What are the material issues the company has identified?

In its 2022 Comprehensive Report Stryker identified a range of material issues, such as climate change, employee and patient health and safety, access to quality healthcare, ethics, compliance, anticorruption and antitrust. Among these, promoting sustainability among its suppliers stands out as a key material issue for Stryker.

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 Stryker engages with:

How stakeholder engagement was made to identify material issues

To identify and prioritise material topics Stryker engaged with its stakeholders through interviews and surveys.

What actions were taken by Stryker to promote sustainability among its suppliers?

In its 2022 Comprehensive Report Stryker reports that it took the following actions for promoting sustainability among its suppliers:

• Implementing a Supplier Code of Conduct
• Any supplier doing business with Stryker is required to adhere to its Supplier Code of Conduct through Stryker’s supplier contracts and purchase order terms and conditions. The Supplier Code communicates Stryker’s expectations for suppliers in key areas including:
  • General business and ethics
  • Human rights
  • Labour and employment
  • Health, safety and environment
  • Intellectual property and data
• Stryker’s Direct Procurement Team completes annual training to assist suppliers in meeting their obligations under the Supplier Code. In 2022, 98.6 percent of the team completed this training.

• Assessing suppliers’ ESG performance
• Stryker actively engages direct suppliers on their ESG performance and initiatives. Stryker segments its direct suppliers based on their overall importance to its business and performs evaluations against publicly available data to identify suppliers that may inherently be at higher risk for ESG-related issues, based on their industry or region where they operate. Using the results of these activities, Stryker engages the identified in-scope suppliers in ESG performance assessments through recognised third-party audit and ratings platforms that focus on policies, governance, key performance indicators (KPIs) and other evidence of integrated processes addressing human rights and labour, environmental, ethics and sustainable procurement risks. The assessment results are integrated into overall supplier risk scores, enabling easier risk identification and mitigation, procurement decisions and open dialogue about these topics during supplier reviews. Throughout 2022, Procurement Team members who manage in-scope suppliers received training on Stryker’s strategy and guidance on how to engage with suppliers on ESG performance topics. The completed assessments identified opportunities for continued supplier development but did not result in findings that required Stryker’s immediate intervention.

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

The GRI Standards addressed in this case are:

1) Disclosure 414-1 New suppliers that were screened using social criteria

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

 Disclosure 414-1 New suppliers that were screened using social criteria corresponds to:

• Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 5: Gender Equality
• Targets: 5.2
• Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
• Targets: 8.8
• Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
• Targets: 16.1

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

• Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 5: Gender Equality
• Targets: 5.2
• Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
• Targets: 8.8
• Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
• Targets: 16.1

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:

This case study is based on published information by Stryker, 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 following link:

https://www.stryker.com/content/dam/stryker/about/annual-review/2022/stryker-2022-comprehensive-report.pdf

Note to Stryker: 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 FY2022 Corporate Responsibility Report Tapestry identified a range of material issues, such as climate change, business ethics and compliance, equity, inclusion and diversity, gender pay parity. Among these, promoting human rights among its suppliers stands out as a key material issue for Tapestry.

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 Tapestry engages with:

How stakeholder engagement was made to identify material issues

To identify and prioritise material topics Tapestry engaged with its stakeholders through a survey.

What actions were taken by Tapestry to promote human rights among its suppliers?

In its FY2022 Corporate Responsibility Report Tapestry reports that it took the following actions for promoting human rights among its suppliers:

