CSR Summit to focus on reduction of carbon footprint

Mike Patrick, TNT's Corporate Social Responsibility Director will impress on regional corporations the need to implement and integrate a sustainable and environmental stewardship programme into their CSR strategy to reduce their environmental footprint.

'TNT's approach exemplifies the ethos of corporate sustainability - combining economic prosperity with a social conscience and care for the environment. Their example is a blueprint for introducing improved environmental standards, which can be adopted by mainstream organisations throughout the Middle East,' said Kosta Petrov, Conference Manager, CSR Summit.

Leading the cause is undoubtedly TNT's depot in the midlands town of Wellingborough, Northamptonshire. It was the first of the UK company's nationwide network of depots and offices to receive the coveted international environmental standard IS0 14001, 'green' certification. This was achieved after employees embarked on a programme to minimise their impact on the environment by conserving energy, recycling materials and preventing pollution.

The campaign aims were to conserve energy, cut pollution, recycle waste, and train lorry drivers to adopt the latest fuel-saving techniques when behind the wheel of their vehicles, clearly demonstrated their commitment to the achievement of one of their corporate social responsibility objectives, that of commitment to reducing pollution to the environment.

Not only is the green approach better for the environment but it is also saving TNT hard-earned revenue at Wellingborough. By re-using and recycling wooden pallets, they have reduced waste disposal costs by up to 32 per cent and they have cut the amount of paper used by almost 11 per cent, year-on-year.

In all this year's CSR Summit features 41 speakers from 17 different countries, with the programme split into four main categories mirroring the key principles of CSR; Promoting CSR In The workplace; Positioning CSR In The Market; Contributing To The Community and Emphasising Global Warming And Climate Change And Their Impact On Business.

An impressive line-up of international and regional expert speakers has been assembled which include amongst others, Anna E. Roosevelt, VP Global Corporate Citizenship, The Boeing Company, USA; Jan Buckingham, Director Global Values, The Body Shop, UK; Ian Kiernan, Chairman And Founder, Clean Up Austrailia And Clean Up The World, Australia; Zaki Khoury, Gulf Citizenship Lead, Microsoft-Gulf, UAE; Matthias Gelber, Board Member, International Network Of Environmental Management, Malaysia;

Three interactive post-summit workshops have also been included in the five-day programme, which includes a dedicated and in-depth seminar on effective CSR reporting.

In association with Shell Middle East, the event has also attracted premium sponsors with Microsoft-Gulf, Abu Dhabi-based Al Qudra Holding Company and internationally renowned Dow Chemical Company, confirming their support.