The initiative has seen the VTech team embrace a range of green activities including tree planting, litter picking and cycling to work.
VTech employees took part in a Global Green Day throughout the company on 17th March, the aim of which was to promote a healthy and green lifestyle within both VTech offices and their local communities. Locations around the world planned a raft of activities, with each office undertaking something different in a quest to do its bit for the planet.
VTech UK did things a little differently this year, however: whilst Green Day itself is a great way to mark and contribute towards VTech’s efforts in sustainability, the UK office extended its efforts to reflect a wider commitment to being sustainable. VTech UK gave staff the opportunity to take part in Green Day Activities, Green Month Challenges and initiatives to encourage them be ‘Green All Year Round’.
The main activity for Green Day was the building of a wildflower area and bug hotel in the grounds of the VTech offices. Carla Laidler, digital marketing manager, commented: “This team-building pursuit saw 12 colleagues from across the business coming together to plant an area that provides pollinators and insects with food from leaves, pollen and nectar, as well as shelter and places to breed.”
The Green Month challenges gave colleagues the opportunity to select from a varied assortment of activities and included everything from meat-free Mondays, cycling to work and swap-don’t-shop initiatives to bringing in plants for placement on work desks. A team also volunteered for a community litter pick, going out weekly to clean up the local area.
VTech UK has also committed to longer-term green plans, and is set on introducing more products manufactured with plant-based plastic or recycled water bottles. The soft fabric on the Busy Musical Bee, made from six recycled water bottles, was a Toy Fair’s Hero Toys winner for 2022.
An exciting initiative for 2022 also sees VTech turn its UK office workforce ‘carbon positive’. Working with new partner Ecologi, every of one of VTech’s staff will have their carbon footprint offset, including emissions from homes, personal travel, holidays, food, hobbies and more. Every month, groves of trees will be planted in VTech’s very own ‘company forest’ and will support carbon reduction projects from around the world.
Carla added: “VTech’s sustainability mission is to integrate economic growth, environmental protection and social responsibility in our business strategies. By partnering with Ecologi over the course of a year, VTech will plant 144 trees per member of staff and 10.8 tonnes of CO2 will be removed from the environment. To put that into perspective, the average person emits 4.6 tonnes of CO2 just through their car use each year.”
