Gold Magazine February - March 2013, Issue 23 | Page 56

special supplement

T

hroughout its 38
years of existence,
the Zorbas Group
of Companies has
been and continues to be highly
active in the area of Corporate Social
Responsibility. Recognizing its role
in the community and driven by its
strong CSR awareness, the group
has given priority to the environment, human resources, customers
and society in general as part of its
complete CSR strategy.

ENVIRONMENT

Environmental protection is
achieved through a series of ecofriendly practices such as using biodegradable and multi-use bags, recyclable packaging, and implementing
an optimal power and waste management policy, as well as through the
enterprise’s cooperation with Green
Dot Cyprus, of which Zorbas is one
of the founder members.

HUMAN RESOURCES

The company offers its human
resources a specially-formed benefits
package. Furthermore, staff members

are encouraged to engage in charitable activities, such as organized
blood donations, fundraising and
voluntary work.

CUSTOMERS

With regard to Zorbas’ responsibility
towards its customers, the concept of
healthy eating is promoted through
the offering of healthy products.

SOCIETY

The company’s CSR activities
continue through its contribution to
society in general. Zorbas supports
important institutions, foundations
and organised groups which aid those
in need. Wishing, however, to go one
step further, the company has chosen
to act more specifically on a sensitive
and specialist health issue which is
close to the heart of the company. In
May 2010, MAZI – The Maria and
Andrea Zorbas Foundation for eating
disorders and obesity –named after
the parents of Costas, Tasos, Demetris and Evanthia Zorbas, was formally established. MAZI is the pinnacle of Zorbas’ social contribution.
The institution, which is supported
both financially and administratively

by the Group, is managed by a board
of eleven personalities. Its primary
purpose and objective is to inform
and educate the public on issues related to eating disorders and obesity.
The alarming upward trend of eating
disorders and obesity and the low levels of awareness and treatment were
what led the initiators of MAZI to its
foundation. Today, the public sector
is unable to meet the increased and
specific needs of those suffering from
eating disorders and the alternative to
recovery within Cyprus is the treatment in specialized centres abroad,
with the support of the Ministry of
Health, a time-consuming and costly
process for any family.
Research data on the status of eating disorders is worrying. According
to the Child Health program (2002),
26% of girls and 13% of boys are at
high risk of developing symptoms
of anorexia and bulimia. The figures
showed that the potential for developing anorexia nervosa was 0.78% in
females and 0.15% in males, numbers comparable to the disorders’
levels in neighbouring countries such
as Greece and Israel and in other
Western countries. These figures and
the increasing rate should be of great