Gütersloh , 11/26/2019

‘be green Day’ Campaign Sets A New Record

DK India
Arvato Malaysia
Arvato Malaysia
Penguin Random House "Green Week Table Reception"
G+J
Fremantle Indonesia
DK India
G+J
G+J

Subject: Environment
Country: International
Category: Project

Employees at 86 Bertelsmann locations in 26 countries – more than ever before –committed their time to the protection of the environment and climate during this year’s “be green Day” campaign. This year’s slogan was “Waste less! Your contribution to less trash.”

Employees in 26 countries – more than ever before – took part in this year’s Group-wide “be green Day” campaign and thereby sent out a message for the protection of the environment and climate. The number of locations where employees committed their time to the campaign amounted to 86 and outpaced that of 2017. From Norway to Chile, Canada to New Zealand, numerous creative activities were organized around the slogan “Waste less! Your contribution to less trash.” The participation in the “be green Day” campaign at RTL Group, Penguin Random House and BMG increased considerably. “We know from our recent employee survey that environmental issues have gained in importance at Bertelsmann,” said Chief HR Officer Immanuel Hermreck. “I would like to thank all of our colleagues for their great commitment to protecting the environment and climate – and not only on ‘be green Day’.”

A wide range of activities

A look at the “be green” World Map  visualizes the commitment in the different divisions. From activities in small groups to large-scale community activities and the complete changeover of operational processes: the seven months during which the campaign was underway included them all. The “be green Day” campaign launched in May with the photo challenge “#planetorplastic”, referring to the campaign of “National Geographic” magazine with the same motto. Employees from around the world participated in the challenge and submitted photos showing environmentally friendly alternatives. From curd soap to metal straws – they depicted many practical examples of how to avoid non-reusable packaging in everyday life. In September, the protection of the environment was a special focus in Germany: as part of the “Packen wir’s an!” (“Let’s Tackle It!”) campaign of the Bertelsmann Content Alliance, numerous additional activities were organized. Employees were able to participate in workshops and lectures about waste avoidance and upcycling. Many of the participating companies enabled their employees to take part in the global “Fridays for Future” climate strike.

At several locations, the activities even went beyond a “be green Day” and long-term projects were initiated, including the implementation of recycling concepts and the changeover from bottled to tap water. In addition, employees are increasingly using reusable coffee cups in cafeterias and company restaurants that were introduced as part of the local “be green Day”.