• Promoting compliance
• Tapestry holds its suppliers to its own high standards and requires them to sign and comply with its Supplier Code of Conduct. Tapestry’s SCOC prohibits the use of child or forced labour, and Tapestry maintains policies on modern day slavery and human trafficking in compliance with the California Transparency in Supply Chains Act (SB 657) and the UK Modern Slavery Act 2015. When onboarding direct suppliers that it contracts to make its branded products, Tapestry requests a credible social compliance audit report that was conducted within six months of the date of submission. Suppliers that fail to meet Tapestry’s standards are not approved until an acceptable audit report is provided. In 2022, Tapestry worked with third-party consultants to review its SCOC and updated it to reflect industry best practices. Tier 1 finished goods suppliers and a portion of Tapestry’s Tier 2 raw material suppliers undergo semi-announced, annual audits by independent third-party audit firms. When a factory is found in violation, Tapestry works with them to support remediation and develops a corrective action plan based on the audit findings and reserves the right to develop exit plans or terminate the relationship with suppliers based on compliance issues. Tapestry also provides its suppliers with onboarding and biennial topic-specific training. Additionally, Tapestry holds a quarterly meeting to report on supplier social compliance with its Chief Supply Chain Officer. Tapestry is a partner of ILO Better Work, which takes an advisory approach to monitoring and protecting worker rights and wellbeing, helping companies and governments uphold the ILO’s (International Labour Organization) core labour standards and national labour laws. Tapestry’s Social Compliance Program implements the requirements for health and safety, labour and environmental practices in its global supply chain factories. This programme maintains its effectiveness through regular programme review.

• Auditing suppliers
• In FY2022, Tapestry conducted approximately 150 audits; 89.4% of the audits were of its Tier 1 suppliers and 10.6% were facilities beyond Tier 1. Of these audits, approximately 94% were semi-announced and 6% were announced. Over 2,200 workers were interviewed throughout this year’s audit process, and around 14% of the audits performed included an interview with a trade union representative. In addition to the audits Tapestry ordered or conducted, its teams reviewed audits through verified Higg Facility Social & Labor Module responses and other parties to make sure they met its standards. As a member of the Sustainable Apparel Coalition (SAC), 55 of Tapestry’s direct suppliers completed the Higg Facility Social & Labor Module (FSLM). These suppliers responded to questions related to social and labour impacts, including Recruitment & Hiring, Working Hours, Wages & Benefits, Employee Treatment, Employee Involvement, Health & Safety, Termination & Retrenchment and overall Management. 87% of the suppliers that completed the Higg FSLM had their responses verified, which allowed Tapestry further insight into the social and labour practices within its partner factories.

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

The GRI Standards addressed in this case are:

1) Disclosure 414-1 New suppliers that were screened using social criteria

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

 Disclosure 414-1 New suppliers that were screened using social criteria corresponds to:

• Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 5: Gender Equality
• Targets: 5.2
• Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
• Targets: 8.8
• Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
• Targets: 16.1

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

• Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 5: Gender Equality
• Targets: 5.2
• Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
• Targets: 8.8
• Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
• Targets: 16.1

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:

This case study is based on published information by Tapestry, 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 following link:

https://tapestry.gcs-web.com/static-files/f40114ac-bc34-41d5-996a-43420da452b6

Note to Tapestry: 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 2021 Sustainability Report Xylem identified a range of material issues, such as social impact solutions, water use reduction and stewardship, environmental impact solutions, watermark and direct community impact. Among these, promoting sustainability among its suppliers stands out as a key material issue for Xylem.

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 Xylem engages with:

How stakeholder engagement was made to identify material issues

To identify and prioritise material topics Xylem engaged with its stakeholders through surveys.

What actions were taken by Xylem to promote sustainability among its suppliers?

In its 2021 Sustainability Report Xylem reports that it took the following actions for promoting sustainability among its suppliers:

• Implementing a Supplier Code of Conduct
• Xylem’s standard of excellence in ethics applies to all its suppliers, who are required to strictly adhere to Xylem’s Supplier Code of Conduct. Consistent with Xylem’s procurement processes, all suppliers are required to act in accordance with its business standards, product quality, process capabilities and commitment to sustainability. Additionally, Xylem launched its CDP (formerly the Carbon Disclosure Project) Supply Chain programme in 2021, inviting more than 120 suppliers to calculate and disclose GHG emissions and water usage. Xylem closed the disclosure cycle achieving an 80% response rate, with almost 25% of its supply base by spend disclosing their GHG emissions and/or water usage.

