Award launched to honour companies for good practice

EEG presents Arabia Corporate Social Responsibility Awards 2008

One of the biggest challenges facing businesses today arises from the need to successfully align strategies and operations in a manner that creates a lasting impact on the society and safeguards the environment. The call for business to link up with governments and communities in achieving universal development objectives and targets is echoed across political, business and social circles. Supported by Media activism, Information and Communication Technology and community interest, corporate conduct has been opened up to greater scrutiny and assessment. A complex set of emerging risks like law suits and corporate scandals, human rights violations, climate change, and so on is transforming the environment in which businesses operate. Adopting a culture of “doing good” seems to offer the best guarantee for continued success and reputation in a world that is increasingly turning a critical eye at the way business is conducted. Corporate citizenship is believed to ensure better performance, improved relations with stakeholders, and enhanced reputation in the market. Global companies are particularly drawn towards the benefits of corporate governance and social responsibility, as they face increasingly newer sets of challenges and risks. Localized businesses are not far behind in exploiting the opportunities and rewards associated with Corporate Social Responsibility. Companies practicing CSR leverage their caring responsible image to a wide range of stakeholders and gain competitive advantage.

In acknowledgement of the role of business in doing good for the society and the communities, many platforms have been created all over the world. Here in the United Arab Emirates, EEG (Emirates Environmental Group) has pioneered a unique, multi-stakeholder forum known as the EEG CSR Network. From this Network many innovative programs and undertakings have developed, including seminars, workshops, trainings, best practice compilation and case studies, and the creation of a GCC network for the largest global voluntary CSR initiative better known as the United Nations Global Compact. The latest offering from the Network is a regional award on CSR called the “Arabia Corporate Social Responsibility Awards”.  Already the announcement of the awards has met with considerable enthusiasm and interest from CSR players across sectors. The awards were publicly announced in the EEG’s annual dinner held in February this year. On May 15th, the Arabia CSR Awards were formally launched during a press conference conducted by EEG and its partners.

What singles out this initiative is its inclusive nature. Supported by the United Nations Global Compact, sponsored by Group member and Global Compact participant du, and ably supported by a range of business leaders, think tanks and academics, the Arabia CSR Awards have the potential to become the biggest of its kind in the United Arab Emirates and the GCC. The need for a CSR Award is felt most acutely now that companies in the Region have taken a lively and productive interest in engaging more actively with communities, opting for eco-friendly practices, improving quality and performance, and supporting social and cultural issues and causes. Those that are driving this movement deserve due recognition as leaders and pioneers. The Arabia CSR Awards provide a platform to recognize and reward companies that have demonstrated true commitment, delivered outstanding results and impacts, and shown innovation and leadership.

The Awards will be opened to applicants from May 22nd and will run until October. A grand ceremony to honour winners will take place in that month. Speaking about the initiative EEG’s Chairperson Habiba Al Marashi said, “The CSR Arabia Awards are a continuation of our work to enhance the overall environment of the United Arab Emirates as well as the Region. Through it we will attempt to throw light on those champions and endeavours that have contributed greatly in improving the economic, social and physical environment and demonstrated true vision and drive on the way. It is our aim to highlight these corporate best practices and showcase these achievements to the rest of the world. In the long run, we hope this initiative will be successful in building up a databank of best practices in corporate citizenship and CSR from the GCC Region, and uphold an effective CSR model that can be applied by any company here.”

Commenting on the support received from the United Nations Mrs. Al Marashi commented, “Our association with the United Nations Global Compact ensures international visibility for the Award, and makes it the leading initiative for recognizing CSR in this Region”.  "We very much welcome the creation of an Arabia CSR Award by Emirates Environmental Group, convener of the Global Compact Network for the GCC States", said Georg Kell, Executive Director of the UN Global Compact Office at UN headquarters in New York. "This award will give much-deserved recognition to the many good efforts in the Arab business community to align strategies and operations with universal social and environmental principles. It will also serve as an inspiration to all those whose mission towards greater sustainability has just begun".

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Global Compact Network Launched

7th April 2008,

Under the Patronage of His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of Dubai Executive Council; EEG successfully organized a grand reception in Dusit Dubai, to launch the Network in the GCC States of the United Nations Global Compact. The event was sponsored by Emirates NBD, Al Safi Club for Friends of the Environment, Condor Building Contracting LLC, Metito, Oryx Enterprises, and Sama Dubai.

