We published our first Sustainability Report pursuant to the GRI standard in summer 2019 and the related stakeholder survey in autumn 2019. The stakeholder survey showed clearly that the work we have done so far for promoting corporate responsibility has been noted and is considered important. This encourages us to continue and to continually improve these actions.
Corporate responsibility reporting was initiate in 2018 for the annual monitoring of the outcomes of the corporate responsibility program. This report, reviewing the situation and outcomes in 2019, is the second comprehensive Sustainability Report for HUS Logistics.
Results were achieved in all selected focus areas. As our operations grew, so too did the overall volume of waste, but the volume of mixed waste decreased thanks to more efficient recycling of plastic, paper and board. Corporate ecological and social responsibility were incorporated into more invitations to tender than before, and welfare campaigns among personnel, such as the Christmas gift collection for the Mother and Child Home and Shelter in Vantaa, were enthusiastically received.
In 2019, we engaged a great deal with various stakeholders. At the initiative of HUS Logistics, a shared ethical procurement development group was set up among the various hospital districts. This group produced the guide “Sairaanhoitopiirien opas vastuullisiin hankintoihin” [Hospital district guide to ethical procurement], which includes product group specific guidelines for procurement professionals. We are working with other hospital districts to establish uniform targets and criteria. We are also engaging in active dialogue with the supplier market, e.g. Sailab Finland, to ensure that the markets are also prepared to respond to our new, more ambitious requirements.
During the year under review, we also collaborated with Finnwatch on two pilot procurements, which earned us visibility in the public media and among our suppliers. We also initiated cooperation with other Nordic countries by signing a cooperation agreement and joining the European Sustainable Procurement Network.