Over 600 participants attend congress
The IDH, AkzoNobel and NEVI congress ‘Accelerating sustainable trade’ on November 2nd attracted over 600 participants of which a large majority business representatives. ‘Thinking about sustainability has shifted. It is becoming 100% core business for front running multinationals that have the procurement power to change the market’, according to Joost Oorthuizen in his closing speech.
‘There is a momentum for sustainability in businesses’, said chairman Herman Wijffels in his opening remarks. He was followed by the first speaker, Hans Wijers, CEO of AkzoNobel who explained the sustainability ambitions of his company, which include remaining in the top three of the most sustainable companies in the chemical industry. (PP presentation Hans Wijers).
’Sustainability is the essential element in the period of new growth.’
(Hans Wijers, CEO AkzoNobel).
When Minister Koenders, minister for Development Cooperation, addressed the delegates, he praised them for attending the conference in such high numbers and called the involvement of businesses crucial in reaching MDGs. The minister assigned an extra €20 million for 2011 and expressed the expectation that this amount will - at least - be equaled by private investments from companies.(link to speech Minister Koenders).
'I’m thrilled about the results IDH has achieved so far, and about the commitment shown by the business community.’
(Bert Koenders, Minister for Development Cooperation)
Keynote speaker Jason Clay, senior vice-president of market transformation at the WWF, explored the horizons of a sustainable economy in which businesses play an important role. His vision on a sustainable future inspired many of the participants..(download Jason Clay PP presentatie)
’We need to use less to produce more from less.’ (Jason Clay, WWF)
The Minister of Economic Affairs Frank Heemskerk finished the first part of the congress with criticizing companies about not moving fast enough in making their supply chains transparent. He advocated improving the traceability of raw materials. (link to speech Minister Heemskerk)
‘We have companies who excel in sustainability. We need to convince more mainstream companies - both large and small.’
(Frank Heemskerk, Minister of Economic Affairs).
Workshops
After the plenary session, participants worked in six workshops, on topics relating to business sustainability after hearing presentations from various business specialists and leaders. Below is an overview of the workshops with downloads of the accompanying booklets and links to the presentations.
Panel Discussion
Herman Wijffels led the panel discussion with Nico Roozen (Solidaridad), Ton Geurts (AkzoNobel), Jason Clay (WWF U.S.) and Howard Shapiro (Mars) on supply chain responsibility, sustainability and related ambitions of business. Finally Joost Oorthuizen, director of the Dutch Sustainable Trade Initiative (IDH) showed the results of one year IDH and revealed plans for the coming years.
Two types of companies
The conference ‘Accelerating Sustainable Trade’ has shown that there is momentum for sustainability and for ‘enlightened self-interest’ of companies, like Minister Bert Koenders mentioned in his speech. Building sustainable supply chains will in the coming years have to be expanded and further accelerated, because, as Joost Oorthuizen said in his speech: ‘We are on collision course. We can not afford to do nothing. (PP presentation Joost Oorthuizen)
I see only two kinds of companies: those that sell sustainable products, and those that will.
(Joost Oorthuizen, director IDH)
Congres report of Accelerating Sustainable Trade
Watch the videoreport of the Congres
Workshop 1: Future-Proofing Your Supply: Advanced Strategies for Sustainable Sourcing
Booklet Sustainable Sourcing (17 pagina's, 1.3 Mb)
Booklet Sustainable Retail (17 pagina's, 1.3 Mb)
Presentation Marc Pfitzer
Workshop 2: Maximising Social Impacts in the Supply Chain: New Strategies and the Business Case
Booklet Beyond Auditing (17 pagina's, 1.3 Mb)
Presentation Stefanie Miltenburg
Workshop 3: Sustainability as Vital to Business Strategy: Insights from Agri-Industries
Booklet Sustainable Trading (17 pagina's, 1.3 Mb).
Presentation David Rosenberg
Workshop 4: Who Pays for It? Innovative Market Mechanisms for Rewarding Sustainability
Booklet Payment for ecosystem services
Workshop 5: Supply Chain-Based Sustainability Marketing:
Booklet Sustainable Marketing (17 pagina's, 1.3 Mb)
Presentation Robbert-Jan Dekker
Workshop 6: Big Impact with Limited Resources: Fundamentals of Sustainable Sourcing for SMEs
Booklet Sustainable SMEs (voorbeelden uit het MKB).
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