Potential contracts regularly present us with dilemmas. These raise questions, such as whether we want to be involved in all possible areas of work, even if they cause social unrest. We have also experienced that it can be a challenge finding the most sustainable solutions together in the chain. This can be due to a lack of time, knowledge, regulations, prioritisation or budget. Starting a discussion about this in the chain, therefore, is also necessary.
Our aim is to encourage our people to speak proactively about concerns, questions and dilemmas. We do this through various initiatives to promote solidarity and exchange, a strong focus on internal communication, and a compliance programme. In 2021, the whole of Witteveen+Bos, worldwide, completed an updated e-learning module on ethics and compliance. The Ethics and Compliance Officer received several requests each week for advice, especially in relation to possible conflicts of interest and accepting gifts.