When the IT colleagues moved from the Geiselberg to the Erste Campus and Tower in the spring of this year, one question quickly arose: Where to put the IT equipment and furniture that was no longer needed? Since sustainability and social responsibility are part of Erste Group's DNA, it was clear that the goal had to be to reuse rather than dispose of. And so the idea for the Geiselberg flea market was born. 

The flea market opened its doors at the beginning of March and offered both large items of furniture such as desks, office chairs, filing cabinets, etc. and smaller "take away" items such as monitors, mice, keyboards, most of which could be purchased for a free donation.

"From an organisational point of view, the project was a great effort, as we had to manage the flea market in addition to the relocation of the colleagues and our data centre as well as the ongoing office operations." explains Harald Jaksch, project manager of the data centre relocation and co-organiser of the Geiselberg flea market.

75,000 euros and lots of donations in kind

The balance sheet of the flea market was very satisfactory: The proceeds of 75,000 euros went in equal parts to the BR Social Fund of Erste Digital and the Sterntalerhof Children's Hospice.

Furnishings and IT equipment that did not find a new owner at the flea market were not to be disposed of just yet. Time Bank and the workers' council of Erste Digital contacted NGOs and offered them these items as donations. "Many people were very surprised when they saw what we were offering," says Elke Strasser from the Erste Digital works council, which was largely responsible for organising the flea market. Her colleague Thomas Schluet confirms: "Quite a few NGOs came a second or even a third time to pick up items". Today, the many donations in kind serve very different purposes: potted plants improve the indoor climate in retirement homes, desks have found a new home in parishes, among others, and the donated bar tables offer customers of social markets the opportunity to exchange ideas over a coffee after their shopping. 

It all starts small with sustainability and social responsibility

"The flea market shows that sustainability and social responsibility are also practised in small ways in our group. These steps, which are small for us, can have a big impact on others. This is clear from the thank-you letters we received from the charities we supported with donations in kind. Their thanks, and mine, go to all the colleagues who made the flea market possible in a challenging time on top of their daily business," says Dietmar Böckmann, Managing Director of Erste Digital, about the success of the campaign.

Author: Dzana Sorlija