Sani/Ikos Group has Sustainable Development High on Agenda

Sani/Ikos Group ESG & Corporate Responsibility Executive Director Eleni Andreadis with Academy of Athens General Secretary Christos Zerefos (left) and UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network President and University Professor at Columbia University Jeffrey Sachs. Photo source: Sani/Ikos Group

The Sani/Ikos Group was the grand sponsor of the “Aristotle-Confucius Symposium on Ethics for the 21st Century”, recently co-organized by the United Nations Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN) and leading institutions from Greece and China.

Held for the second consecutive year in Greece, the Aristotle-Confucius Symposium took place in Athens (July 3-5) and Thessaloniki (July 6-8) with the participation of top scholars from Greek, US, Dutch, Austrian, Indian and other universities. The symposium explored how the world can build a new global ethics for the 21st century, one that addresses global challenges, such as climate change and digital disruptions, while drawing on the ancient wisdom of Greece and China and the legacy of Aristotle and Confucius.

“We need significant initiatives like the Symposium on Ancient Greek and Chinese Wisdom that promote exchange of knowledge, open discussion, collaboration, and sustainable change,” said Sani/Ikos Group ESG & Corporate Responsibility Executive Director Eleni Andreadis.

Also a member of the Greek Leadership Council of the United Nations’ SDSN, Andreadis highlighted that challenges and risks due to climate change and geopolitical instability are growing bigger.

Sani/Ikos Group ESG & Corporate Responsibility Executive Director Eleni Andreadis speaking at the podium.

“We need to adopt a robust long-term ESG strategy to address the demands of all stakeholders: governments, regulatory bodies, investors, global community. This is the only way forward. Our history and rich cultural heritage can be our guide and a beacon of inspiration in our path towards a better, fairer, and more sustainable future.”

Sani/Ikos Group has ambitious ESG agenda

An innovative and fast-growing group of luxury resorts in unique beachfront locations in the Mediterranean, the Sani/Ikos Group has developed an ambitious ESG agenda, focusing on the sustainable, “green” operations of its resorts, the protection of the ecosystems and the support of local communities across its footprint.

With significant investments in advanced technologies and practices, the Group has set a triple target for Net Zero by 2030, Zero-Plastic and Zero Waste to landfills by the end of 2024.

The Group’s sustainability strategy is based on specific policies and targets in line with the UN 17 Sustainable Responsibility Goals 2030. Sani/Ikos Group has adopted over 100 Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) to monitor its ESG performance. It is a member of the United Nations Global Compact.

Sani/Ikos Group ESG & Corporate Responsibility Executive Director Eleni Andreadis with Academy of Athens General Secretary Christos Zerefos (left) and UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network Co-Chair Phoebe Koundouri.

The Aristotle-Confucius Symposium’s academic program included ten thematic sessions, open discussions, cultural events, and visits to great cultural sites in Athens and Thessaloniki, such as the ancient Stageira -birthplace of Aristotle- and the ancient Mieza. Topics discussed included “Political Excellence in Chinese and Greek Traditions”, “Ethics of the Digital Age”, “Economics in the Digital Age” and “Ethics and Business”.

Keynote speakers at the event included Christos Zerefos, General Secretary of the Academy of Athens; Phoebe Koundouri, Professor at Athens University of Economics and Business and Technical University of Denmark, Co-Chair of UN SDSN Europe; Kostas Bakoyannis, Mayor of Athens; Dimitris Bourantonis, Rector of Athens University of Economic and Business; and Margaritis Schinas, Vice-President of the European Commission.

The symposium’s academic program was drawn up by a committee, chaired by Jeffrey Sachs, President of the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network and University Professor at Columbia University.