The smart choice in personal navigation
| CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY “TomTom focuses its Corporate Social Responsibility activities around three main themes: supply chain management, environmental impact and responsible driving.” |
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| At TomTom, we recognise that the world in which we live and work presents many environmental and social challenges. Through our corporate social responsibility (CSR) activities, we try to face up to and address the challenges. It is our aim to be continually improving our CSR performance. As a benchmarking exercise, in 2007 we used criteria from the Dow Jones Sustainability Index to sharpen many of our policies, with a view to entering the Index in the future. We have identified three themes around which to focus our CSR activities: supply chain management, environmental impact and responsible driving. It is also our aim to be transparent regarding our responsibility profile. This chapter therefore gives an overview of the CSR progress TomTom has made in 2007. Our accomplishments include: |
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| SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGEMENT TomTom’s Ethical Trading Code of Practice TomTom’s products are manufactured by many different suppliers around the world and we encourage the companies throughout our supply chain to adhere to local labour and human rights laws. To ensure decent and proper working conditions and respect for human rights, TomTom’s Ethical Trading Code of Practice is at the core of our procurement processes and embedded in our vendor selection process. The code outlines requirements with regard to child labour and young workers, forced labour, freedom of association, collective bargaining, and non-discrimination. TomTom's Ethical Trading Code of Practice can be read in full on the investor relations section of our website. Our suppliers and the environment TomTom expects its suppliers to ensure their products and services are produced in accordance with relevant legislation, such as the Restriction of the use of certain Hazardous Substances in electrical and electronic equipment (RoHS) and the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Directives. All TomTom’s suppliers of personal navigation devices (PNDs), representing 95% of all TomTom’s production, meet the international standards for managing environmental performance (ISO 14001) and the Occupational Health and Safety Assessment Series (OHSAS 18001). Monitoring our suppliers’ performance At TomTom, we recognise that we have a significant role to play in the responsible management of each stage of our supply chain. Our Quality Department therefore works to ensure our suppliers comply with the principles set out in the Ethical Trading Code of Practice. The provisions of the code extend to all workers, regardless of their status or relationship with a supplier, and therefore also apply to workers engaged informally, on short-term contracts or on a part-time basis. ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT TomTom’s Green Statement Climate change is one of the most important challenges facing the world today and TomTom recognises that our business activities can impact on the environment in several ways. Our commitment to minimising any negative impact has led us to develop TomTom’s Green Statement, which outlines our direct and indirect impacts on the environment, and the various measures we take to reduce them. TomTom’s Green Statement can be read in full at http://investors.tomtom.com/tomtom/csr/environment Environmental impact of our products TomTom continues to implement measures to reduce the environmental impact of its products throughout their life cycles. All PNDs are compliant with the RoHS and WEEE Directives, and key suppliers manufacturing TomTom devices are ISO 14001 certified, ensuring the control and improvement of our environmental performance. Use of recycled materials |
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| CO2 emissions Independent research has shown that using a PND reduces kilometres driven by 16% and travelling time by 18%, helping significantly in the battle to reduce carbon emissions from vehicles. As part of an ongoing research programme, TomTom is investigating in more detail how to further contribute to the reduction of CO2 emissions. The environment and the TomTom workplace TomTom’s commitment to the environment is also evident in the way we work. In our offices, we separate paper from other waste for separate collection, return used cartridges to cartridge return centres and collect batteries for special chemical waste disposal. We encourage staff to travel by train or bicycle and a very small number of employees drive lease cars. The majority of TomTom’s employees recently moved to a new head office that is one of the most energy efficient buildings in Amsterdam. Part of a larger development project, it uses long-term energy storage techniques that will lead to energy savings of up to 28% (and 5-10% lower energy bills) compared with similar buildings. Nevertheless, TomTom is the first to acknowledge that there is still much to do, and we are always exploring ways in which we can further contribute to a sustainable future for the societies in which we live and operate. RESPONSIBLE DRIVING Finding your way the safe way Independent academic research conducted in 2006 has proven that driving with a navigation system significantly improves traffic safety, by increasing driver control, reducing driver stress and distractions, and shortening the time and distances drivers need to travel. We believe it is our responsibility to keep safety at the heart of all our product innovations. This commitment has resulted in the development of several unique safety features now included in the software of all TomTom devices. For example, 2007 saw the introduction of a ‘Help Me’ menu that gives TomTom users direct access to emergency service phone numbers, roadside assistance and similar information critical in emergency situations. TomTom works with roadside assistance organisations in every country where such services exist to ensure our users can have direct access to such services. Consumer awareness At TomTom we do all we can to raise consumer safety awareness in areas where we feel we can play a positive role as industry leaders. This includes the development of a safety leaflet that outlines not only the product’s safety features, but also how to use the device in the safest way. Partnering a major road safety campaign |
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| Theft prevention The growing popularity of PNDs is reflected in their increasing attraction to thieves. Acknowledging this trend, we take very seriously our responsibility to educate consumers in this area and actively cooperate with local authorities to address and support theft prevention campaigns. Sponsorship policy TomTom’s policy is that all our corporate donations should be to projects that enhance road safety. Financial donations have been made to several organisations and we have supported a number of other initiatives by donating TomTom products. TomTom will continue to be involved in local initiatives across the world, and to support activities and programs aimed at increasing road safety in the broadest sense. EMPLOYEES We also recognise our responsibility and duty of care to our employees. What TomTom is doing in this area is detailed under Organisation and Human Resources (pages 20-22). |
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