ENVIRONMENT

BUSINESS: 327 PRACTICES


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Initiative

Carbon Farming Schools

Carbon Farming Schools
SUBMITTED FROM:

ΔΕΗ

Commitment to international ESG criteria.

Our strategic philosophy is "Creating Shared Value", i.e. the creation and measurement of the shared benefit between business, society and the environment.

With this reasoning in mind, we approach Sustainable Development, in absolute relation to our business model and its transformation needs, investing in integrated, innovative and high-quality services and products.

Our goal is the creation of a better working environment and mutually beneficial relationships, with economic development, environmental care and social welfare as axes.

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Objective Action

At PPC, Sustainable development is our strategic commitment, aligning seamlessly with the business model and the transformation needs of the company. This commitment creates a roadmap for transformation into a "Creating Shared Value" (CSV) model, placing at the forefront the recognition of the needs of stakeholders and society at large, thereby creating shared value among the Company, Society, and the Environment.

Aiming to bring about positive changes in the broader ecosystem, PPC supports actions based on creative ideas and geared towards the common good. Through the PPC CSR program, our goal is to empower vulnerable social groups and contribute to environmental protection. We support the work of NGOs that share our vision for a better, sustainable future and actively participate in educational, sports, and cultural initiatives for all.

PPC, as part of its strategy to enhance knowledge and awareness within the school community regarding the importance of producing sufficient, high-quality, safe, and environmentally-climate-friendly products, organizes the initiative "Carbon Farming Schools." Through this action, the goal is to transmit, among other things, concepts related to agricultural production, diet, health, environment, and the outdoors in a simplified and experiential manner. The initiative aims to instill the three dimensions of sustainability (economic, environmental, and social) within the school community. Additionally, it seeks to raise awareness among younger generations about the environment and its conservation by creating a small garden cared for by the students themselves. This approach aims to familiarize them with nature, develop skills, and enhance their environmental consciousness.

 

 

Target Audience

The action is targeted at  students & educators.

 

Duration

The initiative started in May 2023 and continues into 2024.


Description

In recent years, there has been a global trend among people living in large cities towards seeking information about the origin, nutritional value, and environmental footprint of their food. This has led to a demand for more transparency and information about food, as well as active participation in the production process when possible. As a result, new forms of Urban Agriculture have emerged, such as community gardens, social gardens, and school gardens.

A school garden can be an innovative tool for education and learning, providing a holistic experience for students. All senses are engaged, and social interactions are stimulated and strengthened. By designing and implementing school gardens and developing experiential educational activities within them, we aim to instill concepts related to Nutrition, Health, Environment, and agricultural activities in students. Simultaneously, we aim to encourage interaction and collaboration among children in a common field (the garden that provides them with food and knowledge) and the development of various skills.

Experiential teaching encourages students to actively participate in the learning process, prompting them to explore, discover, activate their imagination and creativity, and seek or create meaning rather than memorizing information. Thus, we sow in children the seed of love for plants and nature. Together with the children, we create and care for the "school garden." Through experiential engagement in cultivating vegetables, children learn not only to grow them but also how beneficial they are for their health.


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Impact on Society

The actions were implemented as a pilot program in 5 schools in the Western Macedonia Region (Grevena, Achlada, Ptolemaida, Vatero Kozani, and Argos Orestiko), involving more than 250 students from all grades and 90 educators.



Initiative Location

The initiative was implemented on a pilot basis in schools in the Western Macedonia Region (Grevena, Achlada, Ptolemaida, Vatero Kozani, and Argos Orestiko).


Working with Organization

Openfarm


Workers Participation

Volunteers employees of PPC


Photos

Benefits for Οrganization

PPC supports an experiential environmental initiative that educates students and educators on the importance and solutions for reducing carbon footprint, while also enhancing biodiversity in the ecosystem through sustainable agro-food practices.

This initiative aligns with PPC environmental policy, which includes actions to limit carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, preserve biodiversity, manage water resources more efficiently, and promote rational waste management (through experiential education of students and educators in the application of organic regenerative cultivation, agroecological approaches, and composting).

It promotes and educates future citizens on a sustainable solution to the anthropogenic climate crisis, known as "Carbon Farming." Information and examples of its implementation begin experientially from school gardens and household vegetable gardens. In the next phase, "Carbon Farming" will become a new model of sustainable production, allowing farmers to contribute to food self-sufficiency, produce high-quality ecological products, and generate additional income from managing/absorbing carbon emissions in the soil, in collaboration with organizations such as PPC.

PPC supports local communities that have experienced significant environmental and health pressures from coal mining and combustion. These communities need to transition into a new era with new skills and a new model of development and production. Primary production through the application of carbon farming practices can be such a sustainable model for producing quality products while simultaneously addressing environmental issues and regenerating soils through carbon sequestration.




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