Today, Tuesday 27 October, 88 belgian companies received the SDG Pioneer certificate from UNITAR, the United Nations Institute for Training and Research. 

The companies were guided by Voka (Chamber of Commerce) for the last three years to focus intensively on each of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations. 

Since the year 2000 Vandecasteele Houtimport has committed itself through the Corporate Sustainability Charter by signing up to environmental objectives exceeding the applicable legislation.

The Charter brings together companies who voluntarily further strengthen all aspects of their business to set exemplary standards for others to follow. It is a management tool and is based on the 5 “P”’s:

People – Planet – Prosperity - Partnership and Peace.

Voka has been guiding companies towards sustainable entrepreneurship for the last twenty years through the Environmental Charter. In 2018, they shifted up a gear by entering into a partnership with CIFAL Flanders, the local hub of UNITAR, the United Nations training & research institute. As a result, companies that participate in the Voka Charter Sustainable Business (VCDO) can from now on receive a UN recognition: a "Certificate of Completion".

Companies that participate in the process for at least three years and thereby set up actions for each of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), receive the UNITAR SDG Pioneer certificate after a positive evaluation.