• Assessing suppliers’ sustainability performance
• Since 2020, Xylem has partnered with EcoVadis to assess the performance of its supply base on Labour and Human Rights, Environment, Ethics and Sustainable Procurement. With this programme, Xylem seeks to increase its transparency and help suppliers track and improve their performance year over year. In 2021, Xylem started reviewing scorecards with its suppliers and requested Corrective Action Plans from suppliers with scores below expectations. By the end of 2021, 69% of the suppliers who were re-evaluated had improved their score and 15% remained stable. Additionally, Xylem invested in a new tool to map sustainability risk, by industry and country, for 80% of its supply base by spend.

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

The GRI Standards addressed in this case are:

1) Disclosure 308-1 New suppliers that were screened using environmental criteria

2) Disclosure 414-1 New suppliers that were screened using social criteria

Disclosure 308-1 New suppliers that were screened using environmental criteria does not correspond to any SDG.

Disclosure 414-1 New suppliers that were screened using social criteria corresponds to:

• Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 5: Gender Equality
• Targets: 5.2
• Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
• Targets: 8.8
• Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
• Targets: 16.1

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:

This case study is based on published information by Xylem, 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 following link:

https://www.xylem.com/siteassets/sustainability/2021/xylem-sustainability-report-2021.pdf

Note to Xylem: 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 2021 Sustainability Report Bechtle identified a range of material issues, such as information security and data protection, energy consumption and emissions, anti-corruption and anti-bribery, people development. Among these, promoting sustainability across its supply chain stands out as a key material issue for Verizon.

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 Bechtle engages with:

How stakeholder engagement was made to identify material issues

To identify and prioritise material topics Bechtle engaged with its stakeholders through interviews.

What actions were taken by Bechtle to promote sustainability across its supply chain?

In its 2021 Sustainability Report Bechtle reports that it took the following actions for promoting sustainability across its supply chain:

• Implementing a Supplier Code of Conduct
• In 2014, Bechtle’s Purchasing and Legal departments designed a Supplier Code of Conduct for suppliers of goods and services as a control mechanism. This code is based on the principles and minimum requirements of the ILO Convention of Core Labour Standards. All newly contracted suppliers are requested by Purchasing to sign this Code of Conduct on an annual basis or to supply their own equivalent documentation. As of 31 December 2021, 189 suppliers and vendors have signed the Bechtle Supplier Code of Conduct. As in the previous year, 39 suppliers and vendors presented their own policies, which overlap with Bechtle’s own code in all essential respects. Combined, these represent 93 per cent of Bechtle’s purchasing volume.

• Promoting compliance
• To monitor its suppliers’ compliance with social and labour standards, Bechtle has been focusing on examining supplier-provided documentation on a project-related basis, such as audit and inspection or sustainability reports. Bechtle’s Sustainability Management regularly checks if any of its key suppliers have been flagged by the Business & Human Rights Resource Centre. Over the course of the reporting year, Supplier Management canvassed a variety of ways for Bechtle to monitor compliance with social and ecological standards along its supply chain in a reliable fashion. In the end, Bechtle chose EcoVadis as the way forward, meaning direct suppliers could be evaluated according to social and ecological criteria through a documents-based supplier audit. EcoVadis was used for this purpose beginning in the second quarter of 2022, with the results directly informing CSR risk management. In order to better perform due diligence with regard to human rights, and for the purpose of ongoing professionalisation of CSR risk analyses, Bechtle also solicited the advice of the German National Action Plan on Business and Human Rights (NAP). Through extensive evaluations, as well as an in-person and a virtual training seminar, Bechtle drew on support provided by the NAP Help Desk to lay the foundation for a realigned CSR risk analysis and, thus, its overall CSR risk management.

