Materiality assessment

Hansel’s corporate responsibility efforts and the related communications are based on a materiality matrix, which provides guidance in the application of the GRI Standards to the company’s reports. A materiality assessment determines the topics that are to be covered in the corporate responsibility report.

The responsibility themes presented in the corporate responsibility report have been assessed in the materiality matrix with regard to their impact on the activities of the company and its stakeholders. This allows Hansel to focus on reporting the key themes within corporate responsibility. Although generating savings for the Government has not been specifically highlighted among our stakeholders, it is considered to be the most important area of our core business.

Several elements affect the content of the matrix. The United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), trends in our operating environment, Hansel’s strategy and values and the measures arising from them have been taken into account. Government guidelines and resolutions on Hansel have also affected the content of the matrix. The results of customer, supplier and employee satisfaction surveys, reports prepared by the Corporate Responsibility Team and feedback from customers and suppliers have also been taken into consideration.

The materiality matrix was significantly revised in autumn 2016 on the basis of a stakeholder survey. The revised matrix highlights Hansel’s important role in promoting responsibility in the procurement process. In addition, national key projects, such as the Handi programme, influenced the definition of materiality. The materiality matrix was discussed by the Corporate Responsibility Team and approved by the Executive Committee. The materiality matrix was updated again in 2018, because the operating environment had already changed.

Transparency, prevention of corruption and the black economy, which were previously separately processed, were combined into a single whole called Transparency and prevention of economic abuse. Basic employee rights, monitoring, oversight, the circular economy and cleantech were brought together under the heading of Responsibility in joint procurement. A motivating working community and new work are now the priority Good work community. The final changed sectors are the sharing of expertise and stakeholder cooperation, which are now jointly reported under the theme Sharing expertise. The other materiality factors have not changed.

The change was made because the financial responsibility factors share the same management practices, the three different responsibility perspectives are more strongly linked to tendering and position of the new working methods has been established. The materiality assessment will be repeated in 2019 once the merger of Hansel and KL-Kuntahankinnat has been completed and the operating environment has changed.

The topics presented in the materiality matrix have been linked to responsibility themes by using colour codes. By clicking on the different areas of the materiality matrix, you will be able to read how the responsibility themes are visible in everyday operations at Hansel.

Transparency and prevention
of economic abuse »

Utilisation of
digitalisation »

Innovative
procurement »

Functionality
of market »

Sharing
expertise »

Influencing
regulation »

Savings for
the government »

Data security »

Responsibility in
central procurement »

Good work
community »

Social responsibility

Financial responsibility

Environmental

Effects in several areas

Hansel treats all suppliers absolutely equally and always follows its Code of Ethics. We closely cooperate with our partners to prevent the black economy and offer information on public procurement to promote the transparency of administration.

Hansel aims at promoting efficient and modern operating methods. In the central government procurement digitalisation programme Handi, we are responsible for the development of operating methods and systems “from need to order”.

Innovative procurement aims for new kinds of final results. This can mean new, innovative procurement procedures, within the limits allowed by the Act on Public Contracts. The goal can be achieved by, for example, purchasing product development, prototypes or existing innovations. Utilising the expertise available on the market and striving for a final result of a high quality that is better or more effective than before are the keys.

Hansel’s operating models support functionality of the markets. For us, genuine healthy competition and smaller companies also having the opportunity to become a supplier for the government are important.

Hansel strongly invests in the development and sharing of expertise. We arrange stakeholder events on public procurement and our employees provide training at a variety of forums. We aim for responsible public procurement of a high quality and the sharing of good practices.

Hansel’s business operations are strongly regulated. We cooperate with parties preparing public procurement legislation and decision-makers. We actively monitor legal praxis related to procurement and consider any changes therein in our business operations.

Hansel’s task is increasing the productivity of public administration by performing joint procurement processes and developing procurement expertise. This saves state funds and has major social effects.

Data security refers to verifying the confidentiality, integrity and availability of information. Data security is part of good business practices and part of a company’s risk management.

Hansel promotes the quality and responsibility of procurement. We monitor responsibility in joint procurement and assist our customers in responsible procurement. We take into account financial, environmental and social responsibility.

Hansel is a growing company that invests in the wellbeing of its personnel. We support competence development and offer our employees good fringe benefits. We use modern tools and working methods, as well as flexible remote work practices.

Stakeholders

Cooperation with various stakeholders is continuous. Stakeholder surveys have long traditions at Hansel. The table was originally prepared in a workshop for the Executive Committee, to be used as support in customer work. Later, its use was expanded to the development of all business operations. The stakeholder analysis is discussed by the Executive Committee once a year, and the network is updated as needed.

Analysis of the major stakeholders with whom Hansel regularly works