United Nations Sustainable
Development Goals (UN SDGs)
D&L Industries is strongly committed to support specific targets of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals in areas which the Company can have significant positive while addressing negative impacts.
In the initial three years of Reporting, the Company had identified twelve (12) Goals and twenty-two (22) Targets as its own contributions to Philippine sustainability.
For 2022 onwards, the Company reviewed its principles, operations, and impacts and is pleased to report that it now covers 16 SDG Goals and contributes to 50 Targets.
Linking the SDGs and the GRI Standards
GRI has created and regularly updates its mapping document, linking the Disclosures with the SDGs.
Following the adoption of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), we [GRI] have supported businesses in measuring and reporting on their impacts – and hence their contribution towards the goal of sustainable development – through a number of reporting tools. This mapping document is the latest addition that we bring to the table, to help accelerate progress and drive bolder action.
The Company uses this mapping tool to help illustrate its ESG impacts across both sets of global standards, while maintaining coherence and consistency in its reporting.
SDG 1 | No Poverty
The Company impacts poverty reduction in a myriad of ways during the conduct of its business.
First, as it grows, so do its suppliers, partners, and customers. Revenue generated along the value chain benefits the stakeholders therein, spurring further economic activity, whether via new investments, operational expansion, increased consumption, or savings generated. With continuing capital reinvestment and expansion, the Company generates ever higher economic value.
Second, the communities around and the people who join the Company in various capacities feel the direct and trickle-down effects of its presence, with every investment, purchase, salary, and consumption by various stakeholders within and beyond the geographic boundaries. In turn, these economic activities cascade to numerous internal and external stakeholders—staff, suppliers, customers, government, and communities—uplifting their financial and social circumstances.
Finally, Government itself, both at the local, regional, and national levels, in allowing the Company to exist and expand its business, provides avenues for employment and opportunities for its citizens, generates taxes for its development programs, and enhances the welfare of all stakeholders all around.
Target 1.1 By 2030, eradicate extreme poverty for all people everywhere, currently measured as people living on less than $1.25 a day.
Target 1.2 By 2030, reduce at least by half the proportion of men, women and children of all ages living in poverty in all its dimensions according to national definitions.
Target 1.a Ensure significant mobilization of resources from a variety of sources, including through enhanced development cooperation, in order to provide adequate and predictable means for developing countries, in particular least developed countries, to implement programmes and policies to end poverty in all its dimensions.
SDG 2 | Zero Hunger
In the same way the Company impacts poverty reduction through its business, it likewise impacts the goal of Zero Hunger. In addition to the LFI’s continuing programs
Target 2.1 By 2030, end hunger and ensure access by all people, in particular the poor and people in vulnerable situations, including infants, to safe, nutritious and sufficient food all year round.
Target 2.3 By 2030, double the agricultural productivity and incomes of small-scale food producers, in particular women, indigenous peoples, family farmers, pastoralists and fishers, including through secure and equal access to land, other productive resources and inputs, knowledge, financial services, markets and opportunities for value addition and non-farm employment.
Target 2.4 By 2030, ensure sustainable food production systems and implement resilient agricultural practices that increase productivity and production, that help maintain ecosystems, that strengthen capacity for adaptation to climate change, extreme weather, drought, flooding and other disasters and that progressively improve land and soil quality.
SDG 3 | Good Health and Well-Being
Beyond standard and mandated benefits, the Company implements programs safeguarding the health and welfare of its workers and their families, including financial risk alleviation.
Health
Clinics in selected facilities
Doctor & nurse consultations
Annual physical examination
Annual medicine subsidy
HMO
Maternity assistance
Insurance
Group life insurance
Group accident insurance
Financial Risk Alleviation
Retirement plan
Bereavement assistance
Target 3.8 Achieve universal health coverage, including financial risk protection, access to quality essential health-care services and access to safe, effective, quality and affordable essential medicines and vaccines for all.
SDG 4 | Quality Education
The Company proactively provides various training programs and opportunities for further education to its employees via its Infinite Learning Team. It also provides avenues for learning and development to high potential employees through its Talent Management Team.
