Cooperating on CSR: Interview with Richard Piechocki and Thomas Ursem Rabobank's F&A Principles were created to provide the business with a set of clear guidelines to better foster and implement sustainable value chains. Richard Piechocki, CSR Issue Manager at Rabobank Group and Thomas Ursem, Manager CSR at RI, explain how the F&A Principles will be translated into supply chain policies and their impact on the business. Richard Piechocki and Thomas Ursem Q Why does Rabobank have F&A Principles? A "Firstly, because it's clear that sustainability and the business case will be more and more intertwined. This means that if we integrate CSR in the commercial business process, we can create a competitive edge. Secondly, Rabobank's cooperative principles are to act prudently, responsibly and demonstrate involvement, which are important elements of both sustainability and sustainable entrepreneurship, and as such lay out the framework of our F&A Principles. If we want to achieve our ambition of being the leading F&A bank outside the Netherlands, we know we have to integrate sustainable thinking into our business." Q Why do the F&A Principles need to be translated into supply chain policies? A "The supply chain policies are designed to provide our relationship managers with guidance on the types of environmental, social or human rights issues that exist in each sector, allowing them to make in- formed decisions on how we can contribute to making our clients' business more sustainable. Using the policies, relationship managers will be better equipped to assess transactions within each sector, meaning we will be better able to identify societal risks, serve our clients and spot opportunities to act more sustainably." Q Which supply chain policies do we have? A "We have developed policies within the production chains and sectors of palm oil, soy, forestry, cotton, sugar cane, aquaculture, fisheries, biofuels, coffee, cocoa, mining, and oil and gas. It's important for the business to understand that these aren't areas where we're looking to end cliënt relationships, but rather areas where we are looking for opportunities to introducé sustainability into our clients' business practices, and we want to do this through persuasion and by offering up solutions. We want the relationship managers to talk to their clients, learn more about the direction they are going in, and discuss issues, because this will help us better serve our clients in the future." Q What do you believe Rabobank can achieve with these supply chain policies? A "Sustainability should not simply be viewed as 'doing good', but rather as a means to help clients solve sustain able issues and improve their business. Increasingly, clients ask for advice on how to deal with such issues, and this is where Rabobank is really able to deliver: by recognising the problems that our clients have and utilising our expertise for finding appropriate solutions. These policies have the potential to be a great commer cial opportunity for Rabobank." For more information on the F&A Principles and supply chain policies, please visit: http://meetingpoint.rahonet.com/themes/csr/newsletter/ FA_principles.asp ISSUE 22 JANL THE WORD

Rabobank Bronnenarchief

blad 'RI The Word / The Word' (EN) | 2010 | | pagina 13