‘Change the system, not the women’ – recap International Women’s Day 2024

‘Change the system, not the women’ – recap International Women’s Day 2024

‘Change the system, not the women’ – recap International Women’s Day 2024

Invest in Women: Accelerate Progress

Women are effective business leaders, yet they make up just 6% of CEOs globally. How do we get not only investors, but all of society to see the value of female leadership? On the 8th of March we celebrated International Women’s Day with this year’s theme being: Invest in Women. Together with our partners Euronext, UN Women Nederland, Women in ETFs, Optiver and Flow Traders we curated a full-day event brimming with insightful talks from inspiring speakers.

Mentoring and sponsoring programs

The day started bright and early with a breakfast session set in the historic boardroom, a space with a backstory: there was a time where women were barred from its doors. Today, the presence of our women organizers and attendees indicates the progress we’ve already made. Moderated by our Executive Director Merei Wagenaar, the session unfolded with an engaging conversation between Sten ter Horst, HR Director Center of Expertise for Talent and DE&I at AkzoNobel and Mariëtte Los, Partner & Chief Human Resources Officer and Member of the Executive Committee at Deloitte, shedding light on their approaches to advancing equality & inclusion within their respective companies.

Mariëtte elaborated further on Deloitte’s mentoring culture, emphasizing the significance of implementing both mentoring and sponsoring programs. The main difference between the two is that mentorship is mostly about someone providing you with advice and feedback whereas sponsorship involves someone directly advocating for your because they believe in your ability and potential. She stressed the importance of ensuring that all women have access to both forms of support.

In turn, Sten shed light on AkzoNobel’s strategy for navigating diverse cultures and addressing local challenges. Through collaboration with local resource groups, they gather insights on necessary policy adjustments. While these insights inform global policies, Sten emphasized the necessity of acknowledging that not all global policies seamlessly translate to local contexts. Thus, he underscored the importance of allowing flexibility for local adaptations.

Changing the system

At 9 AM sharp, the official bell-ringing ceremony took place, officially opening the trading day. Globally more than 100 stock exchanges participate in the ceremonial bell ringing with the aim to bring attention to the pivotal role the private sector can play in advancing gender equality and to raise awareness about the Women’s Empowerment Principles (WEPs).

The morning programme continued with an inspiring talk by Hoba Gull, Dutch UN Women’s Representative, who emphasized that gender equality is more than investing in the representation of women in leadership positions, it’s about investing in changing conditions for all women. It’s about fighting poverty & violence, cultural norms and what we value in society. Ultimately, it’s about changing the system.

Her speech was followed by the introduction of the newly launched Pink Chip initiative. Pink Chip tracks women-led companies in markets around the world, helping investors to realize the true value of female leadership, free from the market bias that undervalues it.

Invest in women

After this insightful morning, the afternoon program was kicked off with a fireside chat between moderator Marianne Aalders from Euronext, our director Merei Wagenaar and Marije Cornelissen, Executive Director UN Women Nederland, emphasizing once more that investing in women is crucial to reach the Sustainable Development Goals. We cannot fight climate change without investing in women. Fostering equality can reduce carbon dioxide equivalent emissions by nearly 70 gigatons between 2020 and 2050.

The day continued with a key note by Sacha de Boer, visual storyteller & photographer, who captivated the audience with an inspiring story about her encounters with powerful girls and women on her travels around the world – from Zimbabwe to the North Pole. Through her lens, she illuminated the hidden leadership roles held by women. Whether they are harvesting, cooking or teaching, her photographs showed us that it’s often the women who are the driving force shaping the world.

Last but not least, we invited Caroline Wouters, EVP and Chief Communications, Brand and Marketing Officer at Wolters Kluwer and Michiel Gilsing, CFO at Vopak, to share their take on gender related equality challenges in a panel discussion. Themes included establishing safe environments for women both within and beyond the workplace, the efficacy of quotas, and strategies for attracting female talent.

