Wendy van Tol’s Post

How to bring social factors strategically into the Board room (and trigger actual integration into the workplace and corporate supply chains)? Grateful to Unilever for giving us a peek into the kitchen and for PwC for the write up and analysis. Elevating ambition, action AND accountability in support of the #SinESG is the mandate with The Business Commission to Tackle Inequality - a coalition of 80+ leading companies, the United Nations, and other partners who share a commitment to serve as ringleaders and frontrunners in #tacklinginequality. Yet to do so with success, well need to understand first what matters, what works, and what doesn’t. A big thank you to Anouk Heilen, Matteo Squire, Rebecca Marmot, Barry Murphy, Wendy van Tol, and Mila Harmelink for spending the time on this thoughtful write up and sharing Unilever’s path towards its #livingwage agenda and other essential social value drivers. More on the next phase of the The Business Commission to Tackle Inequality soon. Onwards & upwards! #esg #inclusion Powered by WBCSD – World Business Council for Sustainable Development & our Equity team, Alyson Greenhalgh-Ball, Laura Kim Doan, Camila Ramos Vilches, Elisabeth P. , Kija Kummer Brown Louise Patzdorf, MCIPR Zara Parian

Are you interested how to make the “S” in #ESG more tangible and actionable for your organization? Dive into this full case study report 👇🏻 #socialsustainability

🌟I am proud to share the case study report 'How Unilever builds and delivers its social sustainability strategy', written together with my PwC colleague Wendy van Tol and released by The Business Commission to Tackle Inequality (BCTI).  Thanks to Carolien de Bruin. This case study serves as a practical application of the social performance framework and highlights Unilever's journey in tackling #inequality. It provides valuable insights for companies that want to have a positive impact on society.  👉🏻Dive into the full case study report and discover a practical step-by-step approach on how to make the “S” in #ESG more tangible and actionable for your organization. https://lnkd.in/eiyvFtTT

New case study report authored by PwC, and unveiled by The Business Commission to Tackle Inequality (BCTI), explores Unilever’s path towards defining and implementing its social impact strategy for its core business and across the value chain, with a focus on living wage. This report offers a practical, step-by-step approach for every C-suite member on how to make the “S” in #ESG more tangible and actionable. 📖 Read in full here: https://shorturl.at/rBL67 Using Unilever's journey in addressing #inequality within the private sector, this case study report shows the practical application of the ‘Sustainable Business Transformation Framework’, which #BCTI published last year within their flagship report: 'Tackling Inequality: an agenda for business action'. View the full framework here: https://lnkd.in/eUDKM_Aj #TacklingInequality #WBCSD #SocialImpact #Sustainability #ESG #LivingWage WBCSD – World Business Council for Sustainable Development | Wendy van Tol | Mila Harmelink | Nabeel Osman | Carolien de Bruin | Barry Murphy | Nadja Picard | Emma Cox | Noor Sanders | Renate de Lange | Claire Monkhouse | Nastassja Rongé | Anouk Heilen | Rebecca Marmot | PwC Nederland | PwC UK | PwC Climate | B4IG - Business for Inclusive Growth

Social responsibility plays a crucial role in shaping sustainable business practices and investment decisions. Social responsibility within the framework of ESG encompasses a range of factors, including but not limited to human rights, labour practices, community engagement, and diversity and inclusion initiatives. At its core, social responsibility in ESG reflects a commitment to the ethical and equitable treatment of all stakeholders, including employees, customers, suppliers, and the communities in which businesses operate. This entails upholding fundamental human rights, ensuring fair labour practices, fostering diversity and inclusion, and actively engaging with and supporting local communities. Moreover, social responsibility is integral to fostering trust and building long-term relationships with stakeholders. Companies that demonstrate a strong commitment to social responsibility are better positioned to attract and retain talent, enhance their brand reputation, and mitigate risks associated with negative social impacts such as labour disputes, human rights violations, or community backlash. Furthermore, social responsibility within ESG extends beyond corporate practices to encompass broader societal issues and challenges. This includes addressing systemic inequalities, promoting social justice, and contributing to sustainable development goals such as poverty alleviation, access to education and healthcare, and environmental conservation. In need of expert advice on ESG? Contact us today at esginactionafrica@gmail.com #ESG  #ESGSustainability #ESGStrategy #ESGinActionAfrica #SustainableDevelopment #EnvironmentalResponsibility #SocialResponsibility #CorporateSocialResponsibility #ESGFramework

Measuring and reporting social impact is crucial for organizations to assess their contributions and maintain accountability. Frameworks like the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) and Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (SASB) offer structured approaches to ensure transparency, helping businesses align with global standards while showcasing their social impact efforts. By adopting these frameworks, organizations can effectively communicate their positive contributions to society and promote trust among stakeholders. #SocialImpact #GRI #SASB #Transparency #Accountability #Sustainability #Windhivessustainabilitysolutions #windhives

