Sustainability (CSR) masterclass

The interest in corporate social responsibility or sustainability is growing constantly. Enterprises are more and more busy with the sustainability issues and the attention in the media increases sharply. However, we cannot take for granted that everyone knows what are possibilities for dealing with sustainability issues and how you can make the strongest impression. For this purpose BECO developed the Masterclass on CSR. The Masterclass consists of several meetings: an initial meeting and a number of follow-up meetings.

The kick-off meeting
During the kick-off meeting BECO provides extensive information about the concept of CSR, which is presented very practically relying on our extensive experience with CSR issues for the business community. Ideas and issues related to CSR are brought up and many examples are discussed. In the follow-up sessions companies elaborate upon the concrete possibilities based on a selection of the most appealing themes.

Strategic Sustainability Scan
In preparation for the next meeting of the Masterclass all the participating companies/ organisations implement a sustainability scan. The final result of the scan is a sustainability agenda in which the organisation determines its priorities with respect to sustainability.

Follow-up meetings and work groups
The agendas of the participating organisations provide input for the follow-up meetings of the Masterclass. In addition, groups are set up according to various topics in which the companies would like to cooperate. The work groups generate best practises, which are shared with the other participants in the Masterclass. In the Masterclass, participants acquire a good picture of the content and scope of corporate social responsibility. They get an insight into how CSR can play a role in all facets of business operations.

Cooperating with other companies
Collaborating with other companies on CSR has tremendous added value. It offers several opportunities to benefit from each other’s experiences and ideas and enjoy a cross exchange. Others can examine their company from a fresh perspective. Furthermore, it is simply nice to work together.

Ambition and consequences
The Masterclass offers participants the possibility to crystallise exactly where their ambitions lie in relation to CSR. Ambition is linked to consequences: what does this mean for business operations, the employees, costs, etc. if the company strives towards a certain ambition level? Dealing with this issue provides clarity and a grip on further efforts in this field.

The outside world
The company’s relationship with all its stakeholders is the core of CSR. The way a company functions is not only seen and followed by management and employees but also by customers, shareholder, the surrounding communities and other groups. Furthermore, a company may want to make a certain contribution to society. The opinions and expectations of the aforementioned parties are important in terms of the way a company can best give content to its actions. This topic receives extensive attention during the Masterclass.

Examples

• Masterclass on CSR for the Chemical Industry. VNCI (The Association of Dutch Chemical Industry), Province of Zeeland and BECO organised a Masterclass on CSR for the Zeeland Chemical industry. The goal of the Masterclass is supporting the chemical plants in formulating the practice of sustainability. In preparation for the Masterclass the companies set up a sustainability agenda using a Sustainability Scan. The goal of the Masterclass was to provide joint content to sustainability agendas, to learn from each other’s experience, and together to progress further in the area of sustainability. Read further the quotes of the participating plants.



• Industry links sustainability to innovation. 19 companies in the Dutch Provinces of Overijssel and Gelderland that operate in the foodstuff and luxury food industries, synthetic processing and metal industry carried out a SSS scan.