyGrundfos)

·      Social media

·      Direct contact through sales

·      Customer meetings

·      Industry trade group meetings

·      Awards (Customer Satisfaction Survey)
Employees ·      EMS (Employee Motivation Survey)

·      Intranet

·      Town hall meetings

·      Training & learning warehouse,

·      Whistleblower system

·      Safety week

·      Water2Life
Suppliers

 

 

 

 

 ·      Direct purchase

·      Supplier awards

·      Supplier Code of Conduct awareness

·      Meetings

·      Audits

·      Trainings

·      Conferences
Global and local partners

 

 

 ·      For Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) partners, Grundfos has key account managers who hold regular meetings with them every year
Local communities

 

 

 

 ·      Direct local engagement

·      Employee volunteers

·      Collaborative partnerships

·      Sponsorships
NGOs

 

 

 

 

 ·      Governmental affairs liaisons

·      Direct engagement

·      Meetings

·      Advocacy

·      Dialogue
Development banks and advocacy organisations

 

 ·      Direct engagement

·      Meetings

·      Advocacy

·      Dialogue
Government & policy makers

 

 ·      Governmental affairs liaisons

·      Direct engagement

·      Meetings

·      Advocacy

·      Dialogue

How stakeholder engagement was made to identify material issues

To identify and prioritise material topics Grundfos engaged a wide range of stakeholders through a materiality survey, asking stakeholders to rank different topics, adding interviews as verification.

What actions were taken by Grundfos to promote sustainable water use?

In its 2017 Sustainability Report Grundfos reports that it took the following actions for promoting sustainable water use:

  • Implementing the Water2Life programme
  • Water2Life is a programme initiated by Grundfos’ employees that seeks to provide clean water to some of the world’s most vulnerable communities. Grundfos’ involvement in projects is framed by a sustainable solution as decided by the company, and is communicated to employees across the world. The approach is evaluated on a yearly basis, by looking at results in terms of engagement and fundraising. The programme works in partnership with a local NGO that suggests where the greatest impact can be had within a region or country. Grundfos determines which project to focus on and proceeds to fundraise the first half of the project, while the local NGO fundraises the second half and manages the daily responsibilities. In 2017, Grundfos wrapped up its Water2Life project in Vietnam. More than 100 km of pipeline connected the homes of 28,000 people to local waterworks, and the project provided sanitation and hygiene education for more than 3,600 school students. Through Water2Life donations, local waterworks in Vietnam provide clean and affordable water to local communities, which creates both a sustainable business model and jobs for local people. In September 2017, Grundfos partnered with Water Mission and launched a new three-year project in Honduras, bringing clean water to schools and hospitals.
  • Delivering Lifelink solutions
  • Grundfos Lifelink represents Grundfos’ commitment to providing customised sustainable water solutions serving low-income communities in the developing world. By supporting revenue collection, transparency and smarter water management, Lifelink solutions enable water service providers to deliver a sustainable long-term community supply. Grundfos delivers Lifelink solutions to treat surface water in communities that do not have access to potable water or water of sufficient quality for domestic purposes, and combines solar-powered pumps, water treatment (AQpure) and intelligent water ATMs (AQtaps) with online water management and professional service to provide water kiosks connected to groundwater or surface water supplies. Lifelink solutions also build on partnerships across sectors. In 2017, the Grundfos Lifelink team continued building partnerships to bring sustainable access to safe water for low-income communities. Together with World Vision Kenya and funded by the Stone Family Foundation, Grundfos finalised the implementation of 46 automated solar powered water kiosks for 11 water projects in Kenya. Grundfos also engaged with Kenyan mobile operator Safaricom, which made available a special data package at an affordable price so that local communities could access the mobile payment platform for tapping water 24/7 at the AQtaps, and delivered Lifelink solutions to treat surface water in communities that had no access to clean and drinkable water. In West Bengal, India, Grundfos’ ultra-filtration (UF) membrane-based Grundfos AQpure solution is up and running, to treat water for a large village that is surrounded by saline and contaminated surface water. 
  • Joining partnerships
  • For Grundfos, the main value of partnerships is in making a greater difference in the world, particularly when working in unchartered areas. Through SDG #17 on partnerships, Grundfos can achieve its aim to take water of the required quality to where it is needed. Some of Grundfos’ significant partnerships in 2017 are:
    • ADRA International: Grundfos collaborated with the humanitarian organisation ADRA International, to provide access to clean water for 1.5 million people in Asia, Africa, Central and South America, and the South Pacific over a period of five years. Grundfos’ innovative technology will improve access to water and hygiene resources in under-served peri-urban communities.
    • Ghana Ministry of Water: Grundfos and the Ghanaian Minister for Sanitation and Water Resources signed a Memorandum of Understanding on improving clean water supply for the people of Ghana. Grundfos solutions deployed in both urban and rural areas of the West African country include solar-driven pumps, which are particularly suited for areas with unreliable or non-existent power supplies. Furthermore, the focus is on capacity building and training.
    • Danish Refugee Council: Grundfos partnered with the Danish Refugee Council’s Business-Humanitarian Partnership Lab, bringing the first water solutions to the Bidi Bidi refugee camp.
    • 2030 Water Resources Group: In 2016, Grundfos joined the prestigious 2030 Water Resources Group, named for the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the SDGs that guide its goals. The group brings together public, private and civil society at country level to have an open discussion about water management and to develop concrete proposals that can help drive action on the management of water resources.
    • World Vision: During 2016 and 2017, Grundfos’ partnership with World Vision benefited more than 700,000 people. In 2016, Grundfos recorded over 322,000 people from nine countries who had access to clean water and in 2017 reached a further 384,500 people from eight countries, including Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Ethiopia, and Zambia.

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

The GRI Standard addressed in this case is: Disclosure 203-1 Infrastructure investments and services supported

 

Disclosure 203-1 Infrastructure investments and services supported 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 Grundfos, 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 Grundfos: 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 Grundfos promotes sustainable water use appeared first on SustainCase - Sustainability Magazine.

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