Olivia Prize 2021 is behind us. Awards were presented in the Pro Bono, Business and Eco categories. The Olivia Centre community has also decided to donate a special award, Olivia Impact, to the Regional Volunteer Centre in Gdańsk to support war refugees from Ukraine.

The Olivia Prize 2021 in the Pro Bono category went to Energa for the implementation of the project Pier(w)si win! It was awarded for the grassroots initiative of the company’s employees, Natalia Cebula, Magdalena Pakmur and Ewa Opiela. The ladies carried out the project in cooperation with the Pink Butterfly Association and the Breast Disease Centre, operating at the University Clinical Centre. It was also supported by the ORLEN Foundation, Olivia Centre and Radio Gdańsk. The aim of the Pier(w)si wins campaign was to change the perception of breast cancer. Prevention was promoted and educated. A mobile vehicle was also installed in Olivia Centre. Women aged 50 to 69 could take part in the free tests.

Breast cancer is a disease like any other. If detected quickly, it gives a great chance of a complete cure. How to examine the breasts and where to turn for help was discussed, for example,  during the meeting with Elżbieta Senkus-Konefka , PhD– an authority of Polish oncology. The event was combined with professional medical advice, instruction on how to braffiter, but also with sewing pillows, which are of great importance in the postoperative recovery process.  More…

The Olivia Prize 2021 in the Business category went to Omida for entering the new intermodal transport market. 

New legal norms aimed at unifying the regulations concerning carriers in the European Union make Polish logistics and transport companies much less competitive for their customers. It is estimated that in the near future Poland will lose half of its transport market, thus its share will fall from 50 to 25%. An alternative to the development and maintenance of the market position is intermodal transport. Omida was one of the first companies in Poland to put a strategic emphasis on the development of this form of transport, wanting to slowly replace everything it does in international traffic with road and rail transport. The Omidy project has an ecological dimension. One train is able to carry more than 40 trailers at a time, which brings measurable benefits in the form of reduced traffic on the roads, reduces CO2 emissions and noise, as well as increases the safety of other passengers on the roads. As part of its group of companies, Omida organizes 1500 domestic and international loadings a day, so the planned change will have a significant impact on the environment.

It is very important to us that the innovations we introduce are noticed and appreciated,” emphasizes Bartłomiej Glinka, President of the Management Board of Omida S.A. Changing regulations have presented the entire industry with difficult challenges, and the award-winning project is our response to this situation. It is with great satisfaction that I would like to emphasize that the solutions we are introducing are at the same time ecological, beneficial to society, and if the whole project is successful, it will also allow the Polish transport industry to maintain its position in Europe.

fot. Prestiż Magazyn Trójmiejski/Karol Kacperski

Olivia Prize 2021 in the Eco category for ZR Trade for the implementation of the #ZeroWasteWorking project

Zero waste initiatives are becoming more and more popular, despite the fact that they require their participants to get involved and change their habits. ZR Trade decided to bring this idea to a new level by integrating and motivating its employees for the sake of ecology. The project #ZeroWasteWorking started innocently, with a complete abandonment of drinks in plastic bottles and a switch to the use of filtered tap water. Over time, it began to take on wider and wider dimensions. In addition to sorting all the trash in the office, using only recycled paper, and a promotional campaign on LinkedIn, employees have implemented an initiative to share surplus food with a short shelf life, borrow equipment they rarely use, and exchange items they no longer need. Only reusable office supplies, such as pens and proofreaders with refillable refills, are used throughout the company. What’s more, employees also most often repair office equipment and small items themselves, which is not only ecological, but also integrative.

Something that needs to be fixed, for us is a chance to break away from mental work and integrate the team – says Tomasz from ZR Trade. – Instead of throwing it away and replacing it with a new one, we make a joint attempt to repair it and only if it fails, we order new ones. Of course, these are minor DIY repairs, not professional repairs to electronic equipment; In this case, we still use the services of experts.

In addition, we have given up 100% of plastic advertising gadgets. What makes us happy is the fact that each subsequent element of this action drives the next ones. Once or twice a year if necessary, we organize a collection of old blankets, etc. for an animal shelter, and if we replace the equipment with a newer one, we give the old one to those in need. For the purpose of the campaign, we have created a company chat, where employees report a problem, and people willing to help sign in with their skills – Karolina adds.

The purpose of the Olivia Prize awards is to distinguish valuable initiatives undertaken by the residents of Olivia Centre in a given calendar year – says Bogusław Wieczorek from Olivia Centre. “The number of initiatives that come to us in the form of applications fills us with great satisfaction. We are glad that these are not only purely business projects, but also social and ecological initiatives. The Olivia Prize allows us to see valuable projects of companies with offices in Olivia Centre and additionally promote those that the jury considers to be the most noteworthy.

Olivia Impact Special Award

This year’s edition could not be complete without a reference to the current situation in Ukraine. The special prize of the jury, Olivia Impact , was awarded to the Regional Volunteer Centre in Gdańsk. Its equivalent, i.e. ten thousand zlotys will be donated to war refugees from Ukraine. The Regional Volunteer Centre is an organisation that coordinates the care of refugees coming to Gdańsk. Their activities include the organization of a helpline for refugees, the processing of formalities, activities in the field of medical rescue, and psychological support. RCW helps you find a job, school or kindergarten for your children. It also cooperates with the units of the Territorial Defense Forces, which coordinate accommodation. The centre’s volunteers also work at the railway station in Gdansk, coordinating activities for all those arriving by rail from the border to Gdansk.

In addition to the cash prizes, the winners received Olivia Prize statuettes, prepared by prof. Tomasz Sobisz, Vice-Dean of the Faculty of Sculpture and Intermedia at the Academy of Fine Arts in Gdańsk.