Social corporate responsibility

TNO’s motto is ‘Innovation for life’: creating impactful innovations for
the sustainable wellbeing and prosperity of society. As an independent public organisation, we want to do this in a responsible and sustainable way. TNO has adopted a clear policy on Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) to put its ambitions in this area into practice in its operations. The CSR policy is closely linked to TNO's strategic goals.

Corporate social responsibility policy

TNO's CSR policy focuses on the five key points listed below:

  • TNO aims to have made its operations climate-neutral by 2040.
  • TNO is committed to the international framework of the UN Global Compact and endorses the ten principles for sustainable operations.
  • TNO recognises its supply-chain responsibility with respect to both suppliers and customers.
  • In the transition to sustainable business operations, TNO is focusing on the following priorities: integrity, energy and sustainability, diversity and inclusion, and working conditions.
  • TNO intends to include the CSR priorities in the annual plans of the relevant departments.

UN Global Compact: Principles and SDG's

TNO joined the UN Global Compact in 2020. By joining, TNO has committed itself to the ten UN principles on socially responsible business practices and the ten Sustainable Development Goals. We are focusing on seven SDGs where TNO can achieve the greatest social impact, thanks to its knowledge and the position it occupies. Our contribution to the seven SDGs is clearly illustrated in an impact model.

KPIs and reporting

To monitor the CSR priorities TNO assesses two Key Performance Indicators: our CO2 footprint (pdf) and our EcoVadis benchmark score (see separate box). The footprint indicates to which extent TNO levels with climate neutrality goals, the EcoVadis benchmark entails all other CSR priorities. Each year TNO issues an annual report in which she integrally accounts of how she creates value for all of her stakeholders at short, mid, and long term. This is performed according to the Integrated Reporting Framework of the IFRS Foundation. Apart from financial values, the report also focusses on the way the organisation utilises and deploys natural, intellectual, social, human and physical capital.

EcoVadis score: level Bronze

EcoVadis provides sustainability assessments of companies on four themes (environment, labour and human rights, ethics and sustainable procurement), on each a score of 100 can be achieved. The overall rating incorporates the average score on the four themes, based on supplied (policy)documentation.

This documentation is assessed by international experts. Last year, TNO’s progress in sustainable and responsible business nicely raised from 38 points (2020) to 48 points in 2022. TNO herewith scores above average in the sector 'Scientific Research and Development' and reaches 'level Bronze'.

Bronze Medal Ecovadis
Level bronze for sustainable and responsible business in the sector Scientific Research and Development

Want to know more or ask questions? Contact us at [email protected].