Individual reflection - aim to flourish assignment PDF

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Individuele reflectie aim to flourish assignment opdracht...

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AIM2Flourish-assignment: Individual reflection Looking back at the Aim2Flourish assignment, my group has accomplished more than I had expected in such a short time. The company that we chose, called Norbord, that makes wooden products or OSB-panels to be specific, was available for the interview, only a week before the deadline of the assignment. But with the hard work from my whole group, we were able to create an amazing project in time. My part in this was doing the interview, together with Jannik and Jarne, and our whole group really worked well together and edited everything. The interview itself also was an eye-opening experience for me, because I had never been inside such a big company. I am very proud of the huge accomplishment that we achieved. The steps taken to complete all the work was to split it up among us evenly and then come together in the end and sit together and edit everything. I had very little prior knowledge of the attempts that some companies made to ensure that their business was working in collaboration with at least 1 of the UN Sustainable Development Goals. I was under the impression that many companies were not concerned with the goals and opinions of the UN; instead, placing their energy and focus on creating a company that maximizes their potential for profit, regardless of its effect on people or the environment. Going into the interview our group had its doubts. We found it strange how a company that uses wood as their raw material could be sustainable. I think that is because of the image that is created in our heads by the companies that cut down rain forest for short term gain. However, we were happily surprised by the ways they implement sustainability in their business model. For example, they do sustainable forest management, because “It is absolutely not in our interest to cut down a forest. It is much more in our interest to do sustainable forest management. That means after 10 years of first thinning, after 15 years another thinning, after 20 years another thinning, and not sawing it off, because if you saw it off, you lose it”. I really liked that quote from the interview, and I think it will stick with me. I think their best innovation till now is their alternative wood installation. This particular innovation lets them use more parts of the same tree trunk and thus reduces waste. This shows that sustainability isn’t just about doing good for the environment, it can have multiple impacts. Reducing waste is good for the environment but is also a great way to reduce costs within the company. I find the question “How do you estimate your potential to be a positive social innovator? “a really difficult question, because I don’t think that’s something you can do on your own (if I did have to give myself a grade from 1 to 10, I think I’d give myself a 6/10). I believe that a well put together, and more importantly a well-diversified team, is key. With a team that consists of people with different backgrounds (male/female; origin; studies; age; …), you complement each other and get more insights that can open discussions you would have otherwise never had. I personally believe that in this way more innovative, effective and sustainable ideas emerge....