In September 2003 Hartmann joined the UN Global Compact, which commits Hartmann to integrate the Global Compact and its principles into strategy, culture and daily practice of it's business operations, and furthermore publish annually on the progress and in general advocate the global initiative.
History of progress in Hartmann
2008
During 2008 Hartmann implemented the turnaround activities outlined in our “Forward to basics” plan. These activities was finalised by the end of 2008. As a result our company now focus on developing our business activities in Europe and North America. Our work with the principles of Global Compact focuses on these two business areas.
In 2008 Hartmann became chairman of the Corporate Social Responsibility Manager Network, which is facilitated by the Confederation of Danish Industry. This network is a new and important way to promote the principles of Global Compact to other companies.
We are still an active member of The Danish Council for Sustainable Business Development and the Global Compact Nordic Network. We will continue our corporation and participation in both networks in 2009.
Our participation in these networks allows Hartmann to work with Global Compact Principles 8 and 9 regarding promotion of environmental and social responsibility to other companies and the development of environmentally friendly technologies.
In line with our commitment to the “Caring for Climate Initiative” launched by Global Compact we have committed ourselves to reduce our carbon footprint. The ambition is supported by our STEP® Energy plan, which we developed in 2008. STEP® Energy outlines needed steps we should take to reduce our energy consumption with 20% per kg products over the next three years. This initiative is an example on how we support a precautionary approach to environmental challenges - as outlined in Global Compact Principle 7.
2008 was also the year we launched a new sales- and marketing campaign under the slogan “Choose Fibre. Save Nature”. This campaign is focusing on the environmental advantages of using packaging from biodegradable and recycled paper fibres seen from a life-cycle perspective. The material from the campaign was used internally and externally to promote the ideas of Principle 8 regarding greater environmental responsibility. In this case responsibility when it comes to the choice of packaging material.
2007
For some time the financial situation in the Group has been unsatisfactory and remedial action was urgently needed. We responded by launching a comprehensive turnaround process in 2007 entitled ‘Forward to basics’. Part of the turnaround has been to sell our non-profitable operations in South America and an exit from Asia. In general the focus has shifted from growth to earnings without compromising our focus on sustainability.
Even though the turnaround process influenced 2007 we still managed to start up projects that we will harvest some valuable fruits from in 2008. A good example is the European Energy Project that will optimise and reduce our energy consumption. This project will be the main pillar in our UN “Caring For Climate” initiative, which we signed in 2007.
We are an active member of The Danish Council for Sustainable Business Development. The Council was founded by a broad circle of Danish Businesses in March 2006. Hartmann was one of them. The council focus on the work of Danish companies with sustainability and motivate towards a sharpening of efforts in the area. Our role has been planning several workshops and network meetings on the different aspects regarding sustainable development. We will continue our work in the Council in 2008 focusing our effects on a newly formed workgroup regarding combating global warming.
We support the Global Compact Nordic Network and will continue our corporation and participation in 2008.
2006
Hartmann production sites continue to work with improvement proposals based on company assessments carried out in 2005. In Hartmann Croatia Ltd. this work turns into an SA8000 certification process, which is rewarded with a certificate in June. Hartmann Croatia Ltd. hereby becomes the first SA8000 certified company in Croatia.
Hartmann establishes a new production site in China, and as one of the first initiatives Dept. of Business Sustainability and Development carries out a workshop with the new local management. The workshop focuses on Hartmann’s sustainability commitments and identifies and assesses the biggest challenges in relation to maintaining Hartmann’s sustainability profile in China.
Hartmann production sites in Malaysia, Brazil, Croatia and Finland carry out Supplier Evaluation for the first time.
2005
Hartmann initiates Step 3 of STEP®Human and Department of Business Sustainability & Development starts to carry out Company Assessment at production sites and give recommendations for improvement of performance.
Following production sites went through Company Assessment during 2005:Hartmann Malaysia Sdn. Bhd. (Malaysia), Hartmann Embalagens do Brasil Ltda. (Brazil), Hartmann Headquarter (Denmark), Hartmann Croatia Ltd. (Croatia), Hartmann Hungary Kft. (Hungary), Hartmann-Mai Ltd. (Israel).
Company Assessment was carried out during a four-to-five-day visit. All relevant formal as well as informal management practices were assessed and discussed in detail during the visit with reference to compliance with international standards. Each production site received reccomendations for improvement of performance and on the basis hereof an action plan for implementation was discussed.
Brødrene Hartmann A/S in Tønder, Denmark, carried out supplier evaluation as the first production site.
2004
Hartmann develops and tests a tool, "Company Assessment", to assess the Group's degree of compliance with international labour standards on production site level, which is to be applied in connection with Step 3 of STEP®Human. Parallel to this a Supplier Evaluation System, SES, is developed for the purpose of systematic evaluation of supplier performance in regards to sustainability and quality issues.
2004
Hartmann launches the Hartmann Sustainability Principles in support of Global Compact principles in the Annual Report 2003
2003
Hartmann joins Global Compact
2002
Global Compact is motivated and introduced to all management teams and key personnel in the Group for the first time during a tour made by the Director for Corporate Sustainable Development in connection with Step 2 of
STEP®Human.