Foreword from our Chairman 2022 was all about resilience, which has always been part of Schréder’s DNA.
Our teams around the world once again faced a number of economic and operational challenges, not least a war on Europe’s doorstep. On behalf of the Board, I would like to take this opportunity to express our sympathy to those employees and their families who are affected by the war and are dealing with its dramatic consequences. We also pay tribute to the outstanding performance of our Ukrainian team, who continue to provide the best possible service to our customers. This conflict has also had other spillover effects, including an international energy crisis that has required the international community to take urgent action and respond by focusing on reducing energy consumption and associated costs. We believe that Schréder offers a wide range of products and solutions that can help achieve this goal by providing more efficient and cost-effective lighting solutions, while enabling the communities we serve to better manage their infrastructure. An international crisis such as this is an opportunity to perform better and to develop a response to the challenges we face. Schréder is committed to continuing to provide solutions and innovation to help our customers meet these challenges. Agile management and highly committed teams have enabled us to perform and innovate again, ending the year on a good financial note and being recognised by our customers, even in the most (in)tense quarters!
Despite the challenging environment, we have not given up on our sustainability goals and commitments, which have been rewarded several times this year. First with the EcoVadis Gold Medal, and closer to home in Belgium with two awards from the Instituut van de Bedrijfsrevisoren/Institut des réviseurs d’entreprises (IBR/IRE): one for the Best First Sustainability Report and one for the Sustainability Report Best Linked to the 2030 SDGs Agenda. Our sustainability strategy is expanding and redefines the way we measure our performance, striving as much as possible to play our part in protecting and preserving our planet. Either in the way we operate, or in what our products can do to help customers achieve their own sustainability goals. I also welcome the fact that our employees are regularly invited to share their experiences and invite other companies to join us on this wonderful and pragmatic sustainability journey. Thank you, and let’s keep on delivering!
I am delighted to present the 2022 edition of our Annual Sustainability Report based on the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) standards. As a family-owned business, we see sustainability as a core value. It is also important to note that sustainability is not an isolated issue within the company. Rather, it is part of our daily life and the values of our work culture, so that we can pass on this vision and leave a better world for future generations. In 2022, the word that definitely comes to mind is resilience, which is part of our DNA and the history of our family business.
Renaud Gryspeerdt Chairman of the Board
02
Powered by FlippingBook