This was the challenge UN Global Compact Network Netherlands formulated one year ago for an alliance of 5 European universities (Barcelona, Budapest, Dublin, Montpellier, and Utrecht) under the name CHARM-EU, co-funded by the Erasmus+ Programme of the European Union.* A group of four students took the challenge and came up with their presentation on February 2, 2023, in Barcelona. One day later, together with all the other 56 students, they received their master’s degree at the European University, for the first time in history.

The focus of the students

The master students focussed the research question “What are SME perspectives regarding current and emerging sustainability reporting practices considering the incoming CSRD?” They focussed on the Netherlands where both their stakeholder UN Global Compact and the four University of Utrecht students are based.

Every day, 17 million Dutch citizens purchase thousands of products: new jeans, a coffee, a t-shirt or a bottle of milk. But the price paid for these items almost never accounts for the true impact the production and consumption of these goods have on our environmental and social ecosystems.

As consumers, we often make purchases without any insight into the impact caused by the creation and/or delivery of everyday products and services. How do we activate people to be more aware of the story behind what they buy and empower interested individuals with the information they need to make informed and considered purchasing decisions?

The eye-catching digital art

The digital art campaign grabs the attention of the consumer and then raises awareness by providing additional information through a “price tag” on the reverse side (also with a QR code to find out more)

Using digital art allows us to explore digital and social media channels, as well as print and physical exhibitions, for the dissemination of our campaign. We want to take it to the next level through an outdoor physical installation and a social media campaign.

How can you contribute to this campaign?

Currently, we are still working on the funding to expand our campaign and create an additional six art pieces to create even more awareness. Would you like to have more information about our project or interested in contributing to our campaign? Let us know by emailing: susan.van.hooijdonk@randstadgroep.nl 

The gap between purpose and pay

As we all know, it is fashionable to see corporate scale as a negative thing. We believe that is the wrong way to look at it. We believe that using the scale of corporations and the creativity and good will of the millions of smart, dedicated and driven people working for them is undoubtedly our best chance of achieving a sustainable and future-proof economy. And corporations themselves seem to agree. Most of them claim, quite publicly, that they are led by a higher purpose than profit alone.   

However, when you look at the incentives offered to the executives of most large corporations across the globe, a very different picture emerges. In nearly all public companies we’ve looked at as Reward Value, there is a – sometimes significant – gap between the commitments made to people and the planet and the results for which its executives are rewarded. In other words: there’s a gap between purpose and pay.

Principles of Responsible Renumeration as a pragmatic instrument

Traditionally, remuneration policies are often established less by design but more by convention. That’s the way it has always been. Rather than making me cynical, this gives me a great deal of hope. There’s no dark force creating the gap. It’s just a habit, mixed with a fear of being the first to change.

With the PRR, we have created a pragmatic instrument to help corporations design rewards that encourage their executives to live up to them. A step forward on the path to positive change and the realization of the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

To find out more about the PRR and Reward Value, please visit: www.rewardvalue.org

Scaling the impact

In 2022 we facilitated many programmatic activities to help enable our members and set ambitious targets to scale the impact that the world needs to reach Agenda 2030:

• Climate Ambition Accelerator (second edition)
• Target Gender Equality Accelerator (second edition)
• SDG Ambition programme (second edition)
• Three new groups started their journey in our Young Professionals-programme
• SDG Pioneers, our national winner Iris van Wanrooij from Emma Safety Footwear was selected as a global SDG pioneer for supply chain sustainability.

We contributed to business networking and sharing knowledge by hosting and contributing to more than 20 events. This includes conferences, workshops, and roundtables hosted by us and in collaboration with partners, such as VNO-NCW, AmCham, KVNR, MKB Nederland, NBCC, SDG Netherlands, Socires, and other valuable stakeholders. Our events hosted over 1,000 participants from various sustainability areas and expertise levels – from young professionals to seasoned experts in this industry. Moreover, a number of Dutch participants were present at the global flagship events in-person and virtually, such as COP27,  the Leaders Summit, and Uniting Business LIVE.

