In our 2021 ESG Report, one of our goals was to ‘create more impact’. So in January 2022, we began our ‘impact of the month’ initiative, where each month we chose to support a different charitable cause aligned with our mission or values.

These impact activities are in addition to the following initiatives that we already support with regular monthly donations.

You can read more about these in our blog ‘Living our Values’.

We are proud to have supported many wonderful causes this year, and will continue in 2023. May this offer some ideas and inspiration for your own environmental or social goals.

– Spring –

Clean water for all with Viva con Agua

We began a regular monthly donation to Viva von Agua in February. 771 million people worldwide do not have secure access to clean drinking water. Of these, around 489 million people even lack the basic supply of drinking water. Viva con Agua pursues the vision that all people have access to clean drinking water, hygiene facilities and basic sanitation. 

Saving the hedgehogs

We began a new monthly donation to a Hedgehog sanctuary ‘Arbeitskreis Igelschutz Berlin e.V., Igelstation Berlin Hermsdorf’. The sanctuary is local to Stefanie and Birgit and is run by a team of volunteers.

They are currently caring for around 40 hedgehogs and this number varies throughout the year. You can read more about how to look out for your local prickly friends on their website.

Supporting Berlin Zoo

At the start the year, we made our first donation towards a monument at Berlin Zoo. A new 14,000m2 rhino house is being built and the tower that stands at the compound’s centre serves as a monument for species conservation.

With Berlin Zoo, you can contribute to the feeding and care of many of their animals. We also decided to sponsor one of the seals in their rocky coastal habitat for a year.

Relief fund for Ukrainian children and their families

As the devastating war in Ukraine began, we supported the German Children’s Fund’s ‘relief fund for refugee children and their families’ helping those fleeing the war in Ukraine.

At short notice, the German Children’s Fund set up an aid fund for children, young people and their families who have fled Ukraine, from which it will provide €200,000 in aid.

Fridays for Future Climate Strike

We attended the Global Climate Strike on 25 March, you can view our video from the day here.

– Summer –

Berlin City Trees campaign

We committed to planting 16 more trees with the Berlin City Trees campaign. Eight of these trees were planted in Spring/Summer 2022 and the rest will be planted later in the year.

Since the “City Trees for Berlin” campaign began in 2012, around 5,000 additional trees have already been planted on Berlin’s streets.

Stadtradeln city cycling campaign

This International City Cycling campaign aims to encourage as many people as possible to switch to riding their bicycle in their everyday lives. With their campaign, Stadtradeln raises awareness of the multiple benefits of cycling, including climate protection and improved health.

We have taken part in this activity for the past few years. This year, Birgit, Matías, Wioletta, Miriam, Aurélie and Stefanie officially cycled 718 km in total for 2022, which is 100 km more than in the last 2 years (CO² savings: 111 kg). Next year, we are aiming for 1,000!

Rewilding Europe

As a precursor to a longer-term relationship with them starting in 2023, we made donations to two Rewilding Europe projects “European Young Rewilders” and “Wild Horses.”

Rewilding Europe operates a number of interconnected initiatives to help make Europe a wilder place.

– Autumn –

Fridays for Future Climate Strike

We once again attended the Global Climate Strike in Berlin Friday 23rd September to listen to speakers, plus performances from Von Wegen Lisbeth and performance poet Veronika Rieger. 

We’ve long been proud supporters of the campaign, encouraging the whole team to take part in the marches whenever we can. 

Berlin City Trees campaign

We planted our additional 8 trees that we committed to in the Spring with the Berlin City Trees campaign. This means we now have a tree planted for every staff member!

Giving rescue dogs a better chance

This month, we supported a wonderful organisation HeimatHunde e.V on Tour and they really are part of the ES family. Anna, one of the members of the team, is the daughter of our Managing Director, Frank Burchardi.

HeimatHunde is a mobile animal welfare association that are travelling Europe in order to help other non-profits and welfare projects. 

– Winter –

Support for Berlin’s homeless population

As the temperature begins to drop in Berlin, we supported Berliner Kältehilfe. The Berlin based program provides shelter, warmth and hot meals for the homeless population in the winter months.

Supporting civilian sea rescue with Sea-Watch

Each year, we give a Christmas donation in December. These are suggested by the team members and are often local charities and organisations. This year, we are supporting Sea Watch.

Sea-Watch e.V. is a non-profit initiative dedicated to civilian sea rescue in the central Mediterranean. In the face of an ongoing and state-initiated humanitarian disaster, they are providing acute emergency aid.

Thousands of people drown every year in trying to reach a safe haven in the EU, many of them within sight of our banks and beaches. Sea-Watch believe none should die on the run and in the hope of a decent life at the external borders of the European Union.

They have two aircraft in operation and three boats on the water. Sea-Watch has so far been involved in rescuing over 45,000 people.