About a hundred and fifty Business Leaders, Ambassadors, Government Officials, Dignitaries, regional Academics along with UN Officials and other high profile guests, attended and lent support to the Initiative to establish the Regional Network. 

The keynote speech was delivered by Mr. Georg Kell, Executive Director of the UN Global Compact. The opening address came from EEG’s Chairperson and member of the UN Global Compact Board, Mrs. Habiba Al Marashi; while Steering Committee Member Mr. Mohammed Al Sarhan and Mr. Rami Ghandour, representing Global Compact member Metito provided insights into their participation in the initiative. Seventeen companies from the GCC Region that are currently participating in the UN Global Compact were felicitated during the event.

The ground breaking event was followed by a Press Conference, attended by Mrs. Habiba Al Marashi, Chairperson of EEG and Board Member of UN Global Compact; Mr. Georg Kell, Executive Director of UN Global Compact; the Steering Committee of the Network for the GCC States comprising; Mr. Jeff Stephenson, Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, Oryx Enterprises, Qatar; Mr. Mohammed Al Sarhan, Vice President, Al Faisaliah Group and Secretary General of Al Safi Club for Friends of the Environment, Saudi Arabia; and Mr. Sulaiman Al Mazroui, Chief Manager, Group Affairs, Emirates NBD, UAE; and Mr. Rami Ghandour, Executive Director, Metito, a Global Compact participant.

During this historical ceremony, a local network of the Global Compact -the world's largest voluntary corporate citizenship initiative, joined by over 5000 entities across 120 countries in different continents and having 60 local networks- was officially launched in the GCC Region. The establishment of the Network  for the GCC States is the outcome of EEG's long standing relationship with the Global Compact, and seeks to advance responsible corporate citizenship, so that Arabian Gulf business can be part of the solution to the challenges of globalization, and participate in realizing the UN's vision of a more sustainable inclusive global economy.  The initiative upholds EEG’s long standing commitment to engage business and other key sectors in sustainable development across the UAE and the extended Region. From this backdrop emerged the EEG Corporate Social Responsibility Network in 2004, which today has close to forty five founding members and a range of active participants in the activities undertaken under its banner. It was from this platform that EEG’s association with the Global Compact was launched in 2006, and further enhanced. EEG will continue to rally business and other stakeholders in support of the principles promoted by the Global Compact, and endeavour to create a link between CSR good practice at the local and global levels.

 

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EEG gifted "Green Truck" by British Embassy and HSBC

The UK Trade and Investment, the commercial wing of the British Embassy, and HSBC have presented a "green truck" to the EEG. The vehicle will add to the fleet of eco-friendly trucks that ply the country's roads daily, picking up recyclable waste paper, cans, plastic and glass from several hundred participants of the EEG campaigns. With the rapid growth of these recycling programmes, it has become essential for EEG to have dedicated vehicles of its own, to accommodate more participants and collect more quantities of these wastes.

The donation of the truck was hailed by EEG Chairperson Habiba Al Marashi who said, "Our objective is to collect as much waste for recycling as we can, from as many people and organizations all over the UAE as possible. Only by doing so can we make a realistic attempt to contribute to the governments' efforts in tackling the critical problem of waste in our country. The truck donated by the British Embassy will take us a step forward in that direction.".

A small ceremony was held in the British Embassy Abu Dhabi to mark the handing over of the vehicle on February 21st, 2006. Present at the function were HE Mr. Richard Makepeace, Ambassador of the United Kingdom, Mr. Nick McIness, Middle East and Africa Director for UK Trade and Investment, Mr. Mohamed Almulla, CEO of HSBC and Mr. Richard Oliver, Head of Corporate, Invest Banking and Markets, HSBC. Highlighting the significance of the donation, Mr. McIness said, "The purchase of this truck not only demonstrates our strong commitment to the UAE's push for a greener future but also, it shows how we can all work together to raise awareness and highlight the importance of recycling".

 

EEG gets accredited to UNEP

The second United Nations accreditation for country's pioneer NGO


July 31, 2005. Emirates Environmental Group (EEG), one of the country's longest standing pro-active NGOs, has earned the distinction of becoming accredited to the Governing Council of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). The honour was conferred on the Group in recognition of its outstanding work for the preservation of the environment and sustainable development.

