Sustainability Vision

NNZ Sustainability Vision 2030

NNZ is an international company specializing in packaging for customers in the fruit and vegetable sector and industry. Since its foundation in 1922, the family business has steadily developed into an organization with around 250 employees and an extensive global network of its own branches and partners. The strength of this network lies in its ability to increase its competitive strength. Like NNZ, the partners in our network can be characterized as sustainable, with a broad portfolio and worldwide coverage.

Together we deliver our customers sustainable customization, logistics solutions and innovation through co-creation. We are able to meet this need with our subsidiaries at strategic locations in the various countries. We work with our clients, suppliers and a diverse team of professionals; specialists in the fields of materials, food technology, graphic design and market research. Together we work on tailor-made products, from concept to market launch. For each link in the chain, we offer customer-specific, smart solutions!

Our standard range consists of: films, cardboard, trays, cups, fresh produce buckets, net bags, jute bags, paper packaging, woven bags, FIBC’s, and pallet stabilization materials. NNZ also supplies customized packaging. We apply the highest standards of sustainability, efficiency and food safety to all packaging. Our customers thus benefit from our excellent purchasing conditions and high-quality products.

In general terms sustainability is defined as ‘focuses on meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs’. In NNZ, sustainability means nurturing and building long-lasting relationships with our stakeholders (employees, customers and suppliers). NNZ believes in progress, for humans and for the environment. We have identified sustainability pillars that we need to address strategically, given the nature of our own businesses and the external environment.

With our packaging technologies, our people and social responsibility at the core of our business, the NNZ Group Sustainability Vision 2030 is focused on:

• Ensure inclusive and sustainable economic growth, employment and decent work for our people;
• Build resilient infrastructure: promoting sustainable industrialization and fostering innovation;
• Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy;
• Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns;

, with each pillar underpinned by reliable and ethical approach.

With these, NNZ Sustainability Vision contributes to the SDG’s  5, 7, 8, 9 and 12 of the United Nations, where we can deliver the greatest value and progress business initiatives in these areas.

Achieve gender equality and empower all women

Gender equality is not only a fundamental human right, but also a necessary foundation for a peaceful, prosperous and sustainable world.

We at NNZ regard our employees as our best assets. We are convinced that this leads to more creativity and productivity, and that is of the utmost importance for our customers, suppliers and other stakeholders. We aim to work on a highly personal basis, passionately and enjoyable according to the plan we have made together. Our motto is: 'Together is better, honoring gender equality'.

NNZ contributes to the specific SDG 5.5 (UN): Ensure women’s full and effective participation and equal opportunities for leadership at all levels of decision making in political, economic and public life:

• Our policy: Equal opportunity solicitations;
• Gender equality: The NNZ workforce consists of 30 % female employees;
• Empowerment women: 20% of the management positions are female.

Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy

The world is making progress towards Goal 7, with encouraging signs that energy is becoming more sustainable and widely available. It is stated policy of the NNZ Group to reduce, its environmental impact, where practicable. It is the overall strategy of our Group to improve both operational performance and a reduction in potentially harmful emissions to land, water and air.

NNZ contributes to the specific SDG 7.2; by 2030, increase substantially the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix. NNZ’s ultimate aim is a carbon balance as low as possible for our company to be achieved.

Our corporate policy clearly identifies the responsibilities and procedures of achieving the Group’s stated objectives in all aspects of its activities leading to improved environmental performance, including reductions in both CO2, and methane emissions;

