‘Never make your own standards negotiable’

‘Chain management starts with yourself. You must set the right example. And that’s what we try to do. Nuon has a code of conduct containing rules on such matters as what kind of gifts employees are allowed to accept. If we set the right example, we can also expect something from others. We have high standards in our European countries and maintaining these is a far-reaching responsibility. Because as soon as you make your own standards negotiable, you find yourself on a slippery slope. For our own part, we try insofar as possible, to do business with (certified parties) whose (safety) standards are just as strict as ours. But that, of course, doesn’t always work. Sometimes you purchase goods from companies in less developed countries where we also need and want to maintain relations. By carrying out risk studies we try to avoid doing business with companies where abuses and malpractices occur. And in our purchase contracts we stipulate that the contracting parties must at least meet certain conditions regarding the environment, working conditions and safety. This clause, incidentally, is not included in our fuel contracts. Because these concern trading situations where we are dealing with a global market. But even in that case there are limits. And if these are crossed, we must take our responsibility - in cooperation with the sector, for instance. We notice that the internet in particular is making civilians - our customers - better informed and more critical about the origin of fuels. Recent discussions about palm oil and the conditions in coal mines prove this point. We must take these noises seriously. It would be good to make arrangements with the authorities and within the sector about a theme like the origin of fuels.’

Øystein Løseth, Management Board

This viewpoint is published in Sustainable Nuon 2006 magazine. In this magazine, the reader is guided through eight key issues that are currently confronting our sector and company; we explain our viewpoints and their relevance to the wider world. You can order the magazine through the order form on this website.