Corporate Social Responsibility

Our Triple Bottom Line
We believe that our commitment to the Triple Bottom Line - social responsibility, environmental soundness, and economic viability - makes good business sense, so we have made it a top priority.

At The Conference People, we take all our commitments very seriously, especially our commitment to people. We also take particular interest in the preservation and restoration of the global environment. We seek to minimise the ecological impact of the events we manage worldwide by minimising emissions and the consumption of energy and raw materials.

Social
We work to continuously improve our social performance by integrating social, human rights and health and safety considerations into our daily business.

Environmental
We work to continuously improve our environmental performance by setting high objectives and integrating sustainable processes into our daily business.

Financial
We work to continuously improve our financial performance by setting high objectives for growth whilst delivering competitive solutions to our clients.

Corporate Social Responsibility

Definition

"Corporate social responsibility (CSR) is a concept whereby organisations consider the interests of society by taking responsibility for the impact of their activities on customers, suppliers, employees, shareholders, communities and other stakeholders, as well as the environment. This obligation is seen to extend beyond the statutory obligation to comply with legislation and sees organisations voluntarily taking further steps to improve the quality of life for employees and their families as well as for the local community and society at large."

EOL has made a strong and on-going commitment to meet the above criteria and to ensure that its clients also meet the exacting standards that must be met in the responsible disposal of IT and general office electrical equipment and data erasure. To assist our clients we steer them through the relevant legislation, including WEEE (Waste Electronic and Electrical Equipment) Directive, Data Protection Act, Hazardous Waste Act and other EU legislation.

EOL operates a zero landfill policy and our aim is to reuse 90% of all IT equipment collected, the remaining 10% goes to our waste management partners for further refinement. We understand the issues and responsibilities placed on us by the Landfill Regulation Act, so we ensure that all our partners are processing our waste correctly. We use our internal audits and BS EN ISO 14001 Environmental Standard to maintain awareness and monitor any risks in the process.
Environment Agency On-Going Audit

EOL is one of the largest independent IT recyclers in the UK and we are regularly audited by the Environment Agency (EA) who monitor our systems and compliance. Our high level of competence is so well considered by the EA that they have used EOL as a case study because of our positive environmental efforts and impact, the good work we carry out in the community and for the investment we put into training our staff.
Compliance

Our processing structure is reassuring to all our clients. They have the knowledge and confidence that we are fully compliant with legislation and continue to be a trusted and responsible organisation. Our supplier audits run hand in hand with our own Quality Management Standard as part of our BS EN ISO 9001 (GB 9542) accreditation and Environmental Management Standard BS EN ISO 14001 (GB 9541). We are also registered under the Data Protection Act 1998.
Data & Identification Security

The protection of our clients' data and identification is paramount and we believe that it is of the utmost importance that our procedure and insurances reflect this.

We ensure that all existing data and forms of identification are fully erased from hard disks, storage media and hardware using documented, quality controlled processes that exceed the highest security standards, including Infosec 5 and international defence standards.

We use exacting, quality-controlled, fully documented procedures to ensure 100% erasure of your data and identification. Below is an example of our processes relating to data & identification erasure:

    An Infosec standard wipe of the hard drive is carried out using Blancco Software via the LAN connection.
    When successful, a "Hard Drive Sanitised" label is attached to the item and a software generated certificate produced as confirmation of erasure. The Engineer enters their name and date within the Data Erasure field as part of our internal recording and audit process.
    Once wiped, tested and asset recorded any complete PC units for re-sale are then passed to our Equipment Preparation Department where all signs of previous ownership are removed or disguised.
    If the drive fails to wipe, it is removed from the PC Department and securely transferred to our Parts Department.
    Here it is connected to a US DoD 5220.22-M approved WipeMaster Wiping Rig where a second attempt to wipe the drive is carried out.
    If this fails to remove the data, then entire hard drive is degaussed to the same Infosec standards.
    All degaussed drives are securely transported to our specialist metals recycling partner, using EOL transport and personnel, where they are ground down to their final powder state.

EOL in the Community

In its own right, EOL works with a number of local charities and educational facilities to provide IT equipment for needy causes.   In particular we work with RevITalise which is a local sheltered factory where we provide equipment and technical support.

