What are the material issues the company has identified?

In its 2019 Corporate Social Responsibility and Sustainability Report Tenneco identified a range of material issues, such as ethics & compliance, global human rights, responsible sourcing, environmental initiatives and goals. Among these, promoting product safety stands out as a key material issue for Tenneco.

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 Tenneco engages with:

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

Stakeholder Group	Method of engagement
Team members	·      Town hall and team member meetings, global webcasts, picnics and special events, training and development, and recognition programmes ·      Euroforum ·      Corporate Social Responsibility & Sustainability Council ·      Enterprise Risk Management ·      Team member engagement surveys
Customers	·      Ford’s Partnership for a Cleaner Environment (PACE) programme ·      Host Customer Technology Days and step-level meeting with customers ·      Participation in OEM Sustainability initiatives, e.g. BMW Sustainability Training for Suppliers, Scania Sustainability Supplier Day ·      Participation in Automotive REACH Task Force
Investors	·      Annual shareholder meeting ·      Quarterly webcasts to discuss financial results ·      Regular participation in global investor and industry conferences ·      Quarterly/annual Form 10 SEC filings
Communities	·      Providing site visits and plant tours, outreach programmes, partnering with local charitable organisations and schools, and environmental stewardship and reforestation projects to communities in which Tenneco’s facilities are located ·      Many of Tenneco’s US-based locations support United Way and Tenneco’s Southfield, Michigan location provides support through a fundraising campaign
Suppliers	·      Participation in Automotive Industry Action Group (AIAG) and European Association of Automotive Suppliers (CLEPA) Sustainability/ CSR Expert Group ·      Supplier Diversity Programme
Government and Regulatory Agencies	·      The Clean Air Division is currently working with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on emissions reduction strategies
Trade Associations	·      Tenneco participates and has a seat on the board of directors of the AIAG, and the Automotive Aftermarket Suppliers Association (AASA) ·      Tenneco is active within the Motor and Equipment Manufacturers Association, the AutoCare Association and Women in Autocare, the Original Equipment Suppliers Association and the Manufacturers of Emissions Controls, European Automotive Suppliers Association

What actions were taken by Tenneco to promote product safety?

In its 2019 Corporate Social Responsibility and Sustainability Report Tenneco reports that it took the following actions for promoting product safety:

• Establishing a Global Warranty Committee
• Tenneco established a Global Warranty Committee (GWC), a cross-functional group representing C-suite executives and functional leaders including Engineering, Quality, Operations and Legal, which holds management oversight for Product Safety and Quality issues, at the corporate level. The GWC is governed by a formal policy document, including communication and escalation of warranty and product safety issues. The GWC obtains legal advice from the Legal Department about Tenneco’s regulatory and financial reporting obligations concerning potential Warranty Events, TREAD Events, and Recall Events after soliciting and receiving information from many sources within Tenneco, including information elevated by its business groups.

• Implementing a Product Safety process
• Tenneco benchmarked best practices and the current state of product safety to better develop processes for identifying risks and preventing issues, and assessed roadmaps for product risks and opportunities, identifying immediate process improvements in addition to holding several workshops to improve the way it assesses product safety risk in Its engineering process. Additionally, the GWC created and implemented an internal escalation procedure that requires escalation of potential product safety issues. Location managers, quality managers, or designated person(s) are required to notify management of potential issues, which are then reviewed through the escalation process and generally brought to the Quality and/or Legal departments to determine the level of escalation and corrective action process required to address the issue. Tenneco’s Product Safety process works across functions of its business groups through the GWC to improve the relevant business processes that put safe products on the market, aiming to:
  • Reduce risk of future safety defects
  • Reduce risk of launch delay due to compliance
  • Respond to safety issues over the product life cycle

• Carrying out risk assessments
• Risk assessments inclusive of safety metrics were incorporated within all Tenneco’s product manufacturing processes, such as its New and Leading Technology Introduction processes. These processes are consistent with ISO 26262. For example, Tenneco’s safety programme was continuously evaluated using the following nine components:
  • Traceable safety decision process
  • Show safety is highest priority
  • Include product safety in PDP
  • Independent auditing
  • Integrate safety upfront
  • Train organisation in product safety
  • Outside eyes/diversity in reviews
  • Continuous improvement
  • Controlled process at all levels

• Conducting supplier audits
• Tenneco expects all direct material suppliers to certify to, at minimum, the ISO 9001 quality management system. Additionally, as part of the supplier approval process, new direct material suppliers are audited by Tenneco on Quality Management Systems (QMS) topics to ensure conformance to Tenneco’s QMS requirements as highlighted in its Supplier Manual.

• Reporting on materials used
• Tenneco reports on materials used in its products to IMDS (International Material Data System) for traceability and compliance. In addition, Tenneco issued a restricted substance management standard (RSMS) to help make sure that its customers are using parts and components that fully meet applicable legal and customer standards regarding materials used in Tenneco’s products and theirs. This standard seeks to inform Tenneco’s suppliers of the materials that must be excluded from Tenneco’s products altogether and the limits on the amount of certain other materials. These restrictions are primarily based on environmental or other related concerns.

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

The GRI Standards addressed in this case are:

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

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

 

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

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

• Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
• Targets: 16.3

 

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

What are the material issues the company has identified?

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

Stakeholder engagement in accordance with the GRI Standards              

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

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

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

Key stakeholder groups Getac engages with:

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

How stakeholder engagement was made to identify material issues

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

What actions were taken by Getac to promote product safety?

