SUSTAINABLE USE OF RESOURCES

When we carry out an activity during which waste is produced, we should plan, project and carry out these activities in such a way to avoid waste production or reduce its amount and negative impact on people's health and environment – both when goods are produced and after using them.

 

Public procurement in Poland does not allow for free performance of acts by the ordering party. Only entities which fulfil criteria specified in the Public Procurement Act are allowed to provide the services in question. Article 24 in the Public Procurement Act specifies criteria which are taken into account when excluding contractors. The above act also specifies criteria which must be fulfilled by bidding entities.  

MEDIATION SEEMS INNOVATIVE

Time is money, but the average waiting time to get an instrument permitting enforcement in Poland was as long as 584 days last year. When conflicting parties used mediator's services, they reached a consensus on financial receivables within 30 days. Moreover, the mediation fee was only 25% of the court fee and these are not all savings.

Managing conflicts, moderating discussions, softening emotions – more and more people are learning mediation craft. Fairness and impartiality, confidentiality, humility and the knowledge of communication techniques are features and skills of a mediator. Mediator's duty is always the same: to bring a lasting resolution to the conflict and reach an agreement which is good for all the parties involved. 

WAITING FOR STABILITY

The beginning of this season is, undoubtedly, a temporary situation. Although the majority of important players updated their price lists at the beginning of the year, it sometimes happens that the difference in price of the same material reaches up to 30% because some wholesales or smaller trading companies are selling their materials from last year for old price.  

What does the wholesale natural stone market look like, what tendencies can we notice and, finally, what is the condition of companies operating in Poland? Like every year we asked a group of entrepreneurs these questions. Some of our interviewees admit that prices (not only of materials) settled so far in euro got higher (we predicted that in our article in the previous issue of Świat Kamienia). Some nervous moves can be expected from the companies which have so far bought stone in American currency and sold it in euro.