Climate Action
79,000 Acts of Green and Counting!
June 8, 2016
A guest blog submitted by our partners at Southwest Airlines.
At Southwest, we are committed to preserving the environment and encouraging our Employees to do the same. As such, we were so excited to team up with Earth Day Network this year to take action and contribute to their national Billion Acts of Green campaign!
Kicking off on Earth Day for two weeks, Southwest Employees changed up their routines to incorporate as many Acts of Green as they could both at work and at home. Many were diligent in turning off lights and computer screens, utilizing reusable cups and lunch containers, and conserving water while brushing their teeth or taking a shower. Some went the extra mile by starting compost piles, replacing their current light bulbs with an energy-saving version, and coming up with unique ways to upcycle boarding passes, cereal boxes, and coffee containers.
In total, Southwest Employees logged 79,092 Acts of Green with participation from 54 of our work locations – we love how much our Employees care for the world around them!
Our top contributing location, San Jose, California, will receive a tree planting for a local school on behalf of Southwest and Earth Day Network for their incredible commitment and dedication to the challenge and, more importantly, to protecting the world we live in. Not only will the trees have environmental benefits and beautify the school, but research has also shown the addition of trees has a positive impact on academic performance and a student’s ability to learn and we are thrilled to contribute to that effort.
To help motivate throughout the challenge, Southwest enlisted the help of its Green Ambassadors – 137 Employees who lead local environmental initiatives. From decorating break rooms green to offering the chance to win recyclable bags for logging Acts of Green, our Ambassadors were inspired by how easy it was to make small, simple changes that have a lasting impact and hope to keep conversation about the environment continuing among Southwest Employees.
In addition to the Billion Acts of Green challenge, Employees across the country can be found picking up litter, participating in beach clean ups, and planting trees through environmental volunteer efforts with Community Partners like Earth Day Network.
To help encourage Employees to give back, our Tickets for Time program provides roundtrip flights to nonprofit organizations for every 40 hours of volunteer time served by a Southwest Employee or group of Employees. After the challenge and volunteer effort hours were totaled, we will be providing Earth Day Network with six roundtrip flights. We can’t wait to see Earth Day Network spread their mission while flying Southwest!
In total, Southwest Employees logged 79,092 Acts of Green with participation from 54 of our work locations – we love how much our Employees care for the world around them!
Our top contributing location, San Jose, California, will receive a tree planting for a local school on behalf of Southwest and Earth Day Network for their incredible commitment and dedication to the challenge and, more importantly, to protecting the world we live in. Not only will the trees have environmental benefits and beautify the school, but research has also shown the addition of trees has a positive impact on academic performance and a student’s ability to learn and we are thrilled to contribute to that effort.
To help motivate throughout the challenge, Southwest enlisted the help of its Green Ambassadors – 137 Employees who lead local environmental initiatives. From decorating break rooms green to offering the chance to win recyclable bags for logging Acts of Green, our Ambassadors were inspired by how easy it was to make small, simple changes that have a lasting impact and hope to keep conversation about the environment continuing among Southwest Employees.
In addition to the Billion Acts of Green challenge, Employees across the country can be found picking up litter, participating in beach clean ups, and planting trees through environmental volunteer efforts with Community Partners like Earth Day Network.
To help encourage Employees to give back, our Tickets for Time program provides roundtrip flights to nonprofit organizations for every 40 hours of volunteer time served by a Southwest Employee or group of Employees. After the challenge and volunteer effort hours were totaled, we will be providing Earth Day Network with six roundtrip flights. We can’t wait to see Earth Day Network spread their mission while flying Southwest!
