Sustainability in Action: Supporting Local Communities Through the Honey Initiative

Our honey bee hives are quite the ‘buzz’ here at West. Team members at our Eschweiler and Le Nouvion sites partner with local beekeepers to produce and sell honey in support of local charities in the community. Philanthropy is one of the key pillars that help shape the culture at West. We put a strong emphasis on giving back to the communities our employees live and work in.

The idea for the honey initiative came from our team members’ shared dedication for sustainability and corporate responsibility. With lots of cooperation and teamwork, our sites were able to implement a beehive located right on site at both our Eschweiler and Le Nouvion locations. Over the past few years, the initiative has grown into something bigger than just us.

Through the partnership with local beekeepers to help maintain the hives and collect the honey when it is ready, our team members have been able to work alongside and learn sustainable practices that ensure the well-being of the bees.

Once the honey is collected, it is packaged in jars and sold to our team members during special events. The proceeds from the honey sales are donated right back into our community as part of our West without Boarders campaign. Each year the charity we support changes, rotating through a total of seven local charities. These charitable organizations support a wide range of causes- from providing food and shelter to underserved communities, to helping individuals with disabilities live more independent lives.

This past year, the Eschweiler site donated their proceeds to the organization, Flügelschlag which aims to fight against child poverty. The charity provides valuable support by addressing these challenges from multiple perspectives and offering sustainable solutions. The Le Nouvion site donated their funds raised to...

The honey initiative reflects West’s long-standing commitment to making a difference in our local communities, while advancing our sustainability efforts. Each step of the process is rooted in West’s dedication to environmental stewardship, corporate philanthropy and strong team culture. This project showcases how we can make a lasting impact as a team and the potential to continue the ‘buzz’ and expand the honeybee initiative in years to come. To learn more about West’s culture of giving click here.