Inspiring sustainable business: Unilever and Royal HaskoningDHV Issue 1 Connect Foreword 3 Unilever's growth model 4 Sustainable business is good business 6 Combatting coastal erosion with oysters in Bangladesh 8 'Life beyond our rivers' in South Africa 10 Green light for Riyadh’s city transport network 14 Sustainable land development in Bhopal 16 Going for growth – accelerating Brazil's infrastructure programme 18 State-of-the-art container terminal for Port Said East 22 LNG provides a powerful solution in India 24 Netherlands’ first road rail tunnel improves safety overnight 26 The growing appeal of anaerobic digestion 28 New industrial coastal zone set to boost Cameroon's economy 30 Contents 2 Connect | Royal HaskoningDHV Foreword One year on from the merger which created Royal HaskoningDHV, it is inspiring to reflect on the creativity and innovation generated through the process of two historic organisations coming together. In this issue of Connect we describe some of the results of the pioneering work we continue to produce for our clients and in the integrated vision we have developed for our business with regard to people, planet and profit. One of the most rewarding aspects of our merger was the opportunity to crystallise the guiding mission of the new organisation. What grew from this was a commitment to delivering added value for our clients whilst collaborating with them to create meaningful solutions for a more sustainable society. We intend to enhance society together, through our work for clients, through our own operations and through our engagement with local communities, sharing our knowledge and expertise. The notion of partnership is vital because we believe that these solutions can no longer be created without collaboration from our partners, clients and other stakeholders. This is a theme echoed in comments by Paul Polman, CEO of Unilever, in the article on page four about how Unilever is leading the way in combining sustainability with business success. This has taken place against an economic climate which remains challenging, particularly in Europe and North America. Yet these challenges provide opportunities. We have continued to win major projects and to push boundaries forward in the schemes we present to our clients. In particular, we remain responsive to the need for economically viable, sustainable solutions achieved through innovations and creative use of new techniques and materials. We are proud of our achievements over the past 12 months, which is the start of an ambitious and challenging journey. We hope it is one all our clients and partners will be happy to join as collectively we commit to enhancing society together. Bertrand van Ee (Chair) Royal HaskoningDHV | Connect 3 CLIENT INTERVIEW Having proved that a sustainable, equitable business model can be both financially rewarding and good for the planet, Paul Polman at Unilever is calling Inspiring, differentiated, sustainable: differentiated, Inspiring, UNILEVER’S MODEL GROWTH for deeper collaboration and partnerships to achieve real transformation. 4 Connect | Royal HaskoningDHV to enrol others. “Even if Unilever hits the which they exist – especially when they stretching targets we’ve set – and we are threaten their very own long-term future? well on our way – if not many others follow, Contributing to a more sustainable and we will still have failed society,” he explains. equitable world will reduce risk, lower cost, When Unilever launched energise the workforce and provide new its sustainable living plan The company is seeking to lead by opportunities for growth.” prevailing wisdom might example and to use its scale and reach have considered the ambitions for added impact. It is also working Unilever is blazing a trail and to be paradoxical. On one side with broader industry groups, NGOs demonstrating the benefits for the the company committed to halve and governments to drive change. “I business – the ideal scenario to encourage the environmental footprint of its think we have moved from a position of a following. products, help more than 1 billion people what some might describe as ‘mutual improve their health and source 100% of suspicion’ between business and the its agricultural raw materials sustainably. NGO community to one where everyone THE FACTS On the other it sought to double the size increasingly recognises the strengths of Unilever is one of the world’s largest of its business. others. Governments can act as enablers, consumer goods companies with a business can bring extended supply chains portfolio ranging from nutritionally The brilliance of the move by CEO Paul together, NGOs have the expertise on the balanced foods to indulgent ice creams, Polman lay not only in its audaciousness ground to make initiatives work,” he says. affordable soaps, luxurious shampoos but in the clear-sighted vision which and everyday household products. It connected business success with “I’ve seen the success in India where owns more than 400 brands, including sustainable growth. “We are proving Unilever’s Lifebuoy brand has worked