Tag: .CSR

Olivia Centre has published its first ESG report

Posted on by Katarzyna Halicka

If the real estate market, following the example of the youth “word of the year”, were to create its ranking of the hottest topics of 2021, then Environmental, Social and Corporate Governance, or ESG, would be a concept that would be at the forefront. Despite the fact that it is mentioned in all cases during every industry conference and in numerous publications related to the real estate market, only 33% of market representatives prepare reports defining their good practices in the field of environmental and social policy management, and only 11% of companies make them available to a wide audience. Olivia Centre has just been included in this small group, as it has published its first summary of initiatives in line with the ESG policy.

 

Olivia Centre is the largest business centre in northern Poland and one of the largest in Central and Eastern Europe. It consists of 9 buildings located in the heart of the Tri-City agglomeration. In recent months, Olivia has been developing projects focusing on four key areas, which allowed for the effective implementation of the assumed development strategy. These areas are: sustainability and environment, communication and stakeholder outreach, community focus, and safety. The report prepared by us fits perfectly into the long-standing policy of the entire Tonsa Group (the owner of Olivia Centre), based not only on maximizing returns, but also on focusing on social benefits and care for the natural environment.

 

 

Ecology

– We are aware of the responsibility resting on our shoulders towards the region, the country and the ecological planet from the perspective of a sector that has a significant impact on shaping trends and good practices on the market. – says Agata Kwapisiewicz, ESG Officer at Olivia Centre. “We know that the process of building new properties and maintaining them for many years is of great importance for the climate. This importance has been highlighted, among others, in the report “Responsible investments. ESG in the real estate market” by ThinkCo from 2021, according to which the construction sector is responsible for about 30% of greenhouse gas emissions globally and consumes about 40% of energy. That is why putting people and the environment at the centre of thinking about real estate is our most important task.

For this reason, among others, 2021 was announced in Olivia as the Year of Ecology, during which numerous ecological initiatives were launched. Each decision was based on care for sustainable development, a positive assessment of the impact of the company’s operations on the natural environment, and a focus on minimizing the carbon footprint. For example, all of Olivia’s office buildings meet the strict requirements set by the building certification systems BREEAM and WELL. In addition, each of the actions taken is intended to contribute to the achievement of the ambitious objective of by the end of 2025, 50% of the electricity consumed in Olivia Centre came from renewable sources. The Tonsa Group’s commitment to reducing its carbon footprint is also related to its focus on cooperation with local business partners, who are the as many as 99% of Olivia’s co-operators. The analysis of the activities carried out so far has also made it possible to change the policy in the field of waste treatment. As a result, the amount of metal and plastic waste was reduced by as much as 26%, and residual waste by 24%. On the other hand, the amount of glass sent for recycling increased by 16%. As the first office center in Poland, we implemented Tork PaperCircle – an innovative service for recycling used paper towels. This type of waste management has an important dimension. Thanks to its implementation, the reduction of CO2 consumption generated in connection with paper production reaches 40%. Now exactly 100% of the towels are recycled and can be reused.

 

Stakeholders

Olivia has been implementing a number of projects for years, thanks to which it can be considered a leader in the field of involvement in the local community. The solutions we implement are analyzed at the planning stage in terms of the expectations and needs of various stakeholder groups. They are based on social participation and are often carried out with the participation of the inhabitants of Gdańsk, including the Oliwa district.

 

“We also try to talk about the district in an interesting, non-standard way, promoting Oliwa and bringing its history closer. In a series of original films entitled “Oliwa As You Don’t Know It” we showed extraordinary places in Oliwa and extraordinary people who create the atmosphere and history of this place. – says Bogusław Wieczorek, Plenipotentiary of the Management Board of Olivia Centre. – With a view to the dynamic development of the district, we co-financed local initiatives as part of the Oliwa Neighbourhood Budget. As part of the project, we financed the Christmas Festival in Oliwa, the Oliwa Recreation Station, physical activities for people affected by Parkinson’s disease and many other important initiatives.

We cooperate with numerous organizations to stimulate entrepreneurship and optimal development of modern cities. Among them are the Employers of Pomerania, the City of Gdańsk and the Gdańsk University of Technology. Among the joint initiatives, it is worth mentioning, for example, the scientific project CRUNCH. Olivia Centre is implementing it (under the aegis of the Gdańsk University of Technology) in an international consortium. The presentation of the project took place at the Venice Biennale.

