United Arab Emirates businesses have been urged to improve their environmental performance as part of their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives.

This not only saves businesses money but it also contributes to the vision of the UAE’s leaders and provides significant social and environmental benefits, according to the Dubai Chamber of Commerce & Industry.

The Chamber will be one of the organisations taking part at the 9th CSR Summit 2012, from June 10 to 13 at the JBR Movenpick Dubai, where the chamber will discuss how it is locking CSR into its core business.

Between 1998 and 2008, Dubai Chamber employees used their regular operations and maintenance budget to implement a number of initiatives which reduced water and energy consumption by 77 percent and 47 percent respectively leading to savings of around $1.93 million. In 2009 it became the 1st LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certified existing building in the Arab world, demonstrating that buildings in this region can be greened without major investments.

Since then th4e chamber has renovated its offices to the latest green building standards which has led to much further energy and water savings. It has also doubled productivity per square meter and helped increase staff satisfaction from 72 per cent on the old floors to 93 per cent on the new floors, said a statement.

 “We have been working hard to improve the environmental performance of our head office since 1998. Originally, we were focused on water and energy efficiency but in 2007 we began focusing on waste management and recycling, and in 2008 we decided to extend our efforts to include green transport and purchasing. Since 2009 we have been renovating our building and introduced the latest green building standards. We encourage other organisations to enhance their environmental performance for the benefit of their bottom line and employees as well as the environment and the broader community,” said Annelies Hodge, CSR manager at Dubai Chamber.

The summit provides a unique platform for CSR professionals to learn and network alongside key stakeholders to develop and advance CSR in the region.

Hodge will highlight why and how they implemented globally recognised certifications like LEED for green buildings and candidly share the challenges and benefits it has brought Dubai Chamber.

Other speakers include Maria Conceicao who will share her inspiring story about the Maria Cristina Foundation. Also presenting will be Rania Tayeh, branding and CSR officer for Dubai Aluminium Company; Huw Gilbert, senior director of corporate affairs-Asia MEA for PepsiCo, the events Official CSR Partner.

10 percent of all delegate fees at the event will be donated to the Dubai Autism Centre as part of IIR Middle East, the event organiser's CSR initiative. - TradeArabia News Service