World Cleanup Day: Uniting for a Cleaner Planet
Friday 20 September 2024
World Cleanup Day, celebrated this year on Friday 20th September, is a global movement that mobilizes millions of people to tackle one of the most pressing environmental challenges — waste pollution. It’s more than just a cleanup event — it embodies key Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) principles, making it a significant force in promoting sustainability and responsible global citizenship.
World Cleanup Day, is a reminder of the importance of environmental conservation and sustainability, encouraging us to come together and take concerted action for a healthier planet and brighter future.
It serves as a powerful example of how ESG principles can guide collective action, driving meaningful environmental and social impact while fostering responsible governance worldwide.
Read here our article about the cleanup organized in Italy and Germany in April.
Environmental
Impact
This annual event directly addresses the "E" in ESG — environmental stewardship. With over 2 billion tons of waste generated globally each year, much of it poorly managed, waste pollution has severe consequences for ecosystems, wildlife, and human health.
Through coordinated efforts, participants remove waste from natural spaces, reduce pollution, and raise awareness about sustainable practices like reducing, reusing, and recycling.
The movement emphasizes not just short-term cleanups but also long-term solutions, encouraging communities to adopt greener waste management and consumption habits.
Social
Responsibility
It brings together people from diverse backgrounds and regions, fostering a sense of global solidarity. By working toward a shared goal, participants build community connections and create a culture of social and environmental responsibility.
In addition to the physical cleanup efforts, the event also raises awareness about the long-term impact of waste and the importance of reducing, reusing, and recycling.
Many participants take what they've learned from the day and apply it to their daily lives, advocating for less wasteful practices in their homes, schools, and workplaces.
Governance
and Accountability
On the governance side, World Cleanup Day urges businesses, governments, and individuals to take accountability for waste management.
It promotes policies that support environmental sustainability and corporate responsibility.
The movement also advocates for stricter regulations on waste disposal and encourages companies to adopt transparent, eco-friendly practices.
At UniCredit, we believe that leading by example is the right thing to do and in 2023, we launched our first Group-wide Volunteering Community, where colleagues can share new initiatives as well as experiences and ideas.
In less than a year since its official launch, this community has grown impressively, engaging employees from all countries in almost 280 initiatives, which have supported, directly and indirectly, several thousand beneficiaries across our local communities.
Our annual event ESG Day is a forum to discuss together the sustainability trade-offs, giving positive solutions:
between environmental and social concerns, profit vs. sustainability, we find our way to build the best to accompany our clients.