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

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

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

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

The GRI Standards addressed in this case are:

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

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

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

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

 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

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

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

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

FBRH GRI Standards Certified & ISEP recognised Sustainability Course | Venue: London LSE

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

 

References:

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

http://database.globalreporting.org/

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

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

What are the material issues the company has identified?

In its 2016 Sustainability Report GM identified a range of material issues, such as customer satisfaction, vehicle efficiency & emissions, employee relations, operational waste, product innovation. Among these, promoting vehicle safety stands out as a key material issue for GM.

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 GM engages with:

Stakeholder Group

Customers

Investors and analysts

Employees

Suppliers

Dealers and dealer councils

Communities

Governments

Nongovernmental organisations

How stakeholder engagement was made to identify material issues

To identify and prioritise material topics GM carried out two online surveys among GM employees and external stakeholders, asking respondents to prioritise the importance of sustainability topics and subtopics. The surveys were completed by 1,052 GM employees and 367 external stakeholders.

What actions were taken by GM to improve vehicle safety?

In its 2016 Sustainability Report GM reports that it took the following actions for improving vehicle safety:

• Appointing a Vice President of Global Vehicle Safety
• GM has structured its decision-making process for safety issues to include executives at the highest levels of the company. This includes appointing, in 2016, a first-ever Vice President of Global Vehicle Safety. In addition to leading GM’s product safety organisation, this senior executive has global responsibility for developing GM’s vehicle safety systems, confirming and validating GM’s vehicle safety performance, identifying emerging issues and conducting post-sale safety activities, including recalls.

• Expanding product safety resources
• GM has been expanding its Product Safety organisation, adding over 200 employees since 2014. This includes more than 40 new internal product investigators in North America who help identify and quickly resolve possible vehicle safety issues, and 32 safety forensic engineers responsible for early identification of potential vehicle safety issues. Additionally, GM reorganised its Global Vehicle Engineering organisation to improve its cross-system integration and address functional safety and compliance in the vehicle development process.

• Implementing a Speak Up for Safety programme
• GM’s Speak Up for Safety programme aims to offer employees, suppliers and dealers an easy, consistent and unfiltered way to report potential vehicle safety issues. Through a toll-free phone number, a smartphone app, email or the Speak Up for Safety website, submitters can report any potential vehicle safety risks, suggesting safety-related improvements. Subsequently, GM’s dedicated safety team funnels employee concerns to the appropriate departments and, through the entire process, potentially interconnected risks that cross products can be better identified. Employees across GM have embraced Speak Up for Safety and, since the programme’s beginning, over 12,000 concerns and/or suggestions by employees and dealers have been logged globally.

• Using data analytics to identify possible vehicle safety issues
• GM has been making greater use of data analytics, to identify potential vehicle safety issues. A data analytics team is merging multiple inputs (such as Speak Up for Safety submissions and dealer service records) to build a unique, comprehensive database. Statistical analysis and modelling can identify possible issues much earlier, by linking perceived disparate issues.

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

The GRI Standard addressed in this case is: Disclosure 416-1 Assessment of the health and safety impacts of product and service categories

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

 

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

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

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

7 GRI sustainability disclosures get you started

Any size business can start taking sustainability action

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

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

See upcoming training dates.

 

References:

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

What are the material issues the company has identified?

In its 2016 Yearbook Tallink identified a range of material issues, such as customer satisfaction, staff commitment, waste, chemicals and wastewater management, compliance and fair business, economic performance and impact. Among these, ensuring onboard safety stands out as a key material issue for Tallink.

Stakeholder engagement in accordance with the GRI Standards

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

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

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

Key stakeholder groups Tallink engages with:   

Stakeholder Group

Employees

Customers

Shareholders

Suppliers

Partners

Governmental institutions

Educational organizations

Community

NGOs

Media

How stakeholder engagement was made to identify material issues

To identify and prioritize material topics Tallink carried out, through independent external consultants, an online survey among key internal and external stakeholders and, also, organized a stakeholder symposium.

What actions were taken by Tallink to promote onboard safety?

In its 2016 Yearbook Tallink reports that it took the following actions for promoting onboard safety:

• Complying with safety laws and regulations
• Tallink complies with international safety regulations (for example, the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea and the International Ship and Port Facility Security Code) and with the regulations of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), to ensure its operations are safe for passengers and crew members. Moreover, Tallink carries out systematic risk assessments, involving relevant external organizations as needed.

• Carrying out safety training and exercises
• Tallink constantly develops employees’ skills through training and carries out joint training exercises with the authorities of all flag states, including maritime rescue organizations. Accordingly, various training exercises of sea- and air rescue, helicopter, fire, spill prevention and cleanup, equipment, security, take place annually on its vessels. Additionally, once a week fire drills, testing of operations of the watertight doors and lifeboat drills are carried out on all vessels. Once every three months emergency steering drills, emergency flooding drills and MOB (man overboard) drills take place. Finally, every six months joint exercises are carried out. In 2016, two major exercises took place, with the involvement of Police and Border Guard Board, Rescue Board and Medical Emergency.

• Promoting emergency preparedness
• Tallink’s passenger ships have a surgery on board, which is equipped with first aid supplies and drugs. The surgery provides first aid and supports passengers with severe health problems and/or a disability. Additionally, all deck officers and department heads have received medical training to provide first aid. All crew members have also passed a first aid course. Moreover, Tallink’s vessels are equipped with life-saving and survival equipment. The equipment meets all relevant requirements and is ready for use all day, every day, all year round.

Which GRI indicators/Standards have been addressed?

