QSO 7-2 Project Submission Assignment essay paper

QSO 321 Project Preassessment Evaluation Summary

Based on an QSO 7-2 Project Submission Assignment evaluation of the organization’s current state and recent initiatives, the areas listed below have been identified as being in need of improvement based on the triple-bottom-line framework and B Corp Certification requirements.

Governance  A more formal structure or stakeholder group is needed to review social and environmental

performance regularly and accurately. Workers

 Employee pay is low, both for hourly and salaried employees.  Attrition rates are high, resulting in a QSO 7-2 Project Submission Assignment significant loss of company resources.  Employees lack the autonomy to shut down unsafe practices and processes.  Required trainings are frequent, but professional development for growth is very limited in both

opportunities and funding. Community

 The organization needs to regularly screen and evaluate suppliers for social and environmental impact, not just when an initial partnership is begun.

 The majority of materials used to grow, manufacture,QSO 7-2 Project Submission Assignment ship, and sell the tea are not locally sourced.

Environment  Although some supplying farms do have some sustainable practices in place, not all facilities and

practices are designed to restore or preserve the environment.

 Most energy sources, especially energy sources for domestic locations, are not renewable.  The organization has not conducted any kind of environmental assessment since 2010, and that

assessment was only conducted to identify areas of opportunity,QSO 7-2 Project Submission Assignment  not for certification.

 Cost and time are prioritized in shipping, resulting in the inefficient use of transportation and a high carbon footprint.

Customers  Quality control is conducted randomly, but isn’t an ingrained part of the workflow process.  There are no product guarantees available to customers.  Customer feedback is primarily collected through online reviews of purchased products or sales

locations, rather than customer surveys.

The following areas have been identified as being strengths of the organization based on the TBL framework and B QSO 7-2 Project Submission Assignment Corp Certification requirements:

Governance  The organization’s mission, vision, code of ethics, and culture statement strongly support

sustainable, ethical practices.

 The organization has identified key goals and metrics to monitor and evaluate sustainable business practices.

Workers  Employees are very content with benefits.  Job-related training is thorough and frequent.  There are established employee feedback programs with high rates of engagement.

Community  The organization is very diverse in its workforce, and employees report feeling safe and

respected at work.

 There are clear, measurable goals to continue growing diversityQSO 7-2 Project Submission Assignment and inclusion throughout the organization.

 The organization has set key requirements for its outsourced workforce, although regular evaluations are lacking.

 The organization provides incentives and sets goals for suppliers regarding socially responsible and environmentally friendly business practices.

Environment  The supply chain has been evaluated by a reputable third-party company.  Environmentally sustainable water conservation and treatment practices are a strength of the

organization and its suppliers, also benefiting many of the rural communities’ surrounding farms and manufacturing facilities.

 Packaging is recyclable and minimal, despite frequent requests to change it to a shiny foil packaging.

Customers  The mission, vision, and culture of NationaliTeas supports making high-quality, sustainable

products accessible to customers.

Governance Preassessment Criteria Met/Not Yet Met Notes

Organization’s mission, vision, and culture lend themselves to creating positive social or environmental change

Met Mission Statement: Make the world more awake through rejuvenating and refreshing beverages and sustainable practices that uplift workers, communities, and souls.

Vision Statement: To be the most respected tea manufacturer across at least three continents for our tea and our actions, which will be driven by a commitment ethical sourcing, minimal waste, and empowerment of our employees.

Core values and company culture are also all in alignment with encouraging and supporting positive change and sustainability.

Governance structure encourages regular review of social and environmental performance and impact of the organization

Not yet met The board of directors, executive council, and management all meet regularly; however, social and environmental performance are rarely discussed. There are many internal committees; maybe creating a new one dedicated to this cause would be helpful?

Preassessment Criteria Met/Not Yet Met Notes Organization has clearly identified goals and metrics used to measure and manage social and environmental issues relevant to business operations

Met Goals related to water and energy conservation, equitable access to products, and improving the workplace culture are established, with processes and plans in place to improve and track qualitative and quantitative metrics.

Organization’s code of ethics clearly identifies expectations around behavioral expectations, bribery, corruption, and political affiliations

Met The code of ethics is clear, comprehensive, and incorporated into the company’s culture.

Workers Preassessment Criteria Met/Not Yet Met Notes

Majority of employees are paid according to a fixed salary

Met 70% of employees are salaried. This excludes employees of suppliers and manufacturing facilities, which are separately owned and operated. Most hourly employees work in customer-facing positions or maintenance.