The Company, through the Lao Foundation, engages in diverse projects under four core programs:
1. Partner-Based Educational Program,
2. Community-Based Educational Program,
3. Lao Boh Lim Educational Program, and
4. Evelyn Lee Lao Teacher’s Welfare Program.
Projects outside these core programs that are deemed worthwhile and responsive to an assessed need are placed under Special Assistance Projects. LFI endeavors to provide target beneficiaries access to projects incorporated with values formation activities for holistic transformation of their lives.
The Company strongly believes that education is the fundamental solution to poverty. Through LFI, D&L provides full scholarships to deserving students in need within the communities it operates. The Company also has various value formation programs for the less fortunate.
The Company, through LFI, provides on the job training to the scholars of Don Bosco and Dualtech Training Center. This helps the students be better equipped for real life work.
Target 4.1 By 2030, ensure that all girls and boys complete free, equitable and quality primary and secondary education leading to relevant and effective learning outcomes.
Target 4.3 By 2030, ensure equal access for all women and men to affordable and quality technical, vocational and tertiary education, including university.
Target 4.4 By 2030, substantially increase the number of youth and adults who have relevant skills, including technical and vocational skills, for employment, decent jobs and entrepreneurship.
Target 4.5 By 2030, eliminate gender disparities in education and ensure equal access to all levels of education and vocational training for the vulnerable, including persons with disabilities, indigenous peoples and children in vulnerable situations.
Target 4.b By 2020, substantially expand globally the number of scholarships available to developing countries, in particular least developed countries, small island developing States and African countries, for enrolment in higher education, including vocational training and information and communications technology, technical, engineering and scientific programmes, in developed countries and other developing countries.
Target 4.c By 2030, substantially increase the supply of qualified teachers, including through international cooperation for teacher training in developing countries, especially least developed countries and small island developing States.
SDG 5 | Gender Equality
From hiring to training, from promotions to leadership, gender equality permeates every facet of the Company’s business and operations.
The Company does not discriminate on the basis of any social category. All employees are treated equally, and are afforded equal opportunities to learn and to progress in the workplace. Hiring, succession and all other business decisions are based on competence and quality of work.
Female employees account for about 34% of the Company’s workforce. In addition, three of the four independent directors on the Company’s Board are women.
Target 5.1 End all forms of discrimination against all women and girls everywhere.
Target 5.5 Ensure women’s full and effective participation and equal opportunities for leadership at all levels of decision-making in political, economic and public life.
SDG 6 | Clean Water and Sanitation
In the Company’s day to day activities, water is primarily used for the operations of the cooling tower, for equipment cleaning, and for domestic uses in the office buildings such as for restroom usage, washing, and food preparation in the canteens.
The Company is proactively looking for ways on how to further reduce its water consumption. Similarly, the company’s Environmental Group, which is composed of the Pollution Control Officers from each business unit, is in charge of monitoring and championing the water conservation initiatives of the company.
Target 6.3 By 2030, improve water quality by reducing pollution, eliminating dumping and minimizing release of hazardous chemicals and materials, halving the proportion of untreated wastewater and substantially increasing recycling and safe reuse globally
Target 6.4 By 2030, substantially increase water-use efficiency across all sectors and ensure sustainable withdrawals and supply of freshwater to address water scarcity and substantially reduce the number of people suffering from water scarcity.
Target 6.6 By 2020, protect and restore water-related ecosystems, including mountains, forests, wetlands, rivers, aquifers and lakes.
SDG 7 | Affordable and Clean Energy
The Company actively undertakes various initiatives to improve energy efficiency. These initiatives include the use of LED lights, installation of motion detectors, optimizing production schedules, and regular maintenance, among others.
Through its biodiesel business, which uses coconut oil as feedstock, the Company is able to promote a cleaner and more sustainable alternative to diesel. Biodiesel lowers the emission of nitrous oxides and sulfur oxide—the main contributors to smog. It also significantly reduces pollutants such as black smoke and air toxics that cause lung cancer, pulmonary tuberculosis, pneumonia, bronchitis, heart attack, and stroke.