The GRI indicator addressed in this case is: G4-PR2: Total number of incidents of non-compliance with regulations and voluntary codes concerning the health and safety impacts of products and services during their life cycle, by type of outcomes and the updated GRI Standard is: Disclosure 416-2 Incidents of non-compliance concerning the health and safety impacts 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 Tallink, 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 Tallink: With each case study we send out an email requesting a comment on this case study. If you have not received such an email please contact us.

What are the material issues the company has identified?

In its 2016 Sustainability Report Huawei identified a range of material issues, such as broadband inclusion for all, compensation and benefits for employees, actively responding to cyber security challenges, green products and services, communications for all. Among these, promoting product safety stands out as a key material issue for Huawei.

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 ·         Customer meetings ·         Huawei Fan Club (for consumers) ·         Participation in audits, surveys, and collaborative projects on sustainability (e.g., joint audits with the ICT industry’s Joint Audit Cooperation [JAC])
Employees	·         Meetings with employee representatives ·         Employee surveys (e.g., organizational climate survey) ·         Manager feedback process
Suppliers	·         Supplier meetings and audits ·         Supplier contracts and questionnaires ·         Supplier training sessions and conferences (e.g., the Huawei Global Supplier Sustainability Conference)
Governments	·         Government policy meetings ·         Inputs to government standards and consultations ·         Governmental and inter-governmental conferences ·         Participation in government projects (e.g., green projects of the Chinese government)
Industry/Standards Associations	·         Industry forums and working groups (e.g., ITU, GeSI, EICC, and QuEST Forum) ·         Industry standards workshops ·         Publication of research reports (e.g., the ICT Sustainable Development Goals Benchmark Report )
NGOs and Communities	·         Participation in community projects ·         Attending conferences organized by non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and inviting them to attend Huawei’s conferences ·         Meetings on specific issues of mutual concern ·         Responding to requests for information
Media and Opinion Leaders	·         Individual meetings and interviews ·         Specific events for the media and opinion leaders in key markets (e.g., the Huawei Global Analyst Summit) ·         Inviting the media and opinion leaders to attend Huawei’s events ·         Engagement through social media
Research Institutes/ Academia	·         Joint research projects and technology collaboration (e.g., cooperating with a research institute on the ICT Sustainable Development Goals Benchmark Report) ·         Participation in events

How stakeholder engagement was made to identify material issues

To assess and prioritize material issues, identifying issues of highest concern to the company’s stakeholders, Huawei asked, through surveys, multiple stakeholders to rank issues according to importance.

What actions were taken by Huawei to promote product safety?

In its 2016 Sustainability Report Huawei reports that it took the following actions for promoting product safety:

• Controlling electromagnetic radiation
• Huawei has, among others, a dedicated lab for testing the radiation levels of products (for example, mobile phones, tablets and wireless routers) and, also, works together with third-party verification organizations, to make sure that the company’s products comply with security laws and regulations in various countries.

• Improving electrical safety
• To improve the electrical safety of its products Huawei:
  • implements a systematic electrical safety assurance system
  • actively participates in standards initiatives by the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC)
  • has a dedicated electrical safety lab certified by the American Association for Laboratory Accreditation (A2LA) and the China National Accreditation Service for Conformity Assessment (CNAS)
  • has strategic partnerships with major testing and certification organizations like UL, TÜV and ITS
  • carries out product design and testing according to international safety standards and separate national standards

• Promoting the safety of laser products
• To promote the safety of its laser products Huawei:
  • designs, tests and verifies all laser products according to the IEC 60825 security standards
  • has a dedicated laser safety lab for testing the safety of all laser products
  • makes sure that all laser products are certified by major international certification organizations like UL and TÜV

• Promoting safe product design
• Huawei’s ergonomic design team promotes safe product design, on the basis of real user scenarios. Ergonomic design is integrated into all phases of product planning, design, development and testing, to reduce health and safety risks.

• Reducing product noise
• To reduce the noise of a number of products Huawei – whose Environmental Acoustics Lab has achieved ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation by the American Association for Laboratory Accreditation (A2LA) and the China National Accreditation Service for Conformity Assessment (CNAS) – implements industry-leading noise simulation technology and redesigns product sizes and shapes, to minimize noise.

Which GRI indicators/Standards have been addressed?

The GRI indicator addressed in this case is: G4-PR1: Percentage of significant product and service categories for which health and safety impacts are assessed for improvement and the updated GRI Standard is: Disclosure 416-1 Assessment of the health and safety impacts of product and service categories

 

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 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.

What are the material issues the company has identified?

In its 2014 Citizenship and Sustainability Report Johnson & Johnson identified a range of material issues, such as access to and affordability of health care, global health, ethical performance, compliance, product pipeline. Among these, given the expanse of its product portfolio, its global presence and the highly regulated environment in which it operates, [tweetthis]promoting product quality and safety stands out as Johnson & Johnson’s top material issue[/tweetthis].

