SDG 8 Decent work and economic growth
The UN Sustainable Development Goal 8 is ‘Decent Work and Economic Growth’. The aim is to promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all. Read below about Kesko’s actions in contributing to the goal.
Globally:
- Kesko has completed a human rights impact assessment in compliance with UN’s Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights and published a human rights commitment on its website. Continuing the human rights assessment, Kesko and the Trade Union Solidarity Centre of Finland SASK studied the production chain of grapes in Brazil, South Africa and India in 2015-2017.
- Kesko requires that its personnel and business partners act in compliance with the K Code of Conduct operating principles.
- Kesko’s responsible sourcing is guided by Kesko’s purchasing principles and Principles and Practice of Socially Responsible Trading guide.
Locally:
- K Group (i.e. Kesko and K-stores) employs around 42,000 people in eight operating countries.
- The K Group has an operating model for the employment of special groups, such as young people, immigrants and disabled people.
- It is Kesko’s principle that taxes on operating income and assets are always paid to the relevant operating country in compliance with local laws and regulations.
- Around 80% of the products sold by K-food stores are of Finnish origin. Kesko promotes the share of local products in product selections. In 2017, K-retailers’ direct purchases from Finnish regions totalled €748 million.
- Kesko participates in many efforts to promote local origin and domestic food production: the Thank the Producer operating model, Local Food Dates and the K-Supermarkets’ ”Locally for You” campaign.