Small actions, significant impact

Sustainability often begins when people take action together: at their own workplace, within their team, or in their immediate surroundings. This is exactly what INTEGRA Clean-Up Week showed. Employees sorted out unwanted items, passed things on and collected litter, demonstrating that many small contributions can create a meaningful impact when people come together.

The initiative was not only about tidying up and disposing of waste, but also about awareness, personal accountability and shared commitment. Every area that was cleaned up, every item that was reused and every piece of litter removed from nature was a concrete contribution to a more responsible use of resources. For INTEGRA, this kind of engagement is essential; we believe that sustainability should not remain abstract, but should become tangible in everyday work through people thinking ahead, organizing proactively and working together.

One week, three activities

During Clean-Up Week, employees in Zizers and Hudson/Merrimack took a closer look at their work areas, cabinets, shelves, storage rooms and shared spaces. Materials that were no longer needed – such as old paper, electronic waste, glass, metal and other legacy items – were collected, separated and properly disposed of.

In Zizers, the week was complemented by the INTEGRA Second Life Corner. Furniture, infrastructure and other reusable items that were no longer needed were given a second life. Instead of disposing of usable goods, employees were able to claim selected items.

On Friday afternoon, a voluntary Outdoor Clean-Up took place around the Zizers site and at Benson Park in Hudson. More than 50 employees collected litter, sending a clear signal against littering in support of a clean, livable environment. At the Zizers site, this was carried out with the cooperation of the municipality of Zizers and its public works department. 

What we achieved together

In total, over 917 kg of waste and unwanted materials were collected, separated or properly disposed of during Clean-Up Week. The Second Life Corner also contributed to resource conservation: Various items and pieces of furniture were passed on and saved from disposal. These figures show that many small contributions can create a visible impact.

Responsibility that connects people

What made the initiative especially valuable was not only the measurable result, but also the shared experience. Employees from different teams and departments worked together, exchanged ideas and made sustainability tangible in everyday work. Clean-Up Week showed how simple responsibility can be, as reusing items and properly disposing of waste means that less litter remains in nature. At the same time, the initiative illustrated what INTEGRA stands for: responsible action, a conscious use of resources, and our corporate commitment to a cleaner environment.

On the path to net zero

Clean-Up Week is a small but visible part of our long-term sustainability journey. We have made important progress towards renewable resource use, including installing large photovoltaic systems at our production sites in Zizers and Hudson. We have also switched a high proportion of our energy consumption to renewable sources, and are working towards the long-term goal of achieving company-wide net zero Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions by 2040. Further measures include the gradual transition of the company vehicle fleet to electric vehicles and the construction of a new LEED-certified production building in the US.

At the same time, it remains clear that the greatest potential for improvement lies in long-term measures all along the value chain. Initiatives such as Clean-Up Week do not replace structural climate strategies, but they create awareness, encourage participation, and show that sustainability is a shared responsibility. Through this event, we created space, conserved resources and sent a clear signal – we have to work together to take care of our workspaces and environment.