Employees are offered professional development opportunities to learn and grow

Not yet met Employees have required trainings that are essential for their job roles; however, training to learn and grow new skills or deepen existing knowledge is limited. Employees are provided $100 for professional development funds each year to complete external training, but it doesn’t cover much, and the process to acquire the funds is extensive.

Lowest-paid employees make more than federal minimum wage

Not yet met Hourly employees start at federal minimum wage. Raises can be earned after 90 days of employment in $.25 increments.

Full-time, tenured workers are offered company match for retirement contributions

Met A 5 % match is offered on retirement contributions after two years of full-time employment.

All full-time workers are offered health insurance

Met All full-time workers are offered health insurance. Employees feel their health insurance coverage is pretty good—often better than other places they have worked.

Health and wellness initiatives and policies are offered beyond health insurance-provided programs

Met Health and wellness programs are offered, such as gym reimbursements; significant discounts on health trackers; financial incentives for healthy eating, activity, and weight-loss goal completion; and discounts on wellness services not covered by insurance.

Preassessment Criteria Met/Not Yet Met Notes Employees in nonmanagement positions have written permission to shut down unsafe processes

Not yet met Nonmanagement positions do not have written authority; however, they have been verbally told they can do this.

Workers in manufacturing facilities who are employed through manufacturing partners (not NationaliTeas) have reported that a new emphasis on lean methodologies has resulted in increased safety risks to workers, who are afraid they will get into trouble for stopping production.

Hazardous materials are handled appropriately to ensure employee health and safety

Met Hazardous materials are carefully handled and monitored for the health and safety of employees and customers.

Employees have sufficient training to perform their jobs safely and effectively (i.e., employee onboarding, ongoing core job responsibility training, cross-skills and career advancement training, etc.)

Met Training is thorough and frequent, and provided based on critical job responsibilities; however, it is only frequent for those in nonleadership roles, leaving leadership with little understanding of day-to-day workings.

Organization regularly evaluates worker satisfaction and engagement

Met Surveys, performance evaluations, check-ins, and other forms of formal and informal feedback are regularly used. Anonymous workplace surveys for feedback are sent out once a month and are reviewed by managers and the executive council.

Organization has low attrition rates for employees

Not yet met There is a significant amount of employee turnover. Most employees will stay for an average of two to three years before leaving the organization, often after completing a variety of professional trainings that help them get more advanced roles or higher pay elsewhere. Common reasons for leaving are low pay, lack of autonomy, and lack of promotion opportunities.

Employees are paid fairly for their skills and expertise

Not yet met In a recent compensation study for the organization, it was found that employees are paid, on average, 10% less than those in similar roles at similar institutions. While additional self-directed professional development is encouraged, it does not lead to any kind of additional compensation. Raises are given only when employees earn exceptional ratings across all evaluative criteria on their annual review.

Community Preassessment Criteria Met/Not Yet Met Notes

Organization has specific, measurable goals to improve diversity and inclusion across the organization

Met The organization has clear goals and commitments to strengthen diversity across the organization, which are accompanied by plans and committed resources to achieve these goals.

Organization regularly screens and evaluates significant suppliers and support services for social and environmental impact

Not yet met Suppliers and support services are screened when initially being considered for partnerships, but they are not regularly evaluated.

At least 40% of managers or leaders identify as female

Met 43% of managers or leaders identify as female. The board of directors and executive council are very diverse in both gender and ethnicity.

Organization has clear goal targets and initiatives in place for purchasing local materials

Not yet met As a large organization whose operations span North America, Africa, and Asia, NationaliTeas makes many nonlocal purchases to cut costs and use one supplier for items across the organization. No goals or initiatives are in place, but the board of directors is open to ideas to incorporate local materials where they can.

Organization takes part in civic engagement opportunities, such as donations, to nonpolitical causes, partnerships with charitable organizations, volunteering, or pro bono services

Met Employees are provided time to volunteer with local organizations and opportunities, and the organization regularly contributes to national charitable organizations and causes. Each month, 10% of the revenue from purchases of one flavor of tea is donated to a charitable cause.

Organization has set requirements regarding labor practices of outsourced staffing that are regularly evaluated, including the following: compliance with local laws and regulations; compliance with human rights and labor standards; payment of a living wage

Not yet met NationaliTeas encourages the ethical treatment of outsourced staff, which impacts their manufacturing and agricultural suppliers, but it does not set requirements. Financial incentives for meeting recommended goals are provided, but regular evaluations are not conducted.

Organization encourages suppliers to improve social and environmental performance

Met Financial incentives for meeting recommended goals are provided.