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 Johnson & Johnson engages with:

Stakeholder Group	Method of engagement
Patients and others who use Johnson & Johnson’s products and services	·         Product packaging, labeling and package inserts ·         Customer call centers ·         Websites ·         Clinical trials ·         Email and conventional mail ·         Market research ·         Brochures ·         Product labeling and inserts
Doctors/nurses/hospitals/health care providers	·         Sales representatives ·         Continuing medical education liaisons ·         Education initiatives ·         Clinical researchers ·         Advisory boards ·         Support and education programs for caregivers ·         Email and conventional mail
Communities	·         Interactions with civic organizations, business groups, schools ·         Community action panels ·         Open houses ·         Facility transparency pages posted to Johnson & Johnson’s Responsibility website ·         Community liaison ·         Annual report
Employees	·         Credo survey ·         Intranet ·         Newsletters ·         Company webcasts ·         Town hall meetings ·         Company meetings ·         Government Affairs & Policy legislative update meetings ·         Quarterly business updates ·         Health Policy Excellence ·         Legislative position and external policy information via the Government Affairs & Policy website ·         Training sessions ·         Employee surveys ·         Work councils and union interactions
External manufacturers, contractors, suppliers	·         Supplier website ·         Workshops ·         Trainings ·         Contract negotiations ·         Performance reviews ·         Webinars ·         Dialogue ·         Auditing
Governments and regulators	·         Government Affairs liaisons ·         Annual report ·         Direct contact ·         Lobbying ·         Johnson & Johnson Legislative Day in Washington, D.C., and similar events at U.S. state and national capitols worldwide ·         Visits to Johnson & Johnson facilities by state and national policy makers
Industry organizations	·         Participation in work groups, meetings, research efforts
Shareholders and the investment community	·         Annual report ·         Annual shareholders meeting ·         Investor updates ·         Press releases ·         Quarterly results presentations ·         Road shows ·         Broker conferences ·         Site visits ·         Dialogue ·         Direct contact
NGOs and charitable organizations	·         Direct contact ·         Dialogue ·         Collaborative partnerships ·         Annual reports
Customers	·         Direct contact through sales, customer relationship managers and members of management as required and/or appropriate
Scientific Community	·         Medical and scientific meetings ·         Training programs and facilities ·         Collaborative research efforts ·         Position paper development

How stakeholder engagement was made to identify material issues

Stakeholder engagement at Johnson & Johnson is a constant, ongoing activity occurring at all levels of the organization. On any given day, Johnson & Johnson employees around the world engage with many different stakeholder groups that share Johnson & Johnson’s interests in advancing human health and well-being, stewarding a healthy environment and leading a dynamic and growing business responsibly.

Johnson & Johnson considers a variety of factors before engaging with stakeholders to ensure the most optimal outcome. Some of these factors include:

• The possible alignments of Johnson & Johnson’s goals and values with that of the stakeholder group;
• Johnson & Johnson’s ability to improve health conditions;
• Johnson & Johnson’s ability to improve social, environmental or other conditions;
• The opportunity that Johnson & Johnson and the stakeholder group have to learn from one another;
• The identity, including the composition and values, of the stakeholder group. The potential for the stakeholder group to have a positive impact on other stakeholder groups, Johnson & Johnson’s customers, the public at large and Johnson & Johnson;
• Johnson & Johnson’s ability to effectively participate in the engagement.

In 2013, Johnson & Johnson conducted a Citizenship & Sustainability materiality assessment to identify those topics of greatest interest to both Johnson & Johnson and its stakeholders; specifically, those reflecting Johnson & Johnson‘s significant economic, environmental and social impacts and those that could substantively influence the assessments and decisions of stakeholders. In 2014, the materiality assessment conducted in 2013 was expanded to include input from a larger group of external stakeholders. Over 200 geographically diverse customers/healthcare providers, universities, suppliers, NGOs and investors were invited to provide input to the process. Responses received were aggregated with the external stakeholder responses received in 2013 and a revised ranking of the material issues was generated.

What actions were taken by Johnson & Johnson to promote product quality and safety?

In its 2014 Citizenship and Sustainability Report Johnson & Johnson set the following targets for promoting product quality and safety, based on the company’s approach to materiality – on taking action on what matters, where it matters:

• Promoting the standardization and implementation of Johnson & Johnson’s Quality Policy across the Johnson & Johnson family of companies

True to its decentralized business model, each member of the Johnson & Johnson Family of Companies maintains its autonomy to best serve its customers at the local level. However, Johnson & Johnson has integrated its total approach to Quality so that it can speak as one company to all its stakeholders, including health authorities, customers and healthcare professionals worldwide. Four years ago Johnson & Johnson formed the Johnson & Johnson Quality & Compliance (J&J Q&C) organization to ensure the standardization and consistent implementation of its Quality Policy and Quality Policy Standards across the Johnson & Johnson Family of Companies. The Johnson & Johnson Quality Policy governs Johnson & Johnson’s operating companies to help ensure they design, make and deliver Johnson & Johnson’s products in a consistent way. A three-phased approach to deploy a common set of Quality Policy Standards was two-thirds complete. Phase 1 deployment completed December 2013; phase 2 completed December 2014; phase 3 was on track for completion by December 2015.

• Promoting compliance through a closed-loop, independent audit approach

A closed-loop, independent audit approach is in place to help ensure facilities and external manufacturing sites operate in compliance to Johnson & Johnson’s Quality Policy and Quality Policy Standards, as well as health authority requirements. Johnson & Johnson has a clear and systematic process in place to remediate compliance gaps and minimize their impact on the customer experience. Results, current status and progress are all reported to business leaders and Johnson & Johnson company governing bodies to help them support their sites’ efforts to achieve compliance in a timely manner. In the first three-year cycle, all of Johnson & Johnson’s facilities have been audited. As part of the closed-loop audit program, all findings are tracked to successful completion. In 2015 the audit program was expanded to include external manufacturing sites, using a phased approach.

