Sustainability - Route 5

Route 5: We act with integrity and value open communication

Route 5 embodies our commitment to upholding the highest standards of integrity and fostering a culture of transparent communication. We want to ensure that ethical principles guide our decisions and actions, both within the organization and in our interactions with external stakeholders.

Responsible Business Conduct

As a global industrial group, operating across diverse countries and cultural, legal, and regulatory landscapes, we place the highest priority on conducting business responsibly and ethically throughout the value chain.

From safeguarding human rights to ensuring strict legal compliance, we view due diligence as a critical measure to prevent negative impacts on people, the environment, society, and our own operations.

We are proud to embrace, support, and actively implement the 10 principles of the UN Global Compact, which encompass core values related to human rights, labor standards, environmental stewardship, and anti-corruption. We hold ourselves and all our business stakeholders to the same high standards of commitment and accountability.

Download and read our Responsible Business Statement, Code of
Conduct or Supplier Code of Conduct, our Human Rights assessement

Open communication

Open and engaged communication is one of the key paths within our sustainable roadmap. On one hand, because we are a Group with more than 4.500 employees in 19 countries, spread across dozens of sites. Some of these sites have been working for B.I.G. for decades while others have recently joined the family.

On the other hand, because we cannot achieve zero carbon footprint on our own.

So it is not only about our Group, but also about transparently

Our Sustainability Stories

Speak Up campaign

‘We act with integrity and value open communication’ is one of B.I.G.’s values.

Speaking up to raise an integrity concern as early as possible protects B.I.G. community: our company, our people and our stakeholders.

B.I.G. is committed to conducting its business in accordance with all applicable laws, rules and regulations and the highest ethical standards. This strong commitment is embodied in our Code of Business Conduct and Ethics and in our Anti-Bribery Compliance Policy.

Route 2030: ensuring a responsible supply chain

B.I.G. is on course to achieve a zero environmental footprint by 2030. That’s right, zero. To make this journey more tangible, we’d like to offer you a passenger’s seat from which you’ll be able to really get up close and immerse yourself in our various sustainability projects. In this edition: how we ensure that all of our suppliers and other business partners behave ethically and are committed to sustainability.

Sustainable or just marketing? Why false sustainability claims harm consumers and the planet

In a world where consumers are increasingly prioritizing sustainability, companies are under pressure to show their environmental commitment. But not all green claims are what they seem. Greenwashing—or falsely presenting products as eco-friendly or sustainable—poses a real threat, not only to consumer trust but to the entire movement toward a sustainable future. Nele Cattoor, Product Compliance and Regulatory Affairs Manager at Beaulieu, sheds light on the tactics used in greenwashing, how consumers can spot them, and what companies and governments can do to keep sustainability honest and impactful.

B.I.G. paves the way for a more sustainable industry at the annual sustainability forum

Beaulieu International Group (B.I.G.) hosted its Sustainability Forum: “Stepping Stones to a Sustainable Future” at the Experience Center in Wielsbeke. This event brought together partners, clients, and industry peers to discuss how collaboration can help the industry become a driving force behind a green transformation.

Sustainable development goals and living wages

Every B.I.G. employee earns above the living wage!

At B.I.G., fair pay isn’t just a principle — it’s a practice. In 2024, we added living wage checks to our global salary program, ensuring all employees earn enough to cover essentials and live with dignity.

We’re proud to say: every B.I.G. employee earns above the living wage, based on local benchmarks from the Wage Indicator Foundation. This check is now a yearly KPI to maintain our commitment to fair and responsible compensation.

“It is very rewarding to see that our consistent efforts to ensure fair and competitive global reward practices position our employees above local living wage thresholds.” – Ward Decock, Group Compensation & Benefits Manager

Responsible Procurement in Action: A sustainability score for our suppliers

Since 2021, B.I.G. has been assessing the sustainability maturity of its key suppliers through a clear and impactful scoring model. Our methodology looks at their sustainability strategies, GHG commitments, circularity, and responsible practices.
The result? Our average sustainability score improved from 34 in 2021 to 45 in 2024. A key driver of this progress: engagement. In 2024, we hosted a supplier webinar to share our purpose and approach — with 100+ participants and great feedback on the value of the session.

Impressive improvement in our EcoVadis score at Group level

We’re proud to announce that our Group’s EcoVadis score has risen to 67, a remarkable 17-point jump compared to last year, that places us in the top 17% of companies worldwide and earns us a Bronze Medal at group level.

In addition to the Gold Medals won by our divisions Beaulieu Fibres International and B.I.G. Yarns, and the Silver Medals awarded to Beauflor and BerryAlloc, our recent Group-level Bronze Medal further reaffirms our unwavering commitment to our Route 2030 journey.

Let’s shape sustainable living, together!