GRI Standards: Core | ||
Norm | GRI Guidance | Explanation and reference in CSR report |
101. 1.1 (foundation 2016) | The reporting organization shall identify its stakeholders, and explain how it has responded to their reasonable expectations and interests. | The VanDrie Group works together with different stakeholders. We have identified these stakeholders in the CSR report 2022, see chapter ‘Using our social role’. Our stakeholders are: employees, veal farmers, suppliers, customers, consumers, shipping agents, governments, transporters, NGO's, dairy farmers, veterinarians, inspection authorities, local residents, sector organizations, banking and assurances companies and research and knowledge institutes. The stakeholders were identified via the stakeholder salience model (power, legitimacy, urgency).The report draws upon the outcomes on different stakeholder engagement processes within the VanDrie Group. The report contains a table in which the different material aspects as discussed with the stakeholder groups are mentioned, via which platform this has been taken place and its outcome on the VanDrie Group’s policy. |
101. 1.2 | The report shall present the reporting organization’s performance in the wider context of sustainability. | The CSR report 2022 contains the statement about VanDrie Group’s intrinsic motivation to incorporate the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in its strategic policy and daily operations. See f.e. the model of value creation. The report contains a chapter about risk management and due diligence in which the organization’s performance concerning i.a. human rights, corruption, labour rights and animal welfare is being described. In the chapter ‘The world around us’ a description of important trends and developments is given. The chapter also contains a review on the short and long term impacts of technological, political, social and economic aspects. The different trends and developments affect the current and future activities of the VanDrie Group and the possibilities to create value on the long term. A SWOT analysis is also incorporated. It shows the context of the performance possibilities in a broader sense. |
101. 1.3 | The report shall cover topics that reflect the organization’s significant economic, environmental, and social impacts or substantively influence the assessments and decisions of stakeholders. | The VanDrie Group materiality matrix was updated in 2021. The materiality matrix identifies the most important issues and the influence on stakeholders and the significance for the VanDrie Group. See chapter ‘Using our social role’ in the CSR report 2022. The report contains a table in which the different material aspects as discussed with the stakeholder groups are mentioned, via which platform this has been taken place and its outcome on the VanDrie Group’s policy. In the chapter ‘The world around us’ the VanDrie Group gives insight into the main future challenges and also about technological political, social and economic impacts that significantly affect the organization and the group’s stakeholders. |
102-46 | The organization shall report the following information: | In both the chapter ‘Scope’ as ‘Exploiting our social role’ an explanation is given about the process for defining the report content and boundaries of the topics. It also contains an explanation of the reporting principles for defining content. |
101. 1.4 Completeness | The report shall include coverage of material topics and their boundaries, sufficient to reflect significant economic, environmental, and social impacts, and to enable stakeholders to assess the reporting organization’s performance in the reporting period. | The completeness of the CSR report 2022 is discussed in the chapter 'Scope'. It considers the topic boundaries, reporting period and materiality. The reporting period is January 1, 2022 - December 31, 2022. The CSR report was published on July, 14, 2023. The report includes all significant impacts in the reporting period. The report does not omit relevant information that substantively influences stakeholders assessments and decisions. |
101. 1.5 | The reported information shall be sufficiently accurate and detailed for stakeholders to assess the reporting organization’s performance. | The data as published in the CSR report 2022 (Assurance Report) will be measured in the fall of 2023. |
101. 1.6 | The reported information shall reflect positive and negative aspects of the organization’s performance to enable a reasoned assessment of overall performance. | The CSR report 2022 reflects on both positive as negative aspects of the performance. See ‘Summary’ for the results in 2022. It contains f.e. data about financial results, energy use, antibiotic use, recalls, audits. The information is presented in a format that allows users to see positive and negative trends on a year-to-year basis. |
