Putting Sustainability at the Heart of Company Strategy: Case Study of Group Roger Wickler

by Renaud Richard, TNS France

The Group Roger Wickler recognized both the urgency and the opportunity of transforming into an organization with sustainability at its heart. As a company with multiple organizations and plants, working in two languages in three countries, they looked to The Natural Step to develop a coherent vision of sustainable development. My colleague Stephan Kinsch of Bebop contacted TNS France about a year ago, saying he had identified a client that would be ideal for a process that combines organizational change expertise with strategic sustainable development. We submitted a proposal, and Stephan and I were brought in to facilitate.

The Group Roger Wickler is composed of four companies of 15 to 70 employees--based in Luxembourg, Belgium and Germany-- working in natural stone, ceramic tile, wood flooring, and road construction. In the course of four meetings over a period of six months, along with committee work in the interim, the Group’s four objectives were met:
1.    A shared understanding of sustainability
2.    A sustainable vision for each company
3.    A baseline analysis of the current status for company vis-à-vis this sustainable vision
4.    Financially sustainable actions to fuel next steps

TNS’ methods of stakeholder employee engagement led to the discovery of new talents within the group and to a more inclusive sense of ownership in the company’s progress. At the end, it was recognized that:
•    Controversial issues were tackled in a constructive manner
•    Initial actions (e.g., recycling) were put in place
•    A vision and action plan were created and implemented.

Participant feedback was positive, with many staff noting sharing with each other the applications of the sustainable development model to their personal as well as professional lives:
“I realize that we need to act, and quickly—and now I know how”
“I am applying the four principles of sustainable development in my daily life more than I could have imagined.”
“We are able to prepare for coming trends…and there is much to be done.”
“The group dynamic is completely changed…we know our colleagues in a different, better way.”

The Group recognized that this process is a first step, with much left to do. Group President Roger Wickler notes:
“I’ve been pleasantly surprised by the collaboration in the groups. And the work has reached much further than what I had imagined.”

Note: A case study is available in French and German.
Please contact The Natural Step France contact@tns-france.org