Communication on Progress_2015

Participant
Published
  • 08-Mar-2016
Time period
  • March 2015  –  March 2016
Format
  • Stand alone document – Basic COP Template
Differentiation Level
  • This COP qualifies for the Global Compact Active level
Self-assessment
  • Includes a CEO statement of continued support for the UN Global Compact and its ten principles
  • Description of actions or relevant policies related to Human Rights
  • Description of actions or relevant policies related to Labour
  • Description of actions or relevant policies related to Environment
  • Description of actions or relevant policies related to Anti-Corruption
  • Includes a measurement of outcomes
 
  • Statement of continued support by the Chief Executive Officer
  • Statement of the company's chief executive (CEO or equivalent) expressing continued support for the Global Compact and renewing the company's ongoing commitment to the initiative and its principles.

  • 3 March 2016

    To our stakeholders:

    I am pleased to confirm that ACS audiovisual solutions reaffirms its support of the Ten Principles of the United Nations Global Compact in the areas of Human Rights, Labour, Environment and Anti-Corruption.
    In this annual Communication on Progress, we describe our actions to continually improve the integration of the Global Compact and its principles into our business strategy, culture and daily operations. We also commit to sharing this information with our stakeholders using our primary channels of communication.

    Sincerely yours,

    Drs. Jessica Ylstra
    Managing Director ACS audiovisual solutions

Human Rights
  • Assessment, policy and goals
  • Description of the relevance of human rights for the company (i.e. human rights risk-assessment). Description of policies, public commitments and company goals on Human Rights.

  • ACS audiovisual solutions respects and supports the Universal Declaration of Human Rights; ACS is committed to respecting human rights as stated in the human declaration of human rights. We endeavour to ensure that we do not infringe on human rights and comply with the laws of the countries in which we operate. Both internally and externally.

  • Implementation
  • Description of concrete actions to implement Human Rights policies, address Human Rights risks and respond to Human Rights violations.

  • ACS audiovisual solutions has drawn up internal rules and guidelines (personnel guide book) which describe rights and obligations of employees and management. These guidelines are provided internally and to be consulted any moment. These are documented at our local drivers Every new employee receives this document with guidelines at his/her career start at ACS. Our business partners need to confirm our policy to adhere to the principles on Human Rights, these are implemented within our general terms, which are always submitted when it comes to business.

  • Measurement of outcomes
  • Description of how the company monitors and evaluates performance.

  • • ACS works in full compliance with the directives of the Occupational Health and Safety Act. But we also go beyond these directives: ACS has been fully VCA-certified since 2006. This means that ACS works responsibly with respect to safety, health and the environment. This provides our customers with added security concerning the quality we promise. VCA is a programme which assesses and certifies service providers with respect to safety, health and the environment (www.vca.nl). Yearly we have an unannounced VCA audit, the last audit took place on the first of December of 2015. We have succeeded for this audit and will receive an official report.

    • ACS protects workers from workplace harassment, including physical, verbal, sexual or psychological harassment, abuse or threats via our working council and complaint committee. This committee exists of our HRM consultant/ internal counsellor and our external labour specialist. (who is also responsible for reintegration etc. during long term sick leave). In 2015 we have zero cases of registered complaints.

    • ACS takes measures to eliminate ingredients, designs, defects or side-effects that could harm or threaten human life and health during manufacturing, usage or disposal of products. These ingredients are implemented within the directives of the Occupational Health and Safety Act and our VCA certification. We also have a team of24 employees who are trained for in-house or external emergency training. They are officially certified and have to take yearly training to stay updated and certified.

Labour
  • Assessment, policy and goals
  • Description of the relevance of labour rights for the company (i.e. labour rights-related risks and opportunities). Description of written policies, public commitments and company goals on labour rights.

  • ACS audiovisual solutions respects the labor rights stated in the International Labor Organization’s Declaration as well as all relevant legislation and regulations, including the local content of the countries in which it operates. ACS expects its business partners, customers and suppliers, to do the same. ACS does not tolerate any form of forced (labour) and stands for equal and fair rights within her HR policy.

  • Implementation
  • Description of concrete actions taken by the company to implement labour policies, address labour risks and respond to labour violations.

  • ACS audiovisual solutions implemented labour rights within her Human Resource policy and contracts with employees, which describe required rights and employer obligations (e.g. safety and health, non-discrimination/equal chances, working hours, wages etc.). This according to Dutch Law. ACS also implemented these rights within her personnel guide book, which every new employee receives, when starting at ACS. These documents are available at all times and accessible via our local drive’s.
    In order to maintain a high-quality service and give all our employees the opportunity to develop and gain knowledge we organise several trainings, for example sales training, technical training, safety training etc.

  • Measurement of outcomes
  • Description of how the company monitors and evaluates performance.