101. 1.7 | The organization shall make information available in a manner that is understandable and accessible to stakeholders using that information | The report includes different infographics helping to make the information in the report accessible and understandable. A list of used terms in the report is included in this document. The CSR report is published online and accessible via https://jaarverslag.vandriegroup.nl and https://annualreport.vandriegroup.com The report is available in Dutch as per July 14, 2023. In August 2023 an English version will be uploaded. |
101. 1.8 | The organization shall select, compile and report information consistently. The reported information shall be presented in a manner that enables stakeholders to analyze changes in the organization’s performance over time, and that could support analysis relative to other organizations. | The CSR report utilizes generally accepted protocols for presenting information, including the information required by the GRI standards. The Transparency Benchmark of the Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate gives an appropriate benchmark to compare VanDrie Group's performance with other companies in the same field. Different data in the CSR report 2022 are comparable on a year-to-year basis |
101. 1.9 | The organization shall gather, record, compile, analyze and report information and processes used in the preparation of the report in a way that they can subject to examination and that establishes the quality and materiality of the information. | External assurance will be carried out in the fall of 2023. |
101. 1.10 | The organization shall report on a regular schedule so that information is available in time for stakeholders to make informed decisions. | The VanDrie Group publishes a CSR report every year. The CSR report 2022 was published on June 30, 2023. |
101. 2.1 | The organization shall apply all Reporting Principles from section 101. 1 to define report content and quality. | The VanDrie Group applies with all reporting principles as stated in GRI 101 section 1. The VanDrie Group reports information about the process for defining the report content and the boundaries and how the reporting principles are defined in the chapters 'Scope' and ‘Assurance’. This is in accordance with GRI 102. 46. |
101. 2.2 | The organization shall report the required disclosures from GRI 102: General Disclosures | The VanDrie Group is reporting all essential and required disclosures in its report or this GRI table. See for the required information as stated in GRI 102 below. |
102-1 | VanDrie Group, officially known as Van Drie Holding b.v. see chapter ´About the VanDrie Group´. | |
102-2 | The organization shall report a description of the organization’s activities and primary brands, products and services including an explanation of any products or services that are banned in certain markets. | Our subsidiaries operate in all links of the chain: veal farms, raw dairy materials (processing & trade), (calf) feed, slaughterhouses (handling & processing), calfskins and marketing and promotion The primary brands are: VanDrie Group Quality Veal, Vitender, Friander, Peter's , Farm, Finesse de Veau, Tendriade, JAN and Gourmet. The primary products are: veal, beef, dairy products, calf skins and (calf) feed. See also paragraph 'Profile VanDrie Group' in the report. In 2022 no products or services were banned in certain markets. |
102-3 | Location of the organization’s headquarters | The head office is located in Mijdrecht, the Netherlands. |
102-4 | The organization shall report the number of countries where the organization operates and the names of countries where it has significant operations and/or that are relevant to the topics covered in the report. | The VanDrie Group has operations in five EU member states namely: The Netherlands, Belgium, France, Germany and Italy. See also chapter ‘About the VanDrie Group´ of the report. The VanDrie Group has business relations and export to more than 60 countries, mainly on the European continent. |
102-5 | The organization shall report the nature of ownership and legal form. | VanDrie Group is a private family business and legal ownership lies with three shareholders: Mr. Rene van Drie (1965, field of interest: general affairs), Mr. Jan van Drie (1959, field of interest: purchase of calves and husbandry) and Mr. Herman van Drie (1968, field of interest: international affairs and meat production). The three shareholders are employed at least until retirement age. No specific appointment terms have therefore been formulated. There is no remuneration policy in place for the shareholders. This also applies to the allocation of performance bonuses or variable rewards. An inseparable part of the decision making process of the three shareholders is the consideration of the impacts on natural, economic and social capitals. No supervisory board/body has been appointed. |