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

The GRI Standards addressed in this case are:

1) Disclosure 308-1 New suppliers that were screened using environmental criteria

2) Disclosure 308-2 Negative environmental impacts in the supply chain and actions taken

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

Disclosure 308-1 New suppliers that were screened using environmental criteria does not correspond to any SDG.

Disclosure 308-2 Negative environmental impacts in the supply chain and actions taken does not correspond to any SDG.

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

• Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 5: Gender Equality
• Targets: 5.2
• Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
• Targets: 8.8
• Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
• Targets: 16.1

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:

This case study is based on published information by Bechtle, 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 following link:

https://www.bechtle.com/dam/jcr:8b2751e9-aeaa-42fe-889b-fbc6d74aa480/bechtle-sustainability-report-2021-en.pdf

Note to Bechtle: 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 2021 ESG Report Verizon identified a range of material issues, such as climate change, data protection and privacy, talent attraction and retention, digital inclusion. Among these, promoting sustainability among its suppliers stands out as a key material issue for Verizon.

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 Verizon engages with:

How stakeholder engagement was made to identify material issues

To identify and prioritise material topics Verizon engaged with its stakeholders through interviews.

What actions were taken by Verizon to promote sustainability among its suppliers?

In its 2021 ESG Report Verizon reports that it took the following actions for promoting sustainability among its suppliers:

• Implementing a Supplier Code of Conduct
• Verizon expects all its suppliers to comply with its Supplier Code of Conduct or an equivalent set of standards. Verizon’s Supplier Code of Conduct sets forth its expectations for its suppliers and the subcontractors and agents of suppliers. The Supplier Code includes provisions that:
  • Forbid the use of child labour and forced labour.
  • Protect employees’ rights to freedom of association and collective bargaining, as permitted by local laws.
  • Prohibit discrimination on any basis prohibited by applicable/local law, including, without limitation, race, colour, religion, age, gender, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, national origin, disability, marital status, citizenship status, veteran status or military status.
• Verizon reserves the right to review or audit its suppliers’ compliance with the Supplier Code and also incorporates ongoing compliance into its business relationships and procurement decisions.

• Applying a Supplier Risk Management Programme
• Verizon’s Supplier Risk Management Programme supports the company’s implementation of responsible sourcing. Established in 2018, and managed by a dedicated team in Verizon’s Supplier Risk Office, the programme enables Verizon to identify, assess, monitor and manage a range of supply chain-related risks, including those that may be associated with the social and environmental impacts of supplier activity. The Supplier Risk Office works closely with other teams throughout the company, including the BHRP (Business and Human Rights Programme), Business Risk, Compliance, Sourcing and Sustainability to implement a risk management framework that allows Verizon to continually assess and manage supplier-related risks. This work happens throughout the supplier life cycle, including: planning, due diligence, contracting, ongoing monitoring and termination. The Supplier Risk Office is responsible for programme oversight, coordination and support to stakeholders throughout Verizon.

• Evaluating suppliers’ performance
• In 2021, Verizon continued its partnership with EcoVadis. Verizon uses EcoVadis’s assessment tool to evaluate suppliers’ responsible performance. Verizon monitors and assesses supplier performance in four areas:
  • Environment
  • Labour and human rights
  • Ethics
  • Sustainable procurement
• Since 2013, Verizon has assessed 530 key suppliers through this partnership. EcoVadis validates suppliers’ responses to their detailed questionnaire and researches information from other public sources to benchmark suppliers on their performance. When weaknesses are identified, Verizon works with the supplier to create a corrective action plan to improve their current activities. Both Verizon and its suppliers benefit from this partnership.

• Auditing suppliers
• Verizon is a member of the Joint Audit Cooperation (JAC), an association of telecom operators that collaboratively audits common vendors and looks for opportunities to improve supplier responsibility across the industry. This furthers Verizon’s efforts to understand not only what its suppliers are pledging through their policies but also to survey on-site performance. JAC audits are based on a common verification, assessment and development methodology, including the generation of corrective action plans. Topics covered by these audits include: child labour, forced labour, health and safety, freedom of association, non-discrimination, disciplinary practices, working hours, wages and compensation, the environment and business ethics. Through 2021, 812 supplier audits had been completed since JAC’s inception in 2010, with 88 audits completed in 2021.

