NATURAL RESOURCES As well as introducing new waste collection points to encourage separate waste collection, in 2017 we also set about increasing our knowledge of this comprehensive topic. We determined the impact of our packaging materials based on the calculation of our footprint, which led to the Foil Reduction project. We expect to take further concrete steps in 2018 together with a number of retail partners. WELL-BEING, HEALTH AND SOCIETY In 2017, we collected and shared with our retail partners all knowledge and insights into the wonderful role that plants can play in people’s lives. This included increasing our understanding of ‘biology and plants’ in an inspiration session provided by Tom Koenderman* for the entire company. We also launched various new initiatives related to our role in the community and society. For instance, we now deliver leftover plants to local care homes and food banks. We already had ‘great for the home’ for our employees; now we also have ‘great for the care home’. * Tom Koenderman is the director and founder of CloudGarden, a Green PAC iLab company. CloudGarden supplies smart air purification systems in the form of green walls. WORKING CONDITIONS Another topical theme for our retail partners is working conditions. We participated in the Living Wage Lab, which involves cooperating with civil society organisations and other companies to achieve a living wage in the horticultural sector. We attended Amfori BSCI webinars and workshops on modern slavery. We also cooperated with suppliers of value-added products to (indirectly) help make a positive contribution towards improving working conditions in the chain. Furthermore, we are involved in negotiations for a covenant on a sustainable horticultural sector aimed at developing a responsible international policy. We try to inspire others in the chain to operate more sustainably. But, of course, it all starts with us. To inspire our own people, in 2017 we placed sustainability on the agenda four times in our monthly internal business updates. We also invited inspiring speakers like Volkert Engelsman, who ranked first in Trouw’s (a leading Dutch newspaper) Sustainable 100 list. And we organised a Sustainable Thursday, where we played the film Normal is Over and listened to guest speaker Maurits Groen*. * Maurits Groen is a communications adviser, activist and entrepreneur who engages with environmental and development issues. He is co-founder of Waka Waka and Kipster. Royal Lemkes gifted its employees a Waka Waka lamp for Christmas, with which we also gave numerous people in Africa access to light. 47
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