GM Employees Impact Communities on World Environment Day and Beyond

Today is World Environment Day, the United Nations’ principal vehicle for encouraging worldwide awareness and action for the environment. Over the years it has grown to be a global platform for public outreach celebrated by stakeholders in over 100 countries. It also serves as the ‘”people’s day” for the environment, galvanizing individual actions into a collective power that generates a positive impact on the planet.

At GM, we treat every day like World Environment Day. Our 216,000 employees around the world are making a positive impact on the environment through education and community outreach all year round. Here’s how:

Brazil
Our facilities in Brazil feature wetlands and containment lakes that recycle organic wastewater and serve as an outdoor laboratory for environmental education initiatives. Employees invited students to tour our Joinville, São Caetano do Sul and Mogi das Cruzes plants last year to learn how sustainable manufacturing practices help preserve local watersheds and the flora and fauna that rely on them.

India
In September, employees from our plant in Talegaon, India visited a local school to teach students about waste management. The students learned about the three Rs – reduce, reuse and recycle – and applied the knowledge in hands-on activities. The plant also donated school desks and benches made from scrap metal and wood generated at the facility.

United Kingdom
Last year our Vauxhall team in the U.K. launched the "Vauxhall Forest," an initiative to plant 333 native broadleaf trees in England’s Warwickshire county that will support wildlife habitat and sustainable forestry. In collaboration with a local online retailer, Vauxhall employees, suppliers, clients and family members who purchased items through a shopping portal had a tree planted in their name.

China
Employees at Guangde Proving Ground regularly track the diversity of plant species and monitor exotic invasive species onsite. The facility has hosted students and educators from local schools quarterly in an effort to teach them about native plants and the benefits pollinators have on the ecosystem.

United States
Bowling Green Assembly organized an environmental education and activities day for 90 kindergarteners in April. The kids toured the plant’s wildlife habitat, learned how to plant flowers and participated in hands-on activities and games, including a recycling relay race.