Dubai Chamber launches the Sustainability Network Task Groups for 2013

The Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s Centre for Responsible Business organized an event to launch the ‘Sustainability Network Task Groups for 2013. During the event, the 50 national and international member companies of the Sustainability Network officially launched different member joint initiatives for 2013 that will address sustainability challenges through collaborative action and further support the mainstreaming of CSR/Sustainability amongst businesses in the UAE.

The launch ceremony, held at the Chamber premises on Wednesday, was attended by senior management from the Sustainability Network members, media and the business community in the UAE. The Sustainability Network, which was initiated in December 2010, has 50 member companies till date. 

At the heart of the Sustainability Network are the task groups’ business-driven and action-oriented projects aimed to address CSR challenges within the UAE. The task groups serve as a multi-stakeholder platform to discuss and exchange CSR/Sustainability and Corporate Governance views and practices.

Since the beginning of 2012, 15 task groups have been set up, five in 2012 and 10 in 2013. Through these task groups, all the network members are involved in ongoing creation of practical tools and know-how to tackle CSR challenges. The first results of the task groups for 2012 were launched in October 2012 and are available on the CRB website.

In his welcome address, Dr. Belaid Rettab, Senior Director, Economic Research and Sustainable Business Development Sector, Dubai Chamber, said that the Sustainability Network was an important element of Dubai Chamber’s overarching CSR strategy, which is helping to create awareness about the importance of CSR and sustainability in the emirate while reinforcing the Chamber’s position as the CSR leader in the country.

He said:  “Dubai Chamber puts great emphasis on promoting and incorporating CSR, and with our partners across the business community, we are able to ensure that Dubai continues to lead the region in this regard.

“Recently, Dubai Chamber was delighted to be rewarded for our efforts by the International Chambers of Commerce’s World Chambers Federation, which named our strategy the Best CSR Project,"added Dr. Rettab.

On their part, the Sustainability Network task groups are collaborating on various initiatives that include Sustainability Communication, Social Entrepreneurship, Waste Management and Resource Efficiency, Diversity, Stakeholder Engagement, Sustainable Supply Chain, Health and Safety Project, Encouraging Sustainability practices amongst SMEs, Sustainability Reporting and Capacity Building for NGOs.

The Sustainability Network Task Groups for 2013 include the Sustainability Communication Task Group consisting of Standard Chartered Bank, leading the task group, Eros Group, National Bank of Abu Dhabi, Intercoil International LLC, ABB, DLA Piper, Dubai Silicon Oasis Authority, Summertown, Al Rostamani Pegel, Siemens LLC, Axiom Telecom, Majid Al Futtaim Properties, Henkel GCC, Al Futtaim Carillion and Pepsi Asia Middle East and Africa.

The Social Entrepreneurship Task Group includes Al Ahli Holding Group leading the task group, Blackberry, Tristar Group, DP World, Intercoil International LLC, Dubai Silicon Oasis Authority, Consolidated Contractors Company (CCC), SamTech Middle East, Majid Al Futtaim Properties, Pepsi Asia Middle East and Africa, du and Al Futtaim Carillion.

The Waste Management and Resource Efficiency Task Group has Al Ghurair and Axiom Telecom leading the group. The other members are Eros Group, Saeed & Mohammed Al Naboodah Group, UAE Exchange, Mars GCC, Intercoil International LLC, Emirates NBD, ABB, DLA Piper, Dubai Silicon Oasis Authority, Six Construct, SamTech Middle East, Desert Group, Majid Al Futtaim Properties, Henkel GCC, Lulu, Pepsi Asia Middle East and Africa, Al Futtaim Carillion and du.

The Diversity Task Group includes UAE Exchange leading the task group, Zafco FZCO, TNT, National Bank of Abu Dhabi, CHEP Middle East, Dubai Silicon Oasis Authority and Desert Group while the Stakeholder Engagement Group has National Bank of Abu Dhabi in the lead and other members are DP World, Johnson & Johnson Corporate Citizenship Trust (ME), Dubai Silicon Oasis Authority, Blackberry and du.  