102-6 | The organization shall report the markets served including geographic locations where products and services are offered, sectors served, types of customers and beneficiaries. | VanDrie Group exports its products to more than 60 countries worldwide. The export in 2022 by the Dutch VanDrie Group veal producing companies was as follows: 8% The Netherlands, 24% Italy, 21% Germany, 15% France, 26% other countries on European continent 6% non EU-continent. The company serves the food sector, leather industry, animal feed market and the cosmetic and pharmaceutics industry. These sectors and industries represent a broad range of customers like wholesalers, retailers, supermarkets, butchers, hotels, restaurants, caterers and the institutional market. See also the value creation model in the report and the chapter ‘About the VanDrie Group’. |
102-7 | The organization shall report the scale of the organization including: total number of employees, total number of operations, net sales, total capitalization, quantity of products or services provided. | The companies turnover in 2021 is ± 2.754 billon euro, net profit ± 130,5 million euro, net profit margin 4.7%. Amount of slaughtered calves and cows: 1,6 million (77,1% production in the Netherlands, 22.9% in France). Amount tonnes production Animal feed (calf milk replacer and muesli): 900.000 tonnes (79,0% production in the Netherlands, 21,0% in Italy). Production of dairy raw materials in Germany, the Netherlands and Italy are not part of these figures. Amount processed calf skins: 1,3 million (100% in the Netherlands). Total amount of employees in 2022 2620 (the number of employees by country and specialization is reported in the CSR report 'summary'). Total number of operations: 29. |
102-8 | The organization shall report the total number of employees by employment contract (permanent/temporary), by gender. The total number of employees by employment contract, by region. The total number of employees by employment type (full-time/part-time) by gender. Whether there is a significant portion of the organization’s activities are performed by workers who are not employees. If applicable a description of the nature and scale of work performed by workers who are not employees. | The average total amount of employees in 2022 was 2620 of which 76% male, 24% female. Of the employees had 90% a permanent employment contract. Almost all Dutch employees are subject to a collective labour agreement. See 'Summary´ of the report. Within the VanDrie Group there are also workers active who are not employees. In 2022 this were ± 1730 workers. These workers are active in the meat processing plants and other companies of the VanDrie Group (both in the Netherlands and France). The VanDrie Group didn’t report data based on type of contract (permanent/temporary) and gender and/or region nor employment type (full-time/part-time) by gender. |
102-9 Supply Chain | The organization shall report a description of the supply chain, including its main elements as they relate to the organization’s activities, primary brand, products and services. | A description of the supply chain is given in the chapter ´About the VanDrie Group´. Also see the value creation model in the report. Chain responsibility is supervised via the Safety Guard, the quality system of the VanDrie Group. Safety Guard entails different specific norms (ISO22000, ISO14001, BRC, IFS, GMP+). This enables the company to identify potential risks or irregulations related to the own activities in the chain or those of its partners at an early stage. Safety Guard is supervised by the VanDrie Group central Quality Department which also monitors the implementation of the measures. Should risks arise, the relevant affected stakeholders will be informed in an appropriate manner and without delay. In the case of risks of greater social importance, public communication is done via the corporate website of the company. In principle the VanDrie Group contributes to recovery procedures in the event of misconduct. |
102-10 | The organization shall report significant changes to the organization’s size, structure, ownership or supply chain including, changes in the location, operations, including facility openings, closings and expansions, changes in the share capital structure and other capital formation, maintenance, and alteration operations, changes in the location of suppliers, the structure of the supply chain, or relationships with suppliers, including selection and termination. | In 2022 Joosten Products in Weert (NL) was taken over by the VanDrie Group. Joosten Products is a specialist in young animal nutrition. |
102-11 | The organization shall report whether and how the organization applies the Precautionary Principle or approach. | The VanDrie Group has risk management in place. See paragraph 'Risk Management' in the report. |
