Making every minute count

Imagine dedicating 1% of your work time to charitable activities. In this post, we'll look at how employees across the Croda Group have spent their 1% Club time helping their communities.

Inspiring stories from our North American colleagues

We will start with Nautilus’ Josh Kelly, Research Scientist, who took time out of the lab to play a vital role in a national football competition. Serving as the Provincial Representative for Prince Edward Island's U15 boys' and girls' teams, Josh played a pivotal role as a liaison, ensuring smooth communication between the teams and tournament officials. Josh's dedication prevailed, resulting in great success for both teams.

In Princeton, Croda colleagues gathered to craft fleece blankets for Project Linus, a non-profit organisation dedicated to bringing comfort and security to vulnerable and ill children. With materials provided by the Princeton Engagement Committee, 39 blankets made their way to Project Linus,

Our final spotlight for North America, Jennifer Donahue, Sales Manager – Personal Care, brought her talents to Azusa, California. Venturing to decorate floats for America's iconic New Year's Day Rose Parade, Jennifer, alongside many volunteers, dedicated five days to adding fresh flowers and eucalyptus leaves to bring the floats to life. Reflecting on her participation, Jennifer remarked: “It was a memorable experience seeing the floats come to life with all the flowers and greenery – they were true works of art!"

Breaking Records and Building a Cleaner Future in France

This World Cleanup Day saw a record-breaking global participation, with more countries involved than ever before. Croda France’s team earned praise for their impactful neighbourhood cleanup. Meanwhile, employees at Alban Muller's Fonteney-sur-Eure site drastically reduced waste, from 387kg in 2021 to an impressive 27kg in 2023. Marian Muyenga, Administration Coordinator, highlighted: "We are well on the way to our goal of 'zero waste'. There is still progress to be made, and we're counting on all our employees to keep up good sustainability practices.”
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Andrew Sellars and Harry Meakin Illuminate Community Spirit

In another commendable display of our employees 1% Club commitment, Andrew Sellars, Process Development Manager, and Harry Meakin, Development Scientist, from Leek, UK, devoted two days to install new security lighting at Andrew's local church and foodbank, St John’s. The energy-efficient lighting not only cuts down the church's running costs but also acts as a deterrent against vandalism.  Andrew said, "We were more than happy to help, and with the church also being used as a Foodbank, vandalism prevention is more paramount in the current climate."

 

Buck Creek Cleanup and Red Shoe Run success

Avanti's Buck Creek cleanup saw 685lb of collected trash, including vintage finds like old tyres and glass bottles from the 1970s. An employee shared: "We hope to make 'Pick-Up Buck' an annual event to keep our local environment clean. Whilst other colleagues from Avanti, Alabama, USA, raised $500 for Ronald McDonald House Charities in the Red Shoe Run.

These efforts demonstrate Avanti's commitment to local environments and meaningful causes. Join us in applauding their remarkable dedication!

Rawcliffe Bridge Colleagues Lead Monthly Speed Watch with the 1% Club

At Rawcliffe Bridge, UK, Croda's commitment to safety extends to the community, with colleagues dedicating 1% of their time each month to tackle speeding issues. The data they collect is crucial, forwarded to local police for necessary action against speed offenders. Responding to resident requests, Donna Murray, Lead QC Assistant, and Deborah Martin, QC Manager, engage with the community during their sessions, making a tangible impact on road safety.

 

Frederic Jehan's Solidarity with Secours Populaire

For nearly a decade, Frederic Jehan, Country Sales Manager, France, has been a dedicated force in Secours Populaire's solidarity efforts, demonstrating exceptional commitment to community impact. Secours Populaire, founded in 1945, fights poverty and discrimination.

Frederic consistently volunteers to distribute food, ensuring vital supplies reach vulnerable families. His decade-long commitment showcases the significant impact individuals can make with compassion. Thank you, Frederic, for inspiring us!

From vital roles in national competitions to community cleanup initiatives and illuminating community spirit through installing security lighting, these stories highlight the effects on personal well-being, team dynamics, and broader communities. These inspiring examples showcase the significant positive change individuals can make with just 1% of their time, emphasising that a little effort goes a long way in creating lasting impact.