Caring for people and the planet – a special birthday gift from Lindström
Since the 1940s, the annual number of wildfires in Türkiye has risen from around 1,000 to approximately 3,500. The country has experienced several large-scale wildfires also in the 2020s. Extreme weather conditions, fueled by global climate change, are expected to continue. Soil erosion, as a consequence of these wildfires, is also a growing concern, worsening the country’s environmental issues.
Our local team has developed a meaningful way to celebrate employees’ birthdays, creating both social and environmental impacts. Since the beginning of 2024, we have been donating 10 trees for each employee’s birthday, to be planted in areas in Türkiye that have been ravaged by wildfires.
The saplings are planted through a donation to TEMA, the Turkish Foundation for Combating Soil Erosion. TEMA directly handles the planting of the saplings on its afforestation sites across the country. This initiative is part of their Memorial Forest project, which involves planting trees on behalf of individuals and organisations in various provinces.
As a birthday gift, each employee receives a certificate that includes the specific location of their trees.
“The feedback from employees has been overwhelmingly positive”, says Arzu Erguner, Regional HR Business Partner for Southeast Europe.
“They view this as a meaningful and thoughtful birthday gift from their employer. Rather than just words, it is a tangible act of sustainability that demonstrates care for both the planet and the people.”
Given the positive reception, the plan is to continue the birthday tree donations and further support TEMA’s afforestation efforts. TEMA’s forces on protecting forests and the vital services they provide, particularly in combating soil erosion. It is also raising public awareness about the importance of afforestation for environmental sustainability.
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We received two prestigious awards: the Gold status in the "Employer Open to Diversity" programme and the Family-Friendly Workplace award.