 

In Olivia, there is a group called Obywatelk, which implements a number of local social initiatives. As part of it, a collection of computers and laptops for children from Pomeranian schools was organized to ensure the possibility of remote learning during the Covid-19 pandemic and to counteract the digital exclusion of children who previously did not have computers. Together with Caritas of the Archdiocese of Gdansk, the members of the Social Activist group took care of the elderly by providing them with m.in. food and Easter packages. Throughout the pandemic, Olivia financed and delivered protective clothing and lunches to employees of two hospitals in Gdansk. Olivia’s community is an active, integrated group that is not only a market differentiator of the Gdańsk facility, but is often recognized by residents as an important factor influencing the satisfaction and sense of fulfillment of their employees.

 

A number of projects carried out in Olivia have their origin in the community of residents, which is part of the decision-making process regarding the solutions prepared in the centre. The most important result of this cooperation is the commissioning of Olivia Garden. It is an exotic garden with an area of 740 m2 and a height of 9 meters, with a mezzanine of more than 100m2. The garden was planted with 4,000 plants representing more than 150 species. In 2021 won an award in the CIJ Awards Poland competition, in the Best Interior/Exterior Design category, and in 2022 the European Property Award. The aim of the project was to create a space thanks to which you can relax, calm down and rebuild inner harmony, which is extremely pleasant among such a large number of delightful plants, reaching up to 11 meters. The space of Olivia Garden complemented the concept of a modern centre, open to employees and residents of the Tri-City, where the needs of stakeholders are treated as a priority.

 

Olivia is still being developed in the spirit of a multifunctional and friendly centre. In addition to office space, a number of services are available here, m.in. a medical center, a pharmacy, a hairdresser, a kindergarten, a primary school, a high school, 8 restaurants and cafes, an exotic garden, a bakery or a fitness club. At the top of the tallest building, Olivia Star, there is a public viewpoint loved by locals and tourists, restaurants run by Paco Perez – winner of 5 Michelin stars, and an event and conference center. This makes it a friendly and accessible place for the entire local and international community.

 

Safety

The report also includes a report on the steps taken to ensure the safety of residents and visitors to the centre. The department responsible for ensuring the safety of the facility consists of 75% certified paramedics, and all of Olivia’s employees and associates have been trained in health and safety and first aid. The WELL Health & Safety Rating certificate, obtained in 2021 and confirmed a year later, confirmed that Olivia Centre is the safest place to work in the world, as Olivia met all certification criteria in 100% in all 25 categories analysed. No other business center in the world has climbed to this level of security. Such a result is a proof of the highest quality of services provided and solutions implemented. A unique solution implemented by us is air ionization. This process is used in the most prestigious facilities of the world, which includes m.in. The White House, Harvard University or the Presidential Palace in Abu Dhabi.

 

“We have been and are aware of the need to build and maintain our buildings sustainably. – emphasizes Maciej Grabski, investor of Olivia Centre. –We know that the irresponsible use of natural resources and energy is ethically, financially and ecologically costly. In the coming year, we intend to develop this area by focusing on the evolution of our goals and objectives in the field of sustainable development, which are commonly divided into three spheres – environment, society and corporate governance, which together form ESG. The ESG priority is to further structure and systematize our activities in terms of sustainable development, and the challenge for the next 5 years is to maintain the status of Olivia Centre as a safe, healthy and friendly work and leisure environment, regardless of the changes affecting the working lives of people around the world. All our activities are carried out in accordance with the law and in accordance with the current trends and directions in business, which we also set. We are an integral part of the Tri-City and make a significant contribution to the regional business and economy. Olivia attracts investments and provides jobs. But that’s not all. It also organizes numerous cultural, social, sports and other active leisure activities. The purpose of the report is to give stakeholders an overview of our impact on the local economy, environment and society.

Methodology

The report is based on the international GRI reporting standards and the TCFD (Task Force on Climate-Related Financial Disclosures) guidelines for climate disclosures.

 

– Tonsa developed it despite the fact that it is not obliged to prepare a non-financial report, but taking into account the expectations of stakeholders and legislative changes, including the CSRD Directive, it has already decided to prepare a sustainability report. This decision is based on the desire to communicate openly with our stakeholders and to identify important aspects related to the environment. On the other hand, the use of objective standards and guidelines will allow them to be compared with the market. says Bogusław Wieczorek.

