December 5, 2024
Here’s how corporations can support employee volunteering efforts, and make a real difference in communities around the world.
In today’s interconnected world, even small acts of volunteering can contribute to a ripple effect of positive change that extends far beyond the individual. Today, corporate volunteering has become an essential way for organisations like Tetra Pak to “turn purpose into action,” addressing complex environmental and social challenges while aligning with values that resonate with their employees.
“We empower our people to engage in volunteering activities, if they have a passion to do so,” says Phil Read, Executive Vice President of Human Resources and Transformation at Tetra Pak. “When employees feel encouraged to take part in these programmes, they bring their passion and talents to activities that span environmental sustainability, hunger relief, and community welfare, benefiting society as a whole.”
Supporting employees in giving back is more than a gesture—it’s a pledge to fostering resilient, sustainable communities. And the effect and impact of individual efforts is even greater when coordinated, which is what occurs when companies join forces with their communities.
“We see volunteering as an incredibly worthwhile investment – which is why we have introduced a new global guideline that provides an opportunity within our working hours to do so,” Phil says.
Employees in action make for stories of impact
Across the globe, employees are already creating positive change in the communities where they live and work. In Switzerland, volunteers and their families recently partnered with Almighty Tree to plant 600 trees, which are expected to absorb over 150 tonnes of CO₂ over their lifetime.
“We want our commitment to extend beyond short-term actions; it’s about sustaining projects that foster long-term change.”
In South Africa, each Mandela Day brings employees in Cape Town, Johannesburg, and Durban together to support local orphanages by gathering food and essential items donated by colleagues to fulfil the children’s wish lists, creating real moments of joy and support and contributing to a brighter atmosphere in the community.
And in Peru, in 2024, employees partnered with the National Program for Family Welfare to bring smiles and support to local children. By engaging in recreational activities, colleagues shared memorable moments, fostering a sense of connection and joy for the children in the program.
“We hope to enable employees from all backgrounds to connect with a common sense of purpose, and our structured approach to volunteering is designed to help them get there,” Phil says. “Some people feel strongly about more about the planet, some other people feel more strongly about education, and they will follow their beliefs about what’s important.”
Despite this diversity of activities employees can engage in, there is no question that volunteering unites people across borders and roles, creating a global network driven by a shared commitment to making a difference.
“A few years ago, we spent a day volunteering at a refuge for women who had experienced assault in South Africa, and it was a profoundly impactful experience,” Phil says. “It not only raised awareness about life beyond the corporate world, but fostered a deep sense of teamwork and strengthened our bond as colleagues. One of the most moving moments was when the women sang a beautiful song they had composed for us—it was a heartfelt reminder of the power of giving back and the connections it can create.”
A framework for corporate volunteering
In order to support community engagement and scale up efforts globally, Phil and his team have recently been working to establish a set of guidelines for volunteering worldwide. The hope is that this structure will help align local volunteering initiatives with Tetra Pak’s core values and mission, which encompasses the realms of “food, people, and planet.”
“When employees feel encouraged to take part in these programmes, they bring their passion and talents to activities that span environmental sustainability, hunger relief, and community welfare, benefiting society as a whole.”
Under the food pillar, volunteering activities might include helping out at food banks, hunger-relief activities, and food-waste reduction initiatives. The people pillar involves support for natural disaster response, community-building programmes, and the development and education of children. And for the planet, activities such as waste collection, recycling, and tree planting are popular activities.
“We want to make volunteering a key part of our business in every office across the globe,” says Phil. “Until recently, these efforts have relied on local champions deciding to take it on, but there are many countries where that hasn't happened. So we’re hoping that by giving it more structure, we will expand its reach to be everywhere we are.”
And while donations are important in community support, the focus remains on active, hands-on involvement, empowering employees to contribute directly to local causes. The framework also helps to spur engagement for employees who might be eager to give back, but are unsure where to start.
Engaging with the real challenges of local communities is essential
Volunteering isn’t one-size-fits-all kind of endeavour. To truly make an impact and contribute in ways that have lasting effect, local, on-the-ground input is essential.
“In some parts of the world like Switzerland, employees have been involved in tree planting or cleaning up the lake – whereas in Brazil, employees have been involved in sports activities with people with disabilities, or mentoring opportunities with young people,” says Phil. “It depends quite a bit on what is what is most needed in the area. And obviously we're trying to focus it where it makes sense, in local communities where our employees may live or commute from, or where we have operations.”
Partnerships with local organisations are key to this success, ensuring that the initiatives are not only impactful but also relevant, aligned with ongoing needs and challenges faced by the immediate community. Working with local expertise amplifies the reach and effectiveness of projects while deepening that local connection, creating a lasting foundation of support.
“We want our commitment to extend beyond short-term actions; it’s about sustaining projects that foster long-term change,” says Phil. “This is how corporate volunteering can evolve into a tradition where companies, colleagues and communities come together to give back and pay it forward.”
To read our most recent Sustainability Report, click here.
More stories from our world
