SWM International's Climate Fresk Brigade: Igniting Climate Action!

Climate change is a complex issue affecting us all, and we struggle to understand the causes and consequences. Numerous NGOs or associations work daily to raise awareness and educate. Among them is the non-governmental organization “Climate Fresk,” which uses special workshops to “accelerate the understanding of climate issues at the global level in order to help trigger the necessary changes of the preservation of life as soon as possible.” SWM International ran the first workshops in 2022 for employees, customers and suppliers. The ESG and Human Resources teams have decided to accelerate the pace by introducing an international volunteer team of Climate Fresk facilitators within the company.

Climate Fresk: A Game-Changer for Climate Action

The Climate Fresk organization is on a mission to raise awareness about climate change through interactive workshops. Founded in 2018, the organization trains facilitators to deliver the Climate Fresk game, a powerful tool based on IPCC reports. This neutral and objective game presents scientific facts in a way that encourages participation and understanding. With workshops available in over 45 languages, the Climate Fresk is making a global impact.

Igniting Global Employee Engagement

In 2022, our ESG team launched an initiative to raise climate awareness across our global operations. We started with a pilot program at our French sites using the Climate Fresk workshop. This engaging and interactive workshop educates participants about the science of climate change; Championed by our Chief Human Officer, Urszula Jarosz-Kuberska, the program has expanded rapidly. We now have 16 trained facilitators leading workshops in Brazil, the USA, France, and Poland. To date, over 10% of our employees have participated, and this number continues to grow as we roll out the program across all our sites.

Meeting with Ramon and Morgane our new Climate Fresk Facilitators

“I believe we all need to do our part if we really want to make our world a better place to live,” says Ramon Teixeira, EHS manager in Santanesia, Brazil. “So, I see the Climate Fresk training to contribute, teach and engage people.” Morgane Le Masson, a technical assistant working on sustainable development initiatives in Quimperlé, France, has observed the Climate Fresk’s effectiveness firsthand. She notes, “This collaborative approach engages diverse groups of people and empowers them to act on climate change.” Being part of a community of facilitators gives her access to a wealth of information on climate change, which she uses to educate others about the impact of their daily habits.

Going Further

SWM International is committed to both educating its employees about the impacts of climate change and taking action to reduce its environmental footprint. The organization has been implementing an ambitious plan to decrease energy consumption, reduce waste, and adopt more sustainable practices across its operations. Christophe Rigoulay, a Life Cycle Analysis Engineer at SWM International and Climate Fresk Facilitator, believes training employees across all departments is crucial. “It is essential,” he says, “so everyone can act with full knowledge of the facts.”

Want to know more about this program? Please get in touch with us.