Sustainability is in our brand DNA

We confirm this with SDG Pioneer Certificate

The funeral industry is evolving, and consumers are increasingly seeking sustainable products, including eco-friendly memorial jewellery. How to make the (funeral) world a little more sustainable? We ask Cynthia Buschman, Founder and CEO of TadBlu Belgium, associated FIAT-IFTA Member and the recipient of The SDG Pioneer Certificate.

Katarzyna Supa: October 24, 2023, marked as significant day for TadBlu, as the company received The SDG Pioneer Certificate. We've been paying a lot of attention to sustainability in the pages of THANOS magazine lately. We clearly see a lot of interest in the topic and the interest of funeral industry companies in achieving the 17 Sustainable Developments Goals (SDGs) set by the United Nations to create a sustainable and equitable world by 2030. I think your attitude towards this topic can be an inspiration and encouragement to other companies. Please tell us more about what this certificate is and why you decided to go for it?

Cynthia Buschman: The SDGs are a United Nations call to action for all countries in the world – rich and poor – to promote prosperity while protecting the planet from climate change. They lay the foundation for ending poverty, with strategies that both develop economic growth and address a range of social needs, such as education, health, social protection, and employment. At TadBlu, we have worked at sustainable entrepreneurship since we started in 2016. In 2022, we entered the United Nations-recognized UNITAR-CIFAL VCDO pathway to work on our sustainability under guidance and training because sustainability is in our brand DNA. We want to provide those who mourn the loss of a loved one with proven, sustainable memorial jewellery. This is our main goal as a brand.

The SDG Pioneer Certificate in general is part of the Voka Charter for Sustainable Entrepreneurship (VCDO) - a 7-year trajectory, endorsed by UNITAR: the training division of the United Nations. This certificate is given to companies and organizations which shape sustainable entrepreneurship, structure it and work on continuous improvement of environmental, social, and economic performance. In order to receive the certificate, it is necessary to successfully pass the annual evaluation audit around 10 themes. The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals provide the universal framework for this.

A number of the social and environmental aspects of ISO 26000, MVO-prestatieladder, ISO 14001, Milieucharter are reflected in the themes of the Voka Charter for Sustainable Entrepreneurship (VCDO), but are classified in a different way. ISO-certified companies can use VCDO as a planning tool e.g. by drawing up and following up an annual action plan with objectives.

K.S.: What sustainability goals are being implemented by TadBlu?

C.B.: With our main goal in mind, it is necessary to define our actions in relation to our stakeholders, their interests and the impact we can have. Stakeholders include our employees, distributors and suppliers, morticians, as well as the planet and its inhabitants.
TadBlu focus on 5 main goals:

• SDG 8: Promote inclusive, sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment, and decent work for all.
• SDG 12: Responsible consumption and production: ensure sustainable consumption and production methods.
• SDG 16: Promoting peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, ensuring access for all, and building effective, accountable, and open institutions at all levels.
• SDG 17: Partnering to Achieve the Goals: Revitalize the global partnership for sustainable development.
• SDG 5: Gender equality: Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls.

The intention of the UN sustainability goals is that it is a continuous process in which companies and institutions ultimately develop actions on all 17 goals.

Read whole interview in the spring issue of THANOS magazine
- you can read online at pages 22-24

Read online THANOS magazine