The European Lotteries (EL) showcased its new Environmental Initiative at its Responsible Gaming and CSR event in Amsterdam, which calls to emphasize the importance of sustainability in the lottery sector. The initiative was launched earlier this year and comes as “environmental and societal pressures” grow.
“National lotteries play a crucial role in sustainable and responsible business practices and call for strong environmental action at a global level,” EL said in a press release, highlighting that “decisive and collective action is needed.”
Talking about the new initiative, Romana Girandon, EL 2nd Vice President and Supervisory Chair of the EL CSR-RG Working Group, and Arjan van’t Veer, EL Secretary General, explained that the new Environmental Initiative aims to create a collective dynamic among EL Members on concrete commitments in the environmental field. These include the use of paper coming from certified sustainable forests for gaming materials; and the regular monitoring of greenhouse gas emissions.
”Sustainability, responsibility, and integrity are in the DNA of lotteries and together we can act to safeguard the future of our planet. All EL Members are warmly invited to join this voluntary project,” the officials added.
— European Lotteries (@EuropeLotteries) September 22, 2022
As energy prices soar and uncertainties grow, ”Reunite Responsibly” was described by EL as a timely and apt motto for this year’s CSR-Responsible Gaming seminar, organized by European Lotteries and the World Lottery Association (WLA).
“Lotteries are committed to working further on sustainable projects with care for the environment, diversity, and inclusion as cornerstones to the sustainable lottery model based on subsidiarity, consumer protection, and public order which prevail over all interests. Now is the time to act for society and the planet,” the EL stated.
— European Lotteries (@EuropeLotteries) September 23, 2022
EL Members have been invited to confirm “their voluntary commitments” to the Initiative, in order to prepare the next steps for future action. And at the European level, work also continues, the association says. Developments on the new CSR and reporting initiatives from the European Commission will be followed closely upon their possible implications for the annual CSR reporting obligations of the EL Members within the EU, the group concluded.
The European State Lotteries and Toto Association, generally referred to as EL, is the European umbrella organization of national lotteries operating games of chance, including sports betting, in more than 40 European countries, with around 50 members in all EU Member States and a total of over 70 members.
