Societal

Regional, economic and social impact of MANE’s activities

At MANE, we believe growth is only sustainable if it is shared. Contributing to the local development of the areas in which the Group operates is a responsibility MANE takes very seriously.
The Group’s contribution to the economic and social development of these communities is reflected in:

  • the creation of permanent local jobs, both direct and indirect;
  • the training and recruitment of local staff;
  • the purchasing of local goods and services;
  • the choice of investments;
  • the decision to set up production sites close to customers.

Our aim is to ensure that our activities create value and opportunity for the communities and territories in which do business by supporting employment, training and local industry. Through this commitment, we stimulate the local socioeconomic fabric and facilitate the transfer of skills.

Partnerships and sponsorship

MANE’s commitment to local communities involves general interest measures in its countries of operation. This social commitment is based on close relationships with associations and local authorities and takes many forms: donations to charity, involvement of employees in community projects, financial support to associations and NGOs.

Here are some examples:

  • In Indonesia, access to medical care is a factor of social inequality. This is why, for several years now, MANE’s site in Cikarang in Indonesia has been successfully organising free medical consultation days (health checks and treatment if necessary) for local residents. Each year, more than 500 people from 6 neighbouring villages benefit from this medical programme.
  • Also in Indonesia, for 10 years now, MANE has supported the NGO Yayasan Emmanuel, an association that helps over 5000 children and individuals each month through 7 programmes focused on education, housing and community services. In 2007, this commitment started with financial support to build an orphanage. Then in 2008, MANE committed to sponsoring 150 students as part of the NGO's « Outreach Programme », which aims to increase access to education for disadvantaged children. Currently, 250 children are sponsored by MANE to cover their school fees. However, the goal of the programme is not merely to pay school fees; it also provides the social support children need to succeed and make the most of their studies.
  • Since 2016, MANE do Brazil has participated with the Brazilian NGO « Onda Verde » in a forestry project aimed at restoring areas degraded by agricultural activities such as the planting of indigenous trees. MANE financially supports the planting of seedlings, including maintenance for at least 3 years.
  • In China, MANE Shanghai has supported the association « The Children of Madaifu » since 2013. This association looks after children from poor families in the impoverished Chinese provinces of Gansu and Shaanxi whose parents have disappeared or passed away. Through a 5-year programme, MANE has been providing financial aid to help 15 children (high school and university students) with living expenses and tuition until they enter the job market. MANE then offers internships to interested students. Each year, MANE Shanghai also runs the « Love Apples » operation in partnership with « The Children of Madaifu ». MANE buys apples from the association and the profits from this sale are used to fund the association's activities, especially the « Orphanage without walks » programme allowing children to go to school and continue their studies while staying with close family. The purchase of 10 kg of apples enables the association to support one child for two months. Some of the apples purchased are also given to a French pastry school called « Shanghai Young Bakers », which make pastries that are then purchased by MANE and given to employees.
  • In 2016, MANE Thailand organised an auction of office furniture that was still in good condition but no longer used. The aim was for employees to take part in order to collect money for Ban U-Tapao Primary School, located near the site. Thanks to this donation, the school was able to equip its covered playground with a high bay LED lighting system, allowing it to be used in the evenings by the school and the community.
Partnership

The MANE business foundation

Our social commitment is also at the heart of the guiding principles of the MANE Business Foundation. The goal of this foundation is to promote, support and coordinate, in France and abroad, projects of general interest relating to sustainable development, the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity, the reduction of poverty in line with the traditional knowledge of indigenous and local communities, and multilateral agreements with UN institutions (Convention on Biodiversity).

The Foundation has launched a project to promote the harvest of Echinops giganteus, a wild plant endemic to south-western Cameroon. In this region, the forest has been excessively exploited by villagers for whom it is the sole additional source of income. This has also had the effect of considerably reducing the habitat of Cross River gorillas, of which only around 40 remain in the region. The harvest of the wild Echinops, the scented root of which is of interest to perfumers, is an alternative resource that will allow the forest to be left alone and the natural habitat of the gorillas to be respected. The aim of this project is to encourage rural development through the implementation of a process for the sustainable development of this resource according to the Access and Benefit-sharing principle of the Nagoya Protocol. We chose this project because it offers the best chance of success both in terms of commercial potential and the generation of income for local communities. It is supported by the NGO Man and Nature, which is supported in turn by the local NGO ERuDeF (Environment and Rural Development Foundation), which manages the project to ensure the quality of leadership and governance needed for success. Our R&D teams have received several root samples collected in different seasons, allowing them to carry out extraction tests. Overall, the initial results from these tests are positive and confirm that continued project follow-up is merited.

Business Foundation

Michel Mane, President of the MANE Business Foundation

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