About Festa
Festa - Center for Sustainability
Festa is a non-profit organization with almost 200 associated members, which are combined mostly of Iceland's biggest to smallest companies, in addition to public organizations, universities, the Central bank of Iceland, the City of Reykjavik and a few other municipalities.
Festa is a catalyst for change and a bridge builder between and within the public and private sector and focuses on sustainable development through the SDGs, climate change and corporate social responsibility in its broad sense.
Festa organizes multiple events a year with a varied group of partners, gives our annual awards for leadership roles in sustainable development, offers the www.climatepulse.is for free to encourage SMEs to measure and reduce their carbon footprint, etc.
Our goal is to support companies and organisations to lead by example, educate and inspire a forward looking and sustainable economy. Festa includes young leaders in their work and messages and supports them as sustainability leaders of the future.
An invaluable network
- Festa has been a participant in UN Global Compact since 2012.
- Festa is a member of
CSR Europe (website here
CSR Europe),
the leading European business network for Corporate Sustainability and Responsibility. CSR Europe is the leading European business network for Corporate Sustainability and Responsibility. With our corporate members, National Partner Organisations (NPOs), and Associated Partners, we unite, inspire & support over 10,000 enterprises at local, European and global level.
- Festa is one of the managing partners in the Nordic Circular Hotspot.
Leading for 12 years
Festa was founded in 2011 by Íslandsbanki, Landsbankin, Landsvirkjun, Rio Tinto Alcan in Iceland, Síminn and Össur. The goal of establishing the center was to enhance knowledge of corporate social responsibility and strengthen the ability of companies to adopt socially responsible practices.
Festa is a member of the UN Global Compact and CSR Europe, the European association of centers for social responsibility and sustainability. Festa is also one of the founders and board members of the Nordic Circular Hub.pot.
Suggestions for violations of the code of conduct fixed
According to Festa's bylaws, the company's purpose is to increase knowledge of the responsibility of organizational units to promote sustainability in their activities and to help them adopt practices that promote sustainability. The association works towards its purpose with diverse activities, such as providing information on the association's website, holding conferences and meetings, active communication with member associations and participation in public debate, in order to promote communication, cooperation and education about sustainability and social responsibility. Festa's member associations agree to Festa's code of conduct, which stipulates the practice of responsible activities and that member associations give a correct picture of their social responsibility.
If there are serious suggestions about violations of Festa's code of conduct, Festa's management will have a conversation with the management of the relevant company. It covers Festa's purpose and code of conduct. If it is found that there is a violation, the member association reports plans to take actions that will prevent such mistakes or violations from happening again. A time frame is set for such actions, after which Festa meets again with the member association to monitor the progress. The goal is, as before, to increase the capacity and knowledge of the association to promote sustainability in its activities.
Festa's board of directors nominates a three-member ethics committee as necessary to rule on violations. Tips for violations must be sent to the board. Violations of the code of conduct may result in a warning, but also the loss of membership in case of serious or repeated violations.
It should be noted that Festa is not a quality certification body and does not audit companies to assess their performance in the field of sustainability. Membership in Festa primarily expresses the intention of members to achieve success in the field of sustainable operations through participation in educational activities and events at Festa.
Our values
Integrity
We work with integrity in everything we do.
Motivation
We encourage each other, are open in communication and share experiences.
Samvinna
We promote cooperation between different parties on social responsibility and sustainability.
Staff
Stjórn
Festa's board is made up of seven people who are elected at the company's general meeting to manage the company's affairs between general meetings. The chairman, like the co-directors, is elected for a two-year term.
Reykjavík University, where Festa is based, has the right to appoint one representative to Festa's board.
Festa's annual reports
- Festa's 2022 annual report
- Ársskýrsla Festu 2016
Festa's ballast
Festa's member companies
Conventions
Article 1
Name and home
The company is a general company. Its name is Festa – a center for sustainability. The company's home and forum is in Reykjavík.
Article 2
Purpose
The purpose of the company is to increase knowledge of the responsibility of organizational units to promote sustainability in their activities and to help them adopt practices that promote sustainability.
The company is not run for profit and the operating surplus from the activities shall be spent in accordance with the purpose of the company. However, the company is allowed to build up a reserve fund in accordance with the board's decision.
Article 3
Activities
The association works towards its purpose with diverse activities, such as providing information on the association's website, holding conferences and meetings, active communication with member associations and participation in public debate, in order to promote communication, cooperation and education about sustainability and social responsibility.
Article 4
Membership
To become a member of Festa, organizational units must apply separately by filling in a form on Festa's website. The application must include, among other things, a statement by the applicant that he undertakes to conduct his activities in accordance with the company's values, ethics and purpose. At the same time, the applicant must notify one contact person who will take the company's vote at the general meeting. Upon receipt of the application, the company's board takes a position on the application and it is considered approved if the majority of the board approves the person, but is otherwise rejected.