Not just another date on the calendar

The day was closed with a second bell-ringing ceremony followed by some drinks to unwind and reflect on this International Women’s Day. We look back on an engaging event that has hopefully inspired meaningful change.

And now that the dust has settled.. let’s shake it up again! Because being vocal about gender equality is and should not be restricted to one day only. Every day presents an opportunity to champion equality and challenge biases. Join the Target Gender Equality Accelerator and set ambitious corporate targets for women’s representation, equal pay and leadership in business. Application deadline: 31 May 2024.

MKB-ontbijt: Strategische partnerschappen in de waardeketen

MKB-ontbijt: Strategische partnerschappen in de waardeketen

MKB-ontbijt: Strategische partnerschappen in de waardeketen

Op donderdag 15 februari 2024 vond het derde MKB-ontbijt plaats. De MKB-ontbijtserie is in het leven geroepen om de specifieke kansen en uitdagingen op het gebied van duurzaamheid voor het MKB te bespreken. 

Dit keer stond de sessie in het teken van strategische partnerschappen. Een veelvoorkomende uitdaging voor het MKB is namelijk het vinden van geschikte partners in de waardeketen, het omgaan met verschillende doelstellingen en culturele verschillen. Er was een gevarieerde groep bedrijven aanwezig met lokale, Europese en internationale georiënteerde waardeketens.  

Harm Jansen, eigenaar van Kinti Coffee, trapte de sessie af met een presentatie over de duurzame partnerschappen binnen zijn bedrijf. Kinti Coffee levert duurzame koffie, voornamelijk aan kantoren. Omdat Kinti Coffee rechtstreeks bij de boer inkoopt in plaats van bij traders, hebben ze meer zicht op de waardeketen en kan het echt transparant zijn. Zo wil Kinti de standaarden in de koffie industrie veranderen en de verschuiving naar biologische koffieproductie in Colombia versnellen. Dat doen ze ook door de kennis over fairtrade produceren te vergroten, o.a. via trainingen met CLAC. Daarnaast benutten ze “koffieafval” door bijvoorbeeld houten planken te produceren van koffiebesjes, zoals te zien is in deze video van Woodpecker.

Volgens Harm zijn partnerschappen de levensader van zijn bedrijf, samen leren en groeien is cruciaal. Maar met wie ga je in zee? Kinti is kritisch als het gaat over het selecteren van partners, wat het proces soms ingewikkeld maakt. Het kost nou eenmaal tijd om bij lokale boeren het belang van duurzaamheid over te brengen. De andere deelnemers aan het ontbijt lieten weten dit probleem te herkennen, ook zij lopen tegen uitdagingen aan bij de transitie naar nieuwe, duurzamere partners. Vooral voor het MKB blijkft dit ingewikkeld en kostbaar te zijn, en dat is wellicht waar UN Global Compact een helpende rol kan spelen.

Essentieel bleek de rol van een gedreven voortrekker bij de partner die door Kinti voorzien werd van gedegen analyses en overtuigende informatie. Ook spelen cultuurverschillen een rol. Tot slot zijn administratie, subsidieprojecten en rapportage een enorme tijdsinvestering voor het MKB. Verschillende systemen en gebrek aan uniformiteit in documenten verhogen administratieve druk.  

CSRD en andere aankomende wetgeving zal zeker effect hebben op MKB-bedrijven en hun samenwerkingen met leveranciers. Omdat Kinti rechtstreeks inkoopt heeft het beter zicht op de waardeketen en kan het hier makkelijker op inspelen. Kinti probeert waar mogelijk de keten te verkorten, bijvoorbeeld door lokale producenten op te leiden tot koffiebranders. Samenwerking met conculega’s is vooral qua transparantie een uitdaging. Een mooi voorbeeld uit de transportsector is de samenwerking om containers te consolideren zodat er geen lucht verscheept hoeft te worden. Dat is een win-win-win: kostenbesparing voor zowel de klant als het bedrijf en winst voor de planeet.   

