By: Rosita Carobelli-Zukowski
All in Place Communications and Event Planning
www.allinplace.ca
The recent Earth Hour and Earth Day inspired me to write this Blog entry about the importance of incorporating ‘green’ and sustainable solutions and alternatives into the event planning process.
The actions involved in preserving the environment are the essence of a team-building activity. Today, more and more companies are looking for ‘green’ initiatives to become more socially-responsible to the overall global environment.
Tim Hortons has encouraged its employees to give back to the business community by hosting an annual clean-up day. At Toronto’s KPMG LLP, volunteer employees have implemented recycling programs (including cellphones and eyeglasses), moved to fair-trade coffee and replaced bottle water with filtered water. The employees at Nature’s Path Food Inc., in Richmond, British Columbia maintain a large organic staff garden with composting bins and an outdoor eating area.
With summer around the corner, companies looking for new teambuilding ideas have many to choose from. Instead of the usual corporate summer picnic, why not embrace ‘mother nature’ and help clean-up the world we live in. Approach your local City Council or Charities to see what parks and facilities could use a ‘refreshing makeover’. Your employee group could help clean, build or landscape a local children’s playground or retirement living home. Or paint over graffiti covered walls with a coat of eco-friendly paint, or better yet an earth-inspired mural. And for their efforts, treat them to an all-organic, locally-grown lunch served with eco-friendly bamboo utensils and disposables. According to the Spring 2011 issue of BizBash Magazine, there are several outdoor-friendly items from seating to serving ware that may be rented or purchased for your socially-conscious event.
So, be kind to your team members and the Earth, every day. Get out there and enjoy the fresh air and team work! Earth Day is not just one day, it’s every day. All the while, recognizing you are doing your part to help make this world a better place – for future generations to come.
Great post!! More companies should take a lead from Cumis. I recently read an article on a “Eco Taxi” firm in Toronto, their fleet consists of Toyata Priumus taxi’s. Each taxi emitted 50% carbon dioxide than the standard ones. They are working towards joining with global partners to create a “green transfer” network. You are right, Earth Day is everyday.
Thanks Helen for letting us know about the Cumis website link! From the QEW highway, I can see all the forestry that surrounds them but I didn’t realize they had an apple orchard on their business property. That is a fantastic and generous idea by donating all those apples to local charities that can benefit from this nutritious treat. Big Kudos to Cumis!!
I agree, we should focus on being more ecologically and socially responsible. In these days companies are aware that the way to go is giving back to the community, but just a few organizations are really (honestly) interested in preserving the environment. And, that’s concerning because an ethical organization focuses on doing what is right for the community – instead of putting together “social actions” with the merely intention of generating profits for themselves. That said, I believe every business should have alternative events/plans where they promote ecological preservation and sustainable solutions for the environment.
Great post Rosita! For another example of corporations with social responsibility, here’s a link to the Cumis website. http://www.cumis.com/cumis/News/2010/07-Oct-10/CUMIS_DonatesApples_27charities.aspx
Located in Burlington, Cumis employees harvest and donate the apples from their own orchard each year.
We all need to do our little bit, whether it is planting a tree, taking part in a cleanup, or conserving energy. My biggest pet peeve right now is that car companies continue to make big vans, trucks and SUVs that are more fuel efficient. However, why can’t we all be driving smaller, even more fuel efficient cars as in Europe, drive more mopeds, motorcycles and WALK more! Thanks for keeping it real, Rosita!