The Community
At Baugur, we feel it is our responsibility to contribute to society and demonstrate social awareness.
As part of its Corporate Social Responsibility strategy, Baugur has established the Baugur Endowment Fund to support various charitable and social welfare causes and cultural initiatives. Baugur is also one of the primary sponsors of UNICEF - Iceland.
In 2007, Baugur joined a significant carbon offset programme spearheaded by the Clinton-Hunter Development Initiative and the Rwandan government.
Baugur has recently decided to support The Healing Foundation by contributing 150,000 pounds a year for three years.
For matters regarding Baugur's CSR strategy, please contact Kristín Þorsteinsdóttir, kristin@baugurgroup.com
Carbon Offset Programme
The Clinton-Hunter Development Initiative has launched an extensive programme of reforestation whose aim is to help Rwandan farmers to cultivate cash crops. Baugur will join the programme by offsetting between 300 and 350 thousand tons of CO2 per year.
The programme scheme is designed by the Edinburgh Centre for Carbon Management (ECCM), which will provide technical assistance to the programme. ECCM has significant international experience in working on this type of initiative through its Plan Vivo projects in Mozambique, Mexico, and Uganda.
The programme will be available to independent businesses wishing to offset their CO2 emissions. If businesses need help assessing their CO2 losses, ECCM can assist info@eccm.uk.com.
Further information on this programme can be found on The Hunter Foundation web-site.
UNICEF
UNICEF - Iceland solicits funding to carry out international UNICEF projects based on the United Nations’ development objectives. UNICEF emphasises providing all children with a good basic education and a safe and secure environment. Further goals include giving infants a good start in life and reaching out to all children to provide them with necessary vaccinations and vitamin A supplements. UNICEF also works actively to prevent the spread of HIV, provide health care to HIV- positive patients, and ensure that children orphaned by AIDS receive support and care.
The Healing Foundation
The Healing Foundation is a new British fundraising charity established in 1999. It´s objects are for the relief of sickness and for the preservation and protection of public health for people who suffer from physical, psychological, social, or emotional disadvantage as a result of physical disfigurement or functional impairment. The Healing Foundation also informs about the availability of treatment and helps train health workers in appropriate treatment throughout the world. For more information on the foundation go to The Healing Foundation web site.
The Baugur Endowment Fund
On 10 June 2005, the Baugur Board of Directors decided to dedicate ISK 300 million to the establishment of an endowment fund whose role is to take over the operation of the company’s grant activities, which have been considerable in recent years. The role of the Baugur Endowment Fund is to support various charitable and social welfare causes, as well as subsidising cultural and artistic activity. Grants are awarded twice a year.