Focus on new sustainable economyFocusing on corporate social responsibility (CSR) and sustainability can be profitable, but only if the player concerned is completely transparent about what takes place throughout the entire production chain. Van Houtum emphasizes this time and again.
CSR - the ‘standard for the 21st century’ - is still often a question of voluntary and non-binding participation. In practice, CSR can be interpreted and implemented in various ways. It refers to a manner of doing business which contributes to sustainable development. Sustainable development satisfies the needs of the present generation
without compromising the ability of future generations to satisfy their own needs.
“In my view, when put into concrete terms, CSR means that we shoulder responsibility for the effects which our business activities may have on people, the environment and our management of the business,” explains general director Henk van Houtum. “We make conscious choices in order to create value on a social (
people), ecological (
planet) and economic (
profit) level. Based on this concrete promise, we contribute to economic development by improving the standard of living of employees, customers, fellow townspeople and society as a whole.”
“It's no accident that we helped create “
De Groene Zaak,” Henk continues. “This association unites over 60 companies with a clear and common vision: take advantage of the present crisis to radically transform our economy into a more sustainable one and to give our future economy the impulse it needs right now. Let us focus our energy not only on cost savings, cutbacks and downsizing but also on
a new and sustainable economy. In the long run, this will lead to real progress and strengthen us all.”
De Groene Zaak recently organized an
election debate. The key question was how the Dutch economy could be transformed into a sustainable one as quickly as possible. The debate was organized around three themes:
• Rules and regulations;
• Fair competition;
• Sustainable purchasing and contracting practices.
Sustainability played a prominent role in the various election programmes. By and large, the parties generally agreed that the economy and the environment need to be linked with each other. However, it also became clear that the ambitions of De Groene Zaak are still too far-reaching at present for many of the parties. “That is unfortunate,” says Henk. “The government should actually be encouraging players to switch to fully sustainable energy production. In fact, there is no way back. All future earnings models will be based on sustainability.”