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

The GRI Standards addressed in this case are:

1) Disclosure 308-1 New suppliers that were screened using environmental criteria

2) Disclosure 414-1 New suppliers that were screened using social criteria

Disclosure 308-1 New suppliers that were screened using environmental criteria does not correspond to any SDG.

Disclosure 414-1 New suppliers that were screened using social criteria corresponds to:

• Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 5: Gender Equality
• Targets: 5.2
• Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
• Targets: 8.8
• Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
• Targets: 16.1

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:

This case study is based on published information by Verizon, 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 following link:

https://www.verizon.com/about/sites/default/files/Verizon-2021-ESG-Report.pdf

Note to Verizon: 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 2020 Sustainability Report Sadara identified a range of material issues, such as emergency and crisis planning, business ethics, natural resources management, environmental protection, process safety. Among these, promoting sustainability among its suppliers stands out as a key material issue for Sadara.

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 Sadara engages with:

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

What actions were taken by Sadara to promote sustainability among its suppliers?

In its 2020 Sustainability Report Sadara reports that it took the following actions for promoting sustainability among its suppliers:

• Promoting environmental sustainability
• Sadara suppliers agree to use their best efforts to prevent, and take all reasonable precautions to avoid, pollution or contamination of the land, air or water arising from them or their subcontractors’ activities. Also, Sadara’s Procurement Department obligates suppliers to comply with regulations issued under or by international environmental conventions and regulatory bodies that Saudi Arabia adopts.

• Protecting suppliers’ workforce rights
• It is a condition in Sadara’s standard contracting template that suppliers must promptly pay their personnel their salaries and benefits and that those suppliers shall submit a letter with each invoice to Sadara’s representative in an acceptable format certifying that all the suppliers’ personnel have been paid their full salaries and benefits under the terms of their agreements with the suppliers for the preceding month.

• Implementing a Suppliers’ Code of Conduct
• Sadara has developed its Suppliers’ Code of Conduct (or “Suppliers’ Code”), which specifically addresses areas where the company requires complete and continuous compliance and for which it will exhibit no tolerance of violations. The Sadara Supplier’s Code is intended and designed to provide the company’s suppliers with guidelines on what Sadara requires as appropriate ethical conduct in the marketplace and in dealing with other business entities and government agencies. The Supplier’s Code does not replace the supplier’s contractual agreements with Sadara, or company policies or applicable laws, but rather augments those obligations and provides suppliers with a focus on key areas where Sadara requires full compliance. Compliance with the provisions of the Supplier’s Code is a contractual obligation that suppliers are required to enter when being considered for doing business with Sadara.

• Assessing suppliers
• Sadara verifies and monitors its suppliers by means of formal assessment and audit programmes. Assessments administered through the Pre-qualification Committee consist of a cross-functional team that can holistically assess a supplier’s suitability to be approved as pre-qualified for a goods/service grouping. The EHS (environment, health and safety) assessment programme is one of the
main assessment tools for the pre-qualification committee, focusing on: HSE Policy Statement, HSE SMART Objectives, HSE Training Matrix, HSE Audit Procedure, and Copies of ISO 9001, ISO 14001 or OHSAS 18001 relevant to the company.

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

The GRI Standards addressed in this case are:

1) Disclosure 308-1 New suppliers that were screened using environmental criteria

2) Disclosure 414-1 New suppliers that were screened using social criteria

Disclosure 308-1 New suppliers that were screened using environmental criteria does not correspond to any SDG.

