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Our commitment – ecological and social action
We set an example.
We are convinced that forward-looking business goes hand in hand with social commitment and ecological action. We want to operate in a climate-neutral manner from 2026 and are already taking numerous measures to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions. We pay attention to the well-being of our employees and take measures to protect the health of our BOI team. And we consistently donate 10% of our annual profit to social and environmental organizations.
Climate-neutral BOI from 2026
We see it as our duty to minimize our impact on the planet
Our goal is to operate in a climate-neutral way from 2026. A research project will run from 2024 to 2026 to calculate our greenhouse gas emissions on a scientific basis, identify the areas with the greatest potential for reduction and develop a roadmap for a rapid and consistent reduction in our greenhouse gas emissions. All employees are involved in the process and regular workshops are held to raise awareness and jointly implement ideas from everyday working life. The remaining greenhouse gas emissions are to be offset by a certified partner from 2026.
At the same time, we are already taking numerous measures to operate as sustainably as possible
Electricity
- Reduction of electricity consumption by 60% through virtualization of our server landscape
- First photovoltaic system with 36 modules and 12 kWp output since 2021
- Second photovoltaic system with 12 modules and 5 kWp output since March 2024
- Use of 100% green electricity from Austria
- Consistent switching off of electronic devices at the workplace when absent
Mobility
- Covering the cost of the annual ticket for our employees' public transportation
- Business trips by public transport whenever possible
- Only one company car and this one with an electric drive
Heat
- Replacement of the gas boiler with an air heat pump (planned for June 2024)
- Numerous measures in building insulation and heating optimization
Materials
- Products from regional suppliers, organic farming and fair production
- Use of recycled paper and biodegradable cleaning agents
- Consistent waste separation
- Switch to a paperless office (planned for May 2024)
- Certified printed materials and avoidance of plastic film
And beyond that
- Planting a flower meadow in the office garden for more biodiversity
- Evaluation of our donations to environmental organizations with regard to climate protection
We have been operating as a Climate Alliance company since September 2022.
BGF - Workplace Health Promotion Austria
If the employees thrive, the company thrives!
In spring 2020, we decided to invest in the physical and mental health of the BOI team. Thus, we have started a project on workplace health promotion.
On April 4th, 2022 we were awarded with the Seal of Quality for Workplace Health Promotion.
The Measures
- Supervision by certified BGF project managers
- Evaluation of stress, satisfaction, health and resources
- Health consultations & workshops to develop necessary and appropriate measures
- Implementation phase (duration approx. 1 year)
- Second evaluation and reflection
- Seal of Approval
The Benefits
- Reduction of individual health risk factors including the risk for chronic diseases and long-term disablement
- Increase in individual well-being and job satisfaction
- Improvement of communication structures and working atmosphere
- Reduction of illness absences
- Increase in competitive position and market opportunites of the company
- General increase in efficiency and improvement of the corporate image
The individual health of the employees is an essential factor for a long-term successful, competitive company.
Workplace health promotion is a modern corporate strategy that supports companies in implementing health-promoting measures, for the benefit of the individual employee, but also the company as a whole: satisfied, healthy employees work more efficiently, more motivated and thus, more successfully. Stress-related illness absences, mishaps or occupational accidents can be reduced or completely avoided.
We as BOI believe that this is an opportunity that must not be wasted. Not only because we, as a socially very committed company, have a general focus on our fellow human beings. But also, because change and improvement start with ourselves. We lead by example!
„Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being,
and not just the absence of disease and infirmity.“
WHO, 1946
Social commitment
For us, social commitment means sharing economic success with others.
Thus, BOI is a sponsor of "B-O-Ideas - Better Organized Ideas", an Austrian association that supports social and ecological ideas worldwide to make our world a better place for all! For more information about the BOI sponsored association "B-O-Ideas" please visit www.b-o-ideas.com.
Beyond that, BOI donates 10% of the annual profit to non-profit organizations that help to alleviate hardship. In addition to globally active charitable institutions, our support also goes to smaller social initiatives in Austria and abroad
BOI supports the following social organizations and projects:
Make a Difference Nepal
After the devastating earthquake disaster in Nepal in 2015, the Nepalese social non-profit organization Make a Difference Nepal (MDN) was founded - with significant support from BOI - to help the people of Nepal instantly and directly.
Make a Difference Nepal works in the education and health sector, in cooperation with several schools in the Kathmandu valley and in the district of Gorkha, one of the areas hit hardest by the earthquake.
