Reducing inequality

Neste has made a commitment to reduce inequality and address systemic human rights issues along its value chains. Inequality is a root cause and driver of major human rights challenges for workers and communities in our operations and supply chains. In addition to being a social issue, we also view inequality as being a serious business risk which undermines social cohesion, economic stability, and sustainable business development.

Taking action to tackle inequality in our operations and supply chains

We are taking action to address inequality on multiple fronts – by paying and promoting living wages, preparing our employees for the future of work and a just transition to net zero, providing safe and secure employment, and using worker voice technology to assess the living standards and wellbeing of the workers in our supply chains.

One of the cornerstones of our work to reduce inequality is promoting diversity, equity and inclusion, both inside and outside the four walls of our company. In our own operations, we seek to ensure that all employees are given equal opportunities to pursue and thrive in their careers. By fostering an inclusive work environment, we aim to empower our employees, attract diverse perspectives and build a talented workforce that drives our success. 

Neste is a signatory to two Unilever Partner Promises – the Living Wage/Living Income Promise and the Supplier Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Promise.

Supplier diversity

We understand that inclusive procurement initiatives play a crucial role in tackling inequality by fostering opportunities for businesses owned by underrepresented groups and addressing systemic disparities in access to resources and opportunities.

We have started taking steps to understand our spend on diverse businesses, small businesses and social enterprises. We classify businesses as diverse if they are at least 51% owned and operated by individuals from underrepresented groups, including minorities, women, LGBTQI+ persons, and people with disabilities.

Multi-stakeholder collaboration through the WBCSD Business Commission to Tackle Inequality

Neste is an active member of the WBCSD Business Commission to Tackle Inequality (BCTI), a cross-sector, multi-stakeholder coalition of more than 60 organizations with a mission of mobilizing the private sector to tackle inequality and generate shared prosperity for all. The BCTI includes members from business, civil society, intergovernmental institutions, academia, the labor movement, and the investor community. 

Neste joined the BCTI when it first launched in 2021, and has been actively involved in defining and advancing its work from the start. We continue to participate in multiple working groups and roundtable discussions with other members in order to jointly address systemic issues and create more impactful and sustainable solutions for tackling inequality that go beyond our individual efforts. In 2022-23 we helped to shape and develop the BCTI’s flagship report, Tackling inequality: An Agenda for Business Action, with key actions for individual companies to take in contribution to global efforts to address mounting inequality.