The interest in sustainable business practice among companies is growing worldwide. Egyptian ventures, too, increasingly begin to report and evaluate their efforts in becoming more sustainable.
Based on the existing Sustainability Flower framework for sustainable business as developed by SEKEM and other members of the International Association of Partnership (IAP), the Heliopolis University for Sustainable Development, the German Development Cooperation (GIZ) and SEKEMs partner company Soil & More International have developed a more generic assessment framework to use in other ventures. The framework aims to help companies and other organisations from agricultural business sectors to evaluate their current performance in sustainability. The system is called Sustainability Flower Self Assessment Tool. It has been made available as an easy-to-use online tool and can be accessed on the Internet at: www.sustainabilityflower.hu.edu.eg
The Sustainability Flower Tool assists in identifying the most pressing sustainability gaps and shortcomings and points managers to areas where intervention is needed as well as opportunities. The tools strives to lower the entry barrier to successful sustainability management for companies of any size.
The new online tool was developed specifically for companies in the food and agriculture sector. It especially focuses on members of the food value chain, such as farmers, processors, wholesalers, retailers, and small-holding peasants. Users will communicate data with regard to the concept of sustainable development along nine dimensions. These dimensions reflect the key activity areas of the Sustainability Flower: economic, social & cultural life, water, soil, plants, animals, energy, and air.
Easy, Quick, or In-Depth Reports
Using the online tool, a company can identify its critical sustainability issues in terms of risks and opportunities in less than an hour. It is available as a five- and a 30-minute self-assessment. After the completion of a simple questionnaire, the user receives a feedback document with a narrative evaluation of all dimensions. In addition, companies may also request a more in-depth analysis produced by expert researchers from the Heliopolis University for Sustainable Development.
Furthermore, the Egyptian Chamber of Food Industries (CFI) is also involved to the Sustainability Flower Tool as an active partner contributing to the overall project. The association, who is the official representative of the Egyptian Food Industry with a member base of more than 3,000 companies, ensures the proper marketing and also organises, among other events, a one-day-workshop to present, discuss and obtain results from stakeholders of Egypt’s food and agricultural sectors.
The Sustainability Flower Tool is another step by SEKEM, the Heliopolis University, and some partner organizations to promote sustainable business practice in Egypt and thereby support the sustainable development of the country.
Source: RIBH Mena
Discover the Sustainability Flower Self Assessment Tool
The Sustainability Flower
International Association of Partnership (IAP)
Soil & More International
German Development Cooperation (GIZ)
Egyptian Chamber of Food Industries (CFI)