The EWMI ACCESS-supported Corporate Social Responsibility Club (CSR Club), together with the Global Compact Network Georgia, organized the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Award Ceremony. Three Georgian business companies were awarded for their initiatives in protecting human rights, protecting the environment, and demonstrating effective cooperation with CSOs to advance social causes. The award ceremony was held at Rooms hotel Tbilisi.

The CSR Award competition was announced, with the purpose of promoting corporate social responsibility in Georgia and enabling businesses to get recognition as reliable partners in these fields. Due to an intensive high profile campaigning, 16 business companies submitted 23 projects and an independent jury (composed of representatives from the government, international organizations, and academia) selected the best 3 initiatives for the award.

The award for best project in human rights was granted to the APM Terminals Poti – Poti Seaport, for its commitment to ensuring health and safe working environment for its employees and society, and therefore training of 2279 truck drivers on road safety issues. The brewery Natakhtari was awarded for the best initiative in the area of environmental protection for introducing a biological wastewater treatment plant that filters the water produced throughout the Company’s beer producing industrial cycle and alleviates environmental damage to the immediate surroundings.the company has also been involved in the tree planting project around the premises of the Natakhtari facility and held awareness-raising sessions for employees on environmental protection issues.

The construction company “m2” was awarded for best partnership project with CSOs that focused on restoring the Mtatsminda forest damaged during the fire in summer. In addition, and in partnership with local non-governmental organizations, the company will launch a conflagration prevention campaign at public schools. The disaster risk reduction related project is being implemented at residential complexes of the company.

The CSR Award Ceremony was held for the first time and is planned to take place on an annual basis. ACCESS supports the CSR Club’s activities to promote responsible business practices and to facilitate CSO/business cooperation.