Week 3-Ethics and Social Responsibility

      

      “Supporting social and environmental projects is the obligation of a responsible company,” Daniel Swarovski I (1862 – 1956)

        Social responsibility of business is growing around the world. Swarovski focuses on the water supply as the major social concern. Following the founders’ principle, an idea was formed in 1998. Swarovski, together with managers of the national parks and regional teachers came up with the idea of a water school. The long-term objectives of the Swarovski Water School included promoting greater understanding of social, economic and environmental interrelationships throughout different regions of the world.  One year later, in the heart of the National Park Hohe Tauern in Austria, the first Swarovski Water School opened its doors. In 2008, together with the SCS(Swarovski Crystal Society), the focus of the Swarovski Water School was in launching The Living Yangtze Project in China.  In 2009, Swarovski Water School was underway with programms tailored to the region of Bwindi-Rainforest National Park in southwestern Uganda.

       The philosophy of the school is to teach young children between the ages of 8 and 13 the importance of maintaining one of our most vital resources - water. In an informative and playful manner, children participate in experiments, games and presentations that show the delicate balance between water and our planet's eco-system as well as the global impact we all have on it.

       Swarovski believs that future relies on sustainability. This refers to the idea, that focusing on the world's social problems and viewing them as opportunities will help to build profits and help the world at the same time. For example, to support Living Ganges Project in India based on preserving endangered wildlife, Swarovski created 33 Kiran Pointiage® Tigers that are to be sold at auction only. Their rare status makes them a coveted collector piece which has, in turn, provided a significant contribution to the Living Ganges Project. Other contributions came from the sale of SCS Membership, Annual Audition, Tiger 2010 and other SCS related products in 2010. As of August, 2010, a total of 660’613.00 Euro has been collected to support the Living Ganges Project.

       In the past eight years, about 15’000 children have already attended the one-week long Swarovski Water School in Austria. The popularity of the programme quickly spread and it is now available to children in the areas of Kärnten, Tyrol and Salzburg. This travelling education programme has now reached approximately 55’000 children worldwide.