William HughesImpahla Clothing

About the organization

• Privately Owned, African, garment manufacturing and branding company based in Cape Town, South Africa.

• Supplier to world class brands such as PUMA AG (the first World Cat Strategic Supplier in South Africa).

• Sales Turnover of just over Euro 2 million.

• Dec 2009 employee population of 176 employees (up from 88 in 2008).

About the organization

(- continued)

• The first Carbon Neutral Garment Manufacturer in South Africa due to an effective carbon foot printing exercise by Carbon Calculated, and an off-set partnership with Food & Trees for Africa.

• Recipient of a 2009 Sustainability Reporting Award (runner-up) from the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA).

Identifying stakeholders

• Brainstorming session.• List all individuals and organizations that have any contact with

or influence over your business, or who your business can impact.

• Examples: – Employees– Customers– Suppliers– Unions– Bargaining Councils– Government– GRI

Prioritizing key stakeholders

Issues to consider• All stakeholders are important, although

some are ‘more important’ than others.

• Identify your ‘Most Material Issues’.

• Identify key stakeholders who can impact, or are impacted by, your MMI’s.

Prioritizing key stakeholders

Issues to consider (- continued)• Rank stakeholders in order of importance.

• Identify the stakeholders-specific MMIs.

• Find common ground.

• Focus on these issues for the benefit of all concerned.

Dialoguing with stakeholders – how?

• Regular structured meetings.• Ad hoc informal gatherings.• Conferences.• Award Ceremonies.• Listening to…not just ‘talking at’…stakeholders.• Sharing of information…all information deemed ‘material’.• Effective sustainability reporting.

Dialoguing – Fundamentals

• Transparency.• Openness.• Honesty.• 3rd Party Interventions.

Main challenges and lessons learnt

• Time.

• Inexperience.

• Stakeholder buy-in.

• Keep it simple and flexible.

• Involve as many stakeholders as possible in the process.

• Tell it as it is.

• The importance and benefits of improved communication, particularly with employees and customers.

Conclusion

• Thank you all for listening

• Impahla Clothing would appreciate feedback on all matters relating to Sustainability Reporting.

• Please direct to william@impahla.co.za