We are a SDG Champion
24 October 2024
A company that structurally anchors sustainability via the SDGs may call itself an SDG Pioneer. Companies that also subsequently realise a pilot project on transition become SDG Champion.Elicio is proud to join the Champions!
BOTTOM-UP INITIATIVES
To earn the certificate, at least 10 actions must be completed each year across various sustainability domains. Companies that also implement a pilot project and receive the title of “laureate” for two consecutive years earn the “SDG Champion” title.
"Ecological and social responsibility aren’t barriers to growth; they can actually provide opportunities to make our company stronger and more future-proof," says SDG ambassador & Senior Accountant Lien Vanhollebeke.
As in any organization, the best initiatives come from within. While sustainability is supported by management, and the charter offers guidance on integrating sustainable practices into the company’s DNA, what really matters is that it resonates with employees and has a solid foundation within the workforce.
Some examples of our actions: dogs at the office, cycle-to-work initiatives, sports activities at work, reusable Elicio lunch containers, burnout prevention programs, recycled wind turbine furniture integrated into the office, the CORDOBA research project, and more. “All sustainable actions that we as employees can be proud of,” says sustainability coordinator Joeri Vanbelle.
ABOUT THE CERTIFICATE
The Voka Sustainable Business Charter is a Voka-led guidance program in which companies gradually build their sustainability policy, guided by the Sustainable Development Goals. To achieve the certificate, companies must complete at least 10 actions each year across various sustainability areas. An independent evaluation committee assesses whether the actions have sufficient impact, are closely tied to core business activities, and meet SMART criteria.
INTERNATIONAL RECOGNITION
Through the VCDO, companies enhance their international reputation in line with the United Nations' 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which have been endorsed by 194 countries worldwide. Voka collaborates with CIFAL Flanders & UNITAR, an international training center focused on sustainable management, and able to award companies with the internationally recognized UNITAR certificate.
By using the SDGs as a guide, we foster broad support and drive progress across economic, social, and ecological dimensions.