EEG has been actively pursuing the twin goals for close to a decade and a half, and has led many successful, first-of-its-kind community programmes. Of special mention are the Group's hugely popular clean up drives, recycling campaigns, educational projects and corporate programmes. EEG has collaborated closely with government bodies on a wide range of environmental and associated initiatives, bringing the ideas and aspirations of the community to bear upon public policies and programmes. Endowed with clear strategy and futuristic vision, EEG has managed to establish sustained multi-sectoral outreach and action programmes. It goes to the Group's credit that EEG today symbolizes highly effective civil society mobilization of the community and key sectors.

For many years EEG has enjoyed special status as the country's pioneer NGO at national, regional and international fora. It has represented the United Arab Emirates and West Asia in a large number of ground breaking UN events held in the Region and across the globe. Internally, EEG has supported UN initiatives for sustainable development through its operations; and has roped in support for its programmes and activities. As a consequence, partnerships have developed with UN agencies like the UAE office of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the West Asia regional office of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). EEG is the country's only environmentally active NGO to be accredited to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD). EEG has also signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the UNDP recently for cooperation on a number of key issues.

EEG applied for registration within the UNEP body and duly fulfilled the required criteria. The accreditation ranks EEG with an exclusive set of frontline civil society organizations from various parts of the world that have been supporting global agendas and programmes through their own operations. The honour corroborates EEG's active implementation of the principle "thinking globally, acting locally". EEG will now have an enhanced role in disseminating sustainable development objectives and policies at the national and regional levels, and will communicate local action and experience to intergovernmental assemblies. Said EEG's Chairperson Mrs. Habiba Al Marashi, an active participant and well known figure at top UN meets and conferences, "We have worked very hard at obtaining accredited status and are naturally overjoyed at the recognition that has finally come our way. This is a milestone for every EEG member and well-wisher, and brings in its wake new responsibilities. By being an observer at UNEP Governing Council meetings we will be able to keep abreast of emerging issues and concerns and bring focus on them through our work here. This will place us directly into the fold of key international institutions and processes active in furthering sustainable development agendas across the world. On our part we will continue our unrelenting strive to highlight the imperative for sustainable development."

Editor's Note
The Emirates Environmental Group (EEG) is a voluntary, non-government organization (NGO) devoted to protecting the environment through means of education, action programs and community involvement. Our organization is open to men and women of all nationalities. EEG is actively encouraged and supported by concerned local and federal government agencies. It is the first environmental NGO in the world to be ISO 14001 certified and the only organisation of its kind in the UAE with accredited status to the United Nations Convention to Combating Desertification (UNCCD).

For further information please contact:

Emirates Environmental Group
PO Box 7013, Dubai, UAE
Tel: +971 4 3318100
Fax: +971 4 3328500
Email: eeg@emirates.net.ae
Website: www.eeg-uae.org

EEG can help you recycle!

EEG would be willing to assist you, your office and/or your school in recycling waste paper, aluminum cans, empty ink and toner cartridges, plastic and glass. EEG has 88 recycling centers strategically positioned all over the UAE, with 39 in Dubai,15 in Abu Dhabi, 22 in Sharjah, 7 in Al Ain, 2 in Ajman, 2 in Ras Al Khaimah and 1 in Al Silaa.

An EEG recycling center is easy to spot and is heralded by a large metallic banner, containing our logo, the logo of the school or company and a sign, which declares "Recycling Center". It is composed of three large cages colored red for can, blue for plastic and green for paper. We advice members of the community to ask their children if they have recycling centers in their schools. If so, they may place their recyclable materials in these recycling centers. Otherwise, EEG can collect from families and individuals provided they have sufficient quantities of recyclable materials. EEG collects recyclable materials and sends them to local recycling companies.

Different sectors of the community support EEG's waste management program in a competitive spirit. The schools, companies and individuals with the highest can, waste paper and toner collection are recognized and provided prizes in our yearly prize giving ceremony on the 5th of June (World Environment Day).

Should you be interested, we can install a full outdoor recycling center for your school and company and/ or we can offer indoor waste paper bins. We shall collect waste materials from these bins, on a regular basis, free of charge. The recycling center and bin will help you manage different types of waste in your home, office or school, while supporting the local recycling industry.

EEG has several upcoming activities, which you, your school or office can participate in. You may join as a participant or volunteer in one of these activities. We have a Student's Workshop in September, our Inter-College Public Speaking Competition and CSR Workshop in November, and two Clean Up activities in late November and December. We welcome your support in these activities as we encourage all sectors of the community to join environmental projects and activities.

Please feel free to write or call us if you need assistance for collection or for more information regarding EEG, our waste management program and our upcoming activities.