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DISTINCTION IN THE THIRD SECTOR
 Casas Bahia, well-known for its marked presence in the sales of household electronics, electrical appliances and furniture, needs no introduction to Brazilians. Its over 60,000 employees operate a retail chain of 500 stores in 270 towns, serving around 31 million customers, accounting for approximately 17% of the Brazilian population.
Founded over half a century ago, Casas Bahia figures among the 250 largest retail chains in the world, according to the survey “The World’s Retail Giants in 2009”, undertaken by Deloitte Touch. Its performance in serving customers’ needs is matched by the company’s concern with environmental questions. For this reason, it takes part in partnerships and projects aimed at improving the living conditions in communities with a low index of human development.
 In the environmental area, it operates an awareness-raising program for the sustainable management of waste and natural resources. Called “Amigos do Planeta – Friends of the Planet”, it encourages employees to develop actions in the Reduction, Reutilization and Recycling in the most diverse areas: from reutilization of the water resulting from the washing of its vehicles, reduced use of paper and plastic cups, automated air-conditioning and lighting systems, to the production of furniture with the FSC seal, attesting to the sustainable origin of the wood.
Recently, Casas Bahia became a Cempre associate member, with an aim to seeking technical support and the sharing of experiences with other businesses.
According to Sônia Mitaini of the company’s communications department, “the idea is for this partnership to contribute to upgrading our socio-environmental policy”.
Further information: www.casasbahia.com.br
| COOPERATIVE SYSTEM DISSEMINATED ABROAD |
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Cempre is taking its successful model for the training and skills education of street waste pickers of recyclable materials to other countries. Sponsored by Coca-Cola, the organization has prepared an English version of its educational kit “Cooperate by Recycling, Recycle by Cooperating”.
The kit is composed of an instructor’s manual, with the first steps for forming a cooperative, and a booklet and DVD for those taking part, dealing with various aspects linked to the activity, such as its importance to society and the environment, safety conditions, code of ethics and human relations. Launched in Brazil in 1994, the material has been prepared in partnership with the Organização de Auxílio Fraterno – Organisation for Brotherly Help, which operates with people in situations of social exclusion, based on the work and results achieved by the São Paulo Coopamare cooperative.
Over the last 15 years, Cempre has distributed more than 5,500 kits aimed at multiplying the advantages of the cooperative system, which enables, among other benefits, increased productivity and improved working conditions. In the period, 360 new cooperatives have been formed with the use of this kit, representing the creation of around 10,800 new direct jobs.
The English version will be used by Care International, a non-government organisation with over 60 years’ experience in human development in around 70 countries.
Further information: www.casasbahia.com.br |
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GYMKHANA MOBILIZES SCHOOLS IN BRASÍLIA
 Close to the end of the school year in November last year, students at 14 public system schools in Brasília gave their all to be among the best in an extra-curricular activity:
the PET Gymkhana. In a Federal Government initiative by the Federal District Sebrae agency for supporting small businesses,
the project brought together a group of partners – the city’s cleaning service, Brasília’s Regional Administration, the Federal District Education Secretariat, the Brasília Environmental Institute and the Environmental Sanitation Company, in addition to receiving financial support from Vivo and Coca-Cola – to go forward with the triple mission of awakening young people’s interest in environmental
issues, encourage waste separation
and promote recycling.
The result surpassed all expectations. The organizers expected to receive 30,000 PET  bottles and were surprised by the 75,000 collected by the students. “We reached our target in full, and plan to repeat the experience in 2009, with twice as many schools involved. We want to introduce improvements in the process to increase interaction with the schools and encourage the insertion of education on environmental issues during the Gymkhana so that the subject
can be approached even more broadly”, says Renato Castelo, manager of Access to Technological Innovation at Sebrae.
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