In a challenging year, the Knauf Insulation team has continued to Put People First, not just in our business but also the wider community.
No longer is a job just a job; an increasing number of employees are looking to contribute towards achieving a greater goal.
In fact, 69% of employees want their job to bring societal impact, according to a 2022 Edelman Trust Barometer Special Report: Trust in the Workplace.
This is why Knauf Insulation employees are encouraged to complete meaningful work that shapes society and addresses social and environmental problems.
Not only does this help to give employees a sense of purpose, it also helps them to feel that they belong to a group who are taking action to create a better planet. This falls in line with our sustainability strategy, For A Better World.
CREATING A COMFORTABLE, GREENER LEARNING ENVIRONMENT FOR INDIAN CHILDREN
Knauf Insulation has created, financed and delivered the materials for a new green roof for a primary school for girls in Kolkata, India.
Lessons at the Piali Ashar Alo primary school used to be challenging, especially in the hot, humid summer months, where learning conditions would often borderline on unbearable. The rainy season also presented challenges, as the building was often battered by heavy rain and dropped to a low of nine degrees in the winter.
Our team designed and installed a new 600m2 Urbanscape Green Roof for the school, which limited the entry of heat and absorbed water. It also created a rooftop environment where the children could learn about gardening and botanic science.
Domen Ivanšek, Head of Building Science, says: “Our Urbanscape roof enables passive cooling on the building by evapotranspiration, limiting the entry of heat and ensuring the temperature for the children and teachers in the school is much more comfortable than before.”
HIKING TO SUPPORT CHILDREN WITH CANCER IN AUSTRIA
Last year, our colleagues at Knauf Insulation Austria embarked on a series of walks to raise money for Austrian Children’s Cancer Aid.
For every kilometer walked, one Euro was donated to the charity. Together with business partners, customers and friends, the team got the chance to explore some stunning destinations around Austria, getting the benefits of nature while collecting donations for this worthy cause.
Udo Klamminger, Managing Director of Knauf Insulation Austria, says, “We want to put the focus back on being together in these challenging times and achieve something positive at the same time.”
TREE PLANTING IN ST. EGIDIEN
Colleagues at Knauf Insulation’s St. Egidien plant in Germany have planted more than 200 trees as part of their latest reforestation initiative.
Volunteering alongside their families and friends, they have planted more than 200 hornbeam birch trees in a forest close to the plant.
Tree planting is a great way for us all to take individual action to help the environment and personally contribute to our For A Better World sustainability pledge, to Achieve Zero Carbon. This is because trees absorb carbon dioxide and clean the air, as well as protecting soil against erosion and offering habitats for native animal species.
UK TEAMS RAISE MONEY FOR LOCAL CHARITIES
From donating their own time to fundraising for causes they believe in, approx. £20,000 has been raised across Knauf Insulation Northern Europe’s (KINE) manufacturing plants and Head Office within the past year, which is a fantastic achievement from everyone involved!
Take a look at the KINE charity work round-up:
Cwmbran
The Cwmbran Plant raised money for local charities Ty Hafan, Ollie Young Foundation and Endometriosis UK, as well as sponsoring the Pride of Gwent Charity Champion award, a category very close to their hearts!
Queensferry
Just under £5000 was raised by the Queensferry Plant for their chosen three local charities; Claire House Children’s Hospice, Nightingale House Hospice and Hospice of the Good Shepherd.
St Helens
The newly created St Helens Plant Community Team have worked closely with local charities including the HoneyRose Foundation, Violet Grace, Teardrops, Hope Centre/Foodbank, and The Lilac Centre. Activities involved foodbank collections, DIY such as painting and maintenance, bonus donations, and a charity golf day!
The teams have also carried out several litter picking exercises in the local community surrounding the plant.
CLEANING BEACHES in iberia
As part of our commitment to the environment, our colleagues from Knauf Insulation Iberia have organised local beach cleans, where they remove plastic waste from the shore.
This has become an annual initiative and is a great way to highlight the importance of taking care of nature and contributing to a healthier environment, For A Better World.
A GREENER MODE OF TRAVEL IN SLOVENIA
To promote sustainable mobility and reduce emissions within the industrial area of Trata, our colleagues in Slovenia are swapping their cars for electric bikes (e-bikes).
Launched in partnership with the Municipality Škofja Loka, as well as Sibo and LTH Castings, the project will aim to raise awareness of sustainable mobility via a number of key initiatives. These include the construction of a bike storage facility, with a charging station and 20 e-bikes available for Knauf Insulation employees to use and embrace green travel.
The project, that started in September 2022 and will finish in Spring 2024, will also see the creation of a new cycling road in Trata to help reduce the number of cars visiting the area on a daily basis. Not only does this benefit the local community, it also encourages our employees to embrace green travel as part of our sustainability strategy, For A Better World.
This project has been financed by grants from Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway.
UNITING THE TRATA COMMUNITY IN SLOVENIA
Our team in Škofja Loka, Slovenia brought together the community by hosting a picnic to celebrate the launch of a new children’s playground.
While our factory has been operating in the Trata industrial zone for over 50 years, the team has always prioritised coexistence with the local community in the surrounding village, ensuring there is a continuous dialogue.
This pleasant event united members of the community with Knauf Insulation employees to share food and drink, as well as playing a few games of basketball within the new playground!
A WEEK OF SERVICE FOR NORTH AMERICA
With an estimated 1 in 6 families not having reliable, steady access to food, Knauf Insulation North America (KINA) has taken action to help fight hunger in its local communities.
In its first ever ‘Week of Service’ that took place in November 2022, KINA organised food drives at each of its locations, as well as making donations to local food banks. Donations will help to feed local families as we head into the colder winter months.
Our North American colleagues had the opportunity to get involved by donating food and volunteering their time at the food banks.