• Achieving an integrated and proactive approach to quality, safety and continuous improvement

Johnson & Johnson’s quality and continuous improvement approach includes a Management Review Process that requires each of Johnson & Johnson’s operating company’s executive management to continuously improve quality by reviewing its Quality System every six months to ensure its suitability, adequacy and effectiveness. Independent Quality Review Boards (Quality, Medical, Regulatory representation) within each business unit make decisions independent of commercial considerations to ensure they meet the high-quality standards expected of all Johnson & Johnson companies to do what’s right for Johnson & Johnson’s customers. As a result of these efforts, Johnson & Johnson has achieved an integrated and proactive approach to quality and continuous improvement. For the benefit of its customers, Johnson & Johnson continues to look at quality and safety throughout all phases of product life cycles. Health and safety impacts are assessed for all of Johnson & Johnson’s significant product categories in each business segment throughout the world. In addition, Chief Medical Officers are setting new benchmarks for medical safety and have implemented a consistent global approach for monitoring the use of in-market products.

• Using Johnson & Johnson’s expertise to influence and shape regulations

Johnson & Johnson is exploring new ways to continue to foster its proactive quality culture and use its expertise to engage in leadership roles with external stakeholders to influence and shape regulations, ensuring the Company continues to deliver safe and effective products to improve the lives of its patients and customers. In one example, Johnson & Johnson’s Pharmaceutical segment is piloting segment-wide metrics related to new leading indicators that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is considering to make requirements.

Which GRI indicators/Standards have been addressed?

The GRI indicator addressed in this case is: G4-PR1: Percentage of significant product and service categories for which health and safety impacts are assessed for improvement and the updated GRI Standard is: Disclosure 416-1 Assessment of the health and safety impacts of product and service categories

 

References:

1) This case study is based on published information by Johnson & Johnson, 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 Johnson & Johnson: With each case study we send out an email to your listed address in request for a comment on this case study. If you have not received such an email please contact us.

What are the material issues the company has identified?

In its 2015 Sustainability Report Hyundai identified a range of material issues, such as economic performance, labor-management relations, development of eco-friendly products, job creation and retention. Among these, promoting product safety stands out as a key material issue for Hyundai, as one of the world’s leading global carmakers with product responsibility as a top priority.

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 Hyundai engages with:

Stakeholder Group	Method of engagement
Customers	·         Motor show and new car launching ceremony ·         Test driving ·         Sports sponsorship ·         Customer service ·         Customer satisfaction survey ·         Car club ·         Website ·          Online communication ·         Reports (financial report, sustainability report, social contribution white paper)
Employees	·         Labor-management committee ·         Occupational safety committee ·         Internal publication ·         Newsletter ·         Grievance counseling center ·         Website ·         Reports
Suppliers/Dealers	·         Dealer seminar ·         Dealer conference ·         Dealer related events ·         Dealership conference, seminar and training ·         Supplier satisfaction survey ·         Web portal for purchase ·         Reports
Shareholders/Investors	·         Annual general meeting ·         Company briefing ·         Website
Society	·         Social contributions ·         Communication with local communities near worksite ·         Youth support program ·         Website ·         Report

How stakeholder engagement was made to identify material issues

Hyundai’s sustainability report focuses on high priority issues that have been identified, through rigorous analysis of internal and external issues, as being of highest interest to stakeholders and as having a major impact on business operations. In 2014, a survey was conducted among the staff responsible for key areas of sustainability management in order to identify high priority issues and to measure their materiality.

Important sustainability issues for Hyundai in 2014 were selected through the Materiality Analysis based on two main criteria – business impact and social interest. The top 30% of issues were classified as “Priority 1” and the next 30% were categorized as “Priority 2”. As a result of the analysis, Hyundai found that supplier management had become a new top priority, while the same issues that were analyzed as being material in the previous year were selected as priority issues once again.

What actions were taken by Hyundai to promote product safety?

In its 2015 Sustainability Report Hyundai set the following targets for promoting product safety, based on the company’s approach to materiality – on taking action on what matters, where it matters:

• Introducing accident prevention technologies

Hyundai develops and provides tools that can facilitate safe driving on top of the basic driving and braking features.

Emergency driver assist system: The introduction of the electronic vehicle control system has led to improvements in sensor accuracy and overall vehicle performance. This has led in turn to the development of active safety technology that can detect dangerous situations and take preemptive safety measures. The emergency driver assist system can analyze the location and speed of vehicles in the vicinity, detect the possibility of a collision, identify the safest route which will help to avoid a collision and prompt the driver to maneuver the vehicle out of danger. The system also constantly analyzes information from the sensors mounted at the front and rear ends of the vehicle and analyzes the safest way to avoid any possible collision. The system can actively intervene with steering and braking inputs, adjusting them to maneuver the vehicle and driver out of emergency situations.

Autonomous emergency braking system: There is growing demand for active collision prevention systems. In Europe, a vehicle safety ratings institution has had a policy that would make it obligatory for vehicles to be equipped with autonomous emergency braking systems since 2014. Hyundai’s system detects a potential collision based on inputs from sensors installed in the vehicle and sends a warning alert. It applies brakes autonomously when necessary to protect drivers and the vehicle from a possible collision. The system can detect stationary or slow-moving vehicles and pedestrians, which helps prevent collisions at low speeds and reduces collision damage at higher speeds.

Rear-side alert system: Hyundai was the first Korean company to create an alert system that uses radar to detect vehicles approaching in blind spots on both rear sides when a driver changes lanes and applied it to the 2012 Equus. This system further improves the safety of drivers and passengers.

• Implementing technologies that reduce injuries in a collision

To minimize collision injuries in case of an inevitable collision, Hyundai ensures maximum robustness of its vehicles and provides cutting-edge airbags and seatbelts. Vehicle front ends absorb crash energy for the safety of pedestrians and devices mounted at the front can automatically contact first responders when an accident occurs.