In addition, as part of our standard disposal agreement, we are happy to facilitate a donation of 10% of a client's collection to a charitable or educational organisation of the client's choice.
Client Staff Purchase Scheme

We are able to offer contracted clients a Staff Purchase Scheme which allows their staff to purchase refubished IT equipment at an attractive discount over and above our already competitive retail prices.
EOL and its staff

EOL firmly believes in promoting from within its own organisation wherever possible and, where required, putting in to place the necessary training to the benefit of all our staff. We work closely with a local training company to enable our younger members of staff to work towards qualifications in IT, Warehousing, Business Administration and Customer Service.

Corporate Social Responsibility

Corporate Social Responsibility

MCS believes it has a responsibility to its stakeholders, partners, employees, customers, shareholders, suppliers and others. It matters then how its entire partner network feels about MCS as a great place to work and that customers see they are treated with respect and dignity.

Creating a more sustainable approach to high-quality software and services is an important issue too. MCS also believes that a company has a social goal, by contributing positively to local communities and organizations.
Village Reconstruction Organisation

An example of this social involvement is our move in May 2007 to a new building in Wilrijk (Antwerp). MCS took this opportunity to put its Corporate Social Responsibility in the spotlight. If you wanted to do so, you could make a donation to a good cause. MCS selected the VRO organisation headed by the 86 year old father Michael Windey from Belgium. VRO stands for Village Reconstruction Organisation and is a movement, established in 1969 by the father, for fighting poverty in India.

Confronted with the hopeless situation of the poor population, father Windey decided to work out a unique concept. With the aid of numerous volunteers and the local population entire villages were constructed. This gave the chance to the villagers to develop themselves and to escape from poverty. Supported by several European countries, the VRO movement already built 25.000 houses.

Thanks to your generous gifts and a contribution by MCS, a cheque of 5.000,- EUR could be handed over to VRO. Some time ago father Windey stayed a while in Belgium. He seized the opportunity to thank personally the people from MCS. He also gave a full account about his movement and its results. VRO and MCS wish to thank the contributors for their gifts.

MCS plans on contributing even more in the future and expanding a continuous collaboration between profit and non-profit organizations.

MCS finances via Incofin entrepreneurs in developing countries

“Adding value for all stakeholders.” That is our mission. However, this social role exceeds our immediate surroundings. As you could read in a previous newsletter MCS helps fighting poverty in India with the VRO project founded by Father Windey. In 2008 MCS pledged itself to a new  initiative. Via Incofin MCS supports small entrepreneurs and farmers in developing countries through ‘microfinancing’.

This way of investing doesn’t concern large amounts of money, but deals with a totally different kind of return. MCS believes in the Incofin project where microfinance institutions invest in the dynamics and opportunities of developing countries such as Ghana, Nigeria, Kenya, Kazachstan, Argentina, ...
What is microfinancing?

Microfinance institutions (MFI) are also known as ‘banks for the poor’.  They grant micro credits (loans) to entrepreneuring people left out in the cold by the usual channels. With a local network and presence on markets and in village centers they are familiar with the needs and necessities of the small entrepreneur offering proper financial products. It allows the entrepreneur to start or expand an own business, to buy materials, to fix machinery … Women represent 80% of the microfinance customers.
How does it work?

Socially-motivated investors, individuals or organizations choose among different investment funds, hence become shareholder. Incofin then manages these funds and invests in microfinance institutions in developing countries by granting loans and acquiring participations. These microfinance institutions grant small credits varying from € 80 to € 2.000 to local entrepreneurs.

Incofin links the demand for capital to the supply of investors. By channeling capital to microfinance institutions, Incofin allows poor people in developing countries to have access to appropriate financial services.  In return the investor gets a limited financial as well as social return. 

Corporate Social Responsibility?

It happened to read a series of story published in Malayalam Daily-Malayala Manorama about Medicine Mafia.

It was shocking to read that any medicine can be duplicated and you can even have medicine in your own brand. It also revealed that expired medicine are not thrown out!, it come back to us in a brand new pack.

Team of Manorama have travelled to Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Himachal Pradesh to find the people behind the so called mafia. They have even gone for laboratory test in which they found the medicine was adulterated. Their findings;

•     Chemical/ingredient percentage is less
•     Expired medicine are coming back in a new pack
•     Factories does not maintain minimum hygienic requirements
•     Anyone can make any medicine and market, license is not an issue at all.

According to them, a portion of government officials are with this mafia, enables them  to do whatever they wish, for the same they are rewarded, not only the officials, doctors too are part of it.

Doctors should think about what they are doing, so many people get admission in government colleges and get appointed in government hospitals. They learn with the help of common mans’ money and earn the same. But some are not satisfied and going for extra income.

