Together we are better at reaching a greener future
- Introducing the Triple Ps
- Making green progress measurable
- We can only achieve our goals by cooperating with others
Aasted has made real progress in our own green transformation, but we still have a long way to go. We hope that sharing some of the insights gained on our journey toward a lighter carbon footprint might be useful to others in the industry – and that we can all learn from each other.
Among the many challenges facing the chocolate, bakery and confectionery industries, we share an especially urgent one with businesses across many other industries: reducing our carbon footprint. If corporations are to be part of the solution rather than just part of the problem of climate change, then we need to think and act in new ways. Consumers expect it. Regulatory bodies demand it. And throughout our industry, people are talking about it and companies are trying to find their way, no matter what role they play in supply and value chains.
Our own transformation is far from complete, and we have a lot of work to do. But we’re making progress towards our goals. We’ve learned a lot from others who have walked this path before us, and this is something we intend to continue. At the same time, maybe others can learn from some of our experiences? We hope so. Because one lesson that is crystal clear is this: if we’re going to enjoy a greener future, we all need to cooperate and learn from each other.
Introducing the Triple Ps
Changing corporate practices and culture takes time and commitment from everyone in the organization, but leadership has to show the way. So, beginning at the top, Aasted’s owners and board of directors have now redefined the purpose of our business. We have rewritten our company strategy to include environmental and social goals alongside financial targets. We seek to harness the power of business to create a new and better balance now and for generations to come.
Accordingly, we have introduced “the Triple Ps” – People, Planet, and Profit – three core values that remind us of our redefined corporate purpose and strategic intent. To bring this understanding of our purpose to life in our daily work, we have attached clearly defined goals and measurable KPIs to each of the three Ps. We use our Responsibility5 framework to break this big elephant of a change agenda into more manageable bites.
We use the Triple Ps and Responsibility5 as reference points in everything we do throughout the organization. We build them into departmental priorities, budgets, and activity plans. Our board of directors follows up on them specifically at its quarterly meetings. In so doing, we hope everyone in the company, from the most senior director to the newest recruit, can keep an eye on the big picture while digging into the daily details.
Making green progress measurable
That’s why we focus our sustainability efforts on what matters most to our own business and our stakeholders: the material issues that have a sustainability impact either environmentally, economically, or socially. We use materiality assessments to better understand our sustainability risks and opportunities, as well as our progress in meeting the goals we set to work on these issues.
Another tool we use to make progress towards our sustainability goals more measurable is something we call the Aasted Sustainability Index. Based on the B Impact Assessment developed by the B Corp movement, this index makes it easier to identify what we can do better to make our products and process more sustainable – and track progress (or lack thereof) towards them.
We can only achieve our goals by cooperating with others
Anyone who has thought about mitigating the risks of climate change and other societal challenges knows that both individual and collective action is necessary. It’s not either or, and one cannot replace the other. We’re in this together.
Fortunately, others have gone before us. There exist many excellent initiatives that can help us not only to find our own way, but also to work together with others to reinforce our mutual efforts to meet shared goals. We include the most significant of these below.
Aasted supports the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): Along with many other organizations, Aasted believes the SDGs help us translate global needs and ambitions into local solutions. We put particular focus on SDGs 9, 12, 13, and 17.
Aasted is a member of the UN Global Compact (UNGC): By committing to the UNGC’s 10 principles and incorporating these into our strategies, policies, and procedures, Aasted joins many other companies to support sustainable development for all.’
Aasted is a member of B Corp: B Corp helps companies meet standards of verified performance, accountability, and transparency on a range of factors that include employee benefits, charitable giving, supply chain practices, and input materials. As mentioned above (and among many other things), B Corp also provides proven tools for tracking progress towards measurable sustainability goals.
Aasted submits to external sustainability assessments: In a world where many have their own criteria for environmental, social, and ethical performance, we believe objective benchmarking is essential. Aasted is regularly assessed by EcoVadis, the world’s most trusted business sustainability rating system. In our most recent assessment, Aasted’s performance was awarded a platinum rating, ranking our sustainability practices in the top 1% of 90,000 assessed companies.
Aasted enters strategic partnerships that can accelerate action and scale up solutions: Aasted actively seeks partnerships with those that share our sustainable business goals. These can take place in the local communities where we operate, with NGOs, schools and universities, industry groups, and suppliers.
– Piet H. Tæstensen, CEO