What is next in 2023?

2023 has exciting things in store for our members! We just kicked off our Peer Learning Groups pilot, where a total of 22 companies will learn and exchange best practices in two groups: one on Climate Action and one on Gender Equality. We will start our first edition of the Business & Human Rights Accelerator in February. Together with the Social and Economic Council (SER), we will support a record-breaking 26 participating companies to improve their human rights due diligence processes.

In March 2023, we will launch the new platform for our Communication on Progress (make sure to join our live demonstration on February 9th) We also want to thank our participants: Akzo Nobel N.V., Athalos, Barentz International, Bugaboo International, Core Laboratories N.V., Delft Imaging Systems, Dietsmann Monte-Carlo SAM, Heineken N.V,  Imres B.V., and Trital Safety B.V., who were last year’s early adopters and helped to improve the platform.

Besides offering our members inspiring and impactful programmes and events, one of our goals in 2023 is to strengthen and grow our network. Our new ‘Referral Programme’ will reward our members for being ambitious and inspiring organisations to join the UN Global Compact.

We want to thank our participants for their commitment and collaboration in 2022. We look forward to working together on our joint mission to unite businesses for a better world in 2023.

When you join the UN Global Compact, you are taking an important, public step to transform our world through principled business. Participation makes a statement about your values, and it benefits both society and your company’s long-term success. The Communication on Progress (CoP) is a visible expression of a company’s commitment to sustainability which is mandatory to comply with annually.

This year, we launched our new reporting system for our CoP. With this new format, we will transition from a narrative format to a standardised questionnaire supported by a digital platform that will facilitate the reporting of the UN Global Compact’s 10 principles to our participating companies.

This 2022 ten Dutch participants participated in the ‘early adopter program’ testing the new reporting system. Thanks to their support we have improved the platform and will be available to all the business participants next March 2023. What do you need to know for next year’s CoP?

Your communication process ready in 2 steps

The new reporting system will have 2 mandatory steps:

• Step 1: Complete the online questionnaire
• Step 2: E-sign the CEO’s statement of continued support

Do you want to know more? Take a look at the new CoP policy, the questionnaire, and the questionnaire guidebook where we explain the structure of the questionnaire as well as a deep dive into each question and how it related to reporting standards.

Do you have questions about the new CoP? Join our upcoming Q&A webinar on December 13th at 2 PM.

Register by clicking here.

What Do Dutch Companies Need To Do?

The invitees, including representatives of FNV, PostNL, Bugaboo International, ABN AMRO, Tony’s Chocolonely, het Kinderrechtencollectief, de Bond van Adverteerders, Raccoon Games, VNO-NCW, Fonds Bestrijding Kinderarbeid (FBK), and het Kennisnet were given three themes on children’s rights: international value chains, the digital environment, and the platform economy. What followed was a lively conversation in which concerns were expressed about, among other things, the – often complex – approach to child labour in developing countries. Furthermore, the working conditions of young employees of delivery services were discussed, as was the need for education for children, parents, and teachers within schools and at home around digital literacy.

“By having a conversation with all kinds of stakeholders together, you increase the awareness that affects children in many different ways. It is not only about child labour, but also about poverty, destruction of the living environment, parental stress and dangerous marketing. We all have to work together to make things better for children, everyone agreed on that.” Linda van Beek (Director UN Global Compact Network Netherlands).

Conclusion

The main conclusion that emerged was that the government should take a leading role in the:

• Protecting children’s rights;
• Hold companies accountable for their responsibility (and take measures if necessary);
• Making consumers more aware of the ‘true price’ of products and services;
• Raising prices of certain products and services to ensure fair production and trade.

Companies need to:

• Respect and protect children’s rights in all parts of the chain;
• Make known what is needed by the government;
• Dare to be a forerunner when it comes to fair and sustainable business;
• Incorporate the rights of children in the design of products and services, and also involve children and young people directly in the designs to prevent possible harm.

And for all parties:

• Make it known that children’s rights are still violated on a daily basis;
• Keep discussing it and…

Keep working together!