I would like to congratulate the Manorama Team for the commitment they shown towards common man. This is the best example of a Corporate Social Responsibility.

Now, we need to think why or how this adulteration or duplication happens. Most commonly used medicines like Paracetamol are made by every one in different brand names. Some are so greedy to make money and reduce the required chemical content so that  the cost of medicine is less and sold in the market for same rate original has.

Expired medicines are taken back by the manufacturing company, and does not know what they do with it. For the wholesalers there is no need to sell it to third party since manufacturing company is paying them the actual cost. So expired medicine can come to the market again may be with the knowledge of manufacturing company.

Medicines of well known companies are made with different and low cost chemical combinations and it reach to market with the help of may be with  C&F agents, Distributors, wholesalers etc.

Now, we need to think about well known companies, there are possibilities to duplicate their medicines, what they should do against this duplicating?

My point comes here: it is interesting to see in some companies annual report a term ‘Corporate  Social Responsibility’, but do they actually have it? Need to think about it.

If a medicine or any other item is adulterated or duplicated  it is going to affect common man, so the prime responsibility with corporate are to see at least their items are not duplicated or adulterated. If anything   come to their notice, they should act.

Companies those who spend millions on Research & Development can also do something against this adulteration and duplication – ONLY if they wish.

If someone have a doubt about an item, there should be some mechanism with in the company to clarify the same. If not they should come up with any solution and prove that the item is not adulterated or duplicated.  There are adulteration in most of the FMCG items.

I would like to share an experience;

I used  to have honey every day with my medicine, I use honey of a well known company and they claim that the ‘purity is guaranteed’. I normally buy it from a local vendor. Sometimes I feel that I got a duplicate one, because;

•     Bottle does not open easily as it happens with genuine one, I had to use knife some times.
•     Taste of honey is different than the original one.

I have visited their website and posted a feedback about the same along with the bottles batch no, expiry date etc. This is almost 10 days passed, but there is no reply from them.

What should we understand from it, do they also part of this adulteration? Don’t they have a commitment towards common man? This the situation where they should show the responsibility-the ultimate social responsibility. But I doubt whether they have it other than on a sheet of paper.

I conclude with some suggestions;

•     Use medicine when it is most necessary.
•     If you feel any complication report with medicine/material and you can go for a laboratory test too. If the result is negative then file a case against manufacturing company.
•     Always check expiry date and whether the pack carry all the necessary details.
•     Spread this information.

CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

Supporting communities and managing our environmental footprint

According to the Government, Corporate Social Responsibility, or CSR as it’s better known, is the voluntary actions that a business can take, over and above compliance with minimum legal requirements, to address both its own competitive interests and the interests of wider society.

At Adonis, we believe it’s important to be part of the community in which we operate and to understand and be sympathetic to the economic, social and environmental impact we have on it.

As well as a strong commitment to environmental best practice, our projects are registered with the Considerate Constructors Scheme and we try to build relationships with site neighbours to ensure we take into account any concerns they might have.

We also have a policy of using local labour and materials wherever possible, helping to create a positive economic impact in areas where we work.We believe it’s important to be part of the community in which we operate.

That’s why we also actively encourage staff involvement with schools, colleges and universities and we support charity and fundraising initiatives wherever possible.

We recognise the importance of encouraging young people to view the construction industry as a rewarding career choice and in 2006, we launched the Adonis Teamworking Award for students at Stourbridge College.

We also present an annual prize for the ‘Best Dissertation’ to a student studying for a BSc in Construction Management at Wolverhampton University and our managing director was recently awarded an honorary degree from the University in recognition of his services to the construction sector.

Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Begins at Home

Here's a novel way to start putting CSR into play. The writer, Scott Cooney, was suggesting a strategy for dealing with the economic crisis. Cooney calls it a counterintuitive strategy.

    Try this: empower your employees. Give them even more reign over your company. Task them with righting the ship. Elevate them, during this time of crisis, to the level of partner. Ask them to think like an owner.

It may not resemble the usual CSR programs, but think about it--isn't this the essence of responsibility to one of the critical set of stakeholders, the employees. I don't think it is counterintuitive at all, just not normal. I find it quite the intuitive way to run a firm that sees itself as contributing to sustainability. I have said for a long time that the place to start CSR is within the firm, not somewhere outside. There is plenty of need and opportunity to right the wrongs of the world, but, with the exception of a very small number of firms, the concept of CSR will not get into their DNA until it is practiced in place first.