The myclimate Company Challenge is an educational programme that enables employees to tackle projects relating to climate protection and sustainability, promoting both individual knowledge and their organisation’s commitment to sustainability. Until now, the programme was primarily designed for apprentices. In collaboration with the Utz Group, it was decided to extend it to employees at various organisational levels and to implement it across eight different countries (Switzerland, Germany, the UK, France, Poland, the US, China and Mexico). By working with a total of 70 employees in various positions, rather than just apprentices, this education project was able to incorporate diverse perspectives from experienced staff and create multi-faceted solutions. The employees themselves also see great added value in taking part in the programme. They highlight the fact that the project enables them to examine their own habits, for example, and that it involves different generations and levels within their organisations. Another aspect that has been well-received is the clear communication of useful measures and how to implement them. Ultimately, it is also evident that employees appreciate working for a company that is actively committed to climate protection with concrete, practical and self-effective measures, as this feedback from China shows: “It’s a good thing for the planet, and I’m proud to work in a company that cares about the future and the environment. This is an ambitious project, which is very complex to implement and requires everyone to work together. That’s why all generations and employees are involved in this project and all points of view are taken into account.”
During the Company Challenge’s kick-off event, numerous project ideas emerged, out of which 16 projects were initiated and carried out. These included a project to reduce the consumption and make more efficient use of plastic film and its remnants, which shows great potential thanks to its ease of implementation combined with its scalability. Another idea involves a pop-up store for selling by-products, which touches on the goal of reducing waste. A project designed to get employees involved with the aim of establishing new climate protection habits throughout the company was also developed as part of the competition. Of course, the Company Challenge also includes the format’s usual competitive element. In the Utz Group, too, prises were awarded for the best projects.
Thanks to committed cooperation with the Utz Group, the myclimate Company Challenge educational programme was taken to a new level – not only internationally, but also in terms of reaching out to a new target group: all employees within a company. Martin Anegg, Head of CSR at Georg Utz Holding Ltd, is very satisfied with the results of the project: “The first myclimate Company Challenge in the Utz Group was a complete success. Thanks to the professional management and support from the myclimate education department, we not only raised our employees’ awareness of climate change and sustainability, but also got them actively engaging in these issues, as demonstrated by the many important project ideas that were devised and implemented. This allows us to actively involve our employees in our sustainability measures and develop sustainably as a team within the Utz Group.”
The pilot project involving the Utz Group further established the myclimate educational programme for employees and produced highly successful outcomes. Not least due of the potential for even more success, myclimate is planning to organise more Company Challenges in future with specialists and managers from various companies.
Find out more about the Company Challenge for employees and arrange a consultation.