The world is more interconnected today than ever before. Improving access to technology and knowledge is an important way to share ideas and foster innovation. The complex global sustainability challenges society is facing, call for a collaborative approach to designing systemic solutions.
Guided by the United Nations, Sustainable Development Goal, SDG 17, Partnerships for the Goals, the Lenzing Group regularly engages with a wide range of stakeholders and business partners in order to integrate different perspectives, understand global trends, and mitigate risks. Lenzing strives to identify and develop cross-industry business opportunities to make progress in implementing circularity at Lenzing and throughout the industry. Thanks to its contributions to developing methods, tools and products, Lenzing helps the industry to progress on its path towards a more sustainable future. For example, the Lenzing Group actively contributes to multi-stakeholder associations such as the Textile Exchange (TE) MMCF roundtable and Sustainable Apparel Coalition’s (SAC) Higg transparency program, as well as a policy hub for accelerating circularity via forward-looking policy frameworks and for engaging policy makers in Europe.
Engaging in a dialog means respecting stakeholders, contributing Lenzing’s expertise and knowledge, and taking the opportunity to learn from partners’ perspectives. Transparency is a prerequisite for fostering trust and long-term relationships. Each dialog starts with providing transparent information, supporting stakeholders to form an educated opinion and assess risks, and avoiding misunderstandings by building trust. Furthermore, stakeholder relationships built on mutual respect and openness help solve existing tensions and avoid potential conflicts.
The ongoing stakeholder dialog improved significantly following the COVID-19 pandemic in the reporting year. Many activities, such as customer meetings or events took place again in person. The Lenzing teams made great efforts to continue their work by finding an efficient balance between online and in-person activities with (virtual) workshops and webinars with customers, one-to-one discussions, training sessions, interviews, surveys, education, joint product development, web platforms, roadshows, regular media relations, online trade shows and conferences, press interviews, risk assessments, and audits.
Various business functions are involved in reaching out to individual stakeholders. In addition to the Lenzing Sustainability team, the Managing Board and managers of the different business functions are all important players who drive the company’s proactive approach towards an ongoing stakeholder dialog.
Key stakeholder groups
Key stakeholders in 2022
The Lenzing Group’s key stakeholders are the people and entities who are potentially affected by its operations, business conduct, and strategic targets. Lenzing regards them as strategic partners who have a significant interest in and impact on areas that matter the most to Lenzing. One very special stakeholder group is Lenzing’s staff. Transparency, collaboration, and the sharing of information make them a clear testimony to the Lenzing Group’s credible sustainability performance. The main topics discussed in 2022:
- Energy security and reducing reliance on fossil fuels
- Climate change, GHG (greenhouse gas) emission targets, science-based target (SBT)
- Diversity and inclusion
- Responsible sourcing, in particular Supply Chain Due Diligence and (verification of) Scope 3 emissions
- EU policies (e.g. EU Taxonomy, Empowering Consumers Directive)
- ESG risks
- Circular economy and recycling technologies
- Waste, emissions and water management
- Transparency and traceability of supply chains
- Environmental assessment and communication of products
- Biodiversity and conservation of ecosystems
- Benchmarking tools (Textile Exchange Preferred Fiber and Material Matrix)
For more information on the stakeholder dialog, please see the “Stakeholder engagement” chapter.
United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
The SDGs are a collection of 17 goals adopted by all Member States of the United Nations in 2015 to address global economic, social, and environmental challenges and achieve a more sustainable future by 2030.
Sustainable development plays an important role in addressing global challenges such as the current health crisis by aiming to provide access to healthcare and clean water for all.
Lenzing recognizes its responsibility and sees its pioneering role in the textile and nonwovens industries as an opportunity to contribute to the achievement of sustainable development goals. Lenzing’s sustainability strategy and targets contribute towards these goals. For more information on Lenzing’s approach to the SDGs, please see the “Sustainable development goals” focus paper.