manufacturer and supplier of high technology relief materials
Chairman’s Statement
There are many ways to measure a company's success. In my view, however, a truly successful company is one that finds a way to return someof its rewards to the communities in which it operates. I feel a company cannot consider itself truly successful unless it makes an active effort to give back.
It's an honour to lead The Reltex Group of Companies into the future in our new home in Kenya. Integrating corporate responsibility into our business is an important part of how we operate and grow as a company.
As our client base is primarily Aid agencies, delivering shelter to the ever growing number of disasters in our world, it is crucial that we perform and deliver quality effective shelter solutions promptly and to specification during times of crises.
This can only be achieved if our staff is well trained and reactive during these difficult periods and are able to be efficient at the same time as operating with the highest standards of ethics and integrity.
It is my hope that we can set an example to other companies creating an organisation in which both management and staff can take great pride. But as importantly, we believe that all our commercial activities should be balanced with compassionate actions to make the environment that we work and live in a better place for future generations.
Simon Lucas
Chairman of the Board
Social Corporate Responsibility Statement
Our first call to social responsibility is to our 190 staff working here in our factory and to their neighbourhoods of Athi River and Kittangella and to truly value the partnership between the company and its employees and have an organization where achievement is duly rewarded and careers are sustained.
It is our intention to create a working environment second to none and to set a template for other businesses moving into this region and to help improve the quality of life in communities where we operate.
Supporting Sustainable Livelihoods
Reltex Africa is committed to improving social, environmental and economic conditions where we operate. Our focus on sustainable employment opportunities promotes self-sufficiency. With partners, we identify programmes to promote a better standard of living, create a more stable operating environment and improve relationships. We are currently training employees' families to become suppliers to Reltex from the agricultural, transportation and service sectors creating an increased and more stable income to the families in the area.
Environment
Reltex Africa has achieved NEMA status and performs a risk-based Environmental, Social and Health Impact Assessment (ESHIA) on all major capital projects to identify potentially significant project-related impacts. These include impacts to surrounding communities, natural resources, biodiversity, air quality, land use, waste management, noise and public health.
The company has recently commissioned a study by the Cardiff Business School to assess our supply chain methods so that we can monitor and improve our environmental impact of importing and exporting our products globally.
Product Stewardship
Product stewardship is an integral part of Reltex policy to protect people and the environment. It involves identifying, assessing and managing potential environmental, health, safety and integrity risks throughout a product's life cycle from conception to consumption, recycling or disposal.
Climate Change
We are working to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions related to our operations and products and to implement innovative solutions that expand our portfolio to meet the demands of our customers for affordable, reliable and clean supplies of energy. We are constantly testing new raw materials with lower carbon emissions and increasing energy efficiency; investing in research, development and improved technology; pursuing business opportunities in promising, innovative energy technologies; and supporting flexible and economically sound policies and mechanisms that protect the environment.
Safety
Our commitment to the health and safety of our employees and contractors is recognized in The Reltex Way, managed through our Operational Management System, and reinforced at all levels of the corporation. Reltex efforts to create and maintain a safety culture include starting meetings with safety moments, tracking and awarding business units for strong safety performance, sharing best practices and lessons learned, and using behaviour-based safety evaluations.
Human Rights Policy
Social issues are part of a broader set of complex socioeconomic and security concerns. Although governments have the primary duty to protect and ensure human rights, Reltex recognises that it has a responsibility to respect human rights and can play a positive role in communities where we operate. We adhere to the United Nations Global Compact and have our own in house code of conduct.
Local Community Projects
Our chosen project for the next 2 years is St Paul's Children's Home in Osingili. This inspirational establishment has no government funding and has to provide for itself. The entrepreneurial efforts of the manager, Ms Jane Kabura alerted our staff and we have formed a partnership that not only provides much needed finance but employment opportunities to the older children of whom we now have 3 working at our Athi River facility.