 

 

Download the full 2021 ESG report
Download the full 2021 ESG report

Work and chill at the Work & Chill Station in Olivia Star!

Posted on by Katarzyna Halicka

We invite you to the first floor of Olivia Star. It is here that we have prepared a fantastic space for you, where you can chill and work.

 

Subdued colors, comfortable sofas, armchairs, and even chaise longues (yes, yes!) are something for those who value casual comfort. For traditionalists, we have tables, desks and chairs. Everything is beautiful, tasteful, elegant and ergonomic.

 

You can just sit here (to relax), you can lie down (because why not), you can work (sitting, lying down or lying down), you can meet a contractor here, you can talk about something as a team. And by the way, you can drink excellent coffee here! There is an express, but self-service applies.

 

We have prepared the zone together with our Resident, Nowy Styl.

 

All employees of companies located in Olivia Star move around the building with access cards, so they can freely enter (or drive) to the first floor of this mega zone. Employees of companies from other Olivia buildings go to the reception desk as usual to pick up their access card to the first level of Olivia Star. In other words, the access rules adopted for all Olivia buildings apply here.

 

Enjoy!

 

 

PS. remember that this is not the only space in Olivia where you will feel work-life balance. We constantly invite you to Olivia Garden, which is green all year round, Linden Avenue (while it is still beautiful autumn) or to the Olivia Star Observation Floor. If you work at Olivia Prime, you can always take a breather on the roof terraces or take advantage of the last days of sunshine by sitting in the loggias.

The Im. Stefan Kuryłowicz invites you to a workshop that will help to change a key place in Gdańsk

Posted on by Katarzyna Halicka

The Im. Stefan Kuryłowicz invites you to the Workshops with a Mentor – the 8th edition of the Practitioner Scholarship, during which architects will work on solutions for the space at the junction of Grunwaldzka Avenue and ul. Bażyński, where the business community and the academic community intersect, and this place is visited by tens of thousands of Tri-City residents every day. As a result of the workshops, there will be proposals for the development of the space in front of the legendary Gdańsk architectural icon – the Olivia Hall.

 

The call for applications for the workshops, which will take place in Gdańsk on April 1-2, 2023, has begun. The INTERNSHIP scholarship

is a three-stage program aimed at finding the most interesting ideas for improving the quality of public space. In the first stage, the jury will select up to 18 people from the submitted portfolios to participate in the on-site, weekend “Workshops with a Mentor”. The workshop will be held under the guidance of a mentor Prof. Peter Lorens, Architect of Gdańsk, employee of the Faculty of Architecture of the Gdańsk University of Technology; and Prof. Lucyna Nyka from the Faculty of Architecture, Gdańsk University of Technology; Prof. Rainer Mahlamäki President of the Finnish Association of Architects (SAFA) and Grzegorz Kidybiński from Olivia Centre – project partner. The workshop will be led by: Iza Burda, PhD (Faculty of Architecture, Gdańsk University of Technology), Arch. Jan Rubel (Faculty of Architecture, Warsaw University of Technology, Kuryłowicz & Associates) and Prof. Ewa Kuryłowicz (Chairwoman of the Foundation’s Council, Kuryłowicz & Associates).

 

In the second stage, the three best solutions developed during the workshops (individual or team) will be awarded monthly scholarships in the amount of PLN 2,000 each. PLN to transform the idea into an architectural concept. Then, from among the three projects selected for the finals, the Jury will select the winning project, which – based on a scholarship of 10 thousand zloty. PLN – will be perfected for 4 months as part of the third stage of the program. The final phase of the workshop will be a public presentation of the concept in autumn 2023. in Gdansk. Applications for the competition will be judged by a Jury consisting of: Jakub Wacławek, Dorota Szlachcic, Aleksandra Wasilkowska, Mirosław Nizio, Maciej Frąckowiak and Agnieszka Olędzka. In the next stages of the competition, these judges will additionally cooperate with the Workshop leaders in the evaluation of the competition entries.