Article 5
Termination or removal
Members may resign from the association starting at the beginning of the next year, and written resignation must be received by the association's office by November 30 at the latest. The board of Festa can terminate a member's membership if he is found to have violated the company's code of conduct or does not pay the membership fee according to the company's payment terms. This requires the approval of at least 2/3 of the board members.
Article 6
Membership fee
The board determines the membership fee at a board meeting. Changes to the membership fee require the approval of a minimum of four directors. The fee schedule must be available on the company's website and changes announced there no later than October 14 each year.
The member undertakes to pay the membership fee as determined by the company's board of directors from time to time. A member acquires full rights once the membership fee has been paid. Membership fee is charged annually. If the membership fee is not paid on one day, late payment interest may be calculated from the due date. In special cases, the managing director is authorized to negotiate with new members about the membership fee for a limited time, as well as a temporary discount for individual members if special circumstances recommend it.
Article 7
General meeting, votes and special meetings
The general meeting has the highest authority and decision-making rights in the company's affairs. The general meeting of the company shall be held before the end of May each year. The general meeting must be announced no later than four weeks before the meeting and no later than two weeks before the general meeting and one week before the extraordinary meeting. The meeting notice shall be published on the company's website and sent by e-mail to the company's registered contacts. A general meeting is legal if properly convened
At the company's general meeting, at least the following issues must be dealt with:
- Election of chairperson and secretary
- Board report
- Accounts for the past fiscal year
- Changes to the company's articles of association
- Election of the board and chairman
- Fees of a certified public accountant
- Determination of membership fee
- Other matters
Members who are debt-free a week before the meeting have the right to attend the general meeting. The registered contact person of each member association has the right to vote on behalf of the respective association. Members may authorize another representative to attend the general meeting and exercise their voting rights in return for a written, dated power of attorney. The weight of votes of the attending members determines the outcome of cases.
Voters can vote for as many representatives as there are board seats available, it says. Voters have different amounts of votes and are distributed as follows:
- Members with over 1000 employees: 7 votes Members with 500 – 999 employees: 6 votes Members with 200 – 499 employees: 5 votes Members with 50-199 employees: 4 votes Members with 16-49 employees and educational institutions: 3 votes Members with 2-15 employees: 2 votes Members with one employee, individuals and non-profit organizations: 1 vote
The company's board of directors as well as 1/3 of the members have the authority to request extra meetings in the company. The same criteria apply to an extraordinary general meeting as to a general meeting.
The board can decide that members can participate in general meetings and special meetings electronically. The board can decide that the general meeting and the extraordinary meeting will take place partially or entirely electronically. If electronic participation in the general meeting or special meeting is offered, this must be stated in the meeting invitation. Information on how electronic participation is carried out must also be provided on the company's website.
Article 8
Eligibility and election of board members
The company's board of directors shall be composed of seven persons who manage the company's affairs between general meetings. The chairman shall be elected separately and for a term of two years. Co-directors shall be elected for a two-year term. Board elections shall be conducted in such a way that three co-directors shall be elected each year instead of the three who have served for two years. The chairman and the board shall be elected by written ballot. An eighth director may be elected from a partner who provides facilities to the company.
Board members are elected at the company's general meeting. Those members who are free of debt to the company a week before the general meeting have the right to vote. It is a condition for election that the candidate is an employee of a member company and that the member company is debt-free to the company one week before the general meeting or has an individual membership to the company and the person in question is debt-free to the company one week before the general meeting. Nominations must be requested in the notice of the general meeting, and the deadline for nominations ends one week before the general meeting.
At least four weeks before the general meeting, the board of directors shall appoint a two- to three-member election committee whose task is to prepare and oversee board elections. The committee shall strive to achieve equality between members in terms of sitting on the board, that the gender ratio is as equal as possible and that the normal renewal of board members takes place. If a person has taken a seat on the election committee, he is not eligible to vote for offices that are elected at the general meeting. The election committee shall, with a challenge to the members, seek proposals for the chairman and board members as appropriate. The nomination committee's proposals must be notified to members at least two weeks before the general meeting. Other proposals must be received no later than seven days before the general meeting.
Article 9
Board work
The chairman is elected separately at the general meeting, while the board chooses the deputy chairman at the first board meeting after the general meeting.
The board formulates the company's strategy in accordance with its purpose and must ensure that its organization and operations are always in a legal and good perspective. The signature of the majority of the board binds the company. The board of directors shall appoint a manager to the company who shall enforce the company's policy and organizational rules.
Board meetings must be held at least quarterly. The chairman of the board calls board meetings. Each board member can request a board meeting. Board meetings are legal if at least four board members attend the meeting. However, important decisions must not be taken without having been presented to all board members. If the votes of the board members are tied at a board meeting, the chairman's vote is decisive. Minutes of board meetings must be kept.
Article 10
Other management units
The company's managing director handles the day-to-day operations of the company according to a job description that is usually reviewed annually and approved by the company's board of directors. He shall be hired in an open and professional recruitment process according to the qualification requirements determined by the board from time to time. A sitting member of the board cannot act as a manager. The managing director must provide the board members and auditors with all the information they want about the company's operations.
