Sustainability at SKP: naturally grown, strategically strengthened
Sustainable entrepreneurship is not a trend at SKP, but a logical evolution. Ever since our family business was founded in 1975, our focus has been on long-term solutions, both in our working methods and in the social role we want to fulfil. Today, that sustainable DNA is further strengthened by a structured approach. More specifically within the VOKA Charter for Sustainable Entrepreneurship. A conscious choice.
Sustainability as a strategic pillar
In 2024, we started the VCDO trajectory, a guidance trajectory from the Flemish Network of Enterprises (VOKA) that helps companies to structurally anchor sustainable entrepreneurship.
“Of course, many people think of the environment first when they think of sustainability. Fun fact: SKP was one of the very first companies in our sector who did sorting on the company site, even when it was not yet mandatory,” says Kristoff, who is part of the VCDO working group at SKP.
“Looking at our more recent efforts, reducing energy consumption has become a very important pillar. With the installation of LED lighting, solar panels and charging stations as concrete achievements. In addition, as a company we are also fully committed to digitizing our processes via a new ERP system, which not only saves paper, but also increases efficiency.”
“The VCDO trajectory helps us to make the initiatives and results around our various proposed action points – 30 in total – more measurable and therefore more tangible. Our first goal is to achieve the recognition of SDG Pioneer – the first of three VCDO trajectories. In principle, this should happen by 2027 at the latest, but we are going to try to nibble off a year.”
From electric bicycles for everyone to your own SKP forest
But sustainability has of course become a much broader concept. The well-being of the SKP-employees are given a prominent place in our sustainability strategy. Sustainability also means investing in your people. If they feel good, that translates into stronger operations. For example, this year we are organizing a padel tournament among our colleagues and an electric bicycle is being made available to everyone in the context of our 50th anniversary.”
“We also want to play a sustainable role outside our company walls. The construction of the SKP forest in Nives, which started in 2023, is an example of this. Today, there are already more than 5,000 SKP trees that will remove around 900 tons of CO2 from the air over the next 20 to 30 years . A figure that will only continue to increase.”
Not a mandatory number, but a mindset
Conclusion: at SKP we do not see sustainable entrepreneurship as an obligation. We see that more and more customers are asking for reports on CO2 and energy consumption. But honestly? This has long been ingrained in how we work. From sorting waste to our current structural sustainability efforts. We do it not because we have to, but because it makes sense.