Sponsoring
The aspect of sustainable development is a key element of the corporate strategy of ista.
Thus ista mainly supports projects also on international level which promote the intelligent use of natural resources, which raise awareness of energy and environmental issues or which make a general contribution towards reducing global CO2 emissions.
In 2011 ista supports the following projects:
ista forest in Costa Rica
2011 has been declared the "International Year of Forests" by the UN. For this reason, ista is taking part in the B.A.U.M. members' forest in the VisionForest together with other committed companies. VisionForest is a model project in which companies that are committed to conserve forests promote reforestation of the rain forest in Costa Rica.
ista is contributing to this project, thus ensuring the reforestation of one hectare of rain forest. One hectare of rain forest compensates for about 400 tonnes of CO2 – the quality of this project is guaranteed by the independent certification "VERfuture". In addition to climate protection and CO2 compensation, the initiative offers local people a sustained income.
Further information can be found on www.visionswald.de
DESWOS cooperation
Within the scope of a cooperation with DESWOS (Deutsche Entwicklungshilfe für soziales Wohnungs- und Siedlungswesen e.V. - German Development Support for Social Accommodation and Residential Estates), ista is now supporting a project in Tejutepeque, a small town in the mountainous region of northern El Salvador. The guiding principle of DESWOS, to sustainably combat housing shortages and poverty in developing countries by helping them to help themselves, is an important issue to ista. The project in El Salvador, which is supported with donations, works according to the cooperative principle of self-help. The redevelopment of housing in the village that was extensively destroyed by a major earthquake is the main focus. The structure of the housing is adapted to the climate and orientated towards the sustainable use of water and energy resources. Some examples are that rainwater is collected from the roofs for washing and the soil is cultivated to supply and improve the micro-climate.
Further information can be found on the project site of DESWOS.
ista is sponsoring the renovation of a heating system in an SOS Children's Village in the Upper Palatinate (Germany) as part of several energy efficient measures. The heating system in the SOS Children's Village is already 26 years old and is no longer reliable. Besides renovating the heating system, ista will also install heat meters.
Rumania 2010/2011 - Junior Achievement Romania
In December 2010 the Romanian educational program "Junior Achievement Romania” started. In this project about 2,500 Romanian pupils learn how to use energy and natural resources responsibly. In addition to the educational work, an energy saving competition is part of the project, in which 30 high schools compete against each other. The employees of ista Romania supervise the project and develop suggestions for a responsible use of limited resources together with the students. The ministry of education, research, young people and sports supports the project, which runs until the end of July 2011.



