The United Nations World Commission on Environment and Development (WCED) has defined sustainability as “the ability to satisfy current needs without compromising the possibility for future generations to satisfy their own needs.’’ The concept of sustainability combines three pillars: Economic growth, social equity and respect for the environment. The economic principle requires the adequate production of resources so that society can maintain a reasonable standard of living. The social equity principle implies that everybody be treated fairly and the environmental principle requires that society protect its environmental resources.
Regard for the environment and community growth are an integral part of our development policy. For us, sustainability begins long before industrial processing. It extends across every aspect of our business—from our products and services to our influence on society and the environment. Our sustainability policy covers several environmental and social issues, some of which are listed below.
What we do for the environment
✓ Our two privately-owned plants are strategically located in the heart of fruit cultivation areas. Fruit is transported to the nearest processing plant, limiting fuel consumption and emissions from trucks. In this way, we reduce the carbon cycle through a complete study of our production process starting from cultivation, collection, transport, processing of the fruit to storage and delivery of the final product.
✓ 100% liquid waste management. All liquid waste streams are led to the biological treatment plant of our production units.
✓ Implementation of ISO 14001 Environmental Management Systems (EMS). Learn more about our environmental policy for VITOM S.A. here and for Christodoulou Bros S.A. here.
✓ Recycling of waste from the production process, more specifically 100% of paper, plastic, metals, wood and fruit residues.
✓ Reduction in water consumption by 3% each year
✓ Reduction in electricity consumption by 3% each year
✓ 100% recycling of ink and toner cartridges as well as batteries
✓ We advise farmers to adopt Good Agricultural Practices (fertilization, harvesting, waste management, etc.) aiming at the sustainable management of agricultural lands and natural resources.
What we do for the society
✓ We have established strong, long-term relationships with more than 3,000 small-scale farmers, making a positive impact on their lives.
✓ Our Group has over 1 000 permanent and seasonal employees.
✓ We support local communities where the company’s two factories are located, by creating new jobs (Awarded as Top Job Creator).
✓ We support schools, communal grocery stores and vulnerable groups throughout Greece by donating thousands of highly nutritional juices.
✓ We offer strong incentives to producers to encourage them to convert to organic farming, which helps the environment and provides farmers with significantly more income.
✓ We aim to guarantee a sustainable supply of the highest quality Greek fruit.
✓ In 2020, our donation helped towards the full restoration of the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of the General Hospital of Nafplio, where one of our production plants is located.
✓ Every year, we are proud sponsors of certain sports events throughout Greece (i.e. Marathons and Iron Man Greece).
✓ Every year, we donate to the “AgkaliaZO” Organization, in support of their work against cancer.
✓ The Braille system is used in our chilled Chris Family Juices to assist visually impaired people.
✓ Every year, we run diabetes awareness campaigns by encouraging people to adopt a healthy lifestyle and diet.
What we do for our valued employees
✓ Encourage employees to exercise by participating in sports events at the company's expense.
✓ A daily break for walking is strongly recommended to all employees within working hours.
✓ A stable and secure working environment.
✓ Hundreds of hours of training programmes each year.
✓ Emphasis on accident prevention and creating a safe work environment through regular inspections and training.
✓ Annual performance evaluation and rewards.
✓ Monitoring the work environment twice a year, which includes noise and dust measurement in the workplace and surrounding areas, as well as measuring the humidity, lighting and temperature.
CHB Groupdonation programme
We are in the process of planning a sustainability programme, designed to reflect the CHB Group's commitment on sustainable development. Each person individually and all of us together, we aim to combine economic success with social responsibility.
The programme shall reflect the company's constant effort to go one step further, while at the same time, giving back to society. The Group aims to participate in the implementation of programmes focusing on the environment, health, education and economic development.
