Corporate Social Responsibility

Principles of CSR

SES implements a corporate social responsibility (CSR) programme which is rooted in the belief that global reputation relies on local action. In the framework of our CSR programme, we deploy decentralised activities in those areas of the world in which the SES Group companies provide commercial and technical services.

Our CSR programme focuses on supporting educational initiatives, and aims to expand the basis for the development of a knowledge and communications-based society in every region of the world. We believe that this is a key element in the emergence of a model for sustainable development.

The SES companies are committed to respecting the world’s natural environment, and to aligning the companies’ and the staff’s conduct with the principles of sustainable development.

We apply the basic principle that all activities and services which we provide to third-party customers, or which are supplied to us by third-party vendors, should comply with the highest standards of environmental protection. Compliance is benchmarked against the legal rules and regulations applied in the countries in which the SES companies operate, as well as against industrywide best practices. Our objective is to continuously improve our environmental performance and to further reduce the environmental impact of our activities.

Our corporate social responsibility policy

In 2007, SES implemented a corporate social responsibility programme aligned with the company’s values. Global reputation is born out of local action. SES’ corporate social responsibility (CSR) programme has been elaborated to reflect this approach by deploying CSR projects and activities in those areas of the world in which the SES group has activities or provides communications services.

Our CSR programme is aimed primarily at supporting educational projects, which are directed towards the development of a knowledge and communications-based society. We believe that this is a key element in the emergence of a model for sustainable development. Our CSR programme attempts to reflect SES’ positioning in the field of global communications infrastructure and services provision.

SES is a signatory to the ‘Corporate Social Responsibility Charter’, elaborated jointly by a number of Luxembourg-based companies, which commits its signatories to promote the principles of CSR and to reflect and implement these in their everyday operations. In 2008, ND SatCom, a subsidiary of SES ASTRA, supported the Chinese government’s relief efforts following the Sichuan earthquake in May that destroyed the communications infrastructure in the region, preventing mobile and terrestrial communication. ND SatCom made it possible for Chinese medical teams to transmit pictures and videos of the earthquake zone that helped asses the local situation and co-ordinate relief efforts.

In 2007, SES continued to support the scholarship programme of the Society of Satellite Professionals International, a U.S.-based non-profit association for the professional development of satellite industry professionals worldwide.

We also pursued our cooperation with the International Space University in Strasbourg, France, financing student scholarships for advanced studies of space applications. SES supported Luxembourg’s ‘Business Initiative 123-GO’ aimed at advancing the development of innovative business projects, and provided financial support for Institut St. Joseph of Betzdorf, Luxembourg, a home for mentally handicapped persons.

With much of the communications infrastructure knocked out  by the Sichuan earthquake,
NDSatCom made it possible for Chinese relief teams to communicate and send video images to the relief organizers in Beijing.

In 2007, SES NEW SKIES supported the NEPAD (The New Partnership for African Development) e-schools initiative which aims to develop ICT skills in Africa by equipping all African primary and secondary schools with computers, networks and other equipment and connect them to the internet. SES NEW SKIES is providing satellite capacity and teleport services and, together with equipment partners, it has committed to provide a total satellite solution to 35 schools. NEPAD has received endorsements of support from the U.N. and the G8.

The company also continued its financial support for the activities of Action Medical Research. SES AMERICOM made a financial donation to support Habitat for Humanity, which builds homes for families in low income situations and to the Susan G. Komen’s ‘Race for the Cure’, which benefits breast cancer research and awareness. SES AMERICOM matched donations made by its employees (to the rate of one dollar for each two dollars donated) to a number of colleges and universities. The company also matched OLPC laptop donations made by employees. Employees also participated in the ‘Race for the Cure’ in Virginia and in New Jersey, and worked on homes for ‘Habitat for Humanity’.

Cultural sponsorships

In 2007, SES was an official partner of ‘Luxembourg and Greater region – European capital of culture 2007’, an all-year regional culture festival focusing on Luxembourg and the neighbouring regions of Belgium, France and Germany, as well as on the region of Sibiu in Romania. SES supported the Steichen Foundation, an organisation named after photographer Edward Steichen. SES’ support goes toward a scholarship awarded every second year and which enables artists from the ‘Greater Luxembourg’ region (including neighbouring areas of Belgium, France and Germany) to temporarily live and work in the city of New York. SES continued its financial support of ‘Musek am Syrdall’, a local music festival in Luxembourg.

Caring for the environment

The SES companies are committed to respecting the world’s natural environment, and to aligning the companies’ and the staff’s conduct with the principles of sustainable development. We apply the basic principle that all activities and services which we provide to third-party customers, or which are supplied to us by third-party vendors, should comply with the highest standards of environmental protection. Compliance is benchmarked against the legal rules and regulations applied in the countries in which the SES companies operate, as well as against industry-wide best practices. Our objective is to continuously improve our environmental performance and to further reduce the environmental impact of our activities.

The activities of SES and its operating companies are mainly office and technology-based. In our operations, we promote the most efficient use of energy and natural resources. We have successfully implemented a programme to rely on cogeneration power wherever possible, in order to make maximum use of energy. We apply a waste recycling programme which aims to avoid, reduce, and recycle waste material as efficiently as possible; this programme is subject to independent third-party audits and quality control. We also conduct environmental training on a regular basis and encourage our staff to adopt environmentally correct attitudes in their professional activities.

The operating entities of SES apply best practices in minimising the environmental impact of the outsourced activities, such as the manufacturing and launching of spacecraft. The companies also ensure that the amount of radiation emitted from their earth stations respects or remains below the maximum levels defined by the countries of operation; compliance is checked through yearly internal and third-party audits by accredited organisations which are specialised in the field of industrial safety.

Charter

Charter of companies in favour of social responsibility and sustainable development

(English version, PDF 649kb)

Charte d'entreprises pour la responsabilité sociale et le développement durable

(Version française, PDF 698kb)