Позитивные изменения. Том 2, № 1 (2022). Positive changes. Volume 2, Issue 1 (2022)

Since 2016, we at You Social have been systemically engaged in implementing sustainable development projects. Over this period, our team has implemented 123 projects in 71 regions. We prepare non-financial reports, develop strategies for sustainable development, ESG, corporate diversity and inclusion, D&I, and integrate them in corporate business processes. We also develop in-house communities and implement social and ecological projects in cities of company presence and projects involving customers. We draw on our experience to offer solutions for all business development stages and at all scales.

PROBLEM TO SOLVE

Attracting investments and optimizing costs through the “green shift” in the company's activities and building a responsible brand. We are confident that the relation between environmental (E) and social (S) policies is not just that of interconnection, but interdependence, and we are ready to prove this using best practices and solutions that we develop taking into account the requirements of business, society and the state.

SOLUTIONS USED

You Social always focuses on all three aspects of ESG. We help companies establish a three-way communication where each participant receives meaningful benefits, whether it is improving the quality of life and well-being, reducing poverty or caring for the environment. Our team consists of more than 150 experts, which allows us to conduct nationwide research, initiate co-branding projects, create and support communities within companies, develop and implement educational programs.

STEPS TAKEN LAST YEAR

It has been a very productive year. Together with a University, we have created an educational project for regional ESG managers that allows employees to improve their skills, present their own project, defend it and proceed with its implementation, and enables organizations to gain a common understanding of ESG policies and actions.

We were engaged in the creation of a life cycle laboratory for a federal umbrella brand as part of a project to introduce the principles of closed-loop economy into the company's activities. Our efforts encompassed several areas: the Ecooffice project, the collection of E-waste, the creation of a responsible supply chain, an environmental educational program that helped involve employees in all ongoing processes.

For an international retailer, we have developed a strategy to provide equal opportunities to all social groups regardless of their physiological, ethnic, cultural, social and other backgrounds. As part of this project, we built business processes, communications and a management system to create an inclusive consumer environment, and we created a pool of products for sale that would meet the needs of different target audiences.

We have launched several pilot projects. In the cities of Perm and Ufa, we took part in developing a program to improve housing conditions for low-income families. It included the development of regulations and criteria for selecting the project participants, the first families to receive the benefits, the preparation of "help packages” (goods needed for various home-improvement projects). In Moscow and Saint Petersburg, we launched a job placement program for the homeless people that involved looking for partners among NGOs and establishing interaction process, career guidance and engaging events.

OUR PLANS

We believe in human aspect behind any projects, actions and changes. Therefore, we take part in organizing the First National ESG Principles Headliners Award as an official partner of nominations related to environmental and social programs and solutions.

The nearest-term plans involve establishment of a professional community for young professionals in the field of ESG, where we can share experience, knowledge, job offerings, and develop systemic thinking.

FINANCIAL STABILITY MODEL

Our key clients are large and medium-sized Russian and international businesses. We are ready to develop and implement turnkey sustainable development strategy as well as offer efficient solutions for standalone tasks within the framework of the ESG policy that has already been established within the company. We also conduct company assessment for compliance with national and international sustainability standards.