Ben and Jerry’s, Dove, Hellmann’s, that it is possible to change the business with the government of Tamil Nadu to Lipton and Radox. Headquartered in model away from serving short-term promote handwashing and help reduce the United Kingdom (UK) and the interest and towards one driven by incidence of diarrhoea. I’ve seen it in action Netherlands and with operations sustainable, equitable growth that in Kenya where Lipton has worked with the spanning the globe, Unilever’s products recognises businesses have to play a Rainforest Alliance to bring certification to are sold in more than 190 countries. positive role in the societies in which they thousands of smallholders. I’ve seen it in operate,” he says. “Unilever is showing Vietnam where Signal and Mentadent have Royal HaskoningDHV has a long that this can be done while at the same worked with the World Dental Federation association with Unilever, having time being profitable and rewarding for to improve dental health,” he adds. worked with the company on a shareholders.” range of projects over many years. Paul’s hope is that, through witnessing These include the design, project Unilever’s position at the forefront of the successes, more individuals and and construction management of corporate sustainability movement creates businesses will want to get involved. “If factory projects in Vietnam, a full challenges of its own, not least that some businesses see examples of successful range of consultancy services for the targets require customers to change their partnerships in action, why would they not construction of a cold storage unit in behaviour. This is happening, says Paul, want to contribute to solving problems the UK, and the master planning of a but not fast enough. Vital too is the need that threaten the societies within new cosmetics factory in Indonesia. Royal HaskoningDHV | Connect 5 There is an urgent need for innovative, sustainable solutions to the diverse challenges facing our world. Change is achievable, but is not happening with sufficient vigour and scale. OPINION Royal HaskoningDHV is committed to accelerate and add substance to the creation of a more sustainable society working together with our clients and stakeholders. From a global perspective, the world At Royal HaskoningDHV we have made solutions just won’t deliver so our long- is changing fast. Population growth, our commitment to sustainability explicit standing commitment to innovation and increasing demand for finite and through our desire to enhance society creativity is more important than ever. contentious resources, climate change together. “In each market in which we Matched with our ability to understand and environmental and social issues operate, be it cities, water, transport the issues from our clients’ perspective, all demand new ways of thinking and or industry, the need for sustainable our engineers and consultants are able to innovative solutions. The challenge is how solutions, transitions and system changes develop attractive, affordable, sustainable to meet current needs for prosperity while is evident. We can contribute to their solutions. also creating a ‘future-proof’ society. creation,” says Marjolein Demmers, Director Corporate Responsibility. “Our "Within our own organisation we are At Royal HaskoningDHV we believe the corporate responsibility agenda is broad in moving towards sustainable operations expertise and innovation is available to scope and ambition. It places sustainability and reducing our carbon footprint. We create positive and lasting change. We at the heart of everything that we do in are also identifying where we can use our also believe that business has a critical the best long-term interests of our clients. knowledge to give back to society, donating role to play. A prominent report for the UK not only money but our time and expertise, government concluded that investment "We are already working with some clients particularly in the field of education. in change offered the best return for to mitigate social and environmental business. uncertainties where they are an urgent “As one of the world’s largest independent daily reality for them. These projects engineering consultancies involved with International research is indicating that illustrate that change is possible in new, projects for our clients across the globe, sustainability is increasingly important affordable ways. Now we intend to define we have the opportunity and the expertise in attracting and managing talent. benefits in our work for every client. to help our clients to become part of the Furthermore, organisations like Unilever solution to these major global challenges,” (featured on page four) are showing that “It is through integrating new ideas and Marjolein explains. “We intend to build the a sustainable business model makes good sustainability within our international much-needed momentum and critical mass business sense, bringing real benefits to engineering projects that we can create by sharing our experience and creating the bottom line. the greatest impact,” says Marjolein.