Corporate Sustainability

Corporate Sustainability

Environmental policy

Our environmental Policy ensures that Atlas International Movers will always strive to do business in such a way as to show full respect to the environment and respect of the workforce, the clients and other stakeholders worldwide. We are committed to providing our quality service in a manner that ensures a safe and healthy workplace for our employees and minimizes our potential impact on the environment.

Our Mission-Statement:

At Atlas International Movers we truly believe that focus on the environment provides a significant contribution to reduce the carbon footprint of ourselves and our customers which will benefit our planet. We actively seek to minimize and manage the environmental impact of our operations and offerings. Our purpose:

Integrate environmental management into our everyday operations.
Improve our environmental efficiency.
Help our customers to reduce their carbon footprint through the use of our services and our supply chain.

Application:

Our policy applies to all our employees, our supply chain, our contractors, visitors, consultants and any other person who is notified that our company policy complies to them.All the above are made aware that our environmental policy is part of our business ethics and their responsibility to ensure a reduction of our communities’ carbon footprint and to ensure our planet is a clean and safe place to live for many more generations. We realize that we can only make a meaningful impact if our supply chain partners have an environmental policy implemented, therefore we work as much as possible with Fidi partners across the globe coving those areas.

The management of Atlas International Movers is keen to know what our environmental footprint is as we are committed to sustainable management. Our focus is based on but not limited to:

Usage of energy/emission fuel, electricity and water
The purchase of trucks, vans and supporting equipment like outside elevators and containers.
Environmental objectives reviewed annually and adjusted as required.
Communication about the environment for internal and external stakeholders.

Where do we make an impact:

Purchasing of recycled packing materials only
Used packing materials are sorted before collection to ensure recycling.
Crates, pallets and lift vans are all reused.
We only purchase used wooden storage boxes.
Fleet is mainly Euro 6 certified.
Planning department ensures most effective routes to deliver and collect combined shipments across Europe or co-load with other parties to reduce emission. We increase our radius by driving less kilometres
Stick to the speed limits to avoid waste of fuel and ensure repairs are done timely.
File management is fully paperless.
Office lighting is fully led light.
The company gets its energy entirely from solar energy.
Office staff can work from home to reduce office travel.
Virtual surveys to reduce travel to potential clients.

Our Goal:

Within the next 2 years we are looking at becoming ISO-14001 certified as it sets out the criteria for an environmental management system which we would like to have certified.
Promote environmental awareness among our employees and encourage them to work in an environmentally responsible manner and with our partners we encourage the exchange of files and documents in a paperless way.
All waste is disposed of in environmentally friendly ways whereby we diligently separate items according to their category.
Operate and maintain company vehicles with due regard to environmental issues as far as reasonably practical.
Avoid and possibly eliminate unnecessary use of hazardous materials and products, seek substitutions when feasible and take all reasonable steps to protect human health and the environment when such materials must be used, stored and disposed of.
Strive to continually improve our environmental performance and minimize the social impact and damage of activities by periodically reviewing our environmental policy in light of our current and planned future activities.

Social Responsibility Policy / code of conduct
For us at Atlas International Movers we would like to promote the health, safety and wellbeing of our employees, customers and communities.

Who we are and what we do?
Atlas International Movers, a 100% fully independent international moving company headquartered out of Amsterdam, The Netherlands with a branch office in Zurich, Switzerland. We provide international moving services directly to our corporate clients, to relocation companies who have embedded us in their supply chain, to private individuals who relocate for their job or have decided to emigrate elsewhere for whichever reason. Besides international moving services we provide local moving services to existing clients and office moving services for small projects up to 100 working spaces. We expect from our suppliers, agents, and subcontractors the same approach and full respect to our role and duties in growing a sustainable business.

Our mission at Atlas International Movers is to be the supplier of choice for our customers by offering high quality moving services, outperforming our competition, and sticking to our core business.

Atlas International Movers is focused on maximizing our return on assets employed to deliver sustainable earnings growth. We value our people and are committed to operating ethically and with full regard for our environmental and social responsibilities.

Compliance
Compliance with applicable laws, rules and regulations is the basis of everything we do. At Atlas International Movers we do not accept anybody from our staff, our global partners, and suppliers to work outside of applicable law, rules, and regulations.

Health, Safety and wellbeing

In order to remain competitive, at Atlas International Movers we believe we must recruit and retain talented, motivated, loyal and productive staff.

