CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY
Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) has never been more prominent on the business agenda for any organisation than it is today.
Alba’s CSR practices are deep-rooted in its belief that we need to look beyond profits and give back to society. 2022
was a year where Alba’s CSR-led initiatives complimented its Environment, Social and Governance (ESG) objectives with the aim to meet Bahrain’s Net Zero Emissions by 2060. Our efforts were directed at reducing carbon emissions, developing the youth, caring for the needy members of society, and increasing the overall health awareness on various fronts.
Initiatives aimed at environment conservation were at the forefront with Alba contributing towards Bahrain’s commitment to quadrupling mangrove coverage and doubling tree coverage by 2035.
One of the major steps that Alba took was to collaborate and support different entities to increase the green cover in the Kingdom. Alba inked a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Bahrain’s Supreme Council of Environment (SCE) to work on the conservation of mangroves. Another major step was to back the National Initiative for Agricultural Development (NIAD) efforts in Ras Sanad Mangrove Nursery Project with a financial aid of BD134,000.
Supporting the ‘Forever Green’ campaign -- by the National Initiative for Agricultural Development (NIAD) under the patronage of HRH Princess Sabeeka bint Ibrahim Al Khalifa,
wife of His Majesty the King and Chairperson of NIAD Advisory Council -- where Alba Executives and Management team planted around 4,000 trees along the main roads of the smelter
Alba scaled up its ‘A Tree for Every Employee’ Campaign (which was launched in 2021) and continued to distribute saplings to its employees and contractor workers’ through the year. The Company not only planted but also provided the irrigation system for a total of 800 trees at Al Areen Wildlife Park, 1,400 trees at Bahrain Polytechnic and 200 trees at the Bahrain Society for Training and Development. Additionally, 250 saplings were distributed to AMA International University, Lycée Francois International De Bahrein and Sacred Heart School. Alba also provided financial support to cover the cost of purchasing and maintaining gardening equipment for Alia School for Early Intervention.
Volunteering is the voice of people put into action which in turn will shape and mold the present into a better future. As a corporate citizen, Alba is one of the main volunteers of youth educational and developmental programmes. Alba was the proud recipient of the Volunteer Service Award by INJAZ Bahrain for the second year in a row - contribution of 491 Volunteering Hours, the highest amongst Bahrain companies, in 2021-2022.
Alba’s Medical Centre held many health sessions in coordination with various public and private health providers to raise awareness and educate the society on topics such as Breast Cancer, Mental Health, Diabetes and Healthy Heart. Alba was also a key contributor to public health providers through sponsorship of crucial medical equipment in the Cardiac Centre at the Bahrain Deference Force Hospital, an initiative which will greatly help in improving long term care of chronic diseases and illnesses.
Care for individuals with special needs was also part of Alba’s CSR initiatives, which included financial support for the Saudi Bahraini Institute for the Blind, Bahrain Society for Children with Behavioral and Communication Difficulties, the Bahraini Society for Family and Friends of the Disabled and the Bahrain Catalysts Disabilities Association, as well as organising field trips for the BBK Centre for individuals with special needs. Additional financial support was allocated towards community support and charitable causes with the Royal Fund for Fallen Servicemen, Bahrain Philanthropic Society, Al Hekma Society, HH Shaikh Abdulla bin Khalid Centre for Senior Citizens and Al Noor Charity Society
Women empowerment remained one of Alba’s top agendas with the Equal Opportunity Committee’s activities to ensure fairness of employment and promotion among both genders. In 2022, Alba joined the Supreme Council for Women in a flagship project to build a historical monument to celebrate the contribution of women in various fields in the past 20 years. As for supporting local and international sporting events, Alba continued its sponsorship of various flagship events and programs such as Rashid Equestrian & Horseracing Club activities, HM the King’s Youth Endurance Race, HH Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Premier League, Bahrain World Tour Cycling Team, Bahrain 1 Racing team, HM the King’s Annual Golf Tournament, the Bahrain Tennis and Table Tennis Federations, Bahrain Athletics Association, Bahrain Riders, Bahrain Basketball Association, Bahrain Mission Atlantic and Bahrain F1 Grand Prix at the Bahrain International Circuit, one of the most important motorsport events in the World.
Support for art and culture also continued with the same momentum, with extended support for Shaikh Ebrahim bin Mohamed Cultural Centre where Alba became a Strategic Partner for the Centre. Alba extended its support for Beit Al Quran, Awal Theatre, Spring of Culture and many other NGOs, non-profit and voluntary work organizations, with special focus on promoting Alba’s name as one of the main pillars of the Bahrain economy.
Environment, Social & Governance – ESG, is the new way of life as announced by Alba’s CEO Ali Al Baqali. This approach very well ties with the Company’s clear focus on supporting Bahrain Economic Vision 2030 as well as the Net Zero Emissions by 2060.
Through our pledge as a proud producer of environmentally friendly products and services, we are sure of staying true to our mission of, “Being a responsible corporate citizen, we want to create value for all our stakeholders and society".