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Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)

Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) represents a company's commitment to behave ethically and contribute to economic development while improving the quality of life of the workforce (and their families), the environment, as well as that of the local community and society at large.  CSR is often associated with philanthropy; however its spectrum is much larger and aims at enhancing the competitiveness of business while maximizing wealth creation to society.

GSI's CSR initiatives include supporting minority businesses, developing eco-friendly lines of services and products, performing community services and obtaining certifications to ensure that environment, employees, clients, partners and bottom line are taken care of.  Some of these initiatives are described in more detail bellow:

PRODUCTS AND SERVICES

Our GreenSeal GS-42 certified Eco Healthy Cleaning Program is based on a scientific approach and has proven to have a direct impact on the health and productivity of building occupants.  Some facts about environmental health and results of studies support the relevance of a service like Eco-Healthy Cleaning:

 

  • People spend 80% to 90% of their time indoors.
  • Cleaning products and processes impact Indoor Air Quality (IAQ).
    • Traditional cleaning and disinfecting chemicals can become airborne and contribute to allergies, respiratory illnesses and other adverse health reactions.
    • 50% of all illnesses are either caused or aggravated by poor IAQ, according to the American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology.
  • GSI's Eco Healthy Cleaning Program helps improving IAQ by significantly reducing airborne and surface bacteria, fungi and endotoxins.
    • Numerous studies have now shown that IAQ improvements result in measurable improvements to worker health, attentiveness, learning capability and productivity.
    • A recent study by the University of San Diego found that occupants of green buildings reported an average of 2.88 fewer days of absenteeism and an average 4.88% increase in productivity when compared to occupants of non-green buildings.

Recycling programs are also an example of GSI's longstanding commitment to environment, whether it is managing recyclable waste, using paper products with recycled content, cleaning with environmentally friendly "green chemicals", or using any other environmentally conscious supplies.  Nearly all of the 260 permanent accounts under GSI's management have a recycling plan.  In servicing 17 million square feet of office space at over 120 locations on a daily basis, GSI administers recycling programs for white paper, newspapers, corrugated cardboard, bottles & cans and restaurant grease.  In more than 100 multi-family residential communities, besides the basic recycling program, GSI helps recycle appliances, used motor oil and pizza boxes.

Energy conservation is among the top priorities of the on-site teams.  All employees are instructed to conserve energy whenever possible, turning on lights only in the area in which they will be working and be sure all lights left on for office personnel have been turned off after office personnel have left.

COMMUNITY SERVICE

GSI supports many charitable associations, through money donations or voluntary work, some of which are listed below:

  • Annual Fannie Mae Help the Homeless Walk
  • AOBA, Charity and Community Events Committee
  • Annual Alzheimer's Association Memory Walk
  • Justice for Democracy - Nonprofit organization that helps homeless children in Indonesia

Finally, the company offers the "GSI Commitment to Continuing Education" Scholarship Program, which provides 3 awards per year to the University of Maryland students who are considered low-income or at poverty risk and have a GPA between 2.0 and 3.0.