The Unipetrol Group, the largest refinery and petrochemical company in the Czech Republic, has become a member of the ‘Business for Society’ alliance (in Czech: Byznys pro společnost). This platform associates the companies which are committed to adhering to the principles of corporate social responsibility (CSR) and sustainable business. Unipetrol pursues many CSR activities. It supports education, closely cooperates with local communities, protects the environment and promotes eco-friendly activities and takes care of its employees.
“Sustainability is at the heart of our company - we integrate environmental and social considerations into our daily operations,” says Tomasz Wiatrak, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Unipetrol Group, adding: “We strive to be seen as a good and responsible neighbour in the regions we are active in. That is why we cooperate with local municipalities, towns and regions, promote and support many projects and institutions which focus on the education, community and environmental protection.”
Unipetrol’s CSR strategy is based on four pillars: education, local communities, the environment and the people.
- Education is a key foundation to success and no nation can achieve prosperity without making it a top priority. “EDU360” is a comprehensive circular educational support concept Unipetrol has developed over the years. A circular approach to any system puts an emphasis on maximizing the use of resources and keeping them running in continuous loops. Unipetrol´s circular approach to educational CSR projects mean that its contribution is connected, far-reaching and perpetual. Unipetrol obtains that by supporting education at all stages. It is necessary that big companies address their CSR educational programs to teachers. Unipetrol believes that education starts from them and so it focus as much on them as it does on school children.
- Unipetrol wilfully contribute to the well-being of the local communities by working closely with them on managing the social impacts of our business activities and enhancing the benefits Unipetrol is able to provide. Unipetrol is proud to be considered a good neighbour and member of the community. Speaking of the neighbourhood, Unipetrol’s activities also include the fostering and development of Czech-Polish relations.
- Unipetrol spends more than a billion crowns every year on the projects associated with environ-mental protection and support. Unipetrol is continuously modernising its production, optimising energy intensity, reducing the volume of emissions and waste materials. Unipetrol also cooperates with a number of non-profit organisations on nature support projects.
- Employees are our greatest asset of every company. That’s why Unipetrol strives to create an environment where everyone feels valued and contributes their unique skills and perspectives. With 4800 people on board, Unipetrol is considered one of top employers in the chemistry busi-ness and one of the best Czech companies to work for among students and graduates.
“We want to be a part of the CSR community in the Czech Republic. Our membership will enable us to share our experience with other member companies and to draw inspiration for our next efforts,” Katarzyna Woś, Vice Chairwoman of the Board of Directors of the Unipetrol Group and Chair-woman of the Board of Directors of the Unipetrol Foundation, explains why Unipetrol has decid-ed to join the Business for Society alliance.
The Business for Society alliance associates organizations taking a responsible approach and helping and creating better living conditions. It aims to create space for collaboration among companies, share experience and implement professional tools for sustainable business in individual CSR segments. The alliance is a Czech partner of CSR Europe, the largest European organisation focusing on the sharing of CSR experience across member organizations. It promotes sustainability and competitiveness in modern Europe.
Pavlína Kalousová, Chairwoman of the Business for Society alliance, adds: “We are really pleased that Unipetrol has become a member of our platform and that it has an ambition to join the sustainability and responsibility leaders in the Czech Republic which want to make a contribution to a flourishing society in all respects – not only the economic one, but also with respect to social and environmental issues. We are looking forward to seeing Unipetrol actively joining discussions with the other alliance members, sharing inspiring approaches and specific measures aimed at business and societal transformation based on diversity principles.”
Business for Society develops together with its members strategy “Responsible 2030” which sup-ports sustainable production, consumption, sustainable labour market and the community. Alliance also organises various CSR conferences and workshops for its members, provides information about new trends in this area, as well as specialised know-how (e.g. as part of thematic expert groups), and prepares and implements corporate volunteering programmes and counselling on CSR strategies. The largest CSR platform in the Czech Republic also helps both big and small companies to set and develop the principles of sustainable business and CSR. Its members include dozens of major companies in the Czech Republic which employ more than 200,000 people. The platform coop-erates with key unions, institutions and the government, implements public awareness campaigns and acts as a national coordinator for many European programmes.
The Unipetrol Group is the largest refinery and petrochemical company in the Czech Republic. It focuses primarily on crude oil processing, distribution and sale of fuel and petrochemical products — particularly plastics and fertilisers. In all these fields, the group is a key player on both the Czech and Central European market. The Unipetrol Group includes refineries and production plants in Litvínov and Kralupy nad Vltavou, Paramo with the Mogul brand in Pardubice and Kolín, Spolana in Neratovice, and two research centres in Litvínov and Brno. Unipetrol also owns the Benzina network of petrol stations that is operating in the Czech republic and Slovakia. With 413 stations, Benzina is the largest retail fuels chain in the Czech Republic. Unipetrol is one of the largest companies in the Czech Republic in terms of turnover. The group created revenue of over CZK 130 billion last year and employs more than 4 800 people. In addition to business development, Unipetrol takes pride in being a socially responsible company and as such dedicates an equal level of commitment to initiatives designed to cultivate and support sustainable development, education, local communities and the environment. In 2005, Unipetrol became part of the PKN Orlen Group, the largest crude oil processor in Central Europe.