The Sustainability Learning Forum

Improving Health and Quality of Life Through Measurement

Erkki Järvinen
Vaisala

Poor air quality kills millions of people every year and causes health problems in varying degrees of severity. Addressing this problem requires a solid understanding of the atmosphere, which can be achieved only through observations, both globally and locally. For more than 80 years, Vaisala has provided high-quality instruments for measuring the environment and has recently expanded to air-quality observations in order to provide the data needed to take action toward cleaner air. more[...]

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Uncovering Hidden Know-How

Harburg-Freudenberger Group

The subject of CSR has become a very important topic at our company, which is the world’s leading machine manufacturer for the rubber processing industry. However, this came as no surprise, as manufacturers from many industries have been focusing intently on CSR certifi cation for quite some time now. This involves – in the broadest possible sense – effi ciency, sustainability, and the documentation of every imaginable procedure in the company, including quality concerns. more[...]

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Above the Standard: HOCHTIEF at the “Crossrail” Project in London

Hochtief

In ever-expanding cities across the world, city planners are rethinking their transportation policies and setting their sights on sustainable mobility. In spaces that had been allocated to cars, people are now the focus. People and the environment benefit from expanding bicycle path networks, car-sharing services, and better local public transport connections. A look at London shows where we are heading – and that HOCHTIEF is a safe companion on this path. In the UK capital, the international construction company is making a key contribution to a highly sustainable tunneling project. more[...]

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Vergabe von Zertifikaten und Siegeln

Audits zur Überprüfung des Verhaltenskodex oder gewisser Richtlinien innerhalb der Lieferkette reichen nicht immer aus, um eine wirkliche vertragliche Verpflichtung der einzelnen Akteure zur Gewährleistung von Arbeits- und Menschenrechten zu erreichen. Der Beitritt zu Verifizierungs- und Monitoring-Initiativen bzw. der Erwerb von Zertifikaten bietet hierzu einen weiterreichenden Schritt in Richtung soziale Unternehmensverantwortung. more[...] login_required

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Assessments: Self-Assessments, Audits

Für Unternehmen ist es essentiell, über funktionierende Lieferanten zu verfügen, um auf dem internationalen Markt bestehen zu können. Auch wenn ein Unternehmen nicht die Fabriken besitzt, in denen die jeweiligen Produkte hergestellt werden, so hat es doch die Verantwortung, dass in der gesamten Wertschöpfungskette menschenwürdige Arbeitsbedingungen herrschen. Neben regulären Qualitätsüberprüfungen werden so genannte Sozial- und Umwelt-Assessments immer wichtiger, um Transparenz im Bereich Arbeits- und Menschenrechte und Umwelt in der Lieferkette herzustellen. Assessments bzw. Audits müssen als Teil der Unternehmensstrategie bzw. als Teil der Kommunikation innerhalb der Lieferkette angesehen werden und auch in die Lieferantenverträge mit einbezogen werden more[...] login_required

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Auditierungs- und Zertifizierungsprozesse

Die Gefahr bei Audits liegt darin, dass ihnen oftmals keine anerkannten Richtlinien und Vorgaben zugrunde liegen und diese somit nicht sachgemäß durchgeführt werden. Besonders im Bereich Sozial- oder Menschenrechtsaudits ist darauf zu achten, dass keine falsche Sicherheit vorgegaukelt wird, also beispielsweise eine statistisch signifikante Anzahl von Mitarbeitern befragt wird und auch äußere Rahmenbedingungen wie nationale Gesetze und Marktgegebenheiten mit einbezogen werden. Dies kann stellenweise viel Zeit in Anspruch nehmen. more[...] login_required

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Überblick: Ausgewählte Siegel und Zertifikate

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Audits und Zertifikate

Für Unternehmen ist es essentiell, über funktionierende Lieferanten zu verfügen, um auf dem internationalen Markt bestehen zu können. Auch wenn ein Unternehmen nicht die Fabriken besitzt, in denen die jeweiligen Produkte hergestellt werden, so hat es doch die Verantwortung, dass in der gesamten Wertschöpfungskette menschenwürdige Arbeitsbedingungen herrschen. Neben regulären Qualitätsüberprüfungen werden so genannte Sozialaudits immer wichtiger, um Transparenz im Bereich Arbeits- und Menschenrechte in der Lieferkette herzustellen. Audits müssen als Teil der Unternehmensstrategie angesehen werden und deren Durchführung vertraglich mit den Lieferanten geregelt sein. more[...]

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Standards & Audits

Standards and audits are helpful instruments to bring sustainability forward and protect the environment as well as society. They function as regulations or as guidelines, as they define the minimum goals. Standards also create the ability to set benchmarks that measure the success of an organization’s sustainability approaches. Regarding the results, it is possible to generate and apply auditing systems. These are very helpful to compare organization processes, progress, and plans for a more sustainable future. more[...]

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The Meta-Governance of Voluntary Sustainability Standards

Prof. Dr. Pieter Glasbergen, Maastricht University
Boudewijn Derkx

There has been a surge in the popularity of the private standards-setting approach to social and environmental governance in recent decades. A single economic sector may now literally feature dozens of competing voluntary sustainability standards. Emerging gradually as a result of the uncoordinated efforts of various independently operating (coalitions of) actors, the rise of voluntary standards-setting has been largely spontaneous and unplanned. more[...]

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The Objectives of Standards and How Firms Use Them

Dr. Daniele Giovannucci, The Committee on Sustainability Assessment (COSA)
Joseph Wozniak, The International Trade Centre (ITC)

Although often lumped together, the many voluntary sustainability standards (VSS) used today are not at all alike. As a whole they do tend to deal with the areas not functionally addressed by most firms and global trading structures. more[...] login_required

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Different Kinds of Voluntary Sustainability Standards

This section introduces the relevant principles from the Rio Declaration, and highlights elements of subsequent UN declarations that have developed or expanded on these principles. From National vs. International Standards, LCA standards vs. sector-specific standards up to Management system vs. performance standards. more[...]

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Evolution of the Voluntary Sustainability Standards

Voluntary sustainability standards have the potential to generate significant environmental, economic and social benefits in developing countries. However, decision makers from developing countries frequently express concern about the lack of credible information about standards, the considerable compliance costs, the risk of marginalization of small-scale producers, the lack of harmonization and equivalence, resulting in the need to comply with multiple standards for a single product,and the lack of transparent governance. more[...]

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Introduction to Voluntary Sustainability Standards

Kristin Komives, ISEAL Alliance
ISEAL Alliance

Private, voluntary sustainability standards are an innovative, market-based approach to promoting sustainable production and business practices. Adoption of these sustainability standards is intended to be voluntary: The standards are not created, run, or required by governments or government regulation. Instead, the system for voluntary sustainability standards are nongovernment initiatives that seek to drive sustainable production and consumption by creating a market demand for sustainable products, and a supply to meet that demand. They help buyers (both consumers and businesses) identify sustainably-produced products, and they guide producers, forest managers, mine and tourism operators, and factory owners and others in their choice of sustainable practices. more[...]

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Let Us Go Home Safely – A Road Safety Project by Tristar in UAE

Muhammad Akber, Tristar Transport LLC
Arthur Los Banos, Tristar Transport LLC
Tristar Transport LLC

In 2014 Tristar partnered with the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) of Dubai and the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) of the United Kingdom to implement a road safety project called “Let us go home safely” in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). more[...]

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