ViMove exceeds all expectations: 64419 new trees to protect the climate
For the climate protection project “ViMove for climate”, Viessmann employees and trade partners have already cycled, walked, and run 132853 kilometers. Because of the huge success, the campaign will not only be continued but extended: from July 18 to August 2, family, friends, and acquaintances can also take part.
Allendorf (Eder), Jul 13, 2020 – More than three times around our Earth: members of the global Viessmann family and specialist partners of the family-owned company have made an extraordinary accomplishment in the climate protection project “ViMove for climate”. The participants cycled, jogged, or walked exactly 132853 kilometers in the 14-day campaign period. For every kilometer walked or run and for every three kilometers cycled, the company donates a young tree, which will absorb large quantities of harmful CO2 over the course of its life and convert it into vital oxygen.
“I am extremely proud of the achievements of our family members and our partners, who have made a contribution for future generations around the world,” says Co-CEO Max Viessmann, delighted about the huge success of the campaign. The result of 64419 trees has far exceeded the company’s target of 50000 trees. And this is a strong signal, especially in the challenging times of the coronavirus pandemic. “All of us together can contribute to creating living spaces for generations to come,” adds the Co-CEO, who also pedaled hard and, together with his wife and their young son in a bicycle trailer, contributed 154 trees to the success of ViMove.
3500 members of the Viessmann family from 32 countries are taking part
Around 3500 members of the Viessmann family in 32 countries around the world have taken part in the campaign and posted their contribution to the environment on the employee app in the form of photos or fitness tracker screenshots. The feedback was overwhelming and thoroughly positive. Manuel Wohlfarth, Director of Viessmann IT in Allendorf, for example, says: “From the very first day, ViMove was a real challenge for my colleagues and I. We really spurred each other on to see who could achieve the most trees day after day.” Andrej Jautze, CEO of Viessmann in China, added: “My colleagues have really worked hard with me to plant as many trees as possible with the kilometers we collected. In addition, we set up a separate Chinese landing page for our customers, with the result that an incredible number of customers have become involved in the project.”
The campaign enjoyed equal enthusiasm from the large group of Viessmann partners, who, despite their full order books, had a lot of fun taking part in ViMove in the evenings or at the weekends and brought in lots of ideas. Christian Schramm from Marktleugast is one of more than 630 tradesmen who exercised for the climate: “Coronavirus will pass, even though it may take some time. But protecting the climate is a mission for present and future generations.” The owner of the company Hörath in Upper Franconia therefore got active himself and cycled 30 kilometers, contributing 10 trees. Half of his 16 employees emulated the boss and walked/ran or cycled another 671 or 272 trees respectively.
And, of course, the winter sports athletes sponsored by Viessmann also gave it their all. Ski jumper Richard Freitag together with all other Viessmann athletes contributed 1279 kilometers. He says: “As with climate change as a whole: every little bit helps, and anyone can join in here. You can always take a break, but every kilometer counts. I think that’s the great thing about it.”
In view of so much enthusiasm among the participants and the huge success of the campaign, there was no question for the Board of the family-owned company: not only should we continue this unique climate protection campaign, but also extend it!
Chief Sales and Marketing Officer Thomas Heim, who initiated and organized the project with his team from Marketing and Sports Sponsoring: “We would be delighted if we could collect thousands more kilometers in the last two weeks of July.” Of course, all previous participants are also called on again to cycle, walk, or run as many kilometers as they can from July 18 to August 2. But before that they should tell their families, friends, and acquaintances: ViMove! And what do you do? Come on, let’s do it for the environment!
You can see how the first phase went under ViMove. From July 13, 2020, you can also find everything you need to know about the second phase there.