Corporate Responsibility in Action: Pipelife Belgium Reports Biodiversity Increasements

In 2021, wienerberger — a leading manufacturer of building materials — started its Biodiversity Program at each of more than 200 production sites. As part of wienerberger, all of Pipelife's business units have fully embraced the program, including the manufacturing sites in Belgium. We talked with Pipelife's teams in Kalmthout and Seneffe about the biodiversity actions already implemented, the green plans for the future and the biodiversity changes they have observed.

_{From Lawns to Gardens}

Pipelife Belgium's plant in Kalmthout manufactures a wide array of pipes for underground infrastructure. The total production site area reaches about 60,000 m², and roughly half of it is unsealed. The first steps in biodiversity improvement were taken here even before the official launch of the Corporate Program. Kurt Debaene, the Plant Manager at Kalmthout, explains that inspired by some ideas and initiatives from the Pipelife headquarters in Vienna, the local team changed the care of the green areas at the plant.

"We started with two small ideas. One was not mowing the grass in May to let wildflowers bloom, and the other was leaving the dead wood on the site to provide home and shelter for a wider array of wildlife," he says.

In 2023, the Kalmthout employees, together with Rena De Mey, Biodiversity Project Leader at wienerberger, developed a comprehensive biodiversity action plan for the unsealed territories at the production site. As the plant is located close to the Kalmthout Heath nature reserve, all the green initiatives were also aligned with and approved by local authorities.  

A lush hedge replaced the site's outer fence, and climbing plants were planted near one of the factory walls. In addition, one of the lawn areas was transformed into a fruit garden — employees planted several apple and cherry trees as well as cranberry bushes and set up bee hotels. Flowering and fruit-bearing plants were selected as they provide food for various insects, birds and mammals, and the team is genuinely proud of their new garden. 

"When the weather is sunny, we are always out there, enjoying the lunch break," says Debaene. "We have already observed lots of birds and some rabbits in the garden, and this is the first year we will have our cherry harvest, so everyone's excited and eager to keep making the garden even more welcoming for wildlife!"

_{An Aquatic Haven in the Making}

Another major biodiversity initiative at Kalmthout will be carried out this year. The local team plans to enlarge and deepen the pond at the plant's territory while leaving one shore at a flatter 30-degree slope to make it more attractive for local aquatic plant and animal species.

"We had to enlarge the pond because of a recently passed law that supports local rainwater management," Debaene says. "For a plant like ours, the pond must be two meters wide and one meter deep. And we thought — since we are doing this anyway, why not do it in a way that increases biodiversity? Why not have a more animal-friendly 30-degree slope instead of the typical 45 degrees?"

_{Paradise for Birds and Bees}

Another Pipelife Belgium production site lies in the municipality of Seneffe, approximately 100 kilometers south of Kalmthout. The state-of-the-art plant, specializing in the manufacturing of electrical installation equipment, was opened in 2009. Situated within an industrially landscaped area, the factory already had extensive green zones, but those were not specifically designed to enhance biodiversity, explains Pascal De Maeyer, the Plant Manager at Seneffe:

"Rena De May visited us to assess the site in 2022, and together, we decided to change things — our main idea was to bring back more bees, bumblebees and other insect species."

To achieve this goal, the plant's larger lawns were transformed into blooming wildflower meadows by sowing local flora species, such as cornflower, vetch and maiden pink. In addition, a large variety of shrubs and flowers were planted at the site's outdoor recreation areas.  

"Our employees really appreciate the makeover and are happy to enjoy their breaks outdoors. We have already observed a clear increase in the number of birds, bees, butterflies, rabbits and other species in the plant's surroundings," says De Maeyer.

_{Incremental Changes, Major Impact}

While currently, there are no new large-scale biodiversity projects in Seneffe, small improvements are carried out all the time. For example, the plant's Biodiversity Ambassador, Patrick Bouckaert, recently made several birdhouses from old pallets and set them up in the plant's territory. 

Furthermore, the annual monitoring results have revealed that even incremental changes can make a significant impact on biodiversity. While only four fauna species were observed during the plant's baseline assessment in 2022, an increase of 50 times was observed just a year later, especially in the variety and numbers of pollinating insect species.

_{Raising the ESG Bar} 

Pipelife Belgium's commitment to enhancing biodiversity showcases the power of corporate responsibility in environmental preservation. Through innovative initiatives and specific, measurable goals, the company's production sites have become a shelter for a variety of flora and fauna, contributing to broader local ecosystem health. By placing equal emphasis on employee empowerment and ecological awareness, Pipelife's biodiversity strategies go beyond the company's ESG goals, setting the benchmark for other corporations.