Corporate social responsibility principles, slightly more serious version.
Okay, you might have seen our corporate (ir)responsibility principles and not found them funny. While we do take social and environmental responsibility seriously, we also believe our communication has to be genuine and natural. The average corporate CSR page is usually stuffed with what's politely called bullshit, and we're allergic to it.
We take our responsibility to the environment and the communities we operate in seriously, and our commitment to doing the right thing is pretty solid. But we also believe in transparency and authenticity, and we think a straightforward, honest approach to CSR, without the extra horseshit, is the best way to actually have a positive impact.
We're committed to doing things right, and we're not interested in corporate "greenwashing" (other than our own satirical greenwashing campaign) or any other misleading advertising. Our approach is based on openness and authenticity, and we believe a direct approach to corporate social responsibility is the best way to make a positive difference in the communities we operate in.
Environmental responsibility
At Valco we're committed to shrinking our environmental footprint. Our goal is for every product we sell to be repairable in the future, and we're already minimising electronic waste by repairing faulty headphones instead of swapping them for new ones and binning the broken pair. We also take part in the Finnish and European battery recycling schemes and use as little packaging material as possible, since we ship our headphones in a practical transport package. We also push our factory to use renewable energy sources and pay attention to our sourcing practices to make sure materials and components are obtained in an environmentally responsible way.
Community involvement
At Valco we're committed to supporting the communities we operate in. As a tongue-in-cheek "greenwashing joke" we plant a tree for every pair of headphones sold, but it's also a genuine effort to support the environment. Going forward, we at Valco plan to have more products made in Finland and to keep a closer eye on the whole supply chain, with the aim of becoming a carbon-neutral company. Unofficially we probably already are, since our own electricity use is largely renewable-based (to the extent we use any at all).
Transparency and accountability
At Valco we're committed to being transparent and accountable in how we operate. We regularly publish information about our company and the way we do things in our customer newsletter, and we talk openly about our efforts around sustainability, ethical business practices and transparency.
Stakeholder engagement
At Valco we're committed to engaging with stakeholders like customers and employees, understanding their concerns and gathering feedback on our CSR work. We're committed to being genuine and personal in our communication, and we're not afraid to take serious things lightly. Third-party consultants have audited our factories on corporate social responsibility, and they hold Amfori BSCI certification, among others. Beyond our own employees, we also take social responsibility for our suppliers and business partners.
Conclusion
In summary, Valco is a company committed to corporate social responsibility. By repairing all faulty headphones instead of replacing them, cutting waste with minimal packaging and taking part in battery recycling schemes, we're setting a positive example for others in our industry. Our commitment to sustainability, ethical business practices and transparency helps us have a positive impact on the communities we operate in.