Lab Expanscience expert delves into how best to integrate CSR standards
The head of sourcing at the natural cosmetics player revealed in more depth to industry professionals as to how the company integrated a CSR standard into supply chains including the challenges it met along the way, after previously announcing its on-going progress in the area last month.
According to Debrock, the company has spent many years defining and honing its CSR course, a journey that has included scrupulous assessment of every business process, from the sourcing of raw materials, all the way up to finished products and the process of distribution.
Having launched it's sustainable development programme back in 2004, the company believes it has now reached the point where its CSR programme is one it can proudly communicate about to the industry.
“The company’s CSR policy ensures a transparency on all of the processes. This initiative allows the difference in competition by adopting another kind of relationship with its partners and stakeholders.”
Challenges
Firstly, Debrock notes that within the framework of the supply chain, the CSR plan can be defined by a policy of sustainable purchases and there are two key challenges.
"The first is to secure supplies in front of a new geopolitics of resources; and the second is to secure social acceptability by answering the growing number of requests for traceability from both stakeholders and consumers.”
Although Debrock acknowledges that obstacles are inevitable along the way, he says there is a need to strike a balance between remaining both competitive and sustainable, while continuing to respect the available resources that the company uses.
“Be aware of new tendencies, including eco-design, or technology, particularly green processes, and expectations while sharing good or bad experiences with other organizations.”
Commitments
Next, the manager reveals that the France-based company’s focus on the “3Rs” in packaging in terms of reducing, replacing, and recycling is always at the forefront of the business’s sustainability goals.
And that by 2015, Expanscience will have implemented a CSR action plan for 100 per cent of its plant supply chains in terms of kegal and contractual access to plant sources, fair return for local populations, and an established responsible purchasing policy.
Finally, Debrock reveals that the company aims to achieve a 20 per cent reduction at its' Epernon production site (compared with 2010), in its consumption of gas and electricity and a 20 per cent reduction (compared with 2008) in its' greenhouse gas emissions (excluding sourcing of raw materials and our subsidiaries’ distribution activities).
The vegetal ingredients manager delivered a presentation on this matter at the Sustainable Cosmetics Summit, in Paris last week.
