Social and Environmental Responsibility
at SPC
Highlights 2023
Overview
In this year’s annual highlights, we are thrilled to announce that SPC has made a strong commitment to applying its SER policy and promoting sustainable development awareness among our employees.
Our SER commitments are integrated into SPC’s projects and programmes, and follow a crosscutting approach that prioritises the well-being of individuals at the core of our projects.
1.
Promoting a zero-waste culture at work
2.
Embracing sustainability at work
3.
Supporting social causes
4.
Promoting health and safety at work
Promoting a zero-waste culture at work
Educational workshops: empowering employees with knowledge
This year, the European Waste Week Reduction focused on reducing packaging. SPC organised a Zero-Waste Cooking Workshop with the Food Forest Connexion association to celebrate this event.
During this workshop, SPC staff learned how to cook innovative recipes such as Banana Sushi, Green Banana Peel Tapenade, and Simboro Water Taro. Most of the ingredients were from SPC’s garden. They discovered how most part of fruits or vegetables can be cooked and consumed, ensuring a sustainable and waste-free approach to cooking.
Beach cleanup: helping to restore nature
The issue of waste management calls for collective action. As citizen-consumers, it is crucial for each one of us to take responsibility and contribute to minimising the amount and harmfulness of waste we produce, both personally and professionally.
SPC organised a clean-up in the city of Noumea together with the NGO Caledoclean. Over a distance of less than a kilometre, the volunteers collected over a ton and a half of garbage, uncovering several historic dumpsites.
In Fiji, SPC’s staff participated in a beach cleaning organised by the Committing to Sustainable Waste Actions in the Pacific (SWAP) project, Polyp Clean Pacific and the Secretariat of the Regional Environment Programme (SPREP).
Embracing sustainability at work
Promoting energy savings: our Greenhouse Gas Inventory 2022
Over the last two years, the Pacific Community (SPC) has made significant progress in its commitment to reducing greenhouse gas emissions. With a 25% reduction in emissions, SPC has shown its dedication to climate and environmental sustainability.
In 2020, SPC recorded 1301 tonnes of CO2e (carbon dioxide equivalent) emissions; in 2022, that number dropped to 968 tonnes of CO2e.
According to SPC’s annual report, and in alignment with previous inventories, 93% of these emissions are directly related to electricity consumption. This result emphasises the importance of ensuring a transition to more sustainable energy sources throughout all SPC premises. In Noumea, this work took great strides in 2020 with the installation a photovoltaic energy generation system.
World Biodiversity Day
On the occasion of World Biodiversity Day, our team in Fiji and New Caledonia partnered with the Ministry of Forestry of Fiji and the NGO Caledoclean for a tree planting initiative. Together, with the help of over 70 dedicated volunteers, we aimed to promote the importance of enhancing ecosystem resilience and mitigating the impacts of climate change. This collaborative effort highlights our commitment to biodiversity conservation and sustainable development.
Engaging employees around sustainable mobility
On the occasion of the European Moblity Week, SPC promoted a behavioural change in favour of active mobility, public transport, and innovative transport solutions.
Over twenty Noumea staff enthusiastically embraced the challenge and made their transportation choices count by walking, biking, using public transportation, carpooling, or even opting for an electric car!
Supporting social causes
Pink October:
Breast Cancer Awareness Month
In Fiji, a wellness screening has been implemented, aiming at promoting the health and well-being of our staff. The session included essential screenings such as Blood Pressure Hypertension and Diabetes, as well as important examinations like Breast Examination, Cervical Cancer Screening, and Prostate Cancer Screening.
In New Caledonia, the Public Health Division organised a special event aimed at raising awareness and funds for the New Caledonian "Ligue contre le cancer" (NC cancer society). And what better way to do that than by bringing together the community for a night of art, relaxation, and education? One of the highlights of the night was the live painting session by Pacific artists. All these paintings were put up for sale through a silent auction, with all the profits going straight to the NC cancer society.
In addition to the art and relaxation, the event featured a health booth information session organized by the New Caledonian Health and Social Agency (ASSNC). Attendees learned about various health-related topics, including preventive measures and available cancer patient resources.
Movember: learning more about male diseases
In November, the Public Health Division organised the Movember Night, a festive and supportive event, 100% dedicated to the fight against male cancers!
16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence
The 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence campaign runs every year from 25 November – the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women – until 10 December – Human Rights Day.
Violence against women is a violation of human rights and represents a significant obstacle to achieving sustainable development. At SPC we believe that we all have a role to play, in our families, in the workplace and in our communities, to transform relationships and create an environment where women and girls in all their diversity are safe, respected and have the same access as men to services and opportunities.
This year, for the One-SPC campaign, the Human Rights and Social Development Division and the PROTEGE project partnered together for the launch event. The One-SPC campaign had more than 10 activities, including a powerful vox pop social media campaign to raise awareness and a video on women in fisheries about the need to change cultural perceptions around the harmful normalisation of gender-based violence.
It is especially for the wider public, encouraging individuals to take a more proactive stance in promoting gender equality and empowering women in the workplace.
Promoting health and safety at work
World Day for Safety and Health at Work
With a strong commitment to employee welfare, SPC celebrated World Day for Safety and Health at Work on 6 April 2023. The Health and Safety Day served as a platform to educate employees, promote best practices, and create a culture of safety within the organisation.
Different activities have been promoted during the event: the importance of responsible driving, adhering to traffic rules, and adopting defensive driving techniques.
ROAD SAFETY WORKSHOP
This session highlited the importance of responsible driving, adhering to traffic rules, and adopting defensive driving techniques.
FIRE SAFETY WORKSHOP
As the ability to effectively extinguish a fire can mean the difference between a minor incident and a devastating catastrophe, SPC organised a training on fire extinguisher safety.
World Food Day
SPC celebrated World Food Day on 16 October 2023 with a regional recipe contest organized by the Public Health Division and PROTEGE program. This initiative aimed to promote healthy and sustainable food choices, with a focus on healthy and sustainable food practices.
SPC also organised an engaging and informative quiz on the topic of food and its impact on climate change. Participants were asked questions about the impact of food production on greenhouse gas emissions, the role of food waste in climate change, and the importance of sustainable agriculture in reducing the impact of food systems on the environment.
Wellness Warrior Challenge
The Public Health Division of the Pacific Community recently organized a Wellness Warrior Challenge in celebration of World Diabetes Day. This event brought together over 50 participants who embarked on a mission to discover 10 sports venues located throughout the campus.
Their goal? To complete a series of diverse exercises in the shortest time possible. The challenge was a resounding success, engaging individuals from various institutions and promoting a culture of wellness and physical activity.
Built with Shorthand