Accessibility: make our website look the way you want

Quick Search

Keywords:

CORPORATE & SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

General

Our Guiding Principles

“D&A does business in a responsible way and we encourage colleagues to take an active role in supporting good causes”.

We have been providing Eyecare services and products in the UK for over 250 years, based around a reputation for providing a personal service in a Professional, Friendly and Caring way.

We consider CSR Management to be beneficial not only in creating value for Stakeholders but also in attracting customers and attracting and retaining colleagues.

We contribute at least 1% pre-tax profit for community investment every year

1. Community
We will improve the eye care provision to disadvantaged communities;
- internationally
- nationally
- locally (Birmingham)

2. Environment
Specifically, we will look to manage our activities in order to minimise our Environmental impact and promote the adoption of Environmental best practice into all our business processes.
We will take all reasonable steps to promote the adoption of an environmentally caring approach to the business and personal life of our colleagues, customers and supply partners.
We will encourage colleagues to take personal responsibility in tackling climate change.
We have assessed how our business affects the Environment and have developed four priority areas which are:
- Energy – We will reduce Carbon Emissions from the energy use in our buildings and transport (including refitted stores)
- Waste – We will minimise the production of waste materials through the approach of Reduce/Re-use/Recycle
- Supply Chain – We will endeavour to reduce the Carbon emissions associated with the manufacturing and transportation of goods
- Communication – We will encourage our colleagues, customers and supply partners to adopt an ‘environmentally friendly’ approach to their everyday lives

3. Workplace
We will support our colleagues by providing at work training to improve their literacy and numeracy skills.
We will encourage our colleagues to be good employees at work by taking personal responsibility for using D&A’s resources responsibly.
We will reflect the diversity of our customers by welcoming diversity in our own workplace and providing equal opportunity for all.

4. Marketplace
We will work actively with our suppliers to ensure the responsible sourcing and production of all merchandise and products used within or sold by the Company.

CSR Management

At D&A we have always taken our responsibilities seriously be it to our customers, our colleagues, our partners or our suppliers. Adopting a responsible way to how we do business underpins our values of being Professional, Friendly & Caring.

A Corporate and Social Responsibility Committee (CSR) was set up in 2006.

This is chaired by the HR Directorand will consist of the following;

COMMUNITY
Representative from Marketing Department

WORKPLACE
Representative from HR Department

ENVIRONMENT
Representative from Property and Finance Departments

MARKETPLACE
Representative from Product Department

Secretary – PA to HR Director
This consists of a sub group of DAL Directors supported by relevant Senior Executives

The overall role of the committee is;

- To develop the CSR strategy, obtain its agreement with the DAL Board and monitor its implementation
- To ensure the implementation of the Guiding Principles and Annual Goals
- Ensure the integration of social, ethical and environmental issues into our everyday activity
- Formally brief the full Board annually on activities and progress
- Ensure all colleagues in the Company are appropriately briefed and engaged in the CSR agenda
- Ensure all customers, suppliers and potential colleagues are made aware of our CSR agenda through appropriate communication (including the website)

Our 2008 Measures of Success

Marketplace
- Commence the self audit of key suppliers
- Increase the number of glasses donated to VAO
- Source more products from recycled materials (e.g. cases)
- Source more non optical products from eco-friendly material (e.g. Fair Trade origin, recycled material, recyclable items)

Workplace
- Increase the Number of colleagues and the amount raised through payroll giving to the charities of their choice
- Actively support the national ‘Skills for Life Scheme’ and increase the number of colleagues gaining NVQ level 2 and 3 apprenticeships
- Monitor the diversity of colleagues with D&A
- Increase the active engagement of colleagues and increase the number of colleagues personally taking responsibility for the CSR agenda

Community
- Increase the active involvement in our volunteering programme locally (QAC – house refurbishment), Nationally (Reading Scheme) and Internationally (Addis Ababa – Hospital)
- Distribute more than 50,000 used glasses in the developing world
- Actively, through our branch network help / assist more SeeAbility customers

Environment
- Measure our basic Carbon Footprint (energy and business travel) and start to reduce it
- Take specific actions to reduce our CF (including lighting times in branches, sensor light switches, Smart Metering technology, company car scheme, car sharing, using public transport etc)
- Introduce a baler at the DC to recycle waste material and investigate how to improve recycling waste in the branch network
- Reduce the usage of consumables (e.g. paper, plastic bags, chemicals)

---

Vision Aid Overseas is registered charity (in England) no. 1081695

Accessibility

You are currently viewing this page without a stylesheet. The following options to change font-sizes and themes ONLY work when viewing this site with style-sheeting enabled.

• 
• 
• 

Select a stylesheet:

• 
• 
• 

---