11 September 2024 – ERMA FIRST, a leading sustainable maritime solutions provider, has teamed up with Hellenic Marine Environment Protection Association (HELMEPA), the Municipality of Perama and the local community to clean up Perama Beach as part of the company’s wide-ranging Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) strategy.
The event, which took place on 30 August 2024, saw over 80 participants collaborate to clear over 30 large refuse bags’ worth of recyclable and non-recyclable litter from the Perama coastline. Employees of ERMA FIRST, Environmental Protection Engineering (EPE), EPE Yachting, and Metis were joined by members of the local community; representatives of the Municipality of Perama including Mr Yiannis Lagoudakos, Mayor of Perama; and HELMEPA, who provided a minivan to transport people and recyclables.
Both ERMA FIRST and EPE received a HELMEPA Silver Badge for their commitment in marine litter collection and for leading the recent beach clean-up initiative in Perama, a voluntary marine clean-up action that contributed to the collection and recording of marine litter and to HELMEPA’s mission “To Save the Seas”.
Mr Konstantinos Stampedakis, Co-Founder & Managing Director, ERMA FIRST GROUP, said: “Aligning perfectly with our far-reaching CSR strategy, this event was a fantastic opportunity for us to give back to our community, protect our beautiful coastline, and enjoy some fresh air with colleagues. Thank you to the ERMA FIRST, EPE, EPE Yachting, and Metis team members who took part and to HELMEPA for their support. We were also honoured to welcome Mayor of Perama, Mr Yiannis Lagoudakos, to the event and would like to extend our gratitude to the Municipality of Perama.”
Ms Eleni Polychronopoulou, President, ERMA FIRST GROUP, commented: “Our latest voluntary beach clean-up event has been a great success. However, while we are proud of the volume of rubbish we removed from our coastline through hard work and collaboration, we know that keeping our beaches clean in the long term relies on education. We were therefore delighted for the opportunity to drive community engagement and discuss with participants our shared responsibilities and the importance of volunteering, recycling, and taking care of the planet. Planet Earth is our home, and we must protect and preserve it by all means for a better future for all – especially for the generations to come.”
According to Mr Kimon Mademlis, Marketing & Communications Director, ERMA FIRST GROUP, “the Group’s initiative to organize and lead this specific CSR action reflects its mission to preserve and protect the marine ecosystem and reaffirms its commitment to the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) – in particular, SDGs 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities; 13: Climate Action; and 14: Life Below Water.”
“In addition, the action aligns with ERMA FIRST GROUP’s status as a signatory of the EU Mission Charter ‘Restore our ocean and waters by 2030’; our support of the European Union’s Environment and Climate Green Week; and our three strategic pillars of local community, inclusivity, and sustainability,” Mr Mademlis underlined. The company had also registered the event as part of the EU Beach Cleanup campaign and as a European Climate Pact ‘satellite event’.
About ERMA FIRST
ERMA FIRST – From saving the oceans, to safeguarding the planet
Founded in 2009 and headquartered in Greece, ERMA FIRST is a leading manufacturer and provider of future-proof sustainable maritime solutions. The company’s robust systems and solutions ensure worldwide compliance, provide operational simplicity and reduce operational expenditure, while at the same time minimising the impact of ship operations on the environment.
ERMA FIRST’s customer-centric approach offers flexible and convenient servicing through a trusted network of certified engineers worldwide. ERMA FIRST provides sales, maintenance and training to clients via offices in 46 countries.
ERMA FIRST offers a complete range of solutions, including ballast water treatment (BWTS), Alternative Maritime Power (AMP), Energy Saving Devices (ESDs) and Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS).
ERMA FIRST won the Lloyd’s List Technical Achievement Award (2013 and 2023), the GREEN4SEA Technology Award (2016) and the GREEN4SEA Sustainability Award (2023).
For more information, contact us at sales@ermafirst.com or visit www.ermafirst.com
