Nieuwegein, November 12, 2024
Philips and Schijvens winners of the first Dutch CSRD Awards
At the sold-out CSRD DAY 2024 in NBC Congress Center in Nieuwegein, attended by 600 visitors, Koninklijke Philips (large enterprise category) and Schijvens Corporate Fashion (SME/other category) were announced as the winners of the first Dutch CSRD Awards. Jury chairman Dick de Waard presented the trophies to Simon Braaksma (Senior Director Group Sustainability at Philips) and Shirley Schijvens (owner) and Jaap Rijnsdorp (CEO) of Schijvens. Marnix van Ginneken (Chief ESG & Legal Officer, Member of the Board of Management & Executive Committee at Philips) responded to the award with a video message.
The professional jury selected the winners from a shortlist of 12 companies. In total, 34 companies voluntarily entered the competition. The organizers (Impact Economy Foundation and Van der Molen E.I.S.) and the jury expressed their appreciation to these 34 companies, acknowledging the courage it takes to put themselves on display. “We see in all these reports not only an effort to comply with regulations but also an intrinsic motivation to communicate transparently with various stakeholders.”
For the CSRD award, the jury members, with the help of the Impact Institute, analyzed the published annual reports for the financial year 2023. These reports did not yet have to comply with the new sustainability reporting regulations developed under the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD). For large public interest entities (mainly listed companies and financial institutions), the requirement to include a sustainability report in the annual report will apply for the first time for the financial year 2024, and for other large enterprises, only from 2025. It is encouraging to see companies already leading the way in their annual reporting ahead of these regulations.
Koninklijke Philips – Large Enterprise Winner
Selecting the large enterprise winner for the CSRD award was challenging, as almost all nominees were strong contenders. Koninklijke Philips ultimately won because the jury was impressed by the extensive information provided in its 2023 annual report. This report demonstrates the value of the years of efforts Philips has invested in collecting reliable and material data and information, paying off in sustainable reporting. The jury also appreciated that Philips’ report included an assurance report from an external auditor, who verified part of the sustainability data with a reasonable level of assurance. However, the jury noted that while the report’s content largely aligns with CSRD and even exceeds certain ESRS requirements, the format still needs improvement. Providing a lot of information is not the same as clear communication.
Schijvens Corporate Fashion – SME/Other Winner
Schijvens Corporate Fashion’s annual report stood out for its openness and the leadership role it aims to play in CSRD reporting by companies that do not fall directly under the new regulations but are still impacted. Schijvens’ report describes the sector’s sensitivity to impact, detailing the supply chain, including sourcing from Turkey, and provides a comprehensive overview of risks in the value chain.
A more detailed jury report is available, containing several encouragements and best examples from the reports of the nominees. The Impact Institute will soon publish a note with best practices ‘harvested’ from the award entries.
About the CSRD Awards
On November 28, 2023, the Kristal Prize for the best sustainability annual report was awarded for the last time, marking the end of a tradition that began in 1995. The Kristal Prize honored reporting companies for their efforts and showcased best practices. Van der Molen E.I.S. and the Impact Economy Foundation are continuing this tradition with the organization of the ‘Dutch CSRD Awards.’
Companies could register themselves for the awards at www.csrdawards.nl with their report on fiscal year 2023. From the 34 participants, 12 companies (9 large enterprises and 3 SMEs/others) were selected for a shortlist based on a methodology developed by the Impact Institute.
The awards are supported by organizations such as NBA, SRA, UN Global Compact Network Netherlands, VBDO, VVM Network of Environmental Professionals, and Eumedion.
Philips en Schijvens winnaars eerste Nederlandse CSRD Awards – Nederlandse CSRD Awards. (2024, November 12). https://www.csrdawards.nl/2024/11/12/philips-en-schijvens-winnaars-eerste-nederlandse-csrd-awards/