The Sustainable Supply Chain Task Group includes Emirates NBD leading the task group, CHEP Middle East, Intercoil International LLC, ABB, DLA Piper, Dubai Silicon Oasis Authority, Al Rostamani Pegel, Majid Al Futtaim Properties, Lulu, Chalhoub Group, du and Al Futtaim Carillion.

The Health and Safety Project Task Group has ABB in the lead and the members are TNT, Tristar Group, Standard Chartered Bank, Intercoil International LLC, Dubai Silicon Oasis Authority, Consolidated Contractors Company (CCC), Al Rostamani Pegel, Henkel GCC and du while the Encouraging Sustainability Practices among SMEs task group which is led by Al Wasl includes TNT, UAE Exchange, ABB, Mashreq, Clarksons, SamTech Middle East, Paramount Computers and Palm Utilities.

The Sustainability Reporting Task Group is led by Six Construct and includes Aramex, TNT, Saeed & Mohammed Al Naboodah Group, UAE Exchange, Standard Chartered Bank, Intercoil International LLC, Dubai Silicon Oasis Authority, Summertown, Clarksons, Landmark Group, Axiom Telecom, Desert Group, Chalhoub Group, Paramount Computers, du and Palm Utilities.

The Capacity Building for NGOs Task Group is being led by DLA Piper and HSBC Bank Middle East Ltd and includes Blackberry, Saeed & Mohammed Al Naboodah Group and Henkel GCC.

The speakers at the launch ceremony included Mr. Eugene Mayne, Group CEO, Tristar Transport LLC, and Ms. Hala Badri, Executive Vice President, Brand and Communications, du.

Mr. Eugene Mayne, Group CEO, Tristar Transport LLC, said that Tristar’s business plan now provides for our contribution in the social, environment and economic pillars by setting targets and measuring how the company positively helps the community and protects the environment.

Sustainable development for Tristar starts with the safety of our people and all our external stakeholders. We recognise our obligation to the health and safety of our employees and the community and strive to create a sound and sustained safety culture that will support our goal of no accidents, no harm to people and no damage to the environment, he added.

Ms. Hala Badri, Executive Vice President, Brand and Communications, du, said: “Today is special in many ways. On World Environment Day, we are happy to announce that our teams are members of several working teams within Dubai Chamber Sustainability Task Groups. Every practice in our company has sustainability at its core right from recycling and waste management, to the harnessing of solar energy, our e-Billing system and the launch of our first green shop in Fujairah. These are practical translations to commitment as a responsible business.”

The Dubai Chamber Sustainability Network comprises of 50 members and includes Consolidated Contractors Company (CCC), HSBC Bank Middle East Limited, Johnson & Johnson Corporate Citizenship Trust (ME), Majid Al Futtaim Properties, TNT Express, Aramex, Summertown, Saeed & Mohammed Al Naboodah Group, Pepsi Asia Middle East and Africa, PUMA Middle East, Cisco Systems, Al Ahli Holding Group, DLA Piper, CHEP Middle East, Mashreq, Siemens LLC, Nokia, Eros Group, Standard Chartered Bank, Axiom Telecom, Al Ghurair, du and National Bank of Abu Dhabi.

It also has DP World, Research In Motion, SamTech Middle East, Henkel GCC, Zafco FZCO, ABB, Landmark Group, Emirates NBD, Dubai Oasis Silicon Authority, Six Construct, Mars GCC, Palm Utilities, Desert Group, Al Wasl, Intercoil International LLC, Paramount Computers, Clarksons, UAE Exchange, Tristar Group, Chalhoub Group, Al Rostamani Pegel, Lulu, Apparel Group, MAF Dalkia, Al Futtaim Carillion, Desert Group and Veolia Environment.

The Centre for Responsible Business, which was formed in 2004, is the longest standing center promoting business responsibility in the UAE. The Centre not only assists Dubai Chamber members to apply responsible business practices that enhance performance and competitiveness but also offers a variety of educational, professional training and consulting services that are designed to build individual companies' capacity to implement broad CSR programmes including business ethics, sustainability reporting and corporate governance.