Ondanks dat iedereen het er over eens is dat je samen verder komt dan alleen, blijft samenwerken met conculega’s ingewikkeld. Dit is zeker het geval buiten Europa, waar partijen lang niet altijd alle informatie met elkaar willen uitwisselen. Dit kan ervoor zorgen dat potenties niet optimaal worden benut.

De ambitie voor de toekomst is om de duurzame impact geleidelijk aan te vergroten en zo stapsgewijs de transformatie op gang te brengen. We willen Harm en alle deelnemers bedanken voor het delen van hun tips en ervaringen. Heb je nog vragen voor Harm Jansen? Je kunt hem bereiken via email, harm.jansen@kinticoffee.nl 

How to raise climate awareness in your organization

How to raise climate awareness in your organization

How to Raise climate awareness in your organization

In 2023, UN Global Compact Network Netherlands facilitated two Peer Learning Groups: one on Gender Equality and one on Climate Action. The goal is for the participating companies to learn more about these important topics, to dig into the challenges that they are facing, and to exchange best practices that can help overcome these challenges.

Raising climate awareness in your organization can be a challenge, especially considering the amount and complexity of knowledge that is available. How can you increase awareness in our organization? During the fifth and final session of the 2023 Climate Action Peer Learning Group at the Invest-NL HQ, thre professionals shared their perspective on different ways to make a case for climate change within the organization.

One possible approach is gamification. By applying game elements and principles to illustrate complex topics such as the causes and consequences of climate change, ‘players’ often experience enhanced engagement and motivation. An example of gamifying climate action is Climate FRESK. The game is simple and based on scientific knowledge. It comprises 42 cards and can be played with three groups of eight players each.

Another approach is to track your carbon footprint. During the Peer Learning Group session, Jo Hand from Giki Zero explained why tracking your carbon through helps to raise awareness. The platform is developed and based on scientific knowledge and includes 160 steps to build a sustainable lifestyle. It provides feedback, motivates colleagues to learn more about sustainability, and increases engagement with each other within the organization by addressing different personalities.

Being carbon literate is essential in combating climate change. Carbon literacy means “an awareness of the carbon costs and impacts of everyday activities and the ability and motivation to reduce emissions on an individual, community, and organizational basis.” Phil Korbel, from The Carbon Literacy Project, explained how to become carbon literate and emphasized that it is not enough to learn by oneself, but that you should be involved in peer-to-peer social learning. By learning from peers, you develop a sense of belonging, trust, and support, as well as gain recognition and appreciation for skills and contributions.

Lastly, Martine Kruiswijk, from KlimaatGesprekken, stressed the transition from awareness to action, since this is not always a given. Any behavioral process takes time, and it is vital to go through this process together by engaging with your colleagues and friends.

After these inspiring contributions of the speakers, the participants carried out a plenary discussion about how to use these methods within their own organization. Each participant created a five-step action plan and shared their outcomes with their peers in breakout rooms.

We’d like to grant a special thanks to the host of this session, Andrea Dijk, from Invest-NL. She has shared how Invest-NL is staying inspired to keep progressing on climate ambition. Increasing time investment between colleagues, benefiting the knowledge contribution from invited speakers, organizing impact challenges for teams, and informing everyone with an ESG & Impact newsletter can help organizations create internal motivation and awareness.

Recap Sustainable Textile peer learning sessions

Recap Sustainable Textile peer learning sessions

REcap sustainable textile peer learning sessions

The recently concluded peer learning sessions on Sustainable Textile proved to be a resounding success. Over the course of two sessions, participants active and involved in the textile industry (including retailers, manufacturers, and esteemed experts) engaged in vibrant discussions on the topics of sustainable textile and microplastics in textile. They exchanged valuable insights and committed to continue discussions and advance sustainability within the textile industry.

The peer learning sessions were organised by a team of young professionals who participate in the UN Global Compact NL’s Young Professionals Program (YPP). The sessions were attended by representatives from various companies and organisations, such as Hema, Zeeman, Fashion for Good, TU Delft, Goldbergh.

