Sri Lanka: Bio Grow added to UN Global Compact list

To show its involvement in promoting sustainable development practices in Sri Lanka, Biogrow Lanka (Biogrow) has become one of the few producers of coco-based organic substrates in the country to commit to the United Nations Global Compact 10 principles of sustainable development. Biogrow has always had a responsible behaviour regarding the environment, its employees and the local communities but did not yet have a formalised policy. The company’s employees and top management are very attached to the promotion of sustainable development practices, and are committed to develop Biogrow’s business while contributing to the improvement of the management of environmental and social issues in Sri Lanka.

Biogrow is a leading French producer of coco-based organic substrates in Sri Lanka, where it has been operating for more than 15 years, using local supplies of coconuts and employing about 300 employees in 3 sites. The company sells products to professional greenhouse growers and regular customers around the world. Although being a France-based company, Biogrow is fully integrated in its environment and aware of the great social and environmental challenges implied by operating in a developing country. The coconut business is one of the biggest industries in Sri Lanka, giving Biogrow important responsibilities regarding the promotion of responsible behaviours.

The UN Global Compact 10 principles (http://www.unglobalcompact.org) encourage businesses to implement concrete actions regarding the respect of human and labour rights, the protection of the environment and the fight against corruption, and to promote them. The signature of this commitment by Biogrow’s top management is a great step forward for the promotion of sustainable practices within the company and in its interactions with stakeholders in Sri Lanka. The internal promotion of this commitment contributes to raising employees’ awareness of environmental and social issues and to create a corporate culture turned towards sustainable development.

2013 is the starting year for Biogrow’s new sustainable strategy in Sri Lanka. Based on internationally recognized standards of sustainable development (including the UN Global Compact), the identification of its stakeholders and the audit of its main impacts, Biogrow has defined its own objectives and action plan for 2013-2016. The company also appointed a full-time employee to audit the current projects and situation, to engage dialog with the stakeholders (e.g. suppliers and subcontractors, customers), to structure a sustainable strategy and manage environmental and social projects. Not only should the company increase its economic benefits, but it should also limit its environmental impacts (e.g. realization of a carbon footprint), improve employees’ wellbeing (e.g. new safety equipments), promote responsible behaviours at suppliers and subcontractors, and better share benefits with local communities (e.g. creation of a library in Kiriwanagara school near one of the factories).

For more information:
Biogrow
Antoine Bois (e-mail)
www.bio-grow.com