102-12 | The organization shall report a list of externally-develop economic, environmental and social charters, principles or other initiatives to which the organization subscribes or which it endorses. | VanDrie Group endorses the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises. The VanDrie Group underscribes and acts to the COV Meat Sector Code of Conduct. See also the chapter ‘Due Diligence’. |
102-13 | The organization shall report a list of the main memberships of industry or other associations, and national or international advocacy organizations. | The VanDrie Group is member of the International Meat Secretariat (IMS), Roundtable for Sustainable Palmoil (RSPO), Dutch Central Organization for the Meat Sector (COV), Nevedi (Dutch Feed Industry), the Foundation for Quality Guarantee of the Veal Sector (SKV), the Foundation Branch organization of the Veal Sector (SBK), and affiliated with the Confederation of Dutch Industry and Employers (VNO NCW), partner of the knowledge intensive community FoodValley. |
102-14 | The organization shall report a statement from the most senior decision-maker of the organization about the relevance of sustainability to the organization and its strategy for addressing sustainability. | The CSR report 2022 contains a foreword by the Director Corporate Quality VanDrie Group. |
102-16 Values, principles, standards, and norms of behavior | The organization shall report a description of the organization’s values, principles, standards and norms of behavior. | The VanDrie Group places great store by ethical behavior from all employees, veal farmers, transporters and other partners. The groups works with living animals and food products of animal origin. As such, the VanDrie Group believes it is important that work is carried out in a respectful way throughout our chain. In the chapter ‘Due Diligence’ more information is given about it standards, principles and applicable norms. Also check the corporate website on this topic via https://vandriegroup.com/nl/over-de-vandrie-group/compliance |
102-18 | The organization shall report the governance structure of the organization including committees of the highest governance body and the committees responsible for decision-making on economic, environmental and social topics. | The board meeting - in which various directors of the VanDrie Group companies are represented - takes place at least five times a year. The purpose of this consultation is to evaluate draft policy and policy implementation, and to initiate new operations. The group’s various operating companies are managed from the forum of this meeting. |
102-40 | The organization shall report a list of stakeholder groups engaged by the organization. | The VanDrie Groups’ stakeholders could be divided in primary and secondary stakeholders. These stakeholder groups are mentioned in a table in the CSR report in the chapter ‘Exploiting our social role’. |
102-41 Collective bargaining agreements | The organization shall report the percentage of total employees covered by collective bargaining agreements. | See GRI 102-08. |
102-42 | Identifying and selecting stakeholders | The VanDrie Group conducts an extensive stakeholder analysis every year. The identified stakeholders are being involved in different processes within the company or invited for the VanDrie Dialogue. Primary stakeholders are dairy farmers, veal farmers, suppliers, clients, transporters and employees. Secondary stakeholders are universities, consumers, governments, NGO’s, industry associations and controlling agencies. |
102-43 Approach to stakeholder engagement | The organization shall report the approach to stakeholder engagement including the frequency of engagement by type and by stakeholder type and an indication of whether any of the engagement was undertaken specifically as part of the report preparation process. | The VanDrie Group organizes a VanDrie Dialogue each year. Via social media and the website the company shares news about its production chain, events and markets. The VanDrie Group attends several exhibitions for consumers and B2B relations. See for more information the chapter 'Exploiting our social role’. In this chapter is also a table incorporated which shows the engagements per stakeholder type and the frequency. The company uses the materiality matrix as a basis for its report. On the one hand, as a means of validating our current strategy with them and map out themes on which we need to focus at a strategic level. On the other hand, as a means of determining which CSR themes we need to report on annually. |
102-44 Key topics and concerns raised | The organization shall report the key topics and concerns that have been raised through stakeholder engagement including how the organization has responded to those key topics and concerns and the stakeholder groups that raised each of the key topics and concerns. | In the CSR report the VanDrie Group did not specifically disclose information as required in this GRI norm. The company will take this into account in the next report. |