  • • In 2015 ACS has twelve female employees (with a total of 65 employees): one female is managing director, 3 females are part of the management.
    • In 2015 ACS has four different ethnical backgrounds within her employees
    • In 2015 we hired one logistic employee who was working to reintegration after a burn out
    • In 2015 four employees were hired and six employees left the company
    • ACS scored 2,5% on her absence rate in 2015
    • ACS registered three accidents in 2015 on the job

Environment
  • Assessment, policy and goals
  • Description of the relevance of environmental protection for the company (i.e. environmental risks and opportunities). Description of policies, public commitments and company goals on environmental protection.

  • As ACS audiovisual solutions her main activity involves the provision of services, its impacts on the environment are more indirect than direct. Even so, to strengthen its approach to environment protection ACS is working on defining good-practices related to resource consumption, waste management and global environment friendly behaviour. When operating on a client’s premises ACS complies with that client’s environmental standards.

    ACS works with a range of objectives with respect to sustainability.

    • Energy
    Measurement criterion
    We assess energy consumption with facilities annually to determine where we can apply energy-saving changes.

    • Waste
    Measurement criterion
    We only work with companies that assess waste separation structurally and review whether current suppliers meet our requirements.

    • Mobility
    Measurement criterion
    Assessment of the lease trucks/buses used at the end of each lease period.

  • Implementation
  • Description of concrete actions to implement environmental policies, address environmental risks and respond to environmental incidents.

  • ACS operates in accordance with an Environmental Management System. The general aim of the EMS within ACS is;
    • Compliance with legislation and regulations and the management of environmental risks.
    • To pursue permanent improvement in your organisation's environmental performance.
    ACS uses the following savings programmes within the EMS;
    Waste processing
    All ACS offices work with waste collection services that separate waste and collect and process it separately.
    For example the ACS Rotterdam office works with Van Gansewinkel.
    They provide various containers so that waste can be separated. Van Gansewinkel also uses green energy and invests in clean EVV vehicles. In 2009 they even had a first with an electric refuse collection vehicle for use in inner cities and at business parks.

    Cleaning
    ACS's cleaning company, Teico, operates a CSR policy which is assessed throughout the entire year. Sustainability is high on the agenda at Teico and plays an important role in mobility, purchasing, service provision, energy and HR policy, among others.

    Teico publishes its annual spend on cleaning materials. Last year, Teico's expenditure on cleaning products for all ACS locations was € 446,82. Teico makes an inventory of the annual volume of cleaning products and assesses them.

    Electricity
    - At all locations, the lights stay off in rooms that are not in use.
    - We use natural light as much as possible.
    - Energy-saving lighting in the main warehouse.

    Heating
    - A time switch in all the offices turns down the thermostat one hour before the end of the working day.
    - The radiators in rooms that are not in use are kept on low to ensure equal distribution across the site, which prevents the thermostat from coming back on the whole day.
    - All rooms are insulated.
    - The door between the front warehouse and the rest of the site remains closed. When the roller blinds are opened, the heat does not escape from the site.

    Paper use
    - Paper is collected separately from other waste.
    - Black/white printing is recommended and this is the standard printer setting.
    - The sales process in particular makes use of digital brochures and price lists instead of printed copies.

    Membership of STIBAT (batteries foundation)
    Stibat collects batteries from the collection points and ensures that they are sorted and recycled. Stibat takes the batteries it has collected to the national depot/sorting centre. After sorting, Stibat ensures that the batteries are recycled by recognised recycling companies in Western Europe.

    Membership of foundation AAP
    AAP gives primates and other exotic mammals a better future. AAP rescues animals and makes the case for better animal legislation in Europe.
    AAP collects old cell phones, for every cell phone that can be refurbished AAP receives a reimbursement of 3 euro’s. Every reimbursement will be donated to the animals adopted by AAP. In addition recycling your cell phone also helps saving the environment.

  • Measurement of outcomes
  • Description of how the company monitors and evaluates environmental performance.

  • • We have added a dockshelter (a truck lock) to the main warehouse to prevent a waste of heating. This solution also helps in saving energy use.
    • In 2015 we have introduced digital salary slips to cut back our paper use
    • In 2015 we have started a trial with an electric scooter for transport of personnel only to reduce gas use. (only in Amsterdam)

Anti-Corruption
  • Assessment, policy and goals
  • Description of the relevance of anti-corruption for the company (i.e. anti-corruption risk-assessment). Description of policies, public commitments and company goals on anti-corruption.

  • ACS audiovisual solutions supports the UNGC principles on anti-corruption. We work strongly against corruption in all its forms, including extortion and bribery.

  • Implementation
  • Description of concrete actions to implement anti-corruption policies, address anti-corruption risks and respond to incidents.

  • Our CSR guidelines and Code of Conduct (personnel guide book) include our policies on anti-corruption and respond to incidents. We have a system in place for any CSR guideline violation, this is managed via our counsellor and complaint committee.
    ACS also implemented ethical behaviour within her general terms towards suppliers.

  • Measurement of outcomes
  • Description of how the company monitors and evaluates anti-corruption performance.

  • • No incidents of violation have been reported in 2015