Butterfield is reinforcing its commitment to the environment by participating in a host of activities throughout the month of September, in recognition of its Community Action Month.
During September, Butterfield employees in Jersey and Guernsey will join in various initiatives to reduce their impact on the environment, such as picking up litter in their lunch hours, establishing office collection points for recycling batteries, and travelling to work by carpooling, public transport or electric bikes and bicycles. The Bank is also encouraging employees to make changes in their own time by living more sustainably at home.
Working with Plastic Free Jersey and Jersey Marine Conservation, Butterfield employees took part in a Bio Blitz on 1 September at La Rocque Harbour. Employees spent the day learning about the different marine species and helping clean up their habitats by gathering sand which was filtered through a nurdle machine to remove microplastics.
Other volunteer days include Butterfield’s annual beach clean scheduled for 21 September at L’Ancresse in Guernsey as part of the Great British Beach Clean. In Jersey, Butterfield employees will be volunteering at Durrell Wildlife Conservation in the orangutan enclosure doing general gardening, as well as helping out at Acorn Reuse Centre which upcycles, repairs and reuses tonnes of unwanted items.
Richard Saunders, Butterfield’s Managing Director, Channel Islands, said: “Human behaviour is having a devastating impact on our planet’s climate. Butterfield’s Community Action Month, which focuses on ocean health and island ecology, is encouraging us to change our habits, so we can help mitigate climate change and preserve our precious environment.”
“In previous years, many of us have participated in the one-day Ocean Conservancy International Coastal Clean-up. This September, we are expanding our community action efforts and offering many more opportunities for employees to invest their time in the wellbeing of our communities. The health of our marine environment is important and something that affects the daily lives of everyone in our island communities.”