Romeo Kaptijn
Senior Consultant
About the client
“The Dutch way to say ‘cheese’.” Vepo Cheese is a traditional Dutch family business with nearly a century of experience in the cheese industry. The company ages, cuts, and packages cheese for retail, foodservice, and industrial use. Vepo Cheese combines an extensive traditional product line with modern, efficient production methods and continues to innovate to meet changing market demand.
About the project
Vepo Cheese wanted to gain insight into the impact of changing legislation on their business operations and asked us to help them conduct a dual materiality analysis and ensure the reliability of internal data collection processes. The results of the dual materiality analysis served as the starting point for the reassessment of Vepo Cheeses sustainability strategy, a process we facilitated through a series of workshops. In addition, we supported Vepo Cheese with the data collection process and the calculations for its carbon footprint.
Work
The dual materiality analysis consisted of conducting analyses, interviews, and workshops to assess the impact and financial materiality of the ESG themes for Vepo. We plotted these findings in a materiality matrix and validated these themes in collaboration with Vepo Cheese. In addition, we provided support for the CSRD data collection process. We identified which data needed to be collected and developed a reporting guide for future data collection processes. Together with Vepo Cheese, we created a data template to efficiently collect and consolidate information within the organization.
Vepo Cheeses sustainability strategy was then refined through two working sessions with internal stakeholders. One session was dedicated to determining the level of ambition for the material issues at Vepo Cheese, and the other to developing appropriate goals and KPIs aligned with the desired level of ambition. Action plans were then developed to implement measures for each theme and achieve the objectives. As a final step, we guided Vepo through the data collection and calculations for Scope 1, 2, and 3 CO₂ emissions by conducting a review. Over two rounds, we provided support in the areas of data formatting, scoping, completeness and reliability, methodology, and the applied emission factors. For each emission category, we actively contributed ideas and provided concrete recommendations for improvement.
Result
Thanks to our approach, Vepo Cheese now has a thorough dual materiality analysis. Using the reporting guide and the templates we developed, the company can now systematically collect the relevant data within the organization, and these processes are now standardized. Vepo Cheese also now has a sustainability strategy that will guide its sustainability efforts in the coming years. Finally, Vepo Cheese can now independently continue calculating its carbon footprint based on the review that was conducted.
In a world where sustainability requirements and ESG criteria are constantly changing and evolving, it’s important for companies to stay up to date and maintain their focus. With 2BHonest, we’ve found the right partner to bring structure to our sustainability journey.
Marlou Bink-Verkleij — Director of Marketing & Business
Impact makers
Karst Popkema
Consultant
My focus is on helping organizations make sustainability measurable, embed it strategically, and then translate it into concrete results that make a real impact.
From ambition to action
Ready to get started on your own and develop a strong sustainability strategy that’s perfectly tailored to your company or organization? With our services, you’ll turn your ambitions into action. A team of experts is here to help you.