 

The aim of the Foundation’s programmes is to Stefan Kuryłowicz’s goal is to support the work of young, creative and searching architects, to strengthen their attitude of responsibility for the architectural and urban order, to make attempts to recognize contemporary problems of public space and to develop bold solutions to these problems that take into account the needs of local communities. Prof. Ewa Kuryłowicz: “The possibility of influencing the image of this part of Gdańsk, as well as the chance to transform the adjacent area into an element of living tissue, is unique. There is an urgent need to consolidate the space in this region. The designs of young minds and hearts should therefore carry ideas that will attract investors and other users. A city is not only a spatial form, but above all people’s living conditions, traffic flow, mobility, and cooperation with nature. And since the involvement of all stakeholders is a prerequisite for success at the end of a long process of improving the state of life in the city, elements of persuasive graphics will be part of the workshop studies, which can motivate everyone to engage with a sense of agency. Fascinating work awaits us in one of the most beautiful places in Poland.”

 

– The subject of the workshop is a space that has a huge, but still untapped potential. – says Bogusław Wieczorek from Olivia Centre. – In the new centre of the metropolis, the paths of users of business hubs, the campus of the University of Gdańsk and the largest housing estates in Gdańsk intersect. The icon crowning the analyzed square is the symbolic and majestic body of the Olivia Hall, designed by Prof. Stanisław Kuś, Maciej Krasiński and prof. Eng. Arch. Maciej Gintowt, which celebrated its 50th anniversary last year. We count on the creativity of the project teams who, under the watchful eye of the greatest authorities, have an open field to develop and plan solutions around such an important and interesting place. We believe that the proposals will lead to win-win solutions for all stakeholders, and we will see them implemented shortly thereafter.

IN the SEA of ART in Olivia Garden

Posted on by Katarzyna Halicka

The Polish Committee of the International Association for Education through Art InSEA and Olivia Centre cordially invite you to relax creatively and discover and develop your own talents. As the organizers of the event convince: thanks to workshops and inspiring meetings in Olivia Garden, everyone has a chance to become a captain efficiently navigating the sea of new opportunities.

 

Visit Olivia Garden on March 11, 2023 (8.00-11.00) to make yourself a gift of mindfulness and self-improvement among the vital, calming greenery. The meeting will be inspired by the colourful, multicultural children’s and youth exhibition “Always Green, Always Blue”, presenting works from 37 countries.

 

Here you can sign up for a workshop of your choice.

 

Dreams with a deadline, or how to learn to plan and achieve personal and professional (school) goals
Hours. 8.00-9.00

Hosted by: Małgorzata Stanasiuk-Mordalska

Sign Up

 

Mindfulness in education
Hours. 9:00-10:00

Hosted by: Paulina Walkiewicz-Jasińska

Sign Up

 

 

Choral workshops: music soothes morals
10:00-11:00

Host: Anna Emilia Kapka

Sign Up

 

 

 

Olivia Centre’s second ESG report!

Posted on by Katarzyna Halicka

Once again, we have published an ESG (Environmental, Social and Corporate Governance) report. If you haven’t seen it yet, we recommend it!

The year 2022 was full of events that affected the day-to-day functioning of many areas of business. The Russian invasion of Ukraine, the ongoing consequences of the pandemic, the global economic slowdown and the ongoing climate change have made it necessary to responsibly adapt business to the changes, taking into account the legal framework and market requirements. The ESG report of Grupa Tonsa – the owner of Olivia Centre – is a summary of activities in the field of sustainable development and fulfilment of commitments to the community and the environment in 2022. 

 

 

Responsible construction 

In March 2022, Olivia Centre buildings renewed their WELL Health-Safety Rating certificates with the highest number of points that can be obtained. This is a repeat of the previous year’s achievement, when Olivia achieved such a result as the first investment in the world. WELL HSR certification is a data-driven, independently verified assessment of buildings that focuses on the analysis of operating policies, standards of use and maintenance. In addition, in 2022, Olivia Star received the final BREEAM certificate in the as-built phase, taking into account the arrangement of the lease space (Fully Fitted) with an Excellent grade.

 

We are aware that our actions have an impact on the environment in which we operate, which is why we take responsibility for them at every stage of the investment. All our buildings are designed and built according to the highest quality and environmental standards, which is confirmed by their high marks in the multi-criteria building certification. However, we set higher standards for ourselves. Through numerous upgrades and responsible operational decisions, we optimize our impact on the environment and people. Last year, we reduced our water consumption by as much as 33% compared to the base year, and the greenhouse gas intensity of Scope 1 and 2 decreased by as much as 21%. In addition, the implementation of the Tork Paper Circle programme has allowed us to reduce our Scope 3 emissions by a relative 3,040 kg of CO
2

.
– says Agata Kwapisiewicz, ESG Officer at Olivia Centre.