Ethical Trading Initiative (ETI) Base Code

As part of the foundation to this belief we fully commit to compliance with the Ethical Trading Initiative’s Base Code as a minimum standard. The ETI’s Base Code is founded on the conventions of the International Labour Organisation (ILO) and is an internationally recognized code of labour practice. As such we ensure:

All employment is freely chosen.
Freedom of association and the right to collective bargaining are respected.
Working conditions are safe and hygienic.
Child labour is not used – Employing minors and young adults in the Netherlands | Business.gov.nl
Living wages are paid as a minimum.
Working hours are not excessive.
No discrimination is practised in whatever form whatsoever whether it be on race, religion, disability and sexual orientation.
Regular employment is provided.
No harsh or inhumane treatment is allowed, full protection against any type of harassment.
No bribery, corruption, blackmailing or bullying is permitted.
No slavery or human trafficking is permitted.
Third Party Suppliers and buyers are both free to sell and buy from any number of other businesses.

Communication & Participation

We believe strongly in honest, two-way communication and encouraging our employees to participate in continuously improving each aspect of the business.
We continuously work on maintaining an excellent employee relations environment and endorse the benefits of collective bargaining through both Trade Union and Works Councils
We maintain a defined structure of communication that gives every employee access to Senior Management
Equal Opportunities and The Gender Pay Gap

Diversity, equity & inclusion

Atlas International fully subscribes to a policy of diversity, equity and inclusion. Our differences make us better. We commit to advancing a collaborative, inclusive and globally diverse culture that creates unique careers in the moving and relocation industry.

We are an equal opportunities employer; we support and promote diversity within the workforce and ensure no-one suffers any detrimental treatment due to their gender; race or ethnic origin; sexual orientation; disability; religious or personal beliefs; age; or right to association such as trade union membership. We recognize the value of diversity. We take pride in our international team and recognize the value of diversity. We are committed to fostering an inclusive work environment that respects and celebrates the unique backgrounds, perspectives, and experiences of our employees. We promote equal opportunities and strive for a diverse workforce that enriches our organizational culture. We also stand for inclusivity for our customers.

Our policy contains the following element:

Job offers are open for everybody, regardless of sex, age, and ethnicity. Each job offer is checked by Atlas’s HR, making sure that no exclusions are placed in the job offer which are not related to competences, needed for the job.
In our recruitment program, there is no place for discrimination whatsoever. Candidates are only judged on their competence directly related to the job.
Criteria that are explicitly excluded in Judging a candidate are: race and ethnicity, gender, sexual preference, religion, age and disabilities.

Employee engagement, fair & respectful treatment

Culture
The culture of a workplace will have a huge impact on employee engagement. Atlas International Movers ensures a welcoming workplace where everyone is kind, inclusive, respectful, and courteous and everyone works together well as a team.
Tools to improve
The technology and other systems used in the workplace can affect engagement of employees. When you use outdated systems or the tools you are using are cumbersome and require too many unnecessary steps to accomplish a task, this can lead to frustration and then disengagement. Tools that help employees work better and collaborate with their peers will help improve morale.
Internal communications
When internal communication is poor or lacking entirely, it can have a negative effect on employees’ engagement. Employees need to be provided with clear, concise, relevant and timely information so that they can do their jobs well, this is why departments communicate daily and weekly to keep everyone updated and give employees the opportunity to give their opinion on different topics.
flexible work options
A big engagement killer for employees is lack of flexibility in the workplace. This has only been the case during the COVID-19 pandemic as people don’t want to return to their old work lives where they had no flexibility at all. Flexibility can take many forms and there isn’t a blanket approach that will suit all employees. Some may want to work more hours but fewer days, some might want different start and finishing times or continued remote work to remove long commutes from their lives. If there is no reasonable reason why employees cannot work flexibly, by enabling it you will have happier, more productive, more engaged employees.

Atlas International Movers foresees in the possibility for our administrative staff to work remotely. For the blue-collar workers, a flexibility is provided in the system of recuperation of performed overtime hours, which can be taken in agreement with the dispatcher, who complies to a maximum with the demands of the blue-collar workers, taking into account the on -going workload.

Learning & development opportunities

Learning and development (L&D) is an integral pillar of a thriving company culture. It revolves around the philosophy of placing employees at the forefront, emphasizing their personal growth, and fostering innovation. Here’s a more detailed look at the importance of L&D.

New employees to receive an induction training and an on-the-job training, based on their experience. Employees are given the opportunity to attend training courses they are interested in. During the annual evaluation discussions, career developments are addressed which can be linked to a training.

In a training overview all performed training will be reported per employee. Based on the position there can be specific training needs. Once a training has been completed, the certification will be added to the staff file.

Learning and development programs are not just a perk but a strategic imperative for modern organizations. They contribute to a positive company culture, attracting and retaining talent, promoting innovation, and fostering a dynamic, adaptable workforce. The benefits of L&D extend beyond individual growth, positively impacting the entire organization.

