Hashem Brothers for Essential Oils and Aromatic Products is an active member of the United Nations Global Compact (UNGC) since 2004. HB has endorsed and implemented the UNGC principles in its sphere of influence through improving labor standards, combating child labor in the agriculture sector, spreading education in the local community, improving basic living and healthcare conditions in rural areas, creating partnerships with local NGOs and diffusing environmental friendly technologies in agriculture and production.  HB has developed a business model that is well integrated into HB’s core business by helping the poor families around its plantations to make baskets and trays from straw which in turn are bought by the company and used in the field. This created a source of sustainable income for the poor families and benefited the company which has replaced its plastic trays with palm twigs.

The company’s CSR activities are built around 3 axes: education, environment and improving the basic health and living conditions of the local community. First, HB took several initiatives to spread education, eradicate women illiteracy, provide informal education to drop out and pre-school children and introduce ICT learning to the local community. Second, it undertook a tree cultivation initiative, organized environmental awareness seminars, partnered with the Egyptian association for environment and community services and is working on promoting organic food. Finally, HB is creating cancer awareness, improving access to fresh water and supporting local NGO’s in providing basic needs to the local community.