(English) Best Practices

ECO-ABC specialises in the area of medical and veterinary waste disposal. Medical and veterinary waste is a special group of highly harmful waste generated in our environment. Due to their content of pathogens (bacteria, viruses, parasites, fungi), they are the greatest source of risk if handled in a manner that does not comply with current guidelines. The offer includes comprehensive services from systematic collection to specialized transportation to final disposal of waste. In addition, it provides its customers with consulting services on proper waste management. It currently handles about 25% of the domestic hazardous waste market. The sustainability strategy provides a framework for managing the relevant issues - social, environmental and economic.

ECO-ABC has many years of experience in implementing Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) activities. From the very beginning, the company's management strategy has taken into account not only the interests of customers, but also those of suppliers, employees and their families, and the local community. Activities to date have been tailored to the needs and current opportunities, as well as internal and external factors. The development and implementation of the CSR strategy was to implement a complete enterprise management system based on the concept of corporate social responsibility.

Due to the nature of the industry, environmental protection is a particularly important area for ECO-ABC. Since its inception, the company has been looking for technological solutions that minimize the negative impact on the environment. It is the first Polish company to implement a unique system of water management and energy recovery in the process of waste disposal. The fully recovered heat generated from waste incineration in the high-capacity plant feeds the city's district heating network, and this means a measurable environmental effect - a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions. Also in terms of corporate governance, thanks to the company's implemented strategy, management's knowledge of employees' needs and insights has increased, and employees have a better understanding of expectations and preferred employee attitudes.

Selected CSR activities implemented by the company include:

• development and implementation of a clear scheme,
• organizational scheme of the company,
• special attention to maintaining the principles of gender equality,
• open door policy,
• internal training program,
• modernization of the waste incineration plant in Belchatow,
• philanthropic activities,
• sponsorship of local educational institutions.

The company has succeeded by optimizing many of the company's internal and external processes, improving employee relations, enhancing the quality of service, increasing the transparency of operations, opening new channels of communication with various interest groups, which can positively affect its image and make it easier to operate in the future.

ECO-ABC, aware of the challenges of the modern market requiring continuous improvement of its operations, has established three pillars of strategy setting the main CSR goals that form the basis for future activities in this area. These are: 1. to achieve the highest environmental standards in medical waste disposal services through continuous improvement and best practices in this area. 2. Creating a workplace desired by employees based on effective human capital management systems. 3. to build and maintain lasting relationships with customers and the local environment, taking into account the individual needs, goals and principles of each cooperating entity. As a natural consequence of ECO-ABC's adoption of the "Corporate Social Responsibility Strategy" and the Company's pursuit of the outlined goals contained in this strategy, CSR reports will be developed and published.

ECO-ABC. (n.d.). CSR – PODSTAWĄ STRATEGII ECO-ABC. Retrieved from: https://eco-abc.com.pl/csr/

ECO-ABC. (2016). STRATEGIA SPOŁECZNEJ ODPOWIEDZIALNOŚCI BIZNESU. Retrieved from: https://eco-abc.com.pl/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/Strategia-CSR-XI_2016.pdf