INDEVCO Commits to Social and Environmental Responsibility with Sustainability Summit

INDEVCO launched its first Sustainability Summit at Le Royal Beirut in Dbayeh on 6 September 2017, setting sustainability as a business priority. The event brought together division and headquarter service department leadership, sustainability contacts and data experts from across INDEVCO operations.

Addressing participants with the opening statement, Neemat Frem announced INDEVCO’s application to join UN Global Compact and his commitment to annually release a ‘Communication on Progress’ (CoP) report.

During the morning, speakers from across divisions highlighted environmental and social initiatives and discussed challenges and future objectives. Dr. Ellen Feghali, VP of Global Communications at INDEVCO, discussed the business case for sustainability.

In the afternoon, participants conducted a Materiality Assessment to identify and prioritize pressing sustainability topics and key stakeholders. Global Reporting Initiative (GRI)-Nominated Trainer, Simon Pitsillides, Director of FBRH Consultants, guided the workshop.

INDEVCO Environmental Sustainability

Environmental initiatives discussed during the Sustainability Summit included plastic waste collection and washing, recycled resin regeneration, renewable energies and energy reduction, eco-friendly initiatives at the corrugated packaging division and supply chain visibility.

Responsible Products, Raw Materials & Waste

Dr. Mariella Jaeger, Marketing & Innovation Director of INDEVCO Paper Containers, presented the ‘EcoPlus Program’ implemented at the division’s corrugated manufacturing operations. Arsan Gergean, Executive Director of Napco Flexible Packaging, then discussed how Napco National’s plastic plants are progressing towards a circular economy of plastics in Saudi Arabia.

Energy Reduction & Renewable Energy

Rabih Osta, Area General Manager of Phoenix Group, presented regional trends in energy consumption and renewable energy solutions, as well and highlighted the impacts on Lebanon and INDEVCO’s operations. Imad Issa El Khoury, VP of INDEVCO Paper Making, discussed Lebanon-based Unipak Tissue Mill’s investments and return on renewable energy and other solutions.

Sustainable Supply Chain

Pierre Akl, VP of INDEVCO Paper Containers & GESPA, highlighted the importance of a sustainable supply chain, as well as introduced the Supplier Code of Conduct and starting points for the group’s supply chain.

INDEVCO Social Responsibility

Employee Health & Safety

Toufic Soueiti, Senior Director of Insurance for INDEVCO, focused on the importance of advancing employee health and safety through a consolidated safety policy, standardized and automated reporting system across the group, and a unified audit system.

Women’s Wellbeing & Childhood Development

Zeinab Salman, Senior Director of Marketing at Napco Consumer Products, focused on Napco Consumer Products’ brand initiatives promoting Arab women’s wellbeing and childhood development in the Middle East.

Participants received INDEVCO’s 2016 Global Reporting Initiative (GRI)-Referenced Sustainability Report at the event. Distributed internally, the report presents key sustainability objectives and initiatives in environmental sustainability, social responsibility, and responsible product development, and related links to UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

About INDEVCO

As a diversified manufacturing group, INDEVCO produces paper, corrugated, and plastic raw materials and packaging and jumbo tissue rolls for a range of sectors, as well as personal care hygiene, household and away-from-home (AFH) disposables. INDEVCO member companies also supply renewable energy products and manufacture hygiene converting machinery and parts.