Global Reporting Initiative (GRI)

Connect Group is publishing its first sustainability report according to the Global Reporting Initiative® (GRI) Standards: Core Option. This standard ensures a comprehensive sustainability reporting framework that is transparent, detailed and gives investors and other stakeholders the required information concerning non-financial information about a company. It is also the most widely used sustainability reporting framework in the world. The guidelines set out the principles and indicators that organizations can use to report their economic, environmental and social performance.

What is Ecovadis? What does it measure?

• It is the world’s largest and most trusted provider of business sustainability ratings, creating a global network of more than 90,000+ rated companies
• Ecovadis provides a system to allow organizations to evaluate their own and their supply chain’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) levels. It covers 21 CSR indicators across 4 main themes, Environment, Labor and Human Rights, Ethics and Sustainable Procurement

How did we score?

• Ecovadis Silver lable (score between 56 – 66) means that companies rated in this field are among the top 25% of companies partaking in the Ecovadis rating
• We had a score of 57 which means the score is higher than or equal to the score of 75 percent of all companies rated by EcoVadis
• CONNECT GROUP is in the top 20% of companies rated by EcoVadis in the Manufacture of electronic components and boards industry
• For the theme environment CONNECT GROUP NV is in the top 13% of companies rated by EcoVadis in the Manufacture of electronic components and boards industry

Environmental responsibility

• Reducing emissions faster than the EU Green Deal requires
• ISO 14001
• Waste and water management

Energy projects

• Solar panels
• Battery systems
• Energy saving machinery and practices

Reducing emissions

• Striving to be carbon neutral by 2035 and committing to be carbon neutral by 2050 in line with EU Green Deal legislation
• Yearly emission analysis and reduction reports

Circular economy

• 55% of all waste is recycled in the plants
• Repair services for our customers are performed and are part of our business model

Health and safety

• Employees enjoy trainings when it comes to topics that ensure health and safety
• Adherence to health and safety standards

Guaranteeing rights and freedoms

• Zero tolerance on child, forced labor or human rights violations to manufacture or assemble products and deliver services
• Employee participation in labor unions or alignment of interests with labor representatives
• Suppliers are checked in their operations and supply chains
• Business contracts with our chosen suppliers can be terminated if issues are detected

How do we do this:

• Conflict Mineral Reporting Template (CMRT)
• Slave Trafficking Reporting Template (STRT)
• Sustainability policy
• Sustainable Supplier Code of Conduct (under review)

Ethics

• Equal pay for equal work
• Connect Group employee recruitment is in compliance with equal opportunities and without any discrimination on the private life and opinions of candidates
• Connect Group doesn’t tolerate any discrimination or harassment, based on gender, race, ethnic origin, age, language, religion, political opinion, national or social origin or other status