The following aid projects have already been realized:
- Emergency aid for destroyed schools: Wall panels, securing clean drinking water and water for toilets, etc.
- Supply of winter clothing and sanitary articles, school material and play materials
- Workshops on hygiene measures, healthy nutrition, early childhood education
For more information on the work of Make a Difference Nepal, please visit www.mdnepal.org.np or Facebook.
Warm hugs for fireflies, a project from MDN
The MDN project Fireflies (in Nepali: Junkiri) was sponsored by BOI through the association B-O-Ideas. The aim of the project is to provide trainings for students and teachers, and to encourage regular school attendance by the children.
Of course, this is only possible in intensive cooperation with the local teachers. For the firefly project at the Shree Setidevi Adharbhut Vidhyalaya School in Dhadhing District, there are 5 teachers who teach 60 children from poor, disadvantaged families at this elementary school. For these children aged 5-10 years, many different information programs have been carried out in recent years.
Only those who feel comfortable and don´t freeze can learn well.
Therefore, in January 2023, urgently needed warm jackets and hoods were distributed to the children as part of the Warm Hugs project. This was not only to relieve the families financially, but also to make it easier for the children to attend school in the harsh Nepalese winter. The handover of the cosy sweaters and hoods was a great success!
You can find more information about the association “B-O-Ideas” sponsored by BOI at www.b-o-ideas.com.
Laafi - Initiative for Development
Laafi - Initiative for Development has been supporting various health projects in Burkina Faso since 1994 in close cooperation with village communities and local initiatives. In recent years a hospital has been built in the village of Poin and the local hospital in the village of Tiessourou has been completely renovated.Hospitals are in operation, the staff for medical care is provided by the state. A major problem was the supply of electricity as no public electricity supply is available in the remote region.
With the support of BOI, two photovoltaic systems were purchased for Tiessourou and Poin, so medical care for the people is guaranteed any time.
For more information on the work of Laafi - Initiative for Development, please visit www.laafi.at.
Ute Bock refugee project
The refugee project Ute Bock is a non-profit Austrian association that supports refugees with free counselling and care services. Social worker Ms Ute Bock was the founder of this humanitarian project, her name stands for a humane, respectful and fair asylum policy.
The refugee aid project offers:
- Social counselling
- Housing assistance and accommodation
- Literacy courses and German language courses
- Work integration
Further information on the work of the Ute Bock refugee project can be found at www.fraubock.at.
Emergency assistance in Jemen by Diakonie Austria
Since July 2019, Diakonie Austria Emergency Aid and local partner organizations support parts of Jemen's population together. From 2015 onwards, the ongoing conflicts have brought immense poverty and hardship to the country. Nearly 80 percent of Jemen's population are in need for humanitarian aid.
Diakonie Austria supports inland expellees as well as households of the marginal group of Muhamasheen by providing them with financial aid. Due to that, 126 households so far can cover their basic needs on food, cooking gas, and sanitary products for six months. Furthermore, Cash for Work projects help members of 335 households to conduct businesses, generate an income and thus, cover their basic needs as well.
For more information about the project, please visit https://katastrophenhilfe.diakonie.at/weltweit-aktiv/jemen
Other aid agencies we have supported so far
- Médecins sans Frontières provides emergency medical aid in crisis zones and war zones around the world - often under very dangerous circumstances for the aid workers.
- Caritas helps people in distress regardless of their origin, religion or gender.
- The Austrian Red Cross is currently supporting the activities of local Red Cross societies in Ethiopia, Yemen, Kenya, Somalia, Southern Sudan and Uganda to alleviate the suffering of people threatened by famine.
- Jugend Eine Welt - Don Bosco Aktion Österreich works in national and international youth welfare and sustainable development cooperation, it aims to give support and orientation to young people.
- The umbrella brand Nachbar in Not is a foundation with the eight major Austrian aid organisations and ORF as media partner. Our donation helps in the fight against the hunger disaster in Africa.
- UNHCR is working worldwide to ensure that people at risk of persecution are granted asylum in other countries.
- UNICEF Austria works i.a. in the hunger regions of Africa in order to protect children from a vicious circle of acute severe malnutrition and diseases.
- The Vinzenzgemeinschaft Eggenberg cares for people in Austria who have gone off-course and are therefore living in poverty - drug and alcohol addicts, the homeless, people released from prison, beggars and many more.