Eight major Dubai-based companies have been awarded the Dubai Chamber CSR Label for their efforts to become leading businesses in corporate social responsibility and sustainability.

Abela & Co, Emrill Services LLC, HSBC Bank Middle East Limited, Canon Middle East, and ABB were all awarded the Dubai Chamber CSR Label at a ceremony at Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry's head office on June 10, 2012.

At the same time, Intercoil, Emirates Gas and Mashreq Bank, were awarded the endorsement for a second time after successfully reapplying, meeting higher expectations and criteria.

H.E. Hisham Al Shirawi, 2nd Vice Chairman, Dubai Chamber, presented the CSR Label certificates to the receiving companies, saying that they were pioneers in the region.

"I would like to congratulate all the companies today who have received the Dubai Chamber CSR Label. They are leading by example and are a source of inspiration for the entire business community," he said.

"Dubai Chamber launched the CSR Label initiative in 2010 and has had an overwhelming response from the business community. The CSR Label gives companies a clear framework to help them implement CSR and sustainability initiatives, promote them amongst staff, and then have their efforts recognised publicly.

"The receiving companies today send a signal to Dubai's business community that regardless of the type or size of the organisation, CSR can be incorporated across all operations to the benefit of the business," H.E. Al Shirawi added.

Developed by Dubai Chamber's Centre for Responsible Business, the Dubai Chamber CSR Label is part of a learning programme which promotes CSR and sustainability. Through the CSR Label, companies are given access to toolkits, networking seminars and training workshops to help them adopt and implement their own CSR schemes.

Hesham Ali Mustafa, Senior Director of Gas Marketing at ENOC and General Manager of Emirates Gas, said: "It gives EMGAS great pride to receive the CSR Label for the second consecutive year. We are pleased that our initiatives have been recognised as a perfect fit to the sustainable development commitment of the Government of Dubai, and as positive contributions towards a safer and greener community."

Abdulfattah Sharaf, CEO of HSBC Bank Middle East Limited, said: "At HSBC, we believe that being a truly sustainable organisation spans financial, social and environmental responsibility for our customers, our staff and our stakeholders. Our desire is to create long-lasting customer relationships, for our staff to act with courageous integrity in doing the right thing for our bank and our communities, to achieve sustained profits for our shareholders, and to manage the social and environmental impact of our business. We believe that acting responsibly in all these areas is, quite simply, good business.

"The Dubai Chamber CSR Label is a wonderful way for us to share with our wider community the successes we have had and also our sustainability priorities for the future," he added.

In a statement, Intercoil said its CSR programme was aligned with the company's mission to educate users on healthy sleep and to be the main reference and guide on information related to healthy sleep and orthopaedic sleep systems.

"In essence, the objective is to highlight how healthy sleep can lead to a healthy life. Intercoil has incorporated CSR in its core ideology, and its goal is to maintain and develop a healthy and mutually beneficial relationship with the members of the wider community where it operates," the statement said.

"Intercoil's social responsibility centres on the ambitious goal to be proactive in serving the consumer, the society, the environment and the nation. Being a leading manufacturer of orthopaedic beds and mattresses in the Middle East region, using the latest innovative industrial technologies, Intercoil has committed itself to promoting healthy sleep and increasing consumers' awareness of its importance in contributing to a healthy life."

Anurag Agrawal, Managing Director, Canon Middle East, said: "At Canon, we measure success based on our ability to improve the lives of our customers, protect the environment and support community development. In this regard, corporate social responsibility plays a very important role in our business strategy as Canon not only seeks to empower creativity and innovation in the workplace and at home, but also aims to contribute to the sustainable development of society through eco-friendly products and socially responsible business practices. 

"Canon Middle East is honoured to be recognised by Dubai Chamber's Centre for Responsible Business for its holistic approach to sustainability. This award further strengthens our commitment to 'kyosei' - Canon's corporate philosophy of living and working together for the common good."

In a statement, Abela & Co, said: "We are delighted to achieve the Dubai Chamber CSR Label. Our commitment to our community, employees, marketplace and environment will be even stronger now."

The Centre for Responsible Business offers a variety of educational, professional training and consulting services that are designed to increase a company's capacity to implement broad CSR programmes including business ethics, sustainability reporting and corporate governance.