𝗔𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗖𝗜𝗜 𝗔𝗻𝗻𝘂𝗮𝗹 𝗕𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗦𝘂𝗺𝗺𝗶𝘁, 𝗔𝘇𝗶𝗺 𝗣𝗿𝗲𝗺𝗷𝗶, 𝗪𝗶𝗽𝗿𝗼'𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿, 𝘀𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗮 𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵𝘁-𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘃𝗼𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗺𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗼𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗱𝗲𝗲𝗽𝗹𝘆! He emphasized the importance of building trust within businesses, highlighting the critical role of 𝗘𝗻𝘃𝗶𝗿𝗼𝗻𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗹, 𝗦𝗼𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗚𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 (𝗘𝗦𝗚) 𝗳𝗿𝗮𝗺𝗲𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸𝘀 in achieving this. But Premji didn't stop there. He challenged companies to re-evaluate their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) spending. 𝗛𝗶𝘀 𝘃𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻? Move beyond charity and focus on addressing critical social needs. "𝗘𝗦𝗚 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗻𝗼 𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗴𝗲𝗿 𝗼𝗽𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹, 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘆'𝗿𝗲 𝗳𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗮𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗹," Premji declared. He urged companies to ensure their CSR budgets truly make a difference, tackling issues that are essential for a better future. 𝗣𝗿𝗲𝗺𝗷𝗶'𝘀 𝗺𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝗶𝘀 𝗰𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗿: Businesses have a crucial role to play in creating a sustainable world. 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀 𝗼𝗻 𝗣𝗿𝗲𝗺𝗷𝗶'𝘀 𝗰𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗳𝘂𝗹 𝗖𝗦𝗥 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗘𝗦𝗚 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗴𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻? P.S: Share your insights in the comments! -------------------------------------------- Book a call to '𝗘𝗺𝗽𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗝𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗻𝗲𝘆 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗺𝗲!': https://lnkd.in/gA9CyPSr #ESG #CSR #Sustainability #CII #BusinessLeadership

🌍 𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐠𝐠𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐭𝐡𝐞 "𝐒" 𝐢𝐧 𝐄𝐒𝐆? 🌍 Recently, a client of mine at YESS Impact was advancing well with their environmental and governance efforts - but struggled with the "S", the Social aspect of their ESG strategy, a common hurdle many companies face. Here’s how we tackled it: 1. 𝐃𝐞𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐒𝐨𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐎𝐛𝐣𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐬: We started by clarifying what 'Social' means within their ESG framework, setting specific, actionable goals such as improving employee welfare, supporting local community initiatives, and ensuring product safety. 2. 𝐏𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐲 𝐃𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐩𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭: We crafted a detailed social policy that integrates seamlessly with their broader business strategy and ESG commitments, guiding their social impact efforts. 3. 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐄𝐧𝐠𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭: What are people really passionate about? To contribute to meaningful change, we engaged with stakeholders to align on expectations and consolidate support, ensuring our social initiatives are inclusive and impactful. 4. 𝐌𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐑𝐞𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠: We established clear metrics to measure social impact, incorporating these into their overall ESG reporting to track progress and showcase the tangible benefits of their social initiatives transparently. 🚀 We’re eager to see how these initiatives continue to enrich not just the business but also the community and environment at large. 🔗 𝐋𝐨𝐨𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐨𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐩𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐚𝐫 𝐨𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐄𝐒𝐆 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐠𝐲? 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐜𝐭 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐦𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐜𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐰𝐞 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐦𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐚 𝐬𝐢𝐠𝐧𝐢𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐝𝐢𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐭𝐨𝐠𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫! #ESG #SocialImpact #Sustainability #CorporateResponsibility #InnovationInAction #Innovation

🌍 Embracing Business Practices That Actually Improve the World 🌱 In today's fast-paced world, businesses have a unique opportunity to not only drive profit but also make a positive impact on society and the environment. Here are a few standard examples of business practices that are truly making a difference: 1. Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR): Implementing CSR initiatives such as community development projects, environmental sustainability programs, and philanthropic efforts can significantly contribute to social welfare and environmental conservation. 2. Ethical Sourcing and Supply Chain Management: Ensuring fair labor practices, ethical sourcing of materials, and promoting transparency throughout the supply chain are crucial steps towards fostering a more equitable and sustainable business ecosystem. 3. Innovation for Social Good: Investing in research and development that focuses on solving pressing social and environmental challenges, such as clean energy technologies, healthcare innovations, and sustainable agriculture practices, can lead to groundbreaking solutions that benefit both society and the bottom line. 4. Diversity and Inclusion: Creating a workplace culture that values diversity, equity, and inclusion not only fosters innovation and creativity but also helps address systemic inequalities and promote social justice. By embracing these business practices, companies can not only enhance their reputation and attract top talent but also play a pivotal role in building a more sustainable and equitable future for all. Let's strive to make a positive impact through our business endeavors! #Sustainability #CSR #EthicalBusiness #SocialImpact

The Social Value Act is maturing. As the awareness and understanding grows around it, so does the demand for genuine social impact. This means less room for greenwashing and more emphasis on verifiable delivery. 𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗳𝘁? In the past, companies might have focused on reporting Social Value initiatives without ensuring those initiatives actually delivered on their promises. However, as the Act evolves, authorities are demanding more evidence. Transparency measures taking effect in 2024 will empower communities to assess the effectiveness of Social Value efforts. This means organisations need to be prepared to demonstrate the tangible impact they create. The good news? This shift is positive. It pushes organisations to move beyond performative actions and focus on real social change. Verification becomes crucial in this new landscape. 𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝘄𝗲 𝗲𝗻𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗳𝗶𝗲𝗱 𝗱𝗲𝗹𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆? 👉 Developing robust measurement frameworks to track progress and outcomes. 👉 Partnering with organisations to deliver and verify Social Value initiatives. 👉 Prioritising initiatives with clear metrics for measuring Social Value. The Social Value Act is becoming a powerful tool for positive change. Let's embrace this evolution and work together to ensure genuine impact takes center stage. #SocialValue #Impact #Sustainability #CorporateResponsibility #SocialImpact #Education #CommunityEngagement #LetsLocalise #VerifiedDelivery