SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY
SUPPORTING GOOD CAUSES AT OUR SHOPPING CENTERS
Shopping centers aren’t just places to go shopping, but – above all – vibrant marketplaces, experience destinations, and community hubs. And they can also play a key role for cities and local residents by supporting social and charitable initiatives. Below, we describe a few examples from ECE centers.
SHOPPING CENTERS AS BACK-UP SITES FOR GOVERNMENT AGENCIES IN THE EVENT OF CYBERATTACKS
If government agencies’ infrastructure is knocked out by a cyberattack or other cause, shopping centers can serve as back-up sites, ensuring that the agencies can continue their work and members of the public can still access their services.
SHOPPING CENTERS TO BECOME SUPPLY HUBS IN THE EVENT OF A BLACKOUT
In the event of a blackout, a shopping center can serve as a central hub for sharing information and distributing food, with no need for additional temporary facilities. Existing facilities and infrastructure, including restrooms and diesel-powered emergency generators, can be used to take the strain off public authorities and aid organizations. The centers’ permanent presence and secure back-up systems to keep power running in an emergency can help to prevent negative impacts or allow them to be quickly remedied if an incident occurs.
SHOPPING CENTERS AS CRISIS HUBS
ECE’s recently launched initiative “Centers as Supply Hubs” signals our willingness to support civil protection and disaster management efforts in Germany and act as a social partner to cities. Against the backdrop of the war in Ukraine, which has placed a great strain on energy supply, and weaknesses in Germany’s disaster preparedness, ECE conducted an analysis of a potential blackout scenario and its impact on shopping center operations. Based on this analysis, two use cases were produced for public authorities and aid organizations that offer numerous benefits for all parties.
A WARM INITIAL RESPONSE
The response to the initiative from German mayors that we wrote to has been very positive, and talks are already underway with several cities. The Eastgate Center has presented the two use cases to the local district authorities in Berlin, and it has been agreed they will be implemented in the event of an incident.
“It’s essential that local authorities are well prepared for emergencies. Alarm and emergency response plans are being developed and updated accordingly. In emergencies, especially ones that are longer in duration, local authorities need to be able to count on support from civil society. So we’re grateful that ECE is being proactive and preemptively looking to build collaboration.”
ULRIKE MOHRS, MAYOR OF KOBLENZ
CENTERS WITH HEART: GIVING SOMETHING BACK TO SOCIETY
ECE Marketplaces is committed to supporting communities and giving something back to society. To underscore this commitment, in 2024 the ECE centers will be investing one million euros in social initiatives under the banner of an overarching campaign, “Centers with Heart,” whose key visual will be used by the centers to promote their future CSR activities. The campaign focuses on local projects specific to individual centers, supplemented by a number of special, centrally managed initiatives.
#SchüttelMichNicht
One example of a campaign that is being centrally managed by ECE is the “shaking doll” project, a collaboration between the Charité Berlin maternity clinic and the German Council of Shopping Places (GCSP). The aim is to help prevent shaken baby syndrome in newborns and young babies by educating expectant parents. The shopping centers represented by the GCSP are sponsoring “shaking dolls.” ECE centers are sponsoring a total of 90 dolls for local maternity clinics.
#HamburgUnited
The six ECE-managed shopping centers in Hamburg are signed up to the long-term campaign “Hamburg United,” which focuses on supporting and working with local charitable organizations.
The campaign kicked off with a collaboration between the shopping centers and Hamburger Tafel that will run throughout 2024. Hamburger Tafel is a charity that provides food to people who need it. Now in its 30th year, it urgently needs more food donations to match the steadily rising demand. From April to October, there will be a collection drive in the centers on the first Saturday of each month, alongside other charitable activities. Visitors to our Hamburg centers first had a chance to donate to Hamburger Tafel back in September 2023, when they gave a record 24 metric tons of food. //
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Launch of the “Hamburg United” campaign in Europa Passage on March 11, 2024, with TV presenter Jörg Pilawa.