ECONOMIC LIFE Modern societies worldwide are characterized mainly by the division of labor in economic activity. Through cooperation, values are created and exchanged as products and services. In this exchange, it is essential that those creating these values are rewarded for their effort with a fair income enabling them to achieve and to improve such results also in the future. Therefore, the establishment of a worldwide cooperative network of value creation, accumulating values for fair interchange relations, is fundamental for sustainable development of the economy.
Management Approach All SEKEM companies conduct their businesses in a responsible and ethical way. We aim for the highest product quality based exclusively on organic raw materials. We always take a long-term perspective towards our development and give a high priority to the preservation of nature for future generations. Our strong goals can only be achieved by building long-lasting partnerships throughout our supply chain. That’s why we are committed to supporting our suppliers in satisfying our qualitative, social and environmental requirements so that they may therefore receive their appropriate share in the value creation. The quality management systems of the SEKEM companies are certified according to the ISO 9001 Standard. The requirements for this certification include the continuous improvement of quality
control and of all qualitatively relevant processes, as well as the enhancement of customer satisfaction. More on the product level, we comply with a range of standards like Fairtrade, International Demeter Standards and Global Gap. Our currency is not reduced to financial figures. We measure success throughout all dimensions of the Sustainability Flower. This extensive performance evaluation framework with all the Performance Aspects and related monitoring of key performance indicators is our way to address the precautionary approach (Article 15 of the Rio Principles) and is part of our risk management. Any operational planning or product related decision is evaluated for its influence on SEKEM’s sustainable development path and discussed in the weekly management meetings of all the companies.
How can we make our value chain sustainable? How can we be economically self-sufficient and competitive? How can we design sustainable products and services? How can we grow without necessarily increasing resource consumption and pollution?