Dräger, Merz Lifecare and FIEGE plant tiny forest in Zülpich
The logistics company FIEGE, together with its customers, Dräger and Merz Lifecare, have planted a tiny forest. Around 40 employees from the three companies have planted a 600-square-metres-large green strip composed of native trees and shrubs, at the FIEGE branch in Zülpich.
FIEGE and the forest: a tiny forest is being grown at the FIEGE branch in the Zülpich industrial estate, An der Römerallee. Under the guidance of the project partner, Miya forest e.V., employees of the family business have planted 1,500 seedlings. The Greven logistics company received strong support from the teams of Dräger, a medical and safety technology company as well as Merz Lifecare, a healthcare company. Both are customers of FIEGE at the facility in Zülpich.
The tiny forest is being planted on an area of 600 square metres right next to the parking lot for employees. The newly made-up mini forests help with biodiversity and the quality of the soil, store carbon dioxide and positively affect the microclimate. Michael Lorca, Managing Director of the FIEGE Healthcare business unit, explains: “Sustainability is a central part of FIEGE's DNA. We aim to lead by example and devise logistics solutions together with our customers that are not only economically reasonable, but also ecologically responsible. The tiny forest at our healthcare location in Zülpich is a wonderful sign that acknowledges our viewpoint of sustainability being a long-term co-operation even beyond the company’s boundaries.”
Sebastian Krause (right), Director Market Fulfilment & Global Distribution at Dräger, Xenia Barth (left), CEO and Managing Director of Merz Lifecare Holding, and Michael Lorca (centre), Managing Director of FIEGE's Healthcare business unit, lent a hand in planting the Tiny Forest. (Photo: FIEGE)
Around 40 employees from Dräger, Merz Lifecare and FIEGE took part in the seedlings campaign. 20 different types of trees and shrubs were planted, from the common oak to the wild pear and the common privet. Xenia Barth, CEO and Managing Director at Merz Lifecare Holding, says: “We believe that for people to be healthy, they need a healthy planet. The tiny forest concept had our blessing because these mini forests create a very obvious benefit for people while at the same time providing a noteworthy contribution to our planet’s health.” However, the company does not have enough open spaces of its own on which to independently grow small forests. “So when FIEGE decided to plant a tiny forest at its branch in Zülpich as a collaborative project, we immediately confirmed our support”, Barth says.
Next to the young saplings, other structural elements were placed on the green strip, such as piles of natural stone or deadwood, which serve as a habitat for a range of animals. The aim is for the tiny forest to also grow the local biodiversity at the location. Sebastian Krause, Director Market Fulfilment & Global Distribution at Dräger, reports: “The tiny forest is an example of our understanding of sustainability here at Dräger: ‘We connect people care and planet care’. Sustainability is only achieved together. We are therefore pleased to support an initiative together with Merz Lifecare and FIEGE where collaborative action will achieve a concrete impact for the future of people and our planet.”
