Gulf Construction Online - RAK Ceramics raises the bar for sustainability reporting

UAE Focus

RAK Ceramics raises the bar for sustainability reporting

01 August 2014

RAK Ceramics, considered to be the world’s largest ceramics manufacturer, has achieved a significant new milestone by becoming the first ceramics manufacturer in the region to produce a Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) sustainability and corporate social responsibility (CSR) report based on the latest GRI-G4 guidelines.

The company adopted the new guidelines, which incorporate the latest and best global reporting practices in sustainability management and corporate governance, to produce its annual sustainability report for 2013.

This report follows the company’s 2013 milestone, when it became the region’s first ceramics producer to use the GRI format for its sustainability and CSR reporting.

“Sustainability in every sphere of business is one of the main elements of RAK Ceramics’ mission statement and accordingly the company has set new standards for consistent sustainability reporting for manufacturers in the region, and has raised the bar by adopting G4 guidelines from the Global Reporting Initiative. GRI exists to elevate the standards for sustainability reporting and we are delighted to be raising the reporting bar again in the region after becoming the first regional company in our industry to use the GRI format in 2013,” said Abdulla Mahmood, general manager, marketing and corporate communications.

“The report highlights RAK Ceramics’ achievements, contributions and strategies within the latest sustainability framework. It is a template for our larger plans to set a benchmark in the global sustainable manufacturing platform,” he added.

RAK Ceramics’ Sustainability Report 2013 outlined the company’s operations over last year under the key headings: economic, social and environmental sustainability, and examined the issues that influence the assessments and decisions made by the company’s stakeholders. Case studies in the report reveal how the company is committed to practising environmental stewardship throughout its manufacturing chain – from product design and efficient operations processes and to playing an active role in building a better community by enhancing the surrounding environment.

Detailed in the report were RAK Ceramics’ sustainability and CSR accomplishments in 2013. It demonstrated the organisation’s activities to improve energy efficiency, reduce pollution, enhance biodiversity and improve the quality of life for both people in the communities it operates in and for its workforce. The report also revealed that the company has set new sustainability goals for 2014 that would build upon its reputation as being a responsible corporate entity that places priority on people and the environment.

“Managing our use of natural resources and being a responsible steward of the environment is a crucial component of our sustainability approach,” said Mahmood.

“Our strategy for 2014 includes the setting of new health, safety, environment and community targets to guide and improve our performance. Furthermore, as a part our commitment to making a positive contribution to society, we will continue to allocate CSR budgets to invest on social-related activities that benefit the local community,” he added.