102-45 Entities included in the consolidated financial statements | The organization shall report a list of all entities included in the organization’s consolidated financial statements or equivalent documents. Whether any entity included in the organization’s consolidated financial statements or equivalent documents is not covered by the report | The financial statements are based on the Van Drie Holding's results. For statements about the results see 'Summary' and ‘About VanDrie Group’ in the report. The specified turnover data can be found in the VanDrie Group's financial annual report. The financial report 2021 is filed with the Dutch Chamber of Commerce. |
102-46 Defining report content and topic boundaries | The organization shall report an explanation of the process for defining the report content and the topic boundaries. An explanation has been given of how the organization has implemented the reporting principles for defining report content. | In both the chapter ‘Scope’ as ‘Exploiting our social role’ an explanation is given about the process for defining the report content and boundaries of the topics. It also contains an explanation of the reporting principles for defining content. |
102-47 | The organization shall report a list of the material topics identified in the process for defining report content. | See the chapter ‘Exploiting our social role’. A material matrix with a list of material topics is published there. |
102-48 | The organization shall report the effect of any restatements of information given in previous reports, and the reasons for such restatements. | None. |
102-49 Changes in reporting | The organization shall report significant changes from previous reporting periods in the list of material topics and topic boundaries. | |
102-50 | Reporting period for the information provided. | The reporting period is January, 1 2022 - December, 31 2022. |
102-51 | Date of most recent report (and previous report) | The CSR report 2022 was published on July 14, 2023. The previous report was published July 4, 2022. |
102-52 | The reporting cycle is annual. | |
102-53 | Contact point for questions regarding the report or its contents | Questions can be asked via: contact@vandriegroup.com |
102-54 Claims of reporting in accordance with GRI standards | The claim made by the organization if it has prepared the report in accordance with the GRI standards: core option. | See the chapter 'Scope' in the CSR report 2022. |
102-55 | The organization shall report the GRI content index, which specifies each of the GRI Standards used and lists all disclosures included in the report. | This document is the GRI content index. |
102-56 | A description of the organization’s policy and current practice with regard to seeking external assurance for the report is incorporated. If the report has been externally assured: a reference to the external assurance report, statements, or opinions. The relationship between the organization and the assurance provider. Whether and how the highest governance body or senior executives are involved in seeking external assurance for the organization’s sustainability report. | See the chapter 'Assurance' in the CSR report 2022. External assurance over the CSR report 2022 will be provided in the fall of 2023. Any changes are subsequently adjusted accordingly. |
GRI | ||
103-1.1 | If management approach disclosures are combined for a group of material topics the organization shall state which topics are covered by each disclosure. | The Materiality Matrix as published in the CSR report identifies different material topics. Those material topics are further explained in the chapter ‘Our results’. The material topics for the pillar ‘Our market position’ are: |
GRI | ||
103-1.1 | If management approach disclosures are combined for a group of material topics the organization shall state which topics are covered by each disclosure. | The Materiality Matrix as published in the CSR report identifies different material topics. Those material topics are further explained in the chapter ‘Our results’. The material topics for the pillar ‘Sustainability’ are: |
GRI | ||
103-1.1 | If management approach disclosures are combined for a group of material topics the organization shall state which topics are covered by each disclosure. | The Materiality Matrix as published in the CSR report identifies different material topics. Those material topics are further explained in the chapter ‘Our results’. The material topics for the pillar ‘Animal Health and Animal Welfare’ are: |
GRI | Management approach | |
103-1.1 | If management approach disclosures are combined for a group of material topics the organization shall state which topics are covered by each disclosure. | The Materiality Matrix as published in the CSR report identifies different material topics. Those material topics are further explained in the chapter ‘Our results’. The material topics for the pillar ‘Food Safety’ are: |
