VGP promotes biodiversity with the innovative Aristeu Bee Project

The pan-European company VGP, owner and manager of high-quality logistics and industrial properties, has implemented an innovative environmental pollination project in Spain, “Aristeu Bee Project”, by installing bee hives on the roofs of some buildings in its parks.

The initiative, which began in Spain in 2021, aims to contribute to the conservation of bees, to return its organic pollination to nature and conserve local biodiversity.

Bees play an essential role in biodiversity and human life, since more than 80% of crops and plants depend on their pollination, and yet the species is in serious danger. Specifically, 30% of bees die each year due to multiple factors, such as industrial agriculture, climate change, diseases and parasites.

To help prevent and reverse this dramatic situation, VGP, in collaboration with the company Aristeu, has installed five bee hives respectively in VGP Park Lliçà d’Amunt and VGP Park Sevilla Dos Hermanas, with a total of 250,000 bees in each park. The bees are of the native species, also known as the Spanish bee –Apis Mellifera Iberiensis–, which is currently in danger of extinction.

The hives are located on the roofs of the buildings, in structures that reproduce the natural environment necessary for the development of bees, and are meticulously cared for month after month by a team of expert beekeepers, in order to obtain the maximum amount of honey.

176 kilos of honey collected and donated to associations with social purposes

To date, a total of 176 kilos of honey have been collected, thanks to this innovative project in the logistics and industrial sector, which beyond the environmental commitment, also fulfills an important social purpose.

The honey produced by bees is packaged, labeled and delivered to associations with social purposes. Specifically, VGP delivers the honey to entities that work with boys and girls at risk of social exclusion, such as the Albert Foundation – from Catalonia – and the Nuevo Futuro Foundation – from Seville -, as well as with special work centers, such as the CET Esclatec –of the Esclat Association– or the Aspace Foundation, in charge of preparing the containers, which are subsequently delivered.

“Bees play an essential role in biodiversity and human life. However, in addition to the ecological purpose, VGP’s main objective with the implementation of the ‘Aristeu Bee Project’ is also to promote work and the promotion of opportunities in the most disadvantaged groups and in people with physical or mental disabilities,” says Jacqueline Rosado. , Property Management Director of VGP.

Currently, VGP is working on expanding the pollination project to other company parks in Spain, such as VGP Park Valencia Cheste.

The “Aristeu Bee Project” project is part of the company’s Corporate Responsibility plan in environmental, social and governance matters (ESG, Environmental, Social and Governance objectives). In addition to fighting climate change, VGP’s ESG strategy also addresses other environmental and social challenges, such as the circular economy and green transportation, social responsibility on diversity and employee inclusion and well-being. The company has an efficient ESG governance structure, covering all countries, and includes ESG-related risks in its risk management framework, and remains committed to achieving carbon neutrality by 2025 in its own operations.