Disclosure 414-1 New suppliers that were screened using social criteria corresponds to:

• Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 5: Gender Equality
• Targets: 5.2
• Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
• Targets: 8.8
• Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
• Targets: 16.1

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:

This case study is based on published information by Sadara, 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 following link:

https://www.sadara.com/en/About/Citizenship

Note to Sadara: 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 2021 Annual Report Pandox identified a range of material issues, such as business ethics and anti-corruption, reduced climate impact through reduced GHG emissions, increased use of sustainable materials, reduced waste and increased recycling/ reuse. Among these, promoting sustainability among its suppliers stands out as a key material issue for Pandox.

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 Pandox engages with:

How stakeholder engagement was made to identify material issues

To identify and prioritise material topics Pandox engaged with its stakeholders through interviews and surveys.

What actions were taken by Pandox to promote sustainability among its suppliers?

In its 2021 Annual Report Pandox reports that it took the following actions for promoting sustainability among its suppliers:

• Implementing a Code of Conduct
• Pandox’s Code of Conduct for business partners describes Pandox’s expectations from its suppliers concerning human rights, labour, the environment and anti-corruption, and is based on the Ten Principles of the UN Global Compact and the ILO Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work.

• Verifying existing suppliers
• Pandox’s existing suppliers fill out a self-assessment form. During 2021, Pandox initiated a dialogue with suppliers whose performance was in the lowest 10 percent of respondents based on the most recent self-assessment form. The purpose is to support them to work more professionally and in a structured way on critical sustainability topics. All suppliers categorised as high-risk in Property Management who participated in a training workshop in 2020 went through the digital self-assessment process again. The result was that 53 percent went from being assessed as high-risk suppliers to low-risk suppliers. They achieved this by strengthening their sustainability policies and processes by, for example, producing a code of conduct or an anti-corruption policy. In autumn 2021 Pandox decided to expand its auditing of existing suppliers to include the 150 largest suppliers at the corporate level as identified in the 2020 spend analysis. A total of 82 suppliers were audited in 2021 based on environmental and social criteria as well as governance. 37 of these were identified as high-risk suppliers. Pandox will take steps to follow up on these and then allow them to repeat the assessment to ensure compliance with Pandox’s Code of Conduct for business partners. The results of the 2021 self-assessment showed that there was a need for several of the suppliers to design and establish formal processes in important areas such as human rights, rights at work and business ethics. None of the suppliers was identified as having a significantly high environmental risk, as no significant real or potentially negative environmental impact was identified as part of the audit.

• Verifying new suppliers
• The construction industry is the industry identified as having the highest risk for Pandox. Accordingly, new suppliers in Property Management that supply goods or services above a certain annual minimum limit are to be audited. The aim is to do this before a contract is signed and to conduct random follow-up audits. With respect to food and beverage suppliers, Pandox has been able to use its position to enable all hotels in Operator Activities – regardless of brand – to use an external supplier’s platform. This is a digital purchasing system and it guarantees that the suppliers have been audited and that any discounts will benefit the users. This minimises situations where bribery might occur.

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

The GRI Standards addressed in this case are:

1) Disclosure 308-2 Negative environmental impacts in the supply chain and actions taken

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

Disclosure 308-2 Negative environmental impacts in the supply chain and actions taken does not correspond to any SDG.

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

• Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 5: Gender Equality
• Targets: 5.2
• Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
• Targets: 8.8
• Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
• Targets: 16.1

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:

This case study is based on published information by Pandox, 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 following link:

https://www.pandox.se/files/sustainability/Pandox_AR21_EN_Sustainability.pdf

Note to Pandox: 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 2020 Sustainability Report Ellos Group identified a range of material issues, such as anti-corruption, diversity and equality, energy, emissions and waste, community engagement. Among these, promoting sustainability across its supply chain stands out as a key material issue for Ellos Group.

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 Ellos Group engages with:

How stakeholder engagement was made to identify material issues

To identify and prioritise material topics Ellos Group engaged with its stakeholders through surveys and interviews.

What actions were taken by Ellos Group to promote sustainability across its supply chain?

