As part of the German Weather Service’s summer celebration, the Sustainability Working Group offered interactive activities focusing on biodiversity and resource conservation. Highlights included a beekeeping tour, locally produced honey, beeswax wrap making and a sustainability rally with eight stations. A swap shelf encouraged reuse. The activities raised awareness of sustainable mobility, energy and water conservation, waste separation and resource efficiency.
Project Goals
Changing awareness and attitudes & raising awareness within the organisation
Collecting ideas and exchanging ideas
Recruiting members for the Green Team
Taking Action & Enabling Experiences
Focus Area
Climate
Education
Environment & Nature
Health & Climate Adaptation & Resilience
Media & Communication
What gave you the courage to start?
The strong commitment of the Sustainability Working Group itself, combined with the opportunity to raise awareness of our work.
The Outcome
More than 40 employees took part in the beekeeping tour, with many actively engaging and asking questions. Around 75% of the locally produced honey was sold. Between 40 and 50 beeswax wraps were made and taken home, together with care instructions. The sustainability rally received 10 written responses, in addition to further verbal feedback. It also provided a basis for continuing the activity, including as an introduction for new employees.
The Impact
The activities increased the visibility of the Sustainability Working Group and raised awareness of the importance of bees and biodiversity. They also improved employees’ knowledge of the environmental initiatives and sustainability measures in place at the headquarters. The beeswax wraps provide a reusable alternative to plastic wrap or aluminium foil, helping to conserve resources.
The Biggest Challenge
The biggest challenge was coordinating the many small but important details: coordinating activities and equipment with the other organisers, preparing posters 3–4 weeks in advance, sourcing materials, clarifying who would cover the costs and checking electrical equipment. For the sustainability rally, the content also had to be made digitally accessible via QR codes.
The Biggest Learning
Active promotion and support are essential to the success of the activities. All activities should be located in one central area, with interactive activities and information booths placed close to each other.
Most Enjoyed
the opportunity to get hands-on and share experiences. They learned how beeswax wraps are made, discovered their benefits and how to care for them, and enjoyed taking home the first locally produced honey. It was particularly rewarding to see the strong interest in the bees and the enthusiasm for learning more about them. The sustainability rally was another highlight, offering an engaging way to explore a wide range of sustainability topics beyond traditional presentations and talks.