HARIBO of America Celebrates Earth Day
We are committed to giving back to the places where we live and work, and what place is more important than our planet? That’s the question that U.S. HARIBO Associates asked themselves recently as they organized a company-wide Earth Day celebration. To understand the importance of Earth day and how relevant it is to all of us, the U.S. Team wanted to create an engaging experience and fun surprise.
On April 22, 2021, the team virtually welcomed a local agricultural speaker that engaged Associates in just one example of bringing Earth Day to life: the importance of pollinator gardens and why bees, butterflies, and other beneficial bugs are so important to our ecosystem and health. From urban cityscapes to deserts, Associates learned how pollinators are a crucial component of our ecosystem. To add sweet inspiration, the team sourced local honey from a small beekeeping company and sent a jar to each Associate household.
“This was our first Earth Day celebration in the U.S., and we wanted to make it memorable for our Associates and engage them in giving back to the community in a way that inspires them and their loved ones,” said Toni Hansen, HR Director for HARIBO of America Manufacturing. “We have many opportunities throughout the year to get involved with community giving, and Earth Day is one that ties us all together.”
The event ended with an announcement of a month-long challenge for Associates and their friends and families to create or join earth-friendly efforts such as community cleanups, planting trees, starting vegetable or pollinator gardens, joining a compost co-op, or setting up a rain barrel. Associates were asked to submit photos of their activities for a chance to win in three categories: “Most Innovative,” “Best Teamwork,” and “Most Community-Centric.”
Our Associates' creative and generous spirit is something we’ve always been proud of, and we cannot wait to see the good they do for our planet!
About Earth Day
Earth Day’s 51-year history traces back to April 22, 1970, when a junior Senator from Wisconsin named Gaylord Nelson learned of an oil spill in Santa Barbara, California. He worked with fellow politicians and activists to arrange a groundbreaking teach-in on elementary, secondary schools, college campuses, and community sites across the United States. Their goal was clear: to focus on increasing public awareness of air and water pollution and to inspire action within its audience. The date was chosen due to its perfect timing – nestled between Spring Break and final exams – so they could maximize student participation. It worked; an estimated 20 million people attended the teach-in across tens of thousands of sites across the U.S.!
Fast-forward to today, Earth Day is widely recognized as one of the largest secular observances in the world, observed by more than a billion people every year.