Environment Preassessment Criteria Met/Not Yet Met Notes

Organization’s products and processes are structured to restore or preserve the environment through agricultural or manufacturing processes designed to reduce environmental impact in comparison to typical industry practices

Not yet met The organization’s processes are not any more environmentally friendly than typical industry practices. Occasional efforts are made to strengthen sustainability efforts in individual locations (i.e., a recycling program was instituted at the Denver office), but they are rarely implemented across the organization. When suppliers for tea are chosen or manufacturing partnerships are begun, an assessment is done, and environmentally friendly practices are a consideration, but they are not a driving factor, nor are assessments a regular event.

60% or more of facilities, both owned or leased, are able to meet the requirements of an accredited green building program (e.g. LEED, Green Building Initiative, or Greenstar)

Not yet met Some locations have various environmentally friendly infrastructures or initiatives (e.g., solar panels, energy- efficient machinery, and water conservation initiatives), especially offices in California and Colorado; however, the board of directors has not allocated resources or prioritized seeking certifications or recognitions for green building programs.

Organization has an environmental management system (EMS) that includes policies, regular monitoring, stated objectives, and resourced programs to support sustainable waste disposal, energy and water usage, and carbon emissions

Not yet met There are annual reports sent out to stakeholders that briefly note metrics such as percentage of power coming from renewable resources or gallons of water conserved, but there are no official systems, policies, or objectives in place to address these items.

Organization has conducted footprint assessments of the value and supply chain by an accredited third-party company

Met Assessments were conducted in 2020, and a few changes regarding reducing packaging and optimizing shipping methods were recommended.

Organization’s energy comes from at least 50% renewable sources (e.g., solar, wind, or hydropower)

Not yet met As noted above, some locations do use renewable resources for power, but not nearly 50%.

Preassessment Criteria Met/Not Yet Met Notes Organization uses practices designed to reduce carbon emissions from transportation, such as use of the lowest-impact delivery methods, use of low-emission vehicles, strategic planning of transportation routes, etc.

Not yet met Shipping methods, in both delivery vehicles used and planning of logistics, are not planned to reduce carbon emissions. Currently, diesel-truck and airplane transport are used most frequently, as these methods have been found to be speedy and reliable, although also costly.

Majority of supplier farms have established water conservation practices such as harvesting rainwater, drip technology, hydroponics, etc.

Met Most of the tea farms use water conservation practices that are rather advanced and very efficient. Ten years ago, a large financial incentive was offered to tea suppliers to implement water conservation practices, along with some helpful research NationaliTeas had done on practices most appropriate for the region each farm was located in. Most farms implemented the recommended practices, which have also helped tea production.

Organization regularly assesses water content, release of wastewater, and water conservation practices across supplier, manufacturing, and office spaces

Met NationaliTeas does regular testing and assessments regarding water conservation and wastewater, as the product can be easily damaged by poor water treatments, and the communities where tea leaves are grown and processed can be significantly impacted by improper wastewater practices.

Organization has a company-wide recovery and recycling program that includes paper, cardboard, plastic, glass, and metal

Not yet met Many individual locations have various recycling programs, but there is not a company-wide program. In the past, office and sales locations that have instituted successful recycling programs have been rewarded with an extra day of paid time off for employees on Earth Day.

Packaging is recyclable, nontoxic, and limited in use to ensure a low environmental impact

Met Tea satchels, tins, and additional packaging are all recyclable. Some stakeholders wish to move to a shiny, foil-like packaging that is not recyclable but is less expensive and “looks pretty,” but this change has been voted down repeatedly.

Organization tracks and monitors chemicals used in the supply chain

Met Chemicals, both hazardous and safe, are tracked closely to monitor proper use, disposal, and cost.

Customers Preassessment Criteria Met/Not Yet Met Notes

Products or services address a social or economic problem for or through customers

Met NationaliTeas is dedicated to making delicious, high- quality products accessible to everyone, not just those who can pay a premium.

Preassessment Criteria Met/Not Yet Met Notes Organization creates customer stewardship through product guarantees, quality control, monitoring customer satisfaction, ethical marketing, etc.

Not yet met Quality control, customer satisfaction, and product guarantees have been discussed at length, but little has been done to dedicate resources to addressing these gaps because the company has been generally successful. Board members who repeatedly vote down these kinds of suggestions claim that things are fine as they are, so why pay money to change them?

Organization has programs and processes to regularly solicit customer testing and feedback

Not yet met When new flavors of tea are created, storefronts will solicit customer feedback through free samples; however, not all locations offer these opportunities. Customer feedback is primarily collected through free online review sites such as Google or Amazon.