• Comply with all current energy legislation, seeking to meet or compensate legislative targets;
• Promote environmental awareness and responsibility amongst our own employees;
• Seek where practicable to continuously improve NNZ’s environmental performance, including lean programs for the transport department to continuously improve our logistics efficiencies;
• Minimize waste, promote recycling, and the use of recycled products to help reduce the burden of landfill, and therefore methane generation;
• Using energy efficient and therefore carbon reducing installations and equipment throughout the whole Group. NNZ has installed  energy efficient appliances in the offices in The Netherlands and Denmark (solar panels,  heat pump, sedum roof, energy efficient light-bulbs);
• Benefit of home-working,  using online technologies for internal and external meetings where practical;
• Carbon off-setting, tree planting for CO2 compensation travel mileages;
• Corporate Purchasing Policy: suppliers sign and abide the NNZ `supplier’s code of conduct’ with respect to environmental protection. Suppliers must strive to continuously reduce the environmental impact of their operations. It compatible with food safety requirements and consumer interests, suppliers should work at a minimum to:
• Reduce the use of energy, water and raw materials;
• Reduce waste and emissions to air, soil and water;
• Reduce the use of chemicals and fertilizers and exclude the use of chemicals and fertilizers which are hazardous to the health of consumers (as stated in our food safety requirements);
• Contribute to recycling and reuse of materials and products;
• Use environmentally friendly technologies;
• Incorporate environmental impact into product development and packaging design.

Promote inclusive and sustainable economic growth, employment and decent work for all

Sustained and inclusive economic growth can drive progress, create decent jobs for all and improve living standards. NNZ contributes to the specific SDG 8.8 (UN): Protect labor rights and promote safe and secure working environments for all workers, by:

Securing well-being of NNZ employees: trust, vitality, employability

Our HR policy aims to protect the NNZ culture and provide a platform for vitality and sustainable employability in the organization. At NNZ, management gives trust and expects employees to be in good faith. The four P’s on which trust rests are Passion, Pleasure, Personal and Plan.

Vitality and sustainable employability is an active and lasting interaction between employee and manager.

The ultimate responsibility for vitality and for sustainable employability lies with the employee himself. The manager acts as a coach. The aim here is twofold: realizing the need for employees to take personal responsibility and for the manager the alertness and skill to provide timely and appropriate support. To achieve its goals and then translate these into conditions that promote health, well-being and effectiveness efforts are required from management and the employee. 

• The NNZ management is responsible for good employment practices, ensuring an open culture with facilitating and inspiring managers and a structural policy with regard to the development of employees;
• The NNZ employee is responsible for sustainable employability, ensuring optimization of your own employability and remaining employable. It concerns, health aspects of employability and the fit between the ambitions of the organization and the employee in areas such as knowledge, competences and skills.

Securing well-being of our suppliers’ employees

Auditing supplier’s production location on abiding labor rights and safe and secure working conditions for all workers. Suppliers sign and abide the NNZ suppliers code of conduct’ (link) with respect to employment, human rights and ethical conduct.

• Suppliers must in their treatment of employees adhere to the International Labor Organization standards and other applicable laws and regulations in the field of health and safety, minimum living wages, maximum working hours and acceptable living conditions and refrain from all discriminatory recruitment practices and corporate punishment/disciplinary practice;  
• Suppliers must respect the fundamental human rights of their employees, adhering to International Labor Organization standards in the field of non-discrimination, child labor, forced labor, collective bargaining and freedom of association;
• Suppliers should also respect the human rights of the local communities in the countries in which they operate. The highest standards of ethical, moral and lawful conduct are expected of our suppliers. We expect suppliers, and their agents and contractors, to be familiar with and observe all laws and contractual obligations relating to their business activities, and we will not condone conduct that is unlawful or that violates such obligations. We further prohibit the offer or receipt of gifts, hospitality or expenses whenever such arrangements could affect the outcome of business transactions and are not reasonable and bona fide expenditures;
• Ensuring sustainable economic growth for our employees.

Since its foundation in 1922, NNZ has worked on the continuity of the company. To be able to guarantee this:

• Drawing up a long-term plan every 3 years that is based on the four pillars of sustainability;
• Minimizing business risk through geographical spread over agricultural and industrial markets;
• Acquisition of companies with alike culture only.

Build resilient infrastructure, promote sustainable industrialization and foster innovation

Innovation and technological progress are key to finding lasting solutions to both economic and environmental challenges, such as increased resource and energy-efficiency. NNZ contributes to the specific SDG 9.5: Enhance scientific research, upgrade the technological capabilities of industrial sectors in all countries, encouraging innovation, by:


 

• Sustainability is fully integrated into our innovation processes leading to sustainable operations (SDG 7) and sustainable packaging solutions (SDG 12);
• Innovation projects are executed in co-creation with customers, needs first approach;
• Market research is executed with third parties and disseminated in the public domain to benefit the progress in our industries;
• Active participation in working groups revolving around sustainability.

Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns

Worldwide consumption and production — a driving force of the global economy — rest on the use of the natural environment and resources in a way that continues to have destructive impacts on the planet. Each year, an estimated one third of all food produced – equivalent to 1.3 billion tons worth around $1 trillion – ends up rotting in the bins of consumers and retailers, or spoiling due to poor transportation and harvesting practices. Sustainable consumption and production contributes substantially to the transition towards low-carbon and green economies.

NNZ contributes to the specific SDG 12.5; by 2030, substantially reduce waste generation through prevention, reduction, recycling and reuse, by promoting and designing energy efficient and therefore carbon reducing packaging materials and concepts on behalf of our partners; 

Facilitating sustainable packaging choices to minimize food waste and environmental impact:

• NNZ disseminates its #rethink approach to allow customers to make a fact base sustainable choice of packaging materials;
• NNZ: ‘Prime function of packaging: combat food waste!’.
• Corporate Purchasing Policy. Suppliers sign and abide the NNZ `suppliers code of conduct’ with respect to transparency, compliance with legislation, food safety and consumer interest. NNZ will verify compliance: 
• Suppliers should be transparent in their business operations and provide us with accurate and complete information on their business policies, activities and products, it relevant to our sustainability performance;
• Suppliers must comply with all applicable national laws and regulations of the countries in which they operate;
• Suppliers must ensure the fitness and safety of their products for human consumption. They must fulfill our quality and food safety criteria for raw materials and other ingredients, research, and manufacturing and packaging processes. Suppliers must be able to guarantee whether or not products delivered to NNZ contain genetically modified ingredients;
• Suppliers should furthermore comply with marketing and labeling requirements as defined by law and as required by NNZ. NNZ reserves the right to verify the suppliers’ performance in this respect. We believe in cooperation with our suppliers and we value long-term relationships. We are willing to work with our suppliers to achieve workable and satisfying solutions in each Individual case;
• Suppliers shall keep NNZ informed about where each order is being produced. We reserve the right to have third party auditors make unannounced visits to all factories producing our goods, at any time, and suppliers shall allow third party auditors access to such factories in order to ensure compliance with the Supplier Code of Conduct. In addition for this purpose, representatives from NNZ may make announced auditing visits to all factories producing our goods, and suppliers shall allow these representatives access to the factories;
• NNZ or the third party auditor representing NNZ shall comply to the extent reasonably possible with the Suppliers disclosed plant rules and regulations regarding safety and hygiene. Except where there are special circumstances, audits shall be limited to once per year.

Corporate Quality Management policy

With respect to quality, NNZ aims to be a preferred partner of packaging solutions. We ensure product consistency with respect to quality and food safety. For us quality is when the customer comes back and not the product. To fulfill this we continuously improve business, production, customer service and quality related systems and processes, in accordance to all laws and regulations applicable to the company's activities and all legal and ethical aspects of business operations:

• Our certified Quality Systems strengthens our basis to continuous improvements of our processes and quality systems. Its effectiveness is reviewed and validated using data and fact based related tools. Our tools:  GFSI & ISO9001 compliance, focus on first time right execution and compliant reduction using root cause analysis and corrective action;
• Our organizational knowledge, resources, capabilities and products allows us to make Quality a competitive advantage for us and our customers.  Our tools: Employees skills are continuously improved through education and training,  and we are One NNZ, which means we work collaboratively on global scale and apply our NNZ values and quality standards in all that we do;
• We focus on recognizing our customer’s needs and expectations through open, honest communication to build long-term trusting partnership. We are committed to creating satisfied customers by providing the highest standards of quality and services. Our tools: Soliciting customer feedback on performance and satisfaction; collection of feedback from relevant stakeholders and we conduct our business ethically internal and external at all times.