GRI | Management approach | |
103-1.1 | If management approach disclosures are combined for a group of material topics the organization shall state which topics are covered by each disclosure. | The Materiality Matrix as published in the CSR report identifies different material topics. Those material topics are further explained in the chapter ‘Our results’. The material topics for the pillar ‘Good employment practices’ are: |
LIST OF TERMS | |
|---|---|
BRC | British Retail Consortium – an international Food Safety Management standard. |
CH4 | Methane. |
CO2 | Carbon dioxide. |
COV | A Dutch acronym for the Dutch Meat Association. |
CSR | Corporate Social Responsiblity. |
Fefac | European Feed Manufacturers' Federation - represents, defends and promotes the interests of various national feed producing industries. |
FSC | Forest Stewardship Council - an international organisation committed to the preservation and responsible management of forests worldwide. |
GD | A Dutch acronym for the Animal Health Service. |
GMP+ | Good Manufacturing Practice - an internationally acknowledged scheme to guarantee animal feed safety in all links of the chain. |
GTSKV | A Dutch acronym of a guaranteed tracing system for SKV veal calves - gives insight into the quality of veal calves that are transported from specific loading locations or collection centers to husbandries in the Netherlands. |
GRI | Global Reporting Initiative - the international guidelines for reporting on sustainability and CSR. |
GRSB | Global Roundtable for Sustainable Beef. |
IFS | International Food Standard - is intended to be the an uniform control mechanism for food safety and quality of products. |
IMS | International Meat Secretariat - represents the worldwide meat and cattle sector. |
ISO 14001 | Standard that specifies the requirements for an environmental management system that enables an organisation to develop policies and objectives and to implement these. |
ISO 17025 | Standard that specifies the general competency requirements in respect for conducting tests and/or calibrations, including sampling. |
ISO 22000 | Standard that sets requirements for food safety management systems focused on all links in the food chain. |
kWh | Kilowatt hour. |
LNV | Dutch acronym for Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality. |
LTO | Dutch Acronym for Organisation for Agriculture and Horticulture - The main Dutch organisation that advocates for the position of farmers in the Netherlands. |
N2O | Nitrous oxide – laughing gas. |
M3 | Cubic metre - measure of volume. |
MRSA | Meticillin Restant Staphylococcus Aureus - a bacterium. |
NEVEDI | The Dutch Feed Industry Asssociation. |
NGO | Non-Governmental Organisation - an organisation independent of the governement and aimed at a supposed social interest in oneway or the other. |
NVWA | A Dutch acronym of the Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority - the part of the government that supervises the health of animals and plants, the safety of food and consumer products and animal welfare. |
NOW | A Dutch acronym for Dutch Research Council. NOW ensures quality and innovation in science and facilitates its impact on society. Its main task is to fund scientific research at public research institutions in the Netherlands, especially universities. |
OESO | A Dutch acronym for the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. |
R&D | Research and Development. |
RI&E | Risk Inventory & Evaluation - refers to an inventory of the hazards within a company in respect of the safety, health and welfare of the employees. |
RSPO | Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil - established to promote the growth and use of sustainable palm oil products. |
Safety Guard | A quality safety system officially certified by Lloyd's Register Quality Assurance, the Food Safety Supply System. An unique quality system owned by the VanDrie Group. |
SBK | A Dutch acronym for the Calf Industry Association - acknowledged in December 2014 by the Dutch government as a sector organisation. |
SDa | A Dutch acronym for the Netherlands Veterinary Medicines Institute. |
SDG | Sustainable Development Goals - a collection of 17 global goals set by the United Nations General Assembly in 2015 for the year 2030. |
SGS | A world leading inspection, verification, testing and certification company based in Belgium. SGS is recognized as the global benchmark for quality and integrity. |
SKV | A Dutch acronym for the Foundation for Quality Guarantee of the Veal Sector. |
SVO Vakopleiding Food | A Dutch training center that provides practical education for professional in the food sector. |
UECBV | European Livestock and Meat Trading Union. |
Vitaal Kalf | The quality management system for the Dutch calf husbandries. Translated as Vital Veal. |
VVK | Dutch Association for Veal Farmers. |
WUR | Wageningen University & Research. |