Stjórn félagsins er heimilt að skipa faghópa varðandi einstaka þætti sem tengjast starfsemi félagsins.
Article 11
Accountants
The company's board of directors is authorized to appoint professional groups regarding individual aspects related to the company's activities.
Article 12
The accounting year
The company's accounting year is the calendar year.
Article 13
Amendment of the articles of association and liquidation of the company
Changes to the company's articles of association must be made at the company's general meeting. Proposals regarding them must be received by the chairman and managing director of the company no later than two weeks before the company's general meeting, and they are responsible for forwarding them to the members, no later than a week before the general meeting. A minimum of 2/3 of the combined votes at a legitimate general meeting is required to approve changes to the articles of association.
The decision to dissolve the organization must be made at the company's general meeting, and the same rules apply to it as to changes to the company's articles of association. Upon liquidation of the company, its assets shall be disposed of for the purpose stated in Article 2.
Code of Conduct
- Festa's board members and employees who participate in public debate are professional and aware of their responsibilities. Board and staff engage in open and informed discussion when making decisions. Board and staff do nothing in their work that damages Festa's reputation. Board and staff work together with integrity and avoid letting personal interests influence cooperation. Management and staff are careful not to let political or religious opinions influence their professional work for Festa. Care must be taken to manage funds and other valuables entrusted to the management and employees or they have at their disposal. The management and staff act with respect and courtesy regardless of religion, gender, language beliefs or any other possible distinction and do not use bullying, harassment or violence of any kind. and secret shall go. Confidentiality must be respected after the person leaves the company.
Members of Festa - organizational units
- Members of Festa strive to conduct responsible activities and give a correct image of their social responsibility. Members always act professionally and do not let vested interests influence Festa's work. otherwise in confidence and with discretion and honesty. Members show trust in sharing knowledge through Festa, such as meetings or closed chat areas. Members, for example consultants and consulting companies, must not use Festa's events, such as meetings and closed chat areas, for the purpose of generate business with members, unless that is the declared purpose of the event.
Festa's board of directors nominates a three-member ethics committee as necessary to rule on violations. Tips for violations must be sent to the board. Violations of the code of conduct may result in a warning, but also the loss of membership in case of serious or repeated violations.
The code of ethics is revised as necessary for approval at the company's general meeting.
These codes of conduct were approved at Festa's general meeting on April 23, 2013.
The last two key points in the chapter on "Festa's activities" were added at the general meeting on April 25, 2018. Minor wording changes were made and approved at Festa's extra general meeting on September 19, 2019.
Privacy policy
Festa makes it a point to always respect the privacy of everyone with whom Festa interacts and to comply with the law on personal protection (personal protection regulation EU 679/2016) in all its communications.
Processing of personal information by Festa
Festa intends to enforce its privacy policy in the following manner.
Festa uses personal information in order to be able to provide services and communicate with parties about Festa's activities. Attach a processing record on the processing of personal data. Personal information is used in the following ways at Festa:
Registration of members in Festa Employees of companies, institutions, rural associations or individuals can apply for membership in Festa through a registration form that is available on the front page of Festa's website. It asks for company name, social security number, address, web address and size. This information is collected in order to be able to manage the membership register, send invoices for the annual fee and other services that a member buys from Festa. Also, if requested, the person's contact name, email address and phone number. It is done in order to be able to send information about the activities and communicate about Festa's activities.
Registration on Festa's mailing list Anyone can register on Festa's mailing list to receive an electronic newsletter and targeted mail with information about Festa's activities.
Skráning á fundi og viðburði á vegum Festu
Skráning á viðburði á vegum Festu felur í sér að viðkomandi gefur upp nafn þátttakanda, netfang, nafn vinnuveitanda, starfsheiti og kennitala greiðanda ef aðgangseyrir er á viðburðinn.
Coverage of companies and individuals Festa delivers news and disseminates information about the methods and actions of companies on topics related to social responsibility. The person's consent is requested before information is published if it deals specifically with individuals or companies if the information is not already public. For example, Festa seeks approval before publishing a story about an employee's description of the company's practices before publishing a review. However, consent is not sought for coverage of, or photo publication of, the fact that the person attended an open event organized by Festa.
Festa does not pass any personal information on members or persons who register with Festa into the hands of third parties. The names of Festa's member companies are published on the company's website. Parties can at any time request that their information be deleted from Festa's files.
Information processors at Festa
Festa requests that processors who work with personal data on behalf of Festa comply with the law on personal protection. Festa uses the Google information system for e-mail, calendar and registration forms for membership and events. For electronic newsletters and mailing lists, Festa uses the Mailchimp newsletter system. Festa uses Facebook, Twitter and Linkedin to share news and advertise events. In rare cases, Festa uses cookies to analyze how many people read content and/or register for events organized by Festa and to communicate more information to the person concerned.
Content for the media
Sign of attachment
Here you can find Festa's logo in various versions for print and screen media. We ask that the minimum ventilation around the sign is respected and that the sign is not tampered with in any way.
Do not change colors in the label. Please respect the minimum ventilation around the sign.
