ERMA FIRST, a pioneering sustainable maritime solutions provider, has teamed up with the Hellenic Marine Environment Protection Association (HELMEPA), the Municipality of Perama and the local community to clean up Perama Beach as part of the company’s wide-ranging Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) strategy.
The event, which took place on 30 August 2024, saw over 80 participants collaborate to clear over 30 large refuse bags’ worth of recyclable and non-recyclable litter from the Perama coastline.
HELMEPA Silver Badge
Both ERMA FIRST and EPE received a HELMEPA Silver Badge for their duty to marine litter collection
Employees of ERMA FIRST, Environmental Protection Engineering (EPE), EPE Yachting, and Metis were joined by members of the local community; representatives of the Municipality of Perama including Mr. Yiannis Lagoudakos, Mayor of Perama; and HELMEPA, who provided a minivan to transport people and recyclables.
Both ERMA FIRST and EPE received a HELMEPA Silver Badge for their commitment in marine litter collection and for pioneering the recent beach clean-up initiative in Perama, a voluntary marine clean-up action that contributed to the collection and recording of marine litter and to HELMEPA’s mission “To Save the Seas”.
Far-reaching CSR strategy
Mr. Konstantinos Stampedakis, Co-Founder & Managing Director, ERMA FIRST GROUP, said: “Aligning perfectly with our far-reaching CSR strategy, this event was a fantastic opportunity for us to give back to our community, protect our beautiful coastline, and enjoy some fresh air with colleagues."
"Thank you to the ERMA FIRST, EPE, EPE Yachting, and Metis team members who took part and to HELMEPA for their support. We were also honoured to welcome Mayor of Perama, Mr Yiannis Lagoudakos, to the event and would like to extend our gratitude to the Municipality of Perama.”
Drive community engagement
Ms. Eleni Polychronopoulou, President, ERMA FIRST GROUP, commented: “Our latest voluntary beach clean-up event has been a great success. However, while we are proud of the volume of rubbish we removed from our coastline through hard work and collaboration, we know that keeping our beaches clean in the long term relies on education."
"We were therefore delighted for the opportunity to drive community engagement and discuss with participants our shared responsibilities and the importance of volunteering, recycling, and taking care of the planet. Planet Earth is our home, and we must protect and preserve it by all means for a better future for all – especially for the generations to come.”
Marine ecosystem
According to Mr. Kimon Mademlis, Marketing & Communications Director, ERMA FIRST GROUP, “the Group’s initiative to organise and lead this specific CSR action reflects its mission to preserve and protect the marine ecosystem and reaffirms its commitment to the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) – in particular, SDGs 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities; 13: Climate Action; and 14: Life Below Water.”
“In addition, the action aligns with ERMA FIRST GROUP’s status as a signatory of the EU Mission Charter ‘Restore our ocean and waters by 2030’; our support of the European Union’s Environment and Climate Green Week; and our three strategic pillars of local community, inclusivity, and sustainability,” Mr. Mademlis underlined. The company had also registered the event as part of the EU Beach Cleanup campaign and as a European Climate Pact ‘satellite event’.