Pedestrian protection technology: Pedestrian protection technology minimizes the impact of a pedestrian-vehicle accident. Hyundai has developed an active hood system, one of best ways to reduce pedestrian impact during a collision. This technology has been applied to the Genesis, Aslan and the all new Tucson. In addition, energy-absorbing structures and materials on the bumpers and hoods of vehicles help to minimize injury in the event of a pedestrian collision.

Robust body structure: Hyundai’s mid-to long-term platform strategy has committed it to developing a robust yet lightweight vehicle frame optimized for each vehicle model. The vehicle frame is the main structure that affects driving performance, noise and vibration while also protecting passengers. Hyundai develops robust vehicle frames that are capable of handling collisions with the front, sides and rear as well as overturns. Hyundai uses very high tensile steel for more than 50% of the car body and also uses lightweight materials such as aluminum and carbon composites, to develop lightweight yet robust frame structures which can enhance fuel efficiency and improve collision safety.

Device to reduce personal injury: In the event of a collision, passengers risk severe injury due to their own kinetic energy, even if a robust vehicle frame minimizes deformation of the passenger cabin. Hyundai uses a technology that minimizes impact on passengers by forcibly tensioning the seat belt reel at the moment of impact to reduce injuries to the head, chest and abdomen. In addition, the six-airbag system, including front airbags for the driver and passenger, front side airbags, curtain airbags and rollover sensors, is simultaneously deployed to absorb the remaining kinetic energy of the passengers, to minimize severe injuries. Airbag pressure and deployment time automatically vary according to the nature of the collision, which helps with passenger safety. Hyundai also leads in protecting infant and child passengers by offering a child seat as a standard feature.

• Conducting vehicle safety tests for improved safety

Hyundai models have earned exceptional safety ratings in tests in Korea and overseas. The new Genesis received a record-breaking score of 96.6 in the new vehicle safety test and was awarded “2014 Safe Car of the Year” by the Korean Ministry of Land Infrastructure and Transport. It also achieved the highest score ever in the Australasian New Car Assessment Program testing – 36.9 points out of a possible 37, and a maximum five-star safety rating. In the U.S., it was named a Top Safety Pick (TSP+), along with the new Sonata, by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (II HS) and became the world’s first sedan model to receive good ratings in every facet of the II HS crash test. These are the results of Hyundai’s efforts to manufacture vehicles with high safety ratings.

Which GRI indicators/Standards have been addressed?

The GRI indicator addressed in this case is: G4-PR1: Percentage of significant product and service categories for which health and safety impacts are assessed for improvement and the updated GRI Standard is: Disclosure 416-1 Assessment of the health and safety impacts of product and service categories

 

References:

1) This case study is based on published information by Hyundai, 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 Hyundai: With each case study we send out an email to your listed address in request for a comment on this case study. If you have not received such an email please contact us.

What are the material issues the company has identified?

In its 2014 Sustainable Development Report BIC identified a range of material issues, such as economic performance, governance, purchases, subcontractors and suppliers, compliance with regulations, energy and climate change. Among these, with 46 million products sold every day worldwide, promoting product safety stands out as a key material issue for BIC.

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 BIC engages with:

Stakeholder Group

Employees

Customers

Investors

Shareholders

Suppliers and subcontractors

Communities and civil society

Regulatory and control authorities

How stakeholder engagement was made to identify material issues

In 2014, BIC performed a study to review its stakes and their relative importance, through a materiality matrix. This study aimed in particular at:

• updating its knowledge of the stakes considered to be the most important by its stakeholders;
• identifying any “subtle signals” of emerging topics that could represent a risk or an opportunity in the short or medium term;
• focusing on the most important stakes that required special attention by the Group;
• ensuring that the Group’s perception was consistent with that of its stakeholders.

This evaluation, conducted by an external consultant, was based on a documentary analysis (as for example, client questionnaires, mapping of extra-financial risks, results of employee surveys) and interviews with the Group’s internal and external stakeholders (suppliers, customers, NGOs, investors, General Management of the BIC Group, etc.).

All seven of the Group’s key stakeholders categories were mobilized (employees, customers, investors, Shareholders, suppliers and subcontractors, communities and civil society, regulatory and control authorities). This materiality analysis confirmed the overall balance between the perception of BIC stakes by the Group and by the stakeholders.

What actions were taken by BIC to promote product safety?

In its 2014 Sustainable Development Report BIC set the following targets for promoting product safety, based on the company’s approach to materiality – on taking action on what matters, where it matters:

• Promoting product safety through the Product Safety Policy

The Product Safety Policy, introduced in 2001, specifies the ten commitments adopted to make sure that the products developed and manufactured by BIC are safe for human health and the environment. They include: a systematic program of pre-market product testing, a commitment by both BIC and its suppliers to comply with national and international safety standards, incorporating safety considerations from the earliest stages of product design, active technical and regulatory monitoring on these topics, innovation to improve safety, client awareness, conducting in-depth studies and implementing appropriate measures in the case of an incident.

