20. August 2024
17 sustainability goals for the world – 17 raised beds for Kleve
Wood is a valuable resource, but in some industries it is unfortunately a waste product. This is also the case at Kässbohrer, which operates a plant for the production of semi-trailers and trailers in Kleve’s neighbouring town of Goch. The wood is used as packaging material and is sandwiched between the large components needed for production. For the past three years, the material has been donated to the Kleve Vocational Training Centre (BBZ). There, the wood is processed into nesting boxes and seating for schools, private homes and the “Tiergarten Kleve”, amongst other things. It is also used in vocational training programmes for schools when workpieces are crafted. A win-win situation for both sides: The Kässbohrer company saves on disposal costs and the BBZ saves on material costs.
Making the 17 sustainability goals visible in Kleve
The BBZ is now planning to build 17 raised beds and has applied for the Klever Birne 2024 with this idea. Why 17 raised beds of all things? Martin Winkler, Team Leader Facility Management at BBZ and co-initiator of the application, explains: “17 raised beds because there are 17 global sustainability goals that were adopted by the international community in the 2030 Agenda in 2015. So one raised bed per sustainability goal.” And visibly, because each raised bed is to be designed according to the sustainability goal, then planted and set up in Kleve. An information board will provide information about the respective sustainability goal.
Promoting social exchange and interaction
The plan is to implement the project in the BBZ’s youth workshops, but the Kleve community is invited to participate in the form of schools, kindergartens, local organisations and neighbourhoods, for example. Senior citizens are just as welcome as students, refugees and private individuals. They work together with BBZ participants, crafting, designing, exchanging ideas and getting creatively involved. This makes the project a platform for participation and interaction and strengthens social skills at the same time. Anke Altenstädter, Annika Artz and the youth workshop team will be in charge of the project in addition to Martin Winkler.
Martin Winkler and his colleagues also have in mind that an armchair – also made from waste wood – will be placed next to each raised bed, inviting people to take a short break. After all, the raised beds planted with herbs contribute to a positively landscaped environment. To this end, they are still looking for companies that would like to sponsor a raised bed and an armchair.
Maintaining partnerships
“Without partnerships like the one that exists between the BBZ and Kässbohrer, or between the BBZ and Agrobusiness Niederrhein e.V., which will provide the herbs for planting the raised beds free of charge through its network, a project like this would be much more difficult to implement,” emphasises Martin Winkler. “With this campaign, we want to encourage other companies to focus even more on sustainability and to take advantage of upcycling opportunities and collaborations, for a start.”
Martin Winkler and the BBZ became aware of the “Klever Birne” sustainability competition through personal contacts with Agrobusiness Niederrhein e.V.. They are now looking forward to the final on 12 September and of course hope to be among the winners. “We can use the prize money to have the information boards professionally designed and printed. And it would also make it easier to buy the colours for the creative design,” says Martin Winkler.
Super Sache 😃