Strong Commitment for More Diversity
It often doesn't take much to make a difference. One day of corporate volunteering was enough to make the Hilti Campus in Schaan a little more biodiverse. Hilti employees planted native plants around the visitor parking lots and were able to learn more about the topic in a practical way. We looked over the shoulders of the dedicated helpers.
The grey morning sky did not at all match the bright blue shovels and countless colorful plants that were already waiting for the participants in a cordoned-off visitor parking lot. The 9-strong group itself was similarly colorful, gathering early in the morning on the gravelled open space below an embankment with large stones and boulders: from the quiet Manfred, who is about to retire after 35 years of service at Hilti and knows a thing or two about gardening, to the cheerful, spirited Esra, who openly admits to having no experience or even a green thumb.
Esra didn't need them that day either, because the group had a real expert at their side: Natural horticulturist Claudia Ospelt-Bosshard, who is not only part of the “supergut” initiative's advisory team and network, but who was also commissioned by and worked closely with the Hilti Foundation to develop a comprehensive study on where and how biodiversity can be promoted on the Hilti campus and how the entire area can be further enhanced.
Every little contribution counts
After a brief welcome, Claudia initially looked skeptically at the sky: “The light rain is good for nature, but not ideal for planting.” Before the first steps could be taken, she invited everyone into a dry meeting room and used a presentation to briefly and concisely explain the basic principles and enormous importance of biodiversity.
“Who has ever gardened at home?” the experienced natural gardener asked the participants. The spontaneous responses ranged from “I've done practically everything in my own large garden” to merely having experience with short-lived potted plants on the balcony. Claudia explained that practically everyone can make a valuable contribution to more biodiversity, no matter how small the area: for example, by buying only native plants that have not been artificially “tampered with” just to make them shine in a very special color or bloom longer. Or simply do without lighting, which often causes nocturnal insects that are important for pollination to lose their bearings or even die in agony. The very memorable presentation ended with a single, meaningful sentence: “We can all do something, let's do it.”
These words did not fail to have an effect. Noticeably motivated and hungry for action, the group left the building in the direction of the site. To everyone's delight, the rain had also stopped in the meantime. After a few tips on what to look out for when planting, the first of the group reached for the plants that are particularly suitable for vertical spaces between rocks. “We must have provided a selection of around 60 different plant species here. For the stone wall and the crevices there, I would rather recommend the wispy, short-stemmed plants,” says the expert.
Focused activity gradually spread across the visitor parking lot.
In the meantime, the first bumblebees had already discovered the new plants and were happily buzzing around among them. Claudia's eyes lit up at the sight of the good-natured wild bees: “They usually discover new flowers very quickly. We usually only think of honeybees, but wild bees like bumblebees, which buzz around even when it rains or early in the year, are extremely important as plant pollinators.”
After two hours, the group took its first short break. The colleagues immediately began to share their experiences informally or laugh about minor mishaps at work. Everyone clearly enjoyed working together to contribute to greater biodiversity. Just a few meters away from the stone embankment, Claudia discovered an invasive, non-native plant species in a small patch of meadow and immediately took the opportunity to draw the group's attention to it: “These so-called neophytes usually grow and spread rapidly and often displace native plants, which are an indispensable basis of life and food for many animal species such as caterpillars or butterflies,” said the nture expert, describing the threat.She then showed how to get rid of such uninvited guests correctly and permanently: remove the entire root system and then - something that is often forgotten - take it with you and dispose of it in such a way that no seeds can spread in the area again.
The break came to an end. The participants in today's EBB campaign quickly spread out across the grounds again to continue planting one plant after another. Suddenly, the cloudy sky opened up and the first friendly rays of sunshine blinked across the campus. Probably a small symbolic thank you from nature to those people who dedicated their working day to biodiversity today.
Engaged Beyond Business
Engaged Beyond Business (EBB) is Hilti's corporate volunteering program, developed in collaboration with the Hilti Foundation. It empowers Hilti employees to participate in meaningful environmental and community projects worldwide, addressing critical social challenges and fostering sustainable development. The program represents Hilti's commitment to extend corporate responsibility beyond business by providing employees with structured volunteer opportunities that enable them to make a tangible, positive impact.
The ”supergut“ Initiative
Purpose:
Promoting biodiversity in Liechtenstein
Goals:
Raising awareness about the topic among the population
Highlighting connections and explaining them clearly
Providing simple and practical tips for personal initiatives
Creating an information and knowledge platform
Promoting and utilizing synergies from existing commitments, initiatives and projects
Networking with experts, institutions and organizations
Online: supergut.li, Youtube, Instagram, Facebook