10.4
Materiality and Sustainable Development Goals
Accell Group is always in contact with society via its participation in a wide range of networks and its continuous dialogue with its stakeholders. Based on the feedback we receive from our stakeholders, trends & developments in society and the Accell strategy, the Board of Management reviews the materiality matrix annually. During this review we take into account the four Principles of Reporting of the GRI Standard, namely stakeholder inclusiveness, sustainability context, materiality and completeness.
In 2019, we made several adjustments to the materiality matrix, taking into account what we believe is important but also what our stakeholders feel is important. We replaced Energy Use with Carbon Footprint Reduction, which has a wider scope. We also assigned greater importance to our Carbon Footprint Reduction and this is now reflected in the materiality matrix. The same goes for Diversity, which we believe deserves more emphasis, given the current debates about gender, race, ethnicity and sexual orientation, while we continue to underline the benefits of an inclusive workplace.
The matrix below illustrates the specific topics that we and our stakeholders deem important. Issues plotted towards the top right corner are the most material issues, while the ones in the bottom left section are seen as less important in relative terms.
- In addition to satisfaction with a high-quality product, service and buying convenience and availability, good information and a focus on customer safety are key factors, both in terms of regulations and product development and in use, that make an implicit contribution to client satisfaction.
- Consumers
- Retail trade network
- Brands have their own methods for monitoring this
- Playing a leadership role when it comes to increasing sustainability in mobility, reducing congestion, reducing CO2 emissions and improving living conditions in urbanised areas. Playing a proactive role in society to promote more exercise, sports and a healthier lifestyle, safety in terms of cycling conditions, infrastructure and bicycle products.
- Retail trade network
- Shareholders and Banks
- Industry organisations
- Consumers
- Public sector
- Suppliers
- Staff
- % sustainable commuter traffic
- Amount in sponsoring
- We design simple innovative solutions inspired by people. Providing distinctive products that surprise customers without compromising on safety and sustainability.
- Consumers
- Retail trade network
- Industry bodies
- Number of prizes and awards
- Number of patents and model protections
- Sustainable and less energy consumption in our production facilities, warehouse and offices, optimizing our logistics and business travelling, focus on more European production.
- Public sector
- Industry organisations
- Shareholders and Banks
- Amount of energy consumption
- Amount of emissions
- % of sustainable energy
- Production of bicycles with the lowest possible impact on the environment, reduction of waste and energy consumption, and attention paid to the use of packaging and safe materials.
- Industry organisations
- Suppliers
- Public sector
- Shareholders and Banks
- Environmental burden packaging materials
- Environmental burden waste
- Single-use plastic reduction
- Optimisation of the supply chain to increase reliability of deliveries and reduce lead times and respond more effectively to changes in consumer demand. Accept responsibility as a significant player in the mobility chain to encourage sustainable operations among partners on both the suppliers’ side and the distribution side.
- Shareholders and Banks
- Public sector
- Industry organisations
- Suppliers
- Assessment of suppliers in terms of employment practices, human rights and environmental impact
- Number of REACH assessments and % deviations
- Providing an open and professional culture in combination with an inspiring working environment that suits the personal abilities, talents and ambitions of employees. Providing good training and career prospects with attention for personal circumstances, health and a safe working environment.
- Staff
- Public sector.
- Hours of absenteeism
- Number of hours of training and education
- Employee evaluation in terms of satisfaction, engagement and enthusiasm
- Improving the health and safety culture within the company, as well as compliance with legislation and regulations,
- Staff
- Public Sector
- Industry organisations
- Hours of absenteeism
- Hours of absenteeism as a result of accidents
- Diversity and inclusion are about appreciating and incorporating the unique life experience that every Accell colleague brings to work.
- Public sector
- Shareholders and Banks
- Staff
- Balance between male and female staff
- Improving profitability by implementing our strategy, always from the perspective of customer satisfaction, so this actually bolsters our relevance in the long term, rather than undermining it.
- Shareholders and Banks
- EBIT margin
- Net profit
- ROCE
- Net turnover
Accell Group recognizes the importance of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). We have identified the goals that we as an organisation can contribute to and integrated these in our CSR strategy.
In terms of our products, bicycles, we focus primarily on SDG 3 (Good health and well-being) and SDG 11 (Sustainable cities and communities). Our products help to create a better environment, better living conditions in cities and a more healthy way of living. These themes are an innate part of our DNA and an important driver in our marketing, innovation strategy and business development.
As a goods manufacturer, we feel it is our responsibility to contribute to SDG 8 (Decent work and economic growth), not just with a focus on Accell Group employees, but on everyone who works for us, including our supply chain. To contribute to SDG 12 (Responsible consumption and production), we constantly work on reducing our environmental footprint and promoting the safe and responsible use of our products.
As one of the major players in the bicycle industry, we play a leading role in cooperative efforts with our partners and our peers, as we all work towards creating a more sustainable society, and in doing so contribute to the spirit of SDG 17 (Partnerships for the goals).