World Environment Day, which is celebrated every year on June 5, is the largest annual United Nations event to promote positive environmental action, aimed at raising awareness in the world for the protection of our planet. Since the first World Environment Day in 1974, the event has grown to become a global platform for public awareness of the environment in over 100 countries and from this year also YKK Italy, with a production site in Prarolo ( Vc), a branch in Milan and branches in Tuscany and Campania, with more than 300 employees, encouraged the initiative of employees to organize a competition of ideas to make the company even more sustainable through small or large projects dedicated. The intention of the initiative was to change the perception of the environment that surrounds us and to contribute positively to the “Restoration of Ecosystems”, even in the respective workplaces.

The initiative was a great success, demonstrating the strong sensitivity to environmental issues developed by the employees of YKK Italy, which itself has always, and increasingly, attentive to the issue. More than 100 concrete proposals were collected, including a jury made up of employees from various sectors and levels, including the President, Mr. Yamaguchi, had the arduous task of identifying the most innovative, creative and feasible.

The winners of the first edition of the competition were:

1st PRIZE: electric bicycle

MARCO GREPPO, who proposed the construction of a cycle path between Vercelli and the Prarolo plant in collaboration with the Municipal Administrations.

2nd PRIZE ex-aequo: electric scooter

FLAVIO MAUR and CRISTIANO SAVIOLO who proposed to use the uncultivated land around the Prarolo plant to house bee colonies.

Each participant was also given a gadget and a certificate of participation as a sign of recognition by the company for its commitment to contribute to the creation of a more sustainable society, for the benefit of all.