ENVIRONMENT

BUSINESS: 294 PRACTICES


TOPIC:

Initiative

SUBMITTED FROM:

AstraZeneca

At AstraZeneca, to respond effectively to a changing world and increased disease burden, we continuously invest in one of the most powerful and efficient production lines in the pharmaceutical industry. We work hard to deliver life-changing medicines and treatments to patients around the world.

We continue to push the boundaries of science to deliver innovative medicines and therapies that prevent, treat and cure some of the world's most important health challenges, including cancer, diabetes, heart, kidney and respiratory diseases. At AstraZeneca, innovation is a concept intertwined with growth. It is the driving force behind our vision to improve the lives of thousands of people by bringing them innovative treatments. At the same time, we ensure that these medicines reach the patients who need them, in a way that benefits society and our planet.

 

Greece - AstraZeneca



Objective Action

The program is an important corporate responsibility initiative of AstraZeneca and is part of the company's wider social strategy for sustainable development and sustainability.

Sustainability at AstraZeneca is about being able to make a meaningful impact where society needs it – in Healthcare. We believe that the health of people is inextricably linked to the health of our planet. For this reason, we have made environmental protection a key pillar of our social strategy.

Recognizing the strong connection between a healthy environment and human health, we believe that proper environmental management is capable of preventing disease and enhancing access to health care. Based on Science, we aim to protect the environment for future generations.

We realize that as climate change intensifies, so do its effects on human health. For this reason, we are constantly looking for opportunities to promote sound environmental management and reduce climate impacts.

The aim of the program is to raise the awareness of the company's employees and to educate them on environmental protection issues, as well as to strengthen teamwork and volunteerism.

 

Target Audience

The program is addressed to the internal public, the company's employees, who actively participate in its implementation with their voluntary action, but also to the wider public.

 

Duration

The program has a duration of four years. It started in October 2019 and will be completed in 2022.


Description

AstraZeneca's "Protecting the environment...with actions!" program was designed in line with the company's broader philosophy, where the health of people is inextricably linked to the health of the planet. Environmental protection is one of the company's 3 priority pillars for the formulation of its business strategy for Sustainability.

The central idea of the program is the semantic connection of the 4 mathematical operations (addition, subtraction, multiplication, division) with 4 annual actions ("actions") of environmental protection, until 2022. The program is implemented with the active participation of the employees, in the context of Volunteering Day established by the company.

The first action of the program concerned the protection of the marine environment and included the "removal" of pollution from 5 coasts of Greece in Attica, Thessaloniki, Patras, Volos and Heraklion in Crete, with the participation of over 170 AstraZeneca employees. The action was carried out in collaboration with the environmental organization iSea, a member of the "Cooperation Network for the Marine Environment". The participants, after being informed by iSea representatives about the effects of pollution on the marine environment, but also about the correct separation of recyclable materials, proceeded to remove the waste along the coasts.

The second action of the program was dedicated to the value of tree planting and the contribution of forests to the health of people and the planet and concerned the reforestation of a forest area affected by fire. With the central message "We add oxygen!", the company supported the reforestation of Neo Voutza in Attica in collaboration with the environmental organization we4all. Members of the organization proceeded to plant 200 saplings in a forest area that had been affected by the devastating fires in 2018. Although AstraZeneca employees were not physically present at the site for reasons of preventing the transmission of the COVID-19 disease, they demonstrated their environmental awareness in practice, by an original and symbolic way: on the same day and at the same time as the reforestation action, the 211 workers throughout Greece supported the energy from their homes, transplanting a young olive tree on their balcony or garden. We note that AstraZeneca has adopted a global reforestation strategy to help reduce the effects of climate change. In this direction, it collaborates with environmental organizations in several countries of the world, aiming to plant 50 million trees by 2025.

AstraZeneca's environmental program has been recognized at the Environmental Awards 2020.

Accompanying supporting materials related to the program (Press releases, logo, photos, articles) can be viewed at the following link: https://az.box.com/s/xwqofekc078gm20wp8z98t0n147meo8z


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Impact on Society

As part of the 1st phase of the corporate environmental program:

  • Pollution was removed from 5 beaches in Greece (Schionia Marathona Attica, Perea Thessaloniki, Kastelokambo Patras, Nea Pagases Volos and Nea Alikarnasso Heraklion Crete)
  • Approximately 1,750 meters of coastline were cleaned
  • 91 garbage bags were collected, with a total weight of 450 kg
  • 20 kg of recyclable material was collected
  • 176 AstraZeneca employees participated
  • The workers were informed by representatives of the environmental organization iSea about the effects of pollution on the marine environment, but also about the correct separation of recyclable materials

The removal of 450 kg of waste that would end up in the sea contributes to the effort to protect and preserve the coastal ecosystems of our country.

As part of the 2nd phase of the corporate environmental program:

  • 200 young trees were planted for the reforestation of a fire-damaged area in Neo Voutza, Attica
  • 211 employees symbolically supported energy by planting a young olive tree on their premises

It is estimated that the 411 saplings planted will absorb an average of 2,933 kg of carbon dioxide per year, while releasing 15,600 kg of oxygen into the atmosphere, which will increase as they grow over the years.

Through this initiative we cultivate a mindset of environmental responsibility in our employees and highlight the positive impact of good environmental practices. At the same time, we raise awareness and awaken the wider public in this direction.



Initiative Location

The program includes actions throughout Greece. Specifically, the tree planting took place in Neo Voutza, Attica, and the coast cleaning in the areas of: Schoinia Marathona Attica, Peraia Thessaloniki, Kastelokampo Patras, Neas Pagases Volos and Nea Alikarnassos Heraklion Crete.


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Working with Organization

AstraZeneca cooperates with recognized environmental organizations, for the implementation of the individual actions of the "Protecting the environment ... with actions" program. Specifically, for the first action he collaborated with the environmental organization iSea (isea.com.gr), a member of the "Cooperation Network for the Marine Environment" and for the second with the environmental organization we4all (we4all.com).


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Workers Participation

The program is carried out with the active participation and voluntary action of the employees, as part of the Volunteering Day established by the company.

176 AstraZeneca employees volunteered to clean up the 5 beaches. In the context of tree planting and due to the special circumstances of the pandemic that prohibited group actions, 211 workers throughout Greece supported energy from their homes, transplanting a young olive tree to their balcony or garden.


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Photos

Benefits for Οrganization

Through this initiative we continue to implement the principles of our environmental strategy to further reduce our footprint on the environment. We present our social strategy for sustainable development and confirm that environmental protection is a priority in all our operations and a core of our value chain.

Internally, the program contributes to the strengthening of the teamwork of the company's employees and voluntary action, as well as to the training and cultivation of an environmentally sensitive mentality. At the same time, our internal audience becomes an ambassador of our corporate values and the messages of our program "Protecting the environment...with actions!"




Connection with Global Goals







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