Community Engagement

Sapa is an active member of the community in the locations where we operate.

Besides creating job opportunities, tax revenues and local sourcing, Sapa also contribute through community projects and sponsorships. The Group wants to contribute to and support local and international projects of importance to our employees as part of building a positive development of the communities in which we are active.

Supplying building materials

• Sapa has supplied materials for the Inspiria ScienceCenter, which is currently being constructed in Østfold, Norway. The ScienceCenter will be among the largest of its kind in Scandinavia and will be an important means of increasing understanding of and interest in the natural sciences in society in general, and in the school system in particular.
• Sapa Group contributed to the re-building of Haiti after the earthquake in 2010. An initial donation of 12,000 USD was made to Raincatchers, a non-profit US charity. To complete the restoration-village project, Sapa contributed with another dollar for each dollar collected from employees, customers and suppliers. With the donations and volunteers from Sapa employees and managers, seven houses have been built and given to families of earthquake victims.
• Sapa Building System in Portugal has supported Ronald McDonald house in Lisbon, a "home away from home" for sick children and their families, with building materials such as thermally broken framework, windows, and doors. For more information visit www.fundacaoronaldmcdonald.com.
• Sapa Building System in Portugal has also offered framework and made a donation to the Movement for Supporting Life's (MSV – Movimento ao Serviço da Vida) House of Colors, a temporary foster home for children at risk, suffering abuse and/or negligence. For more information visit www.casadascores.pt.

Initiatives increasing awareness about sustainable energy solutions

• Sapa Building System in Portugal supports EcoHouse, an initiative to raise awareness among Portuguese families on energy efficiency and conservation. A virtual house of energy (Casa Virtual da Energia, CVE) is provided as a tool to allow visitors to simulate energy consumptions, as well as the thermal performance, of their homes. For more information visit www.ecocasa.org.
• In Portugal, Sapa Building System supports a Sustainable Construction Initiative for housing, and Sapa Building Products supports the Certified House Initiative. The aim of the online platform is to increase awareness about sustainable energy solutions for housing where Sapa can provide quality framework, ventilation grids, outdoors shading and photovoltaic curtain wall. For more information visit www.construcaosustentavel.com and www.casacertificada.pt.

Stimulating youth learning

• Sapa Heat Transfer in Finspång, Sweden, is part-owner of the local school Curt Nicolin, where company staff teach courses designed to stimulate students' interest in technology and engineering subjects.
• Employees from Sapa Profiler in Vetlanda, Sweden, lectured at 34 universities and university colleges in 2010.
• Sapa Heat Transfer Shanghai supports local schools in encouraging children to learn about science and technology. In 2009, Jiading Nanwan Elementary School was sponsored with 20 computers on Children's Day in China. Sport equipment, clothes, books and toys worth about 10,000 euro (100,000 RMB) were donated to Jiading Zhuqiao Kindergarden. The goal of these donations is to encourage children to take an interest in learning about technology.

Donations for social causes

• Sapa gave in December 2011 a donation to the SOS Children's Villages' in Vietnam, creating increased wellbeing for children in need. For more information visit SOS Children's Villages' in Vietnam.
• In 2009 Sapa Heat Transfer Shanghai donated about 5,000 (50,000 RMB) for Yushu earthquake relief work.
• Sapa Group donated approximately 20,000 euro (approx. 200,000 RMB) for earthquake relief in 2008 when Wenchuan Earthquake happened in China.