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Inclusion & Belonging (IB) at Univar Solutions

Inclusion & Belonging at Univar Solutions

A place where people matter

At Univar Solutions, Inclusion & Belonging is rooted in our cultural value that where people matter. We believe people do their best work when they feel respected, supported and able to contribute fully. That means creating an environment where a broad range of perspectives, experiences and backgrounds can thrive and help shape better decisions, stronger teams and better outcomes for our customers, suppliers and communities.

As we look toward 2030, we are evolving our approach to focus not only on representation, but on the fairness of our processes, the quality of employee experience and the conditions that help people grow, contribute and belong. We are committed to fostering a safe, collaborative and respectful workplace where people are treated fairly, barriers are reduced and everyone has the opportunity to succeed.

Our Inclusion & Belonging agenda supports our business, strengthens our culture and helps us build a workplace where employees can contribute with confidence, develop their careers and feel a genuine sense of belonging.

How we are advancing Inclusion & Belonging to 2030

Our 2030 approach is designed to strengthen belonging through practical, measurable action. We are working to embed fairness, inclusion and accountability into the way we hire, develop, lead and support our people, while continuing to listen and learn from employee experiences across our global organization.

This includes improving the consistency and fairness of people processes, supporting inclusive leadership, encouraging respectful and effective collaboration, and creating more opportunities for employees to connect, develop and contribute. Our Employee Resource Networks (ERNs) remain an important part of this journey, helping strengthen community, amplify employee voice and create meaningful opportunities for learning, leadership and support across the business.

At Univar Solutions, we are building on the foundation we have established to create an increasingly inclusive culture for the future. Our ambition to 2030 is to continue evolving how we listen, learn and act so that inclusion is not treated as a standalone initiative, but as part of how we lead, how we make decisions and how we enable people to perform at their best. We value the role our ERNs play in this work as open, collaborative communities that help foster connection, celebrate different experiences, support development and encourage shared accountability for belonging.

Increase awareness and advocacy around visible and invisible disabilities, reduce stigmas, drive community involvement and provide support for employee career development.

Increasing representation, visibility, leadership development, social justice advocacy, and advancement opportunities for our Black/African American employees.

Elevate visibility of our Hispanic & Latinx population, providing career development, social networking and heritage celebration while promoting a culture of inclusion.

Increase LGBT+ employee population, retention, and advancement by building a safe, inclusive and inviting environment that fosters innovation and creativity at all levels of the organization.

Creating an inclusive environment that works to preserve indigenous culture & pride, increasing visibility, career development, and promoting social advocacy & equality for native populations.

Providing a welcoming and supportive environment for employees connected to military service that promotes the valuable skills learned, assists in military to civilian transition, and develops leaders.

Enabling connections, building community, developing the next generation of leaders and advocating increased hiring, advancement, and retention of women across the global organization.

Where we uphold human rights

Our Inclusion & Belonging agenda is grounded in respect for human rights and the dignity of every person. We are committed to conducting business in a way that supports fair treatment, safe working conditions and respect across our operations and value chain. This includes maintaining a workplace free from discrimination, harassment and retaliation, and upholding standards that help protect against forced labor, child labor, exploitation, trafficking and other human rights abuses.

Read the full Univar Solutions position on human rights >

Where different perspectives strengthen innovation

We know innovation is stronger when people with different experiences, skills and viewpoints can contribute fully. By fostering an environment where employees feel heard, valued and able to collaborate effectively, we support stronger problem-solving, better decision-making and a culture that helps our business continue to evolve.

Where we foster an inclusive culture

At Univar Solutions, we are building and supporting a culture that acknowledges what each employee can bring to our vision to redefine distribution. That means not

just recognizing the importance of a diverse employee base but actively creating opportunities, education and communication that promotes an inclusive environment that thrives on the innovation that can come when we all feel empowered – and grow together as we effect changes that advance an environment of inclusion and promote increased equality.

Where we are committed to sustainability

Advancing inclusion & belonging for all people in the workplace is a responsibility that starts at the highest levels and is shared throughout our company. From senior executives sponsoring and driving forward initiatives down through every layer of the organization, we are working and growing in our understanding together. Every day we are holding our organization accountable to maintain momentum and advance progress toward a more equal and equitable industry. As part of our commitment to sustainability, we are proud of our achievements to increase diverse leadership and enhance a culture of inclusion through increased engagement, education and advocacy for all employees. In 2020, we partnered with expert organizations and implemented a strategy to help us deliver on our purpose, vision and values as a leading distributor of ingredients committed to the United Nations’ sustainability goals.

Some recent examples of the impact from our commitments include:

Consistent positive sentiment from employees from our internal Inclusion Index
Annual recognition as a Best Place to Work for LGBTQ+ Equality by the Human Rights Campaign
Increased engagement annually from employees in Inclusion & Belonging learning opportunities and initiatives