 

Stable business, engaged community 

Olivia Centre helps to develop local business and economy, attracting further investments in the region and enabling the creation of new jobs. The Centre also actively supports the activities of the local community associated with the Oliwa district, among others by supporting modernisation works in the district, organising activities for children and seniors and providing support to local schools.

 

Despite many challenges, 2022 ended for Olivia with record results in terms of office space leasing (92% of leased space at the end of 2022) and we attracted Residents representing new, previously absent industries.

 

A particular expression of the commitment of the community gathered around the business center were the actions that took place just a few hours after the Russian attack on Ukraine. The residents of Olivia Centre, with the full support and commitment of the centre’s team, were ready to help their neighbours. Olivia also joined the systemic support by providing a ground-floor premises for a “cost-free store” Take&Go, run by the Up Foundation on behalf of the City of Gdańsk. It was one of the city’s three distribution points for donations collected by the local government and its subordinate institutions.

 

In addition to the official organizational activities, many people had a need to implement additional, personal initiatives in the field of providing help. The details of these activities are also discussed in the ESG report for 2022.

 

The spontaneous but effective activity of the community associated with Olivia Centre once again made us realize how important it is to build a sense of belonging and agency. – adds Maciej Olszewski, who coordinates Olivia’s community initiatives on a daily basis.

What’s next?

The report prepared by Olivia Centre contains a summary of everything that is most important from the point of view of environmentally and socially responsible investments. It is a compendium of knowledge about the centre’s activities in 2022, as well as a commitment to make further progress in the field of sustainable development.

 

Our priority for the coming years is to maintain the status of Olivia Centre as a comfortable work space and a centre of business, leisure, culture and social engagement. In particular, this refers to the responsibility for the current implementations and setting higher and higher requirements in the area of planned investments, also by responding to the needs of individual stakeholders and extensive partnerships with scientific institutions at all levels, the local community and business environment institutions – sums up Bogusław Wieczorek, Management Board’s Plenipotentiary for Public Relations.

 

We are committed to taking action to ensure the health, safety and comfort of people. We also want to stay on track to limit global warming to 1.5°C. Last year, we launched a cyclical analysis of the real estate portfolio using the CRREM (Carbon Risk Real Estate Monitor) tool, which – together with the climate risk analysis carried out in accordance with the TCFD (Task Force on Climate-Related Financial Disclosures) guidelines – allowed us to develop an optimal decarbonisation path. Thanks to it, we have set ourselves further climate goals, which we presented in the report. – adds Agata Kwapisiewicz.

 

Methodology 

We have developed our ESG Report despite the fact that we are not obliged to do so. This decision is based primarily on the desire to communicate openly with our stakeholders and to point out important aspects related to caring for the environment, on which we undoubtedly have a huge impact. We are also aware of the fact that legislative changes, including the CSRD Directive, will soon have a significant impact on the expectations of our stakeholders. That is why we are already providing them with the information they will soon need, and the use of the most popular international reporting standards GRI (Global Reporting Initiative) will allow them to easily find the required data and compare it with the market. In addition, due to our membership in the UNGC, the report refers to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). – sums up Agata Kwapisiewicz.

 

Report pl

Report en

Olivia Centre’s Code of Conduct

Posted on by Katarzyna Halicka

Olivia Centre is committed to adhering to the highest standards in the field of social and environmental responsibility, in particular standards convergent with the UN Sustainable Development Goals and the universal principles of the United Nations Global Compact.

Our Code of Conduct has been prepared not only to indicate and emphasize our values, but also to provide a clear guideline for all entities cooperating and wishing to cooperate with us. It is a set of principles that reflect our practices, and which are focused on four main areas, representing general, business, social and environmental expectations.

As a conscious organization, we expect all collaborators to comply with at least the rules contained in the following document. When selecting business partners, we are guided by, among other things, whether the values set out in our Code are shared, implemented and respected by them, reserving the right to verify the above.

The Code of Conduct of Olivia Centre is addressed to our employees and associates as well as to all entities that are or will be related to Olivia Centre by legal or factual relationship; to Residents, contractors, contractors, customers, suppliers, service providers or capital providers.

