(English) Best Practices

AGAPLAST is a family company with Polish capital. The company is a nationally known manufacturer of plastic products. Among other products, it offers such products as corrugated pipes used for electrical harnesses, technical and garden hoses, PVC granules and profiles for furniture. Due to the wide range of products offered products, the company sells to customers from all over the country. The company continues to develop dynamically, focusing on: innovative solutions used in the production process, cooperation with research units on new technologies, human capital, reducing the negative impact on the environment, as well as sustainable internal and external practices.

Having implemented a quality management system, among other things, the next natural step the company decided to take

was to take a holistic and strategic approach to sustainability. Despite a lack of previous experience in the topic of CSR implementation, the company's management realised that responsible business management is not only about making a profit, but also about meeting the needs of different stakeholder groups, in particular employees and customers. Therefore, the company decided to implement CSR with the additional aim of improving the environmental performance of the plant.

After analysing what issues are crucial for AGAPLAST, the management decided to focus on employees, the production process and the final product. To this end, a satisfaction survey was carried out with employees in mind, addressing issues such as equality, ethics, communication or work organisation.

In addition to this, the company's products were analysed - particular emphasis was placed on the possibility of implementing innovative environmental solutions, with CSR principles in mind in particular.

As far as environmental issues are concerned, the company's management, being aware of the increasing ecological awareness of consumers, has set its sights on expanding its offer towards pro-environmental solutions, resulting in the use of non-toxic, biodegradable products of natural origin and the introduction of product and process innovations at AGAPLAST. Among other things, the company aims to reduce the amount of waste for disposal and to obtain a product made from almost 100% recycled materials.

The work on the CSR strategy resulted, among other things, in the idea of combining the benefits of multiple parties, which is to allow users to donate used hoses and use them for further production. As well as having a positive impact on the environment, this process should result in a lower product price, reducing the need to purchase new raw materials, which in turn should result in increased sales of AGAPLAST brand hoses. Preliminary market tests have shown that both users and wholesalers are interested in this possibility.

Among the most important effects of the project, both measurable and non-measurable, the AGAPLAST management mentions:

• building CSR awareness among owners, key personnel and rank-and-file employees,
• improved relations between subordinates and superiors. The results of the satisfaction survey were translated into individual conversations with employees and specific system-wide actions, e.g. improving health and safety conditions. In addition, employees participated in a volunteering programme, which contributed to the integration of staff,
• an overall improvement in the functioning of the company. The implementation of the new system necessitated an analysis of previously processes, documents and calculations.

As a result, significant adjustments and improvements were made. This the company considers a significant success.

AGAPLAST has a stable technical background and proven business partners. It meets the highest standards, as evidenced by ISO certificates for production quality and environmental protection, as well as numerous awards and distinctions.

Running a sustainable business is a challenge these days for both management and the people who work there. In addition to the measures already taken in the areas of human resources and the environment, further development should be planned in the near future in terms of managing CSR issues within the company - i.e. building a motivated team, improving the quality of relations with the environment (including contractors) and reducing the environmental impact of the business more.

It would also be a good idea to expand training for employees and more surveys targeting production workers. Collaborating with academic institutions is also helpful in promoting the company's activities, as this will bring the sustainability and CSR strategy to a larger audience.

AGAPLAST. (n.d.). Our history. Retrieved from: https://agaplast.pl/en/the-companys-history/

AGAPLAST. (n.d.). Certificates. Retrieved from: https://agaplast.pl/en/certificates/

AGAPLAST. (n.d.). Produkcja i przetwórstwo tworzyw sztucznych. Retrieved from: https://agaplast.pl/home