The Sustainability Learning Forum

Mica Supply Chain: No Place for Child Labor

Gregor Hilkert
Merck

The mineral mica often lends products their alluring sheen, whether it is lipstick, eye shadows, or automotive coatings. The coveted raw material is mined in various locations, including the states of Jharkhand and Bihar in northern India, a region marked by political instability and poverty and where child labor is widespread. Merck also uses mica as the main raw material for its effect pigments. The science and technology company flatly rejects child labor and advocates for safe working conditions of the mine workers. In addition, Merck supports educational and health projects that improve the lives of families in the mining areas. more[...]

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Bringing Sustainable Change to the Garment Supply Chain

Félix Poza Peña
Inditex

The global presence of Inditex gives us a real opportunity to bring positive and lasting change to the garment supply chain in a way that fully aligns with our commitment to the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights. We work with more than 1,700 suppliers and more than 6,000 factories globally, each supplying to one or more of our eight brands, which include Zara, Massimo Dutti, and Bershka. This presence places us close to the heart of communities in numerous different countries. more[...]

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Checkliste für einen nachhaltigen Umgang mit Kunden und Verbrauchern

Diese Checkliste konzentriert sich darauf, wie ein nachhaltiger Umgang mit Kunden und Verbrauchern errreicht wird. more[...]

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Traceability in the supply chain

Nestlé S.A.

In the spirit of the Sustainable Development Goals and invigorated by their worldwide importance, we are determined to carry on with our work to realize a shared vision of a sustainable future. Our ongoing commitment to support the world’s development ambitions is part of our responsibility as a global company and a nutrition, health, and wellness leader. We strive for people to live healthy lives, in a healthy environment, and in healthy communities. Partnering is central to our business model, and since 2011, we have been working with the Fair Labor Association (FLA) to improve transparency and address complex social challenges in the hazelnut supply chain in Turkey. Together, we are furthering our understanding of the difficulties faced by rural communities and achieving significant progress. more[...]

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Armacell sets new standards for the insulation industry

Armacell Enterprise GmbH

Armacell is setting new standards for the FEF technical insulation industry and defining the role of Environmental Product Declarations for the insulation market and for safe and energy-efficient green buildings. more[...]

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Lieferanten-Management im Mittelstand

Dr. Elmer Lenzen

In einer globalen Weltwirtschaft sind Herstellung und Handel über den gesamten Globus verteilt. Das bringt enorme Vorteile etwa bei Produktionskosten, Vertrieb und Kundenbetreuung. Andererseits müssen Unternehmen auch lernen, mit den ausgelagerten Risiken umzugehen. more[...]

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Nachhaltiges Lieferketten-Management

Mit der fortschreitenden Globalisierung und Spezialisierung hat sich der Trend zum Outsourcing in den letzten Jahrzehnten stetig verstärkt. Unternehmen, die ihre Produktion und Dienstleistungen auslagern, lagern auch ihre Reputationsrisiken und ihre gesellschaftliche Verantwortung aus. Die dementsprechende Bedeutung eines guten Lieferkettenmanagements ist Unternehmen wie auch Anlegern bewusst. more[...]

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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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Sustainably Addressing the Global Water Challenge

Christian Frutiger, Nestlé SA
Nestlé S.A.

The growing world population is leading us into a global water crisis that will only be exacerbated by climate change. This is putting at risk everything we rely on, from electronic devices to the food we eat, because it all requires water. more[...]

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PostNL Makes Sustainability Gains by Innovating along the Logistics Chain

Lars Pruijn, PostNL
PostNL

In recent years, the growth of e-commerce has resulted in a sharp increase in the number of parcels being sent domestically and internationally. As volume growth approached levels where PostNL's logistical infrastructure would have been unable to cope, the company launched a program to renew the entire logistics chain of its parcel operations. Called the New Logistics Infrastructure (NLI) program, PostNL opened the first of 18 new distribution depots in 2011. more[...]

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Managing CSR Across Boundaries

Andrew Lofts, Ricoh Europe
Ricoh Europe PLC

From the very beginning, Ricoh has been energized by combining innovative products and services with a sustainable approach to business. The company’s founder, Kiyoshi Ichimura, nurtured a unique pool of thinkers who envisioned a world where business, society, and the planet are interconnected. For Ricoh, which is present in more than 200 countries and employs more than 100,000 people, it is a major challenge to share a consistent theme and to ensure a clear message that is understood everywhere. As a group, we have a regional framework whereby we connect to the collective imagination and creativity of all our people. To support Ricoh’s goals and meet social expectations, accurately and promptly, the Ricoh Group actively introduces internationally established CSR frameworks throughout its supply chain. more[...]

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Managing CSR Across Boundaries

Andrew Lofts, Ricoh Europe
Ricoh Europe PLC

From the very beginning, Ricoh has been energized by combining innovative products and services with a sustainable approach to business. The company’s founder, Kiyoshi Ichimura, nurtured a unique pool of thinkers who envisioned a world where business, society, and the planet are interconnected. For Ricoh, which is present in more than 200 countries and employs more than 100,000 people, it is a major challenge to share a consistent theme and to ensure a clear message that is understood everywhere. As a group, we have a regional framework whereby we connect to the collective imagination and creativity of all our people. To support Ricoh’s goals and meet social expectations, accurately and promptly, the Ricoh Group actively introduces internationally established CSR frameworks throughout its supply chain. more[...]

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