Whenever we talk about legal provisions in the Code of Conduct, we mean the regulations currently in force in the territory of the Republic of Poland, the country where Olivia Centre operates.

Get to know the Olivia Centre Code of Conduct.

Code of Conduct
Code of Conduct

Super Kids in Olivia!

Posted on by Katarzyna Halicka

We were visited by super kids! Those who want to do more and who have big hearts. Children who sold lemonade, homemade jewelry, walked their dogs to earn some money for holidays, or to help animals in a shelter… Their creativity, ingenuity and hearts have been noticed and appreciated. Grzegorz Neumann from the Municipal Police Headquarters in Gdańsk organized a mega day for them. We could also participate in this day and make it one of the best holiday days, at least we hope so.

 

There was pizza and lemonade on the 32nd floor of Olivia Star, there were workshops on entrepreneurship and creating a business plan, there were gifts and there were also – this time for us and our Residents – fantastic gifts from the kids: delicious lemonade and beautiful bracelets, the work of ten-year-old Julia.

 

Thank you and we are very happy that we could join this campaign. We are full of admiration for Zuzia, Wiki, Kacper, Julia and the volunteers working as part of the Youth Forum – AKTYWNI.

#RazemMozemyWiecej, together with: Hotel Admirał, Żegluga Gdańska, Forum Gdańsk, City Fit, Speednet and Zdunek Group, which not only helped to organize the workshops, but also prepared prizes and other holiday attractions for children. In addition, food was also donated to the Promyk animal shelter!

 

Photos courtesy of Trojmiasto.pl, photo: Jacek Koślicki/Trojmiasto.pl. Thank you!

 

Read more here

Miele will help you dispose of your old vacuum cleaner.

Posted on by Katarzyna Halicka

Take care of our planet. Once again, we are working together with Miele. The action is simple! If you have an old vacuum cleaner at home, simply bring it to your Miele showroom by November 15 and our Resident will dispose of it at no cost.

 

In addition, if someone not only wants to get rid of the old equipment, but also to buy a new, eco-vacuum cleaner, Miele has prepared attractive offers. Ask in the store.

 

Did you know?

  • E-waste can be a source of valuable raw materials that can be reused while saving the Earth’s natural resources. To be able to use them, they must go to an e-waste collection point and then to a treatment plant, where they will be recycled. Source: Recycling – No E-Waste Day (dzienbezelektrosmieci.pl)

 

WELCOME!

 

Pinktober. Don’t forget about breast self-examination!

Posted on by Katarzyna Halicka

October has been recognized around the world as Breast Cancer Awareness Month for many years. In this special period, we take up topics related to the prevention, diagnostics and modern treatment of breast cancer. On the occasion of Pink October, we also promote cancer prevention and vigilance. We also encourage you to self-examine your breasts. See how to perform the test correctly. And remember that regular examination allows you to detect cancerous changes at an early stage and, as a consequence, apply effective treatment. The film was prepared by the
Pink Butterfly Association
, a non-profit organization supporting patients treated at the Breast Cancer Center of the University Clinical Center in Gdańsk. It was established in November 2019 by medical staff, patients and friends gathered at the UCC Breast Cancer Center. The Association’s mission is to help people suffering from cancer, including breast diseases, at all stages of the disease (from diagnosis, through treatment and convalescence).

The Pink Butterfly Association, Olivia Centre, Energa Volunteers from the ORLEN Group and the Orlen Foundation invite you to the Pink Ribbon March on 16 October.
Tie the ribbon with us at 12:00
. Let’s start on Olivia’s patio!

 

Join! | 16.10. | Olivia Centre patio | 12:00

And here let us know that you will

 

On the patio on October 16 from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m . there will also be A special tent for m.in. stations with phantoms, where you will be able to learn how to properly self-examine your breasts. There will be leaflets – a cheat sheet on how to get tested along with information on where to go for help.

 

Organizers and partners of the Pink Ribbon March

 

 

Did you know?

  • Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women worldwide (25%) and the leading cause of death (14%), and breast cancer patients account for 36% of women living with cancer. It is estimated that nearly 1.7 million women are diagnosed with breast cancer each year, and more than 500,000 die from it. It is a heterogeneous disease in which we distinguish different subtypes.
  • The highest incidence of breast cancer is recorded in industrialized countries (Belgium, Denmark, the Netherlands, Germany, Great Britain). The lowest incidence is in countries in Africa and Southeast Asia. Geographic region is a factor that significantly modifies the risk of breast cancer.
  • In Poland, breast cancer has become one of the biggest threats to premature mortality of women in the last century. Breast cancer also occurs in men, although very rarely. It is estimated that one in the number of cases of breast cancer is breast cancer in men.
  • The risk factors for the development of the disease are complex, but the key factors seem to be those related to the hormonal status of the woman (reproductive factors, age of puberty and menopause, use of hormonal preparations). The incidence of breast cancer increases with age. Cancer is rare among women under 45 years of age, and the majority of cases occur in women over 50 years of age (80% of patients in Poland).
  • A factor that significantly increases the risk of developing breast cancer is the presence of a mutation in the BRCA1 gene or the BRCA2 gene. It is estimated that 4-8% of breast cancers may be the result of inherited mutations, the remaining cases are the result of sporadic mutations in somatic cells.
  • Diagnosis and early detection (secondary prophylaxis) based on regular mammography examinations (screening) are of decisive importance in the context of prevention and prevention of the development of advanced breast cancer.

Source: zwrotnikraka.pl

 

We support the Pomeranian Team for Women and the Pink Box campaign

Posted on by Katarzyna Halicka

Do you know that the Pomeranian Voivodeship Board has a Pomeranian Team for Women? This advisory and consultative body, chaired by Jolanta Szydłowska, President of the Management Board of the Gdańsk Foundation for Management Development, was established in 2021. Its creation is related to the implementation of the Pomeranian Voivodeship Development Strategy 2030, which assumes the promotion of equality and social inclusion of all inhabitants of the region, regardless of gender, race, religion, worldview and other factors.

 

The most important task of the Pomeranian Team for Women’s Empowerment is to raise public awareness of the equal treatment of women in terms of work, pay and career advancement. PZdsK monitors and analyses the needs related to equal professional and economic opportunities for women. Importantly, the team analyses the activity of organisations, local governments and other entities in the field of equality practices. It develops comprehensive information on the situation in the region in terms of equal rights for women and men, identifies barriers to be overcome, recommends systems for promoting equality practices and policies in this area. In addition, the team’s work involves establishing cooperation and exchanging good practices with other bodies and institutions conducting similar activities. More about the Team. Women…

 

In May this year. the team provided the Board of the Pomeranian Voivodeship with a list of issues and areas of significant importance for women and equality between women and men. The document called ” Cheat Sheet for Women” is a list of issues of key importance for a better life, safety and health for women and for equal rights for women and men.

 

In June 2023, the team presented recommendations to local authorities on actions to counteract menstrual exclusion. He also addressed his position to Pomeranian companies and institutions, thus supporting the m.in. colleagues from the Youth Assembly of the Pomeranian Voivodeship. We encourage you, our Residents, to join the simple but very important initiative, already known more widely as the “Pink Box”.

 

The first such box appeared in Wrocław at the end of 2019 at the local Women’s Rights Centre. Today, they are all over Poland, but there are still too few of them. Pink boxes filled with sanitary pads and tampons are a concrete help for women in this aspect of their physiology, which is still talked about half-heartedly or not talked about at all. There are at least several dozen of them in the Tri-City at the moment and more are still appearing. As part of its cooperation with UNICEF , Gdańsk has acquired over a thousand pink boxes, which can already be seen in schools and non-governmental organizations. You can find them in aid centres, clubs or cafes, in libraries, hospitals, clinics, museums (e.g. in Gdynia). Check out the map of pink boxes…

 

It’s time for us to check if we also have them in our companies and offices! It is worth getting involved in this action, because according to the first reports in Poland on Including. menstrual poverty, prepared for the Kulczyk Foundation:

  • one in five Polish women does not have money to buy hygiene products necessary for menstruation,
  • almost 40 per cent. Women from poorer households had to give up the purchase of hygiene products in favor of other expenses,
  • almost 60 per cent. students had to ask someone to buy tampons or sanitary pads because they didn’t have their own.
  • 21 percent. had to leave school/university to get hygiene products,
  • On the other hand, 10 per cent , due to the lack of tampons or sanitary pads, stayed at home.

Order a box

 

Download:

Opinion poll report on access to menstrual products in schools

Menstruation – a report from a qualitative and quantitative study

Period poverty: what is it and how to fight it? International report

Positions of the Pomeranian Team for Women