Annual report & review 2006 - Shopic.com

Responsibility
Emissions reduction
We continue to focus on reducing the distances travelled
by our truck fleets through logistics planning, while at
the same time, delivering greater vehicle fuel efficiency
through the use of new technology, driver training and
incentives. Our use of ‘backhaul’ enables us to transport
goods from suppliers’ warehouses to our own facilities,
significantly reducing distances travelled by vehicles
with empty trailers and allowing us to maximise fleet
utilisation, with a consequent reduction in CO 2
emissions.
The recent integration of our logistics network in the
Republic of Ireland following the opening of our Kilcock
facility means that we have now assimilated the supply
distances previously undertaken
by our suppliers. We believe
that our expertise in logistics
planning will significantly
reduce these previously
unaccounted distances and
provide us with an opportunity
to reduce the emissions
associated with our business
further still.
In Great Britain, similar
initiatives are underway, while
we also recently began trials of
bio-diesel in vehicles operating
from our Thamesmead
distribution centre near London.
Ethical trading
Our Ethical Trading Policy has been developed in line
with the principles of the United Nations Global Compact
(UNGC), to which we are signatories. While recognising
that governments have the main responsibility for
implementing universal values, a novel feature of the
Compact is that corporations are asked to embrace these
values directly, in their own operations. Specifically,
they are asked to incorporate them into their mission
statements and to translate them into concrete corporate
management practices.
The Compact encourages businesses to foster human
rights by supporting and respecting the protection of
international human rights within
their sphere of influence and
by making sure that their own
corporations are not complicit in
human rights abuses.
Our Ethical Trading Policy is
now being communicated and
implemented by our trading teams,
which are in turn making our
suppliers aware of our requirements.
Musgrave communicates progress in
implementing the UNGC principles
via its Sustainability Reports and
in this regard our 2006 report has
been recognised as ‘notable’ at the
UNGC.
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Our people
We recognise that, to attract and retain an educated,
flexible and committed workforce, we must provide
people with sustainable, stable, rewarding jobs,
to enable them to achieve their full potential and
enhance their quality of life. In 2006, we became the
first retail organisation to receive Ireland’s Excellence
through People Gold award. We’ll be rolling out the
programme across the Group in 2007. Commitment to
our people means:
n supporting job satisfaction and creation through
the maintenance and review of our employment
policies and by conducting and taking account of
regular employee surveys and consultations;
n supporting training,
awareness and
empowerment through the
maintenance and review of
an extensive programme
of training policies;
n providing a safe and
healthy working
environment for all employees by promoting
health, safety and welfare policies at all our
facilities, collating performance statistics to
international standards and reporting on that
performance on a regular basis.
Musgrave Group Plc Annual Report & Review 2006