Annual Report 2016

CSR policy

What Beter Bed Holding stands for

For Beter Bed Holding and its subsidiaries, corporate social responsibility means they make a positive contribution to the society in which they operate. This contribution is shaped through measures including complying with the applicable legislation and regulations at all times and by always treating the interests of all stakeholders respectfully.

Beter Bed Holding is aware of its corporate social responsibility, which is attested to by the existing reports relating to compliance, the ongoing stakeholder dialogue it conducts and in the structural approach to the topic of CSR that is imbedded in the organisation.

Code of conduct

The general code of conduct issued by Beter Bed Holding further defines what corporate social responsibility means to the company. These guiding principles, which are also expressed in the culture within the company (values and norms and conduct), have been imbedded in the organisation procedurally whenever possible. The code of conduct for suppliers is a further elaboration of the general code of conduct. Both codes correspond with the United Nations Global Compact Code

The Supervisory Board and the Management Board endorse the principles for good corporate governance as included in the Dutch Corporate Governance Code. Beter Bed Holding has a whistleblower policy available for employees. Different complaints procedures for the various formats (both internally for employees and externally for customers and/or other stakeholders) have also been put in place.

A CSR steering committee, under the supervision of Beter Bed Holding, has been established within the Beter Bed organisation since 2015 and is directly involved in formulating the policy in the field of CSR and in realising its defined objectives. This team has an international focus, but concentrates primarily on the Netherlands and Germany as the largest countries within the group.

The Management Board renders accountability to the Supervisory Board for the conducted CSR policy. The specific CSR objectives are submitted by the Management Board to the Supervisory Board.

Stakeholder dialogue

The organisation has been conducting an active dialogue with its stakeholders since 2014. It will once again engage in dialogue with stakeholders, including employees, customers, shareholders, retailers, suppliers, the Council for the Dutch Retail Trade (RND) and the specialists of the Dutch Association of Investors for Sustainable Development (VBDO) and Eumedion, in 2017.

Standards and partnerships

Beter Bed Holding endorses and supports the following externally developed economic, environmental and social charters, principles and other initiatives:

  • Beter Bed Holding is a participant in the United Nations Global Compact Code. The ten principles of the Global Compact Code have been included in both the general code of conduct and the code of conduct for the company’s suppliers.
  • The CO2 emissions are calculated using the guidelines of the Greenhouse Gas Protocol.
  • The CSR report and the GRI Index have been drawn up according to the G4 Reporting Principles. The organisation may switch to the revised ‘Standards’ guidelines following the 2017 stakeholder dialogue.
  • Beter Bed Holding has signed the D&I Company’s Charter (formerly Talent to the Top) and in doing so has committed to the principles contained in the Charter. The Charter is a public commitment, a code that sets out clear agreements for realising gender diversity at the senior and sub-senior levels of companies. Signing the Charter is voluntary, but not non-committal.

Beter Bed Holding is also a member of the INretail sector organisation and is a member of other bodies including the Council for the Dutch Retail Trade (RND).