You are here: Home » The Environment » Environment

Environment

Corporate Social Responsibility

We are at present living in a world of change with constantly growing customer awareness and demands. This trend is placing greater requirements on companies and the issue of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is becoming ever more important. This involves the business sector’s attitude to pollution, climate change, unfair working conditions and product quality. AAK has adopted a successive approach to CSR in its strategic action plan, with the aim of achieving sustainable development.

If a company does not respect these conditions, it may lose the trust of customers and suppliers or suffer negative exposure in the media. At present, the media is very keen to report on the level of responsibility shown by businesses as regards environmental issues and sustainable development, and the demand for transparency in business operations with respect to the outside world has increased. Investors also take a greater interest in the above factors before deciding on investments, while analysts asses the strengths and weaknesses of companies with reference to sustainable development. One example of the social responsibility shown by AAK is its contribution to sustainable production methods in Burkina Faso, where the company was involved in a UN project aimed at improving the living standard of the women collecting the shea nuts which, to AAK, are a raw material of considerable importance.

Focusing on change

AAK aims to achieve the highest possible standard in quality, food safety and environmental issues. AAK believes that it is vital to take account of the demands and views expressed from the outside world, stakeholders and global rating companies on issues such as exploitation of natural resources, child labour and working conditions. Through active involvement in counteracting these situations, AAK can improve its shareholder value and maintain the company’s excellent reputation whilst at the same time, developing and strengthening its brand. Consequently, it is important that AAK analyses the risks associated with its business operations and draws up a Code of Conduct (ethical ground rules), and implements this code to create transparency in measuring how well the company complies with these ethical rules.

The food industry continues to focus on well-being and health. These trends create expectations on companies whose work involves both financial and social targets, and which aim to achieve sustainable development. For AAK, it has meant that decisions taken within the company must be financially justifiable, environmentally sound and socially responsible. At the same time, the work must build on previous results.

It is also essential that day-to-day work must stay within the framework of the company’s ethical ground rules (Code of Conduct) and that reporting on sustainable development must be measurable and practicable in day-to-day management work. Consideration for the environment is now a competitive advantage, therefore it is vital for AAK to continue to develop and strive towards sustainable development.