Approach to Sustainable Development SEKEM was founded with the idea of sustainable development and giving back to the community. The vision that brought Dr. Ibrahim Abouleish to dig the first well in the vast desert land still resounds in SEKEM’s approach of conducting business. Like a compass, our vision, mission and values guide us in the everyday work in all SEKEM companies. The Code of Conduct of SEKEM builds the ruling framework (see page 30).
Our Vision
Our Values
Sustainable development towards a future where every human being can unfold his or her individual potential; where mankind is living together in social forms reflecting human dignity; and where all economic activity is conducted in accordance with ecological and ethical principles.
In nature, every organism is independent and at the same time systemically inter-connected to other organisms. Inspired by ecological principles, representing the wisdom of nature and the universe, we continuously strive to gain and sustain a harmonious balance between the following polarities and to integrate them into our development:
Our Mission To realize our Vision for Sustainable Development in Egypt… ...we establish biodynamic agriculture as the competitive solution for the environmental, social and food security challenges of the 21st century. ...we support individual development through holistic education and medical care. ...we create workplaces reflecting human dignity and supporting employee development. ...we build successful business models in accordance with ecological and ethical principles. ...we innovate for sustainable development through research in natural and social sciences. ...we locally and globally advocate for a holistic approach to sustainable development.
Selfassertion Expansion
Competition
Quantity
Sovereignty
Integration Conservation
Cooperation
Quality
Partnership
Timeline • • • • • • • • • • 4
1977 Dr. Ibrahim Abouleish establishes SEKEM (on an area of 70 hectares of desert sand) 1981 First shipment of medicinal herbs and food ingredients to the U.S.A. 1983 Establishment of ISIS and SEKEM HERBS 1983 ASSOCIATION FOR CULTURAL DEVELOPMENT IN EGYPT 1984 Employee training in arts and science (under the umbrella of The EGYPTIAN SOCIETY FOR CULTURAL DEVELOPMENT (SCD)) 1986 Establishment of ATOS PHARMA 1988 Establishment of LIBRA EGYPT 1989 Primary and secondary SEKEM school 1990 Export of organic fresh produce to Europe (LIBRA EGYPT); SEKEM encourages foundation of the CENTRE OF ORGANIC AGRICULTURE IN EGYPT (COAE), an independent certification body 1993 Establishment of LIBRA for Organic Cultivation
SEKEM Report on Sustainable Development 2010