Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)
We believe that CSR should be incorporated in a company’s activities, both towards its employees and towards the society in general. Ciparo has always set an example in supporting labour laws and the Chinese government’s initiatives to protect the environment and preserve natural resources.
Our main objective, regarding our CSR activities, is to contribute to a better society and a healthier environment. Moreover, we direct our CSR activities to projects that are more relevant to our business as we feel that we can make a bigger impact there. Some of the areas we pay special attention to are, the environment, local communities, the society and our workplace ethics.
Environmental Sustainability
Ciparo recognizes, respects and supports the principles agreed by the United Nations in the UN Global Compact. Moreover, Ciparo recognizes the more specific guidelines of the “Multi-national Enterprises of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development” (OECD).
Recycling offers a good alternative in preventing the exhaustion of natural resources. Ciparo is an environmentally – friendly company that contributes considerably to the recycling industry by purchasing secondary raw materials and half-products in parts of the world where there is an excess of those and, subsequently, by selling them to countries where there is a shortage.
China is the main sales market for Ciparo, where export begun in the mid-nineties. The (recovered) fibres that Ciparo sells to paper factories in China, contribute to the protection of the environment and offer an alternative to deforestation and (air)pollution, caused by the extraction of natural resources.
Ciparo embraces the Chinese government’s initiative to stimulate an increase in recyclable materials imports. The import of recovered paper with a level of pollution higher than the Chinese standards is strongly prohibited and is monitored by specialised Chinese inspectors in both the country of origin and the port of arrival. Ciparo has all the export and import licenses required, such as the AQSIQ license and abides by the rules set by the Chinese government and other public agencies.
Containers destined for Chinese ports are being checked regularly on quality by local and by Chinese authorities. Besides China, Ciparo is in close contact with the corresponding authorities and inspection agencies of other countries where business relations are located. Furthermore, Ciparo has all required licenses and documentation issued by those countries.
In line with our beliefs and our business activities, we recycle all paper used in the office, we use recyclable disposable coffee cups, CO2 neutral (in cooperation with SITA and BioLogical Solutions, cup2paper) and we hold paperless meetings, using a laptop or a tablet for notes instead.
Local Communities and the Society
Together with Aim Reclaim and Golden Windmill, members of the Ciparo group, we have taken part in different projects whose goal is to support rural Chinese areas or disadvantaged parts of population.
In 2009, Ciparo participated in the building of a new kitchen for children of the Cheng Meng orphanage.
After Jiegu town (Yushu province) suffered from the earthquake in April 2010, Ciparo B.V. donated the equivalent of 150.000 ¥ in foreign currency to the Chinese Earthquake relief funds. The rest of the donation was given to the reconstruction of the Butter Lamp kindergarten that had been completely destroyed during the earthquake.
In 2001, Ciparo sponsored and participated in a cycling event that raised money for a solar-heated primary boarding school in Eastern Tibet.
Another initiative involved donating Braille paper and raising funds for the organization “Braille without Borders”.
Louis de Hoogendoorn, Ciparo’s co-founder who sadly passed away in 2007, was particularly dedicated to Ciparo’s social responsibility and our CSR activities. In his memory, Ciparo gives the “Louis Hoogendoorn Award” every year to students who present their research and write a feasibility study on their own idea for a product, a company or a non-profit organization. The winner receives 2000 euro for the start-up costs of his or her idea.
Workplace Ethics
Ciparo is fully committed to the labour legislation and regulation. On top of the normal salary and bonus scheme, each employee receives a monthly housing allowance, medical insurance, pension funds and unemployment compensation. The employees are offered an in-work training by taking part in various projects and they are being encouraged to develop their professional skills in different areas.
Read more on Ciparo’s CSR activity here: Aim Reclaim