About

The Centre for Sustainability and Excellence (CSE) is a leading advising organisation and a Think Tank with offices in Athens, Chicago and Brussels specialised in providing sustainable development solutions to various corporations and institutions. It represents the outcome of the cooperation between experts and scientists, who deal with, apply and provide support in the most advanced practical methodologies towards sustainability, while adhering to social and environmental criteria.

Through its network of international partners, CSE offers coaching in a vast array of advising services promoting sustainability and excellence to organisations, society and governments. CSE offers a variety of easy to implement solutions tailored to the client’s area of operation, as well as to consumers aiming at incorporating a more sustainable lifestyle.

Carbon Footprint

• Carbon Footprint Strategy

• Carbon neutral Products and Services

• Carbon Neutral Operations and Programs for Climate Change

• Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions Assessment and Verification based on internationally established standards

• Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions Offsetting Green Solutions for Cost Effectiveness

• Green IT cost effective Solutions

• Energy audits for cost effectiveness

• Water Management solutions Water Footprint

Water Footprint Assessment CSE uses practical and innovative methodologies based on international best standards, frameworks and guidelines that increase stakeholder value and brand awareness.

• CSR Assessment (UN Global Compact, GRI, EFQM framework for CSR, etc)

• CSR Strategy

• CSR Scorecard (Relating non financial with financial performance)

• CSR /Sustainability Reporting development (based on best practices and international CSR models).

• Sustainability Reporting Evaluation & Sector benchmarking (>>NEW)

• CSR standards Certification

• Development of Stakeholder Scorecard (Perception Measures & KPIS that boost Stakeholder Engagement & Dialogue)

• Supporting the development of a Corporate Sustainability Centre (ON GOING CSR )

• Stakeholder Engagement Surveys & Risk Analysis (>>NEW)

• Creation of a Corporate Governance system & Assessment based on international practices/ models of Corporate Governance

Strategy

CSE, in order to ensure the quality of company services and products, has launched a Stakeholder Code of Conduct. Through this code, all internal and external stakeholders are committed and engaged in ensuring policies reflect both the company and individuals by signing the code.

The Stakeholder Code of Conduct includes organizational and employee commitments with respect to human rights, working conditions and labour standards, the environment and anti-corruption. Since 2006, CSE has implemented a Green Office Policy that aims to reduce waste generation, through the implementation of office recycling initiatives, and reduce levels of direct and indirect CO2 emissions through energy saving reduction practices, and to offset those emissions.

CSE is a member of the UN Global Compact, a fact that underlines their precautionary approach, the undertaking of environmental initiatives and the use of environmentally friendly technologies. They commit to continually improve their environmental performance, prevent pollution, and act beyond the compliance of all applicable laws and regulations. From 2006 onwards, they have embedded a Green Office Policy in CSE’s structure, aiming to reduce waste generation and reduce indirect and direct CO2 emissions through the implementation of office recycling initiatives, and offsetting of those emissions.

More specifically, they:

• Initiate efforts towards reporting environmental standards of our organisation and encourage all our stakeholders to do the same.

• Consult with stakeholders regarding the development of common environmental activities.

• Offer education in matters regarding conservation and recycling, and communicate the aim of our efforts to stakeholders, clients and suppliers.

• Manage our remaining CO2 emissions through involvement in carbon reduction and neutralizing activities.

• Exercise environmental consciousness when making purchases.

• Work to minimise our use of energy

• Ensure all employees have an awareness of this policy so that it is implemented effectively

• Promote environmentally friendly technologies to our clients, helping them to minimise their energy use.

• Develop our products and services in a more environmentally friendly manner.

• Promote an environmental conscious lifestyle to employees for both the office and home.

CSE is a Climate Neutral Organisation as per annual certification by the Swiss organisation, myclimate. The resulting Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions, originating from the operation of CSE’s offices and the implementation of corporate sponsored events and workshops, were offset in myclimate carbon offset projects (renewable energy projects in developing countries).

CSE keeps records of energy, water and paper consumption, business travels and ways of transport in order to measure their CO2 emissions. In parallel to their offsetting activities, they are dedicated to an environmental management strategy with the goal of minimising their environmental footprint and continuing to offset their emissions so that they maintain their status as a climate neutral organisation. During this past year, CSE became particularly interested in the concept of Water Footprint and its ramifications at the individual, business and product level. They have become members of the Water Footprint Network, a non-profit Network aiming towards promoting the needed transformation towards sustainable and efficient use of fresh water resources. This partnership is crucial as it provides the necessary technical knowledge and understanding to implement activities that measure, assess and offset organisations’ water footprint.

According to their Sustainability Policy and their Stakeholder code of conduct, CSE has taken the following actions: CSE has implemented an office recycling scheme in which signatories of CSE’s Stakeholder Code of Conduct dispense waste material accordingly. Bins for paper, plastic, glassware and metals have been placed in their office premises enabling for an easy access to recycling. Furthermore, all recycled material is disposed in recycling bins placed by the Municipality in the neighborhood where their offices are located.

CSE has installed environmentally responsible software to its printing utilities that save ink, paper and reduce operating cost. For the period between March 2009 and September 2009, they have printed 7.188 pages using this software and they achieved a 465gr co2 waste reduction. CSE proceeds with environmentally friendly printing that uses sustainable paper stock and no harmful solvents. The corporate brochures are printed on 100 per cent recycled paper. CSE has placed compost bins that reduce the amount of waste sent to landfills and produce a nutrient-rich food product for the garden. The compost bin helps improve soil structure, maintain moisture levels, and keep the soil’s PH balance in check while helping to suppress plant disease.

Where possible, CSE has agreed to purchase more environmentally friendly office supplies as opposed to their nocuous counterparts. In order to track its most energy-consuming sources of its headquarters, CSE has installed an energy-consumption tracking system. This system enables CSE to cut its operational cost and hence reduce its carbon footprint. Regarding its water management policy: CSE has installed faucet aerators so as to reduce its water footprint. Water footprint is a newly coined word introduced in 2002 by UNESCO-IHE and refers to the environmentally friendly water management.

CSE has installed a mechanism in its toilets consisting of a plastic container inside the toilet cistern that reduces water consumption for each flush. As a result of these actions, CSE achieved a significant reduction on the water consumption. The scope of CSE’s environmental policy not only takes actions to reduce its impact in the environment, but also to inform and set an example to the stakeholders and the communities in which they operate. For that reason, they publish their actions, KPIs, and results, through the production of a regular annual sustainability report. Due to the nature of their organisation, their aim is to promote sustainable business practices via the dissemination of environmentally and socially conscious products and services. The overall objective seeks to inject sustainability into their clients’ corporate culture and help them achieve sustainable operations via the provision of cutting-edge products, which reduce cost and ameliorate the organisation’s environmental and social footprint.

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