Government

Tax avoidance received widespread media coverage in 2015. In addition, the OECD announced a series of measures in the autumn of 2015 to combat ‘Base Erosion and Profit Shifting’ (BEPS). This was one of the reasons for Beter Bed Holding to formulate its tax policy more clearly. The basic principle is that the organisation wants to pay its fair share of taxes in the countries in which it operates. The organisation also states clearly that it will not use artificial arrangements to avoid taxation.

The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA) carries out product safety system inspections and audits at Beter Bed. The NVWA has faith in the way in which Beter Bed has organised and implements its product safety process. The outcome of the system inspection and audit is that until the end of 2016, Beter Bed is only subject to limited supervision by the NVWA on these aspects. That is the highest mark of trust that the government can assign to an organisation in the area of product safety.

Beter Bed Holding decided in 2015 to adhere more clearly to the OECD guidelines as of 2016, in anticipation of imminent, tighter laws and regulations in the field of CSR reporting. The guideline obliges public interest entities to be transparent about their non-financial performance, such as the strategy, performance and risks in the field of the environment, working conditions, human rights, corruption and diversity at the top.