Corporate Social Responsibility

As a good citizen, De Persgroep pays close attention to Corporate Social Responsibility in managing its business. There are two important aspects of this: De Persgroep tries to minimise its ecological footprint and wants to give something back to society by supporting good causes.

Introduction

Growing environmental awareness

Growing environmental awareness globally has been a focal point in recent years within De Persgroep for a long time. Even before it started up its revolutionary, environmentally friendly printing works in Lokeren, De Persgroep was already printing on recycled paper. Another pioneering step was the investment in dry offset in 2004, eliminating many harmful chemicals from the waste stream. Energy consumption has also been reduced at the various operating sites. In the Netherlands, besides bicycles, De Persgroep is also considering introducing ecoscooters on the longer paper rounds in 2011. Today, De Persgroep does not make any decision without considering the environmental aspects.

Good causes
De Persgroep has a long tradition of helping good causes. The first initiative dates from the 1920s with the non-profit organisation ‘Kindergeluk’. This organisation was formed at Het Laatste Nieuws to help underprivileged children in Brussels. In the 1990s, Kindergeluk decided to expand its work and become more professional: the age limit was raised and in addition to Brussels, projects were set up all over Flanders. The organisation and operation of the selected projects were also taken over by around 30 professional organisations.

Other subsidiaries of De Persgroep also have their heart in the right place. Shortly after it was established, the non-profit organisation ‘Levenslijn’ was launched. At first, the money raised went to patients with cancer, cardiovascular diseases, allergies, etc. More recently it has gone to young road accident victims, with the famous characters ‘Zeppe & Zikki’ spearheading various campaigns.

In the Netherlands, journalists from Het Parool set up a highly successful charity about 60 years ago. ‘Stichting Witte bedjes’ raises funds for sick and disabled children from Amsterdam.

Kindergeluk

Kindergeluk

Through the non-profit organisation Koninklijke Vereniging Kindergeluk, for many years, De Persgroep has done its bit to offer children and young people new opportunities, both socially and culturally. The organisation focuses in particular on those who struggle in our society due to social circumstances, health and/or learning difficulties.

In order to achieve its aims, Kindergeluk has built links with organisations that work with this target group on a daily basis. Their professional advice means that the funds raised can be put to optimum use. Donations come from readers, management, staff and suppliers of De Persgroep.

In recent years, the largest amount has gone to the non-profit organisation Habbekrats to extend its premises in Antwerp. Through their work, they reach more than 2,500 young people whom they help to improve their self esteem and overcome their difficulties.

A large chunk of the budget also goes to holiday projects. Thanks to Kindergeluk’s support, some 400 disadvantaged children and young people are able to participate in various holiday camps every year.

Other projects include intervention to improve the living conditions of children in care. This ranges from equipping playrooms to renovating community facilities, buying desks and chairs for children, playground equipment, bicycles, etc.

For more information: www.kindergeluk.be

Witte Bedjes

Stichting Witte Bedjes Het Parool

Sixty years ago, one of the journalists from Het Parool took the initiative to raise funds for children in Amsterdam's hospitals and sanatoriums. The initiative was a success and grew over the years, culminating in the establishment of Stichting Witte Bedjes Het Parool in 1967, with the goal of funding activities for sick and/or disabled and otherwise needy children in Amsterdam and the surrounding area.

The funds are raised via donations, an annual mailshot to subscribers to Het Parool and an annual sponsored run during the ‘Dam to Damloop’, the largest amateur running event in the Netherlands. Almost one hundred percent of contributions to Stichting Witte Bedjes goes to the chosen causes. Each year, some of the support goes to subsidise hospitals, special schools and institutions.

For more information: www.stichtingwittebedjes.nl

Levenslijn

Levenslijn

The Levenslijn children’s fund is a non-profit organisation set up under the umbrella of the King Baudouin Foundation. This fund was set up to support practical social projects to improve the living conditions of children and young people.

Since 2002, the Levenslijn children's fund has campaigned to improve road safety and care for young road traffic accident victims:

• through prevention campaigns by raising awareness through the media and distributing safety material.
• by taking initiatives and supporting better care for young road traffic accident victims. Thus, together with the government, Levenslijn supports the non-profit organisation Rondpunt. 
• by supporting scientific research into the issue.

All funds raised through the Levenslijn campaign go to the Levenslijn children's fund, managed by the King Baudouin Foundation.

More info: www.levenslijn.be

Zeppe & Zikki are the stars of Levenslijn. In their programme on vtm and vtmKzoom, they set off together and come across road traffic hazards which they avoid or prevent in an original way.

To view video clips go to www.zeppezikki.be

Waterless Printing

Environmentally friendly production

EPC N.V. is a printing company with integrated graphics departments: prepress, printing, finishing and dispatch. The printing presses use a unique, innovative and environmentally friendly printing process known as dry offset printing (= waterless printing).

This waterless printing technology was used 30 years ago in Asia by small local printers, specifically because of its ecological and quality benefits.

In 2000, KBA (a German manufacturer of offset printing presses) was the first manufacturer in the world to apply this green technology on an industrial scale by producing compact newspaper offset presses based on this technology: the Cortina.

Eco Print Center was the first partner of KBA to apply this technology on a larger scale in 2006 and to join with the press manufacturer to build on this pioneering approach and expand into further industrialisation.

In the last few years, as well as pioneering the development of the printing process, the company has also taken a leading role in promoting this technology throughout Europe and worldwide.

Several major printing companies have since followed Eco Print Center’s example: For instance: In France, Le Figaro started printing its newspapers with this new technology in Paris in September 2009 (three and a half years after EPC NV).

In Germany, seven projects have already started up and/or are up and running in Freiburg, Ludwigshaven, Cologne, Bremerhaven, Düsseldorf and other places.

Even in Dubai, the largest newspaper in the region – ‘Gulf News’ – is going to switch to this revolutionary technology.

What is waterless printing?

Waterless offset eliminates the chemical water factor that causes serious environmental damage and ink mist with conventional printing. This makes the working environment and the end-product much healthier and cleaner.

The conventional printing process is based on a chemical balance in which the ink and water together with the necessary chemical dampening additives and/or isopropanol or its substitutes result in an erratic and rather dirty process.

The waterless printing process is a mechanical process in which only a temperature curve for the ink needs to be controlled instead of the speed of the press.

This new printing technology enables newspapers and magazines to be printed with the same press and environmentally friendly ink.

Read more on www.epc-nv.be