Community Engagement Initiatives: Our Broader Responsibility

As a business, we are very focused on the impact we have on our neighbouring communities; not just from an environmental basis on which we have a strong focus; not just supporting the local economy by employing locally and using local contractors and suppliers where possible; but also in terms of what we can contribute to the general betterment of our local communities.

At Atlas International Movers we truly support youth welfare, opportunity, and development as the key focus of our community engagement commitment, which we will achieve by the following as an example:

Social Responsibility: Supporting local initiatives to eradicate child poverty and ensure every child has access to sports vi the Johan Cruyff Foundation.

Environmental Stewardship: We minimize our environmental impact by adopting eco-friendly practices and supporting conservation efforts.

Economic Development: We create job opportunities and invest in skill development to boost the local economy.

Collaborative Partnerships: Working with local organizations to ensure local children have every opportunity to grow and develop in a safe environment.

Cultural and Educational Support: Working with schools and higher education to help prepare children for the transition to the world of work by offering internships.

Long-Term Sustainability: Our commitment to the community is ongoing, adapting to evolving needs.

Anti-Bribery, Anti-Corruption & Anti-Trust

We have a clear and defined policy and systems to protect our employees and business from unethical business practices such as bribery and corruption, this is based on the Fidi guidelines.

Looking after Customers

Atlas International Movers is dedicated to offering customers a wide choice of moving services under our brand of which some services will be performed by our global partner network mainly consisting of Fidi certified moving companies. Our services are competitively priced, transparent and fair, and by offering customers high levels of quality and service underpinned by instilling a customer centric culture within our business.

We want customers to be delighted with the service they receive from Atlas International Movers, we aim to offer peace of mind for our customers and welcome any feedback of all kinds. Customer satisfaction is our goal, and we measure ourselves and our performance through customer surveys. All negative customer feedback is investigated and where appropriate steps taken to avoid repetition. Any positive feedback is passed on to relevant departments and or individuals to further encourage good customer service.

Suppliers’ Standards

At Atlas International Movers we aim to create a sustainable and ethical supply chain based on trust and shared values with our suppliers. Our partner selection function is dedicated to the evaluation, management and continuous improvement of our suppliers and have a focus on the 3 key methodologies:

Selecting the right suppliers:

Each tender created by Atlas International Movers follows a pre-requisite application that ensures adherence to our CSR values is met.
Suppliers are selected based on the most advantageous tender, this includes price, service, terms, location and size of business and also sustainable, ethical and environmental shared values.
All tenders are secured by our terms and conditions that comments on the expectations of our suppliers regarding CSR and details the supplier code of conduct. This is why we mainly work with Fidi certified partners across the globe.

Management and measurement of suppliers:

Suppliers are expected to attend a minimum of one review per year, this review ensures that changes made within the supply chain are captured and requires continuous monitoring of their adherence to the terms and conditions agreed and supplier code of conduct.
Regular audits are in place with suppliers and requires evidence of their adherence to our supplier code of conduct, product specifications and CSR values.
Recognition is given to suppliers to both improve standards and perform well in these areas.
Atlas International Movers is committed to fair terms of purchase and endeavour to pay all suppliers to terms, such terms are monitored regularly.

Continuous Improvement of suppliers:

Support is provided for all suppliers who do not conform to our supplier code of conduct or shared values. Frequency of reviews and audits are increased where required to ensure that standards are reached within the given time frames.
Suppliers are encouraged to identify any service development that may improve the service delivery process, provide cost benefits, improve quality of the finished services, and provide a more sustainable, ethical or environmentally focused product.

Governance

Principles of Sustainability, as set out above, need to be put in practice through good governance. Procedures therefore need to be put in place to make sure that a long-term positive impact and sustainability changes are created at a gradual and financially stable rate.

Therefore, a distinction needs to be made between the so-called quick-wins, often generated by a change of behavior of individuals or by gains created by small investments, and the so-called long term goals, which require considerable investments and/or technical adaptations.

Quick wins include others: working by paperless files where possible, switching off appliances at the end of the workday and recycling materials where possible. The principles set out above will also be communicated to our suppliers, agents, subcontractors, accounts and clients by e-mail, through a link to the relevant pages on our website in the standard signature of all employees. Doing business with ATLAS will mean accepting our Sustainability Program.

Management will also be the contact person to all staff during working hours, and is available for any comments on follow-up, progress and suggestions on our sustainability program. Long term actions on the corporate sustainability are determined by ATLAS’s management, in coordination with the staff. These long terms are also part of the sustainability program, and may (amongst others) concern investments in infrastructure (offices, warehouse) as well as in vehicles (reduction of CO2 emissions).