Our company code
We aim to be a reliable and engaged partner to all our stakeholders: society, our clients and business partners, our company as a whole, and our colleagues as individuals. Our shared and individual responsibilities, principles and manner of doing business are outlined in our company code. All Witteveen+Bos employees worldwide must act in accordance with this code and the agreements arising from it.
As well as representing our values and beliefs, our company code reflects the ten universally accepted principles of the United Nations Global Compact – of which we are a member – on human rights, labour, the environment, and anti-corruption, and the guidelines for multinational enterprises drawn up by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).
Ethics and compliance
To continue meeting the expectations of society, complying with laws and regulations, and adapting to a changing playing field, we are continuously improving our corporate processes. Our ethics and compliance officer is responsible for implementing our corporate compliance programme.
Modern Slavery Act
We are committed to ensuring that human rights are upheld throughout our chain and that individuals experience safe, fair and non-discriminatory working conditions. We only work with suppliers who share our conviction that fair work practices and a safe working environment are inherent components of human rights. For more information, see our Modern Slavery Act statement.
Social return
Having a positive impact on society is an important corporate objective of ours, which is why we integrate the principle of Social Return on Investment (SROI) into our business operations and the execution of our assignments. We do this in four ways:
- Work: contributing to employment opportunities for people distanced from the labour market;
- Education: improving the position of people distanced from the labour market by devoting attention to education;
- Social and community-based activities;
- Procurement with a social-return component.
This foundation is supplemented by SROI activities organised on projects.
Safety
An important prerequisite for all the work we perform is safety. As an employer, client, and collaboration partner, we want to provide a healthy and safe (working) environment.
A working environment where everyone experiences equal opportunities and feels welcome, heard, equal and safe – that is our standard. It applies not only at Witteveen+Bos offices, in secondment scenarios, and on projects at clients’ premises, but also in Teams meetings and to emails and chat messages. It belongs among the other values and standards that comprise our company code. In short, we respect one another’s opinions, beliefs, and individuality, and we show solidarity with one another.
Safety is an integral part of all our designs and advice. We are also an active member of the core group of the GCVB (‘governance code for safety in construction’), which has the aim of improving safety throughout the chain, and we comply with the requirements of ViA (‘safety in tenders’).
Each year, we conduct internal audits to identify what is going well and what can be improved. We also regularly communicate internally on safety to raise awareness of the topic. We are certified at step 4 (‘proactive’) on the Safety Culture Ladder.
Privacy and cybersecurity
Online safety plays a major role in our daily practices too. We are constantly working on improving our information security and are ISO27001-certified.
Certifications and standards
ISO 9001 is the most widely known certification for quality management systems. All of Witteveen+Bos’s operations are certified worldwide.
ISO 17025 is the quality standard for test laboratories. Witteveen+Bos conducts odour and air emission measurements under ISO 17025 accreditation. The list of operations accredited by the Dutch Accreditation Council can be found here.
The CO2 performance ladder is a Dutch sustainability instrument intended to reduce the emissions produced by organisations. This includes reduction within the business operations, within projects, and within the chain. In the Netherlands, Witteveen+Bos has been certified at the highest step on the ladder (step 5).
The Safety Culture Ladder is a Dutch certification that promotes safety awareness and encourages safe behaviour. In the Netherlands, Witteveen+Bos has been certified at step 4.
SCC is a certification regarding safe and healthy work at third-party sites. Witteveen+Bos’s activities at third-party sites in the Netherlands are certified under SCC**. SCC is a certification regarding safe and healthy work at third-party sites. Witteveen+Bos’s activities at third-party sites in the Netherlands are certified under SCC**.
BRL SIKB 6000 is a Dutch certification for the environmental supervision of soil and waterbed remediation, waterbed interventions, and follow-up maintenance. Witteveen+Bos’s activities in these fields are certified under this standard.
ISO 27001 is a certification for information security. Part of Witteveen+Bos’s operations as well as the entire ICT services and its processing of privacy-sensitive data are certified according to this standard.
ISO 14001 is the standard for environmental management certification. In the Netherlands, Witteveen+Bos is certified under this standard.