• Safeguarding the quality and safety of BIC lighters through seven specific commitments

BIC has adopted seven specific commitments to ensure the quality and safety of its lighters:

• All BIC lighter plants are ISO 9001 certified production plants. BIC lighter products meet or exceed the ISO 9994 international safety standard requirements;
• BIC is an active member of various organizations (such as the European Federation of Lighter Manufacturers, ISO, CEN, AFNOR, etc.) in order to provide the latest and most reliable quality and safety information to its customers;
• Each BIC lighter undergoes more than 50 separate automatic quality checks. Additionally, BIC conducts regular post-market product tests of its lighters;
• BIC continuously develops exclusive technology to ensure the quality and safety of all BIC lighters, including factors like flame height and stability, extinction time and a reservoir that can resist extreme drop tests and exposure to elevated temperatures;
• BIC has an integrated production process, designs and develops much of its own machinery and uses all the latest manufacturing technologies, from basic materials right down to the packaged product;
• BIC employees are all guided by three principles: Method-Precision-Discipline. Each employee in the lighter plants spends nearly 25% of his or her time checking product conformity and proper operation of the control equipment;
• BIC has been committed to sustainable, long-term safety programs for over 30 years.

• Promoting the safety of customers and consumers through dedicated full-time product safety teams

In order to promote the safety of its customers and consumers, BIC Group has implemented stringent organization and processes in its factories. In addition, the Group has dedicated full-time product safety teams that follow and implement industry standards, regulations and internal rules. For example, there are five employees assigned to safety for stationery products and two for BIC Graphic. Each year these teams’ activities evolve depending on regulatory developments and the growing need to provide stakeholders with precise information on safety.

• Meeting safety requirements at the product design stage

Starting with its design, each BIC product meets all the national safety requirements for its target market and often international requirements as well. As a result, BIC products often exceed local safety requirements. For example, a pen sold in France complies with French and European regulations as well as Brazilian standards and the requirements of the U.S. market. It can be sold anywhere in the world and meets the most demanding safety standards.

• Conducting safety qualification tests

Before they arrive on the market, all BIC products, including modified products, must pass a full program of safety qualification tests. These tests assess potential hazards, including physical, chemical and inflammability risks. For example, all of the inks used in BIC pens are analyzed by an independent toxicologist who evaluates their potential hazards and tests are conducted for the identification of the chemical substances present, to evaluate their risk level, verify compliance with standards and identify substitute ingredients with the aim of reducing risks. In addition, BIC writing products comply with the various safety requirements in force around the world concerning heavy metals.

• Complying with the European REACH (Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and Restriction of Chemicals) regulation

The European REACH (Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and Restriction of Chemicals) regulation establishes the regulatory framework for chemical substances and places responsibility on manufacturers to demonstrate the safety of the chemicals they use. To address these requirements, BIC created a dedicated organization to allow the integration of the REACH topics. At a Group level, an expert administrator was appointed who, with the support of specialized firms, monitors the regulation, evaluates the impacts for the company and creates the administrative files. This person is the contact person for all entities on this topic. Since 2008, in response to REACH, BIC has in particular preregistered 70 substances for five of its legal entities. The registration of these substances with the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) comprises two phases: the first deadline came in 2013 and the second is scheduled for 2018. BIC complied with the 2013 deadline for the three substances that needed to be registered at that time and the company has begun preparing for the registration of the remaining substances by 2018.

Which GRI indicators/Standards have been addressed?

The GRI indicator addressed in this case is: G4-PR1: Percentage of significant product and service categories for which health and safety impacts are assessed for improvement and the updated GRI Standard is: Disclosure 416-1 Assessment of the health and safety impacts of product and service categories

 

References:

1) This case study is based on published information by BIC, 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 BIC: With each case study we send out an email to your listed address in request for a comment on this case study. If you have not received such an email please contact us.

What are the material issues the company has identified?

In its 2014 Sustainability Report BMW Brilliance identified a range of material issues, such as occupational health and safety, product portfolio and research and development, energy consumption, air pollution emissions and climate change, talent attraction and retention, public policy, employee development, aftersales services, corruption and anti-competitive behaviour. Among these, as the safety of its customers and other road users is a top priority for BMW Brilliance and its stakeholders – and fundamental to its sense of product responsibility –, promoting product safety stands out as a key 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 BMW Brilliance engages with:

Stakeholder Group	Method of engagement
Shareholders	·         BMW Brilliance’s Board of Management reports to the Board of Directors, which represents BMW Brilliance’s shareholders
Customers	·         Customer talks, surveys and interviews
Employees	·         Open door and round table discussions between employees and senior management ·         Annual consultation sessions
Suppliers	·         BMW Brilliance Supplier Days
Dealers	·         Dealer training ·         5S dealer certification programme (Sales, Service, Survey, Spare Parts and Sustainability)
Policymakers	·         Regular, open dialogue with political decision-makers, union representatives, associations and  non-governmental organisations
Students	·         “BMW  Days” ·         Launched a new Doctoral programme at the Northeastern University known as ProMotion
Society	·         “Lead the Way to a Sustainable and Responsible Future – 2014 BMW Brilliance Sustainability and Corporate Social Responsibility Forum”

How stakeholder engagement was made to identify material issues

BMW Brilliance’s ongoing dialogue with its stakeholders is a continuous learning process for its business. BMW Brilliance uses targeted dialogues to understand various perspectives and to receive their input on strategically relevant topics. It identifies trends and key topics at an early stage which helps the company gain acceptance of its activities and decisions. BMW Brilliance wants to build long-term trust with its stakeholders. This is important to demonstrate its commitment to society and for its future business success.

