The LEVA Foundation
LEVA Foundation (from Bulgarian – lions, from Swedish – life) was established in 2008 by "Vinex Slavyantsi" and its Swedish partner Gertz Weinimport(levawines.com, with whom the Bulgarian winemaker has been partnering since 2000) and a representative of the Roma community in the Sungurlare region. The founders include Georgi Zhekov, Björn Wittmark, and Dr. Biser Atanasov.
The motivation behind the establishment of the LEVA Foundation is the need for social change, better education, and economic support for minority groups living on the fringes of society—particularly people of Roma origin. Fair Trade products have proven to be a vital tool in achieving these goals. Currently, 200,000 BGN annually, generated from the sales of "LEVA" brand wines in Bulgaria, Sweden, Belgium, Iceland, Denmark, and Germany, is reinvested directly into the foundation's causes.
One of LEVA’s most critical priorities is the well-being of children from Roma families, with a primary focus on education, Bulgarian language proficiency, cultural integration, and organizing short educational trips and holidays. Currently, the foundation provides financial support to kindergartens in Sungurlare, Slavyantsi, Grozden, Lozarevo, and Chubra, as well as the "Hristo Botev" school in Sungurlare. Furthermore, the foundation actively fosters the ambition for a better quality of life within Roma families by providing parents with opportunities for stable and dignified employment. Children are encouraged through scholarships for academic excellence and the provision of school supplies. Most notably, the foundation provides financial security for higher education to those who wish to remain in the region and pursue a future career in viticulture and winemaking.
The LEVA Foundation is proud that now, more than 10 years since its inception, it has motivated numerous pupils and students to enter the world of winemaking, while providing them with the practical opportunity to do so.
Fair for Life
"Vinex Slavyantsi" JSC is the first winemaker in Europe and Bulgaria to be certified under the Fair for Life – Social & Fair Trade Programme, on July 17, 2014, by "Ecocert Swiss AG." This certification guarantees that the rights of workers and employees are respected throughout all stages of production. It ensures that workers and employees enjoy dignifiedand fair working conditions.
"Vinex Slavyantsi" JSC maintains a long-term strategy for Corporate Social Responsibility and sustainable development. The company recognizes its influence in promoting ethical consumption by adopting a Fair Trade policy, thereby supporting the implementation of the FFLSFTCPconcept.
For more information regarding "ECOCERT IMOswiss AG" and the Fair for Life – Social & Fair Trade Programme, you may visit the following websites:б сайтове: www.ecocert.com and www.fairforlife.org
Fair for Life – Social & Fair Trade is a concept, a way of doing business, a commitment to environmental protection, and a value system shared by hundreds of thousands of people worldwide. This certification guarantees to consumers of fair trade products that their purchase contributes to equitable economic and social development, with a particular focus on community development, education, infrastructure improvement, and the implementation of environmental preservation projects.
Fair Trade is part of a commercial network that strives for greater equity in international trade, based on dialogue, transparency, and respect. This system contributes to the social and economic development of both producers and workers. The underlying philosophy ensures that no one along the supply chain—from producers to consumers—is disadvantaged. For workers, this means being treated with dignity and respect, receiving fair wages, having job security and workplace safety, and having their human rights upheld. In turn, they are able to provide a good life for their families, creating a positive impact on the society in which they live.
The certificate is issued by an independent third-party company following an audit by independent inspectors who evaluate the candidate company's social responsibility, fair trade practices, and environmental protection measures.
"Vinex Slavyantsi" JSC includes the provision for Fair Trade products in all future agreements with partners and contractors. The employees of "Vinex Slavyantsi" JSC actively participate in the implementation of the Fair Trade policy, which accounts for the allocation and sharing of costs to improve working conditions, as well as to achieve fair, socially-oriented trade and community activities.
Fair Trade products are accessible, and their pricing is determined according to a policy that accounts for the costs of social activities and projects. A portion of the funds, representing a premium added to the product price, is returned to a dedicated Premium Fund with a separate bank account. An elected committee of workers, in collaboration with the workforce, decides how to utilize this social premium exclusively for the achievement ofsocially significant and responsible projects for the employees and the community.
This programensures that certified productsare strictly audited according to fair trade standards.
Code of Conduct of the Business Social Compliance Initiative (BSCI)
In 2013 and 2014, "Vinex Slavyantsi" JSC successfully passed an audit conducted by the British company "UL VS Ltd.", commissioned by the Swedish state-owned alcohol monopoly, Systembolaget for the implementation of the social and environmental standards set forth in the amfori BSCI Code of Conduct. BSCI (Business Social Compliance Initiative) is a Europeansocial monitoring system for ethical sourcing, established bythe Brussels-based Foreign Trade Association (FTA).The BSCI system is based onthe labor standards of the ILO (International Labour Organization) and supports the continuous improvement of the social performance of suppliers..
In accordance with the ILO conventions, the UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and the UN conventions on the rights of children and the elimination of all forms of discrimination against women the UN Global Compact, and the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises., and other internationally recognized agreements, the BSCI Code of Conduct aims to achieve compliance with specific social and environmental standards. By signing the BSCI Code of Conduct, companies commit, within their scope of influence, to implement the social and environmental standards set forth in this Code and to take appropriate measures within their corporate policy for their execution and implementation. Companies must also ensure compliance withthe Code of Conduct by their subcontractors involved in the production processes related to the manufacturing of the final product, realized on behalf of BSCI members.
Third-party audits are one of the mechanisms for improving social standards, but the key to true and sustainable improvement lies in partnering with suppliers. BSCI aims to reward the willingness of suppliers to cooperate.
Within the scope of their capacity to act and by taking appropriate measures, companies must direct their development toward the fulfillment of the following criteria: Compliance with legal regulations. Freedom of association and the right to collective bargaining. Prohibition of discrimination. Labor remuneration (Fair wages). Working hours. Health and safety at the workplace. Prohibition of child labor. Prohibition of forced and compulsory labor and disciplinary measures. Issues related to the environment and safety. Management systems.
For more information:http://www.bsci-intl.org/resources/code-of-conduct.
