Employees at Corning Incorporated’s optical fiber plant in Pune, India, celebrated World Environment Day on June 5 by “connecting people to nature.”

“World Environment Day is celebrated worldwide on June 5 of every year to increase awareness of environmental issues and encourage the community to develop measures towards sustainability. The theme for 2017 is “Connecting People to Nature,’” explained Ben Chen, Asia Pacific Environmental Manager for Corporate Environmental Control (CEC).

Amit Abhyankar, Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) Lead, said in its effort to support forestation, the Pune team distributed seeds collected from the plant’s trees to employees, contractors, visitors, and guests. This is the plant’s fourth year distributing the seeds in honor of World Environment Day.

 In addition, school children from the area were invited to plant trees on the Corning property.

“The intention was to create awareness of the environment. It was an opportunity for the Pune plant to showcase our commitment to the environment,” said Subhajit Das, Pune plant manager.

After planting the trees, the students toured the plant and learned about Corning’s other environmental efforts, including the use of solar energy to power utilities at the plant, rainwater harvesting to improve ground water levels, and waste treatment, recycling, and reuse. 

Plant employees and representatives from the local government also joined in the Corning initiative, planting saplings near the material gate at the plant. Pune’s program concluded with refreshments and environmentally friendly souvenirs – a seed pouch along with sapling pot and stationery – for each student.