For its new facility in Batangas, the Company is exploring the use of renewable energy sources to fuel its operations.
Target 7.2 By 2030, increase substantially the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix.
Target 7.3 By 2030, double the global rate of improvement in energy efficiency
SDG 8 | Decent Work and Economic Growth
The Company, through the ordinary course of business, provides numerous quality jobs for the communities it operates in. In pursuit of innovation, the Company invests heavily in research and development, thus encouraging the diversification of its supply chain and the growth of the enterprises it engages with.
Target 8.1 Sustain per capita economic growth in accordance with national circumstances and, in particular, at least 7 per cent gross domestic product growth per annum in the least developed countries.
Target 8.2 Achieve higher levels of economic productivity through diversification, technological upgrading and innovation, including through a focus on high-value added and labour-intensive sectors.
Target 8.5 By 2030, achieve full and productive employment and decent work for all women and men, including for young people and persons with disabilities, and equal pay for work of equal value.
Target 8.6 By 2020, substantially reduce the proportion of youth not in employment, education or training.
Target 8.8 Protect labour rights and promote safe and secure working environments for all workers, including migrant workers, in particular women migrants, and those in precarious employment.
SDG 9 | Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
The Company is shaped and driven by R&D and disciplined innovation. It is among the largest employers of chemists in the Philippines, outside of academe. Technology staff account for about 14% of the Company’s total manpower.
The Company is committed to keep itself abreast of the latest technology and to have its fingers on the pulse of the market to identify the market needs that must be met with sustainable solutions.
Through automation and installation of the latest equipment, the Company is able to increase its production yields and decrease generated waste.
With a plan to engage in IOT4.0 in the next 4-5 years, the Company plans to upskill its employees to be able to perform more complex tasks.
Target 9.2 Promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and, by 2030, significantly raise industry’s share of employment and gross domestic product, in line with national circumstances, and double its share in least developed countries.
Target 9.3 Increase the access of small-scale industrial and other enterprises, in particular in developing countries, to financial services, including affordable credit, and their integration into value chains and markets.
Target 9.4 By 2030, upgrade infrastructure and retrofit industries to make them sustainable, with increased resource-use efficiency and greater adoption of clean and environmentally sound technologies and industrial processes, with all countries taking action in accordance with their respective capabilities.
Target 9.5 Enhance scientific research, upgrade the technological capabilities of industrial sectors in all countries, in particular developing countries, including, by 2030, encouraging innovation and substantially increasing the number of research and development workers per 1 million people and public and private research and development spending.
SDG 10 | Reduced Inequalities
The Company actively espouses equality and diversity throughout its values, policies, and advocacies, as could be seen in the way it deals with employees, partners, suppliers, and members of local communities it operates in. Beyond gender neutrality, it also protects, preserves, and enhances the welfare of the youth, the elderly, and persons with disabilities.
Target 10.2 By 2030, empower and promote the social, economic and political inclusion of all, irrespective of age, sex, disability, race, ethnicity, origin, religion or economic or other status.
Target 10.3 Ensure equal opportunity and reduce inequalities of outcome, including by eliminating discriminatory laws, policies and practices and promoting appropriate legislation, policies and action in this regard.
Target 10.4 Adopt policies, especially fiscal, wage and social protection policies, and progressively achieve greater equality.
SDG 12 | Responsible Consumption and Production
Through its various resource management initiatives, the Company constantly strives to make its operations as efficient and sustainable as possible.
The Company actively promotes its various innovative product offerings that are natural, organic, and sustainable. This helps in spreading global awareness about sustainable development and lifestyles that are in harmony with nature.
Target 12.3 By 2030, halve per capita global food waste at the retail and consumer levels and reduce food losses along production and supply chains, including postharvest losses.
Target 12.4 By 2020, achieve the environmentally sound management of chemicals and all wastes throughout their life cycle, in accordance with agreed international frameworks, and significantly reduce their release to air, water and soil in order to minimize their adverse impacts on human health and the environment.