In its 2020 Sustainability Report Ellos Group reports that it took the following actions for promoting sustainability across its supply chain:

• Implementing a Code of Conduct for suppliers
• Ellos Group’s Code of Conduct for its suppliers is based on the French standard ICS (Initiative Clause Social), which is equivalent to programmes such as the BSCI (Business Social Compliance Initiative), and follows international labour standards, such as the International Labour Organization’s (ILO) conventions and declarations and the United Nations (UN) Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights. Ellos Group’s Code of Conduct covers important areas such as child labour, forced labour, discrimination, freedom of association, wages and working hours, health and safety in the workplace and environmental aspects. Ellos Group requires all suppliers to adhere to its Code of Conduct prior to starting any business relationship. The Code of Conduct applies to all suppliers and production units that are involved in the manufacture or supply of products to any of the companies included in Ellos Group. The Code of Conduct sets forth the requirements that all suppliers must meet in order to do business with Ellos Group. The suppliers are responsible for ensuring that these requirements are met at all factories involved in the manufacture of products for Ellos Group. Ellos Group also expects its suppliers to follow internationally accepted labour standards, including the ILO conventions, and to continually work on improving the working conditions for those involved in the production of its products.

• Applying a supplier follow-up process
• Ellos Group strives for all of its products to be manufactured in accordance with the Code of Conduct, under fair working conditions and with adherence to human rights. Ellos Group’s suppliers are required to adhere to its Supplier’s Code of Conduct and prior to the first order, all suppliers should have a valid audit protocol. During 2020 there have been cases of denied suppliers due to failure to comply with initial audit. In order to track progress, identify risks and improvement opportunities, and to support its manufacturers, Ellos Group has a control and follow-up system in place with regular audits and inspections. Some of the audits (37%) are done by its main agent Kering Group Sourcing (KGS), and some through the independent audit institute Bureau Veritas. If improvement needs are identified in an audit, the supplier is required to introduce improvements that are outlined in a Corrective Action Plan. As the production of Ellos Group’s products is in high-risk countries from a working condition perspective, there is a need of regular inspections of all suppliers, independent of the sourcing volume Ellos Group has at the supplier. Accordingly, in 2020, Ellos Group continued its work to cover 100% of suppliers to have been audited and externally certified within 24 months by 2020 and reached 100% coverage of all suppliers, manufacturing factories and processing factories. In addition to this, Ellos Group and its agent KGS conduct ad hoc inspections at the suppliers’ factories. Non-compliance identified in 2020 was mainly related to working hours and lack of documentation of wages and working hours. Depending on how serious the non-compliance is, a second audit is scheduled to confirm progress within a set time frame. If serious issues are not rectified, business will be terminated.

• Promoting environmental sustainability
• During 2020, Ellos Group started collecting information from suppliers on their climate impact and created a scorecard on suppliers called the Ellos Group Green Scorecard. The scorecard covers their energy usage, water and wastewater management, preparation and washing, coloration and printing, as well as certificates for sustainable materials. The goal is to collect the information from all factories, and to use the scorecard as input for supplier development.

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

The GRI Standards addressed in this case are:

1) Disclosure 308-1 New suppliers that were screened using environmental criteria

2) Disclosure 414-1 New suppliers that were screened using social criteria

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

Disclosure 308-1 New suppliers that were screened using environmental criteria does not correspond to any SDG.

Disclosure 414-1 New suppliers that were screened using social criteria corresponds to:

• Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 5: Gender Equality
• Targets: 5.2
• Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
• Targets: 8.8
• Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
• Targets: 16.1

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

• Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 5: Gender Equality
• Targets: 5.2
• Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
• Targets: 8.8
• Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
• Targets: 16.1

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:

This case study is based on published information by Ellos Group, 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 following link:

https://www.ellosgroup.com/sites/ellos-group/files/ellos/sustainability/sustainability-reports/sustainability-report-2020.pdf

Note to Ellos Group: 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.