In the first session, on 26th of October 2023, Stijntje Jaspers, co-founder and Program Director of Fibershed Nederland, delivered an inspiring and thought-provoking discussion. Her presentation provided valuable insights on:

  • The human and environmental effects of unsustainable practices in the textile industry.
  • The need for producers and designers to think responsibly about the entire textile supply chain (fibre production, clothing production, consumer use and after use).
  • The importance of rethinking the fibre production process towards a BIO-circular economy (with renewable bio-based resources using regenerative agriculture).
  • The option of using sustainable fibre types such as plant-based cellulose or animal-based protein fibres.
  • The need for a comprehensive Product Environment Footprint (PEF).
  • The inspiring books and movies that could guide professionals in the transition to a sustainable textile industry.

Following the presentation, the participants discussed common myths and misconceptions in the sustainable textile industry relating to branding, microplastics, end-of-life & returns, and labour abuse. They also discussed options for shifting business and consumer mindsets (such as Impact-Weighted Accounts Framework, leasing clothes, investing in renewable products, not offering sales/free products etc.)

In the second session, on 14th of December 2023, the keynote speaker Jeroen Dagevos delivered an impactful discussion on microplastics in the textile industry, leaving a lasting impression on the attendees. Jeroen is the Head of Programs at Plastic Soup Foundation with extensive expertise on the topic of microplastics. His presentation provided valuable insights in:

  • The trend in textile material production for the near future if sustainable solutions are not implemented.
  • The possible solutions for consumers to decrease the release of microplastics during washing (e.g. Cora Ball & Guppy Friend).
  • The health effects of exposure to microplastics (on lungs).
  • The need for a system change through industry collaboration and influencing public opinion. – Active campaigns can guide consumer behaviour (Plastic Fashion Campaign).
  • Thinking of supply chain solutions can make the change faster, such as design for recycling, production with less microplastics, end of life solutions, financial incentives etc.

Following the presentation, attendees voiced their thoughts on how to tackle the problem of microplastics via legislation and consumer education.

In summary, there is definitely momentum for professionals in the textile industry to come together, collaborate and share knowledge within the sector. The peer learning sessions delivered impactful discussions. The expertise of the keynote speakers, their engaging presentation style, and their ability to connect with attendees contributed significantly to the overall success of the sessions.

The peer learning sessions on Sustainable Textile were organised as part of the Young Professionals Program of UN Global Compact NL. With more than 20,000 participating companies and 62 Local Networks covering 67 countries, the UN Global Compact is the world’s largest corporate sustainability initiative. Through training, collaborative learning, networking opportunities and reporting, companies that join the UN Global Compact are supported to accelerate on their sustainability journey. Interested in joining the UN Global Compact? Reach out to Participant Engagement Officer, Linde Reus, at reus@unglobalcompact.nl

Participant survey 2023

Participant survey 2023

Thank you for filling in the Participant Survey 2023!

We are grateful for the valuable feedback we have received from our 36 respondents, which helps us to shape our programming in 2024 and beyond. Mostly larger companies (75%) completed the questionnaire. We are proud to see that 92% of the respondents would recommend UN Global Compact to others. Moreover, our events, Accelerators and The Academy are widely known, whereas participants appeared to be less familiar with our Peer Learning Groups. At the same time the unique opportunity of peer learning and the exchange of knowledge and best practices was often mentioned as the key value proposition of the UN Global Compact. Interested in joining a safe space for companies to share their best practices and challenges on a variety of sustainability topics? Click here! Furthermore, Gender Equality and Climate are the topics the respondents would value support on the most. Lastly, many respondents indicated their CEOs would like to be more involved. We will focus on organising high-level events to raise collective ambition.

Would you like to know more or ask any questions about the Participant Survey? Please get in touch with our Participant Engagement Officer Linde Reus at reus@unglobalcompact.nl 

 

COP28

High-level Climate Conference (COP28)

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