BMW Brilliance’s main stakeholder groups are its shareholders, customers, employees, suppliers, dealers, policymakers, students and society. BMW Brilliance’s stakeholder engagement is reflected in its approach to key areas such as Product Responsibility, Human Resources, Corporate Citizenship, Production and Supplier Management. Dialogue with targeted stakeholder groups takes place in a wide range of formats that include dialogues, presentations, events, meetings, surveys and training. For example, BMW Brilliance conducts customer surveys and talks to understand customer expectations and needs, trains dealers to enhance their capacity and build greater customer satisfaction, arranges open discussions for employees with top management to understand their concerns and suggestions, conducts ongoing dialogue with central and local policymakers to share its expertise and interacts with students and society to jointly raise awareness about issues such as environmental protection and traffic safety.

To develop a solid basis for its sustainability management, BMW Brilliance reviewed its most relevant sustainability issues with its key stakeholders. BMW Brilliance invited 16 representatives of stakeholder groups to contribute their ideas and concerns in individual, detailed interviews. Key topics raised during the stakeholder interviews related to product safety, occupational health and safety and fuel consumption. In addition, in an internal workshop with participants from the BMW Group and different BMW Brilliance divisions, BMW Brilliance prioritised 28 potentially relevant sustainability issues according to each issue’s business impact on BMW Brilliance – considering the global context of the issues as well as where the most relevant impacts occur along the value chain. As a result, BMW Brilliance identified ten sustainability issues that are highly relevant for the company and its stakeholders. These issues are its priorities.

What actions were taken by BMW Brilliance to promote product safety?

In its 2014 Sustainability Report BMW Brilliance set the following targets for promoting product safety, based on the company’s approach to materiality – on taking action on what matters, where it matters:

• Receiving safety feedback

BMW Brilliance develops and manufactures products in strict compliance with the BMW Group’s quality management systems, monitoring its product performance and reviewing all safety feedback. If necessary, BMW Brilliance informs the responsible authorities about any customer safety issues and initiates any required safety measures. BMW Brilliance has established relevant processes and procedures to ensure it acts upon the feedback it receives from its customers and the marketplace.

• Protecting the lives and health of drivers, passengers and pedestrians through passive safety systems

BMW Brilliance’s vehicles have energy-absorbing crumple zones, safe passenger cells, restraint systems, airbags and many other passive safety features that protect the lives and health of drivers daily. In order to provide drivers and passengers with the greatest possible protection in the event of a collision, various safety elements work hand-in-hand. A networked system of highly sensitive sensors enables airbags to deploy in the appropriate situation and at precisely the right moment. Pyrotechnically activated seatbelt pretensioners and seatbelt-force limiters further minimise risk of injury. The vehicle front has various devices installed to protect pedestrians, including a shock absorber. This is integrated between the bumper carrier and panel to reduce leg injuries in a collision.

• Preventing accidents through active safety systems

Active safety systems include perfect chassis coordination, optimal traction and effective brakes. Electronic chassis control systems also contribute towards preventing accidents. One of the main ways BMW Brilliance increases safety is through driver assistance systems, which are being increasingly integrated into its model ranges. These systems provide a second set of eyes to observe what is happening on the road in order to warn and support the driver. The traffic jam assistant is another important support function. In long and monotonous driving situations, for example in traffic congestion, the traffic jam assistant helps to keep the car longitudinally and laterally positioned in the lane, easing the strain on the driver. Active battery management is also used to provide safety: the ZINORO 1E is equipped with an innovative battery safety system, which features a liquid cooling and heating system that can increase the battery adaptability and safety in various environments. In a low-temperature environment, it realises the ideal working temperature. And in a high-temperature environment, it prevents overheating. The battery management system features a self-diagnosis and management function. It monitors dynamically all key parameters of the battery such as storage, charge, discharge and operating status. In the event of an accident, it will disconnect the battery from the vehicle’s electric system. This will ensure all parts are electrically neutral and guarantee the safety of the vehicle and passengers.

• Guaranteeing product and service information

BMW Brilliance informs its customers if any potential risks and hazards related to its products exist, as well as about the environmental performance and proper use of its products and services. Information on vehicle safety and protecting customer health can be found in the respective manuals or in notes inside the vehicle (e.g. rescue card), as well as on BMW Brilliance’s official website. Additional background information on service, accessories, parts and BMW ConnectedDrive is likewise available online. BMW Brilliance ensures that any customer product and service information meets all technical requirements.

• Offering driver safety training

BMW Brilliance also contributes to protecting road users through driver safety training. The company offers 12 different training courses and in 2014 1,150 participants learned how to identify critical driving situations and respond properly. This included how to avoid such situations, if possible, in the first place.

• Using safe materials in vehicles

For each phase of the vehicle life cycle – from development through to use and disposal – BMW Brilliance’s specialist departments ensure compliance with worldwide legal requirements for product safety and human health. In the early development phase, a “Materials” interdisciplinary working group evaluates the potential materials to be used in a product to determine the risk potential and to eliminate any problematic candidates. The working group can then intervene in the selection and development process as well as in the production as needed. BMW Brilliance tests all current and future products according to the standards of the BMW Group. As well as series parts, all auxiliary production substances and process materials, such as paint and adhesives, undergo rigorous qualification processes. BMW Brilliance fully documents all chemical substances that are used in its production processes. These substances are first inspected to ensure their safety and then approved for a specific application through the company’s central recording system for environmentally relevant substances. The system also provides detailed specifications and tips on handling these products as well as on first aid, storage and transport.

Which GRI indicators/Standards have been addressed?

The GRI indicator addressed in this case is: G4-PR1: Percentage of significant product and service categories for which health and safety impacts are assessed for improvement and the updated GRI Standard is: Disclosure 416-1 Assessment of the health and safety impacts of product and service categories

 

References:

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

http://database.globalreporting.org/

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

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

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

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