In fact we believe that sustainability is the way to go. For Dutch Plantin sustainability is not a destination. But it is a path towards continuous improvement. Through our innovation, efforts on automation and better working conditions we are moving towards that destination if we are demanded to go that route or not.
Implementation of sustainability became important for us years back when the Dutch part of the organization thought about better working conditions and being more respectful to the environment. We can call it “being a responsible producer” or “investing in the growth” of the industry.
We as Dutch Plantin saw that like every country India has also statutory regulations and rules. If these regulations and rules are complied with 99% of the targets of being a responsible producer can be achieved. The next 1% is your efforts on how to do it better than even the prescribed regulations.
As an organization we follow sustainability in the following aspects.
- Respect for raw material
Our raw material are husks. So we focus on the best usage of the husk. From start to end, no contamination, no wastage of husk and the products derived from husks. This we do by continuous education of our employees. One of the policy we use is to make sure that we always get enough husk as per the production of the sales department. Because we know less means that it affects business. More means wastage and opportunity lost for another producer. This is why we request projections and expectations of volume form our customers (some times we get an answer)
- Respect for Human Resources
People make the difference. In any organization if you have responsible and emotionally attached employees, half of the problem is solved. We help our employees build a better future by investing in their well-being and safety through good working conditions, long-term contracts, overtime pay and a pension scheme. Moreover, we insure our staff and their families.
Few of the area of focus are:
- Health insurance for employees and their families
- Transportation to work for our employees
- Good sanitary services
- Fresh drinking water in all factories
- Charities local community / CSR activities in renovation of schools
- Good salaries
- Education for under privileged kids
- Education and courses employees
- Performance appraisals
- Contact point for actions on sexual harassment
- Say / participation
- Overtime payment
- Investments in healthy and safe labour conditions
- Long term employability
- No discrimination / gender equality
Respect for Air, Earth & Water
- Responsible use of water
- Investments in technologies to save water use
- Investment in effluent treatment plants and green belts
- Investment in more automation to reduce the process time using water
- Reduce dust and invest technologies to reduce dust
Respect for the Industry.
- Educating the industry to focus more on sustainable practices.
- Asking the partners in supply chain if they are aware on sustainable practices.
- Promoting the practices of sustainability and responsible production by social media,
- newsletters etc.
- Announcing the fact to customers and prospects on why are we different (though no one pays a single penny extra right now, lets hope some day it will change )
What are the most important sustainability goals, requirements and ambitions for the next 5 years?
Creating a positive impact by improving people’s lives and taking care of the planet is what Dutch Plantin stands for.
- Improving the quality of life for every one connected to us
- Good health and well being of the employees
- Invest in education for next generation using CSR funds
- To put efforts in energy savings and efforts on coming closer every year towards net zero carbon targets
- Be responsible in obeying the statutory regulations, licenses , rules etc. of the country that you operate
- Gender equality in all fields of operations
- Partnership of the employees in achieving the sustainable goals and making them feel proud to be part of responsible production
What are your main areas of interest and your main risk factors?
The main area of interest is that the Coir industry gets more mature and responsible and is more welcomed. The vagueness and apprehensions and wrong propagandas (like coconut is plucked by monkeys are avoided). To get a wider approval for coir pith as a natural, organic, renewable, sustainable resource.
So we believe for a fact, that more than implementing or enforcing RPC should be a requirement from a buyer. In such case both the producer and the customer will have equal emotional involvement and the fear of level playing field will eventually diminish.