Target 12.5 By 2030, substantially reduce waste generation through prevention, reduction, recycling and reuse.
Target 12.6 Encourage companies, especially large and transnational companies, to adopt sustainable practices and to integrate sustainability information into their reporting cycle.
Target 12.8 By 2030, ensure that people everywhere have the relevant information and awareness for sustainable development and lifestyles in harmony with nature.
Target 12.a Support developing countries to strengthen their scientific and technological capacity to move towards more sustainable patterns of consumption and production.
SDG 13 | Climate Action
The Company supports energy efficiency in its operations. Furthermore, for its expansion plans in Batangas, the Company is exploring renewable energy sources. A significant portion of the new plant’s power requirement will be coming from solar energy. In addition, the Company has invested in steam boilers that utilize biomass energy.
Through its biodiesel business, which uses coconut oil as feedstock, the Company is able to promote a cleaner and more sustainable alternative to diesel.
Target 13.1 Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters in all countries.
SDG 14 | Life Below Water
To combat plastic pollution, FIC & DLPC have developed a broad range of product solutions utilizing various approaches. By offering these solutions, the Company is actively contributing to reducing plastic waste and promoting a more sustainable future.
Target 14.1 By 2025, prevent and significantly reduce marine pollution of all kinds, in particular from land-based activities, including marine debris and nutrient pollution.
SDG 15 | Life on Land
The Company is cognizant that protecting life on the planet is synonymous with ensuring the long-term survival of its business. The Company is fully-compliant, and in many cases, implements stricter measures than what is required by relevant environmental laws.
The Company’s next generation facilities in Batangas is central to integrating sustainability into its operations. In order to protect our planet and further minimize its ecological footprint, D&L intends to use more environmentally friendly and sustainable fuel. The Company has also built environmentally-certified buildings and is securing authorization to plant trees in the area.
Target 15.1 By 2020, ensure the conservation, restoration and sustainable use of terrestrial and inland freshwater ecosystems and their services, in particular forests, wetlands, mountains and drylands, in line with obligations under international agreements.
Target 15.4 By 2030, ensure the conservation of mountain ecosystems, including their biodiversity, in order to enhance their capacity to provide benefits that are essential for sustainable development.
Target 15.9 Integrate ecosystem and biodiversity values into national and local planning, development processes, poverty reduction strategies and accounts.
SDG 16 | Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
The Company is firm in its stand to abide by human rights in all its dealings within and outside its subsidiaries. It operates within a strict code of corporate governance, and expects the same from its suppliers through a thorough supplier assessment process.
Open employee-management communication is of prime importance to the Company due to its culture as a family business. Feedback and grievances are always welcome without any fear of repercussions. Issues are oftentimes resolved before escalating into conflicts.
Target 16.5 Substantially reduce corruption and bribery in all their forms.
Target 16.6 Develop effective, accountable and transparent institutions at all levels.
Target 16.7 Ensure responsive, inclusive, participatory and representative decisionmaking at all levels.
Target 16.10 Ensure public access to information and protect fundamental freedoms, in accordance with national legislation and international agreements.
SDG 17 | Partnerships for the Goals
Chemrez actively engages with the Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) and coordinates industry action with the United Coconut Association of the Philippines (UCAP). Meanwhile, the Lao Foundation works with D&L, Chemrez, Oleo-Fats, some affiliates, and a few business customers interested in smallholder initiatives for coconut farmers.
FIC & DLPC work with B2B customers & government agencies in using alternative materials, pursuing plastic waste reduction, & upcycling initiatives with local governments across the country.
Target 17.11 Significantly increase the exports of developing countries, in particular with a view to doubling the least developed countries’ share of global exports by 2020.
Target 17.16 Enhance the Global Partnership for Sustainable Development, complemented by multi-stakeholder partnerships that mobilize and share knowledge, expertise, technology and financial resources, to support the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals in all countries, in particular developing countries.
Target 17.17 Encourage and promote effective public, public-private and civil society partnerships, building on the experience and resourcing strategies of partnerships.