POLIMI GSoM together with Legambiente to clean up the Franco Verga Park in Bovisa

The scene was bleak: on a beautiful sunny day, against the backdrop of a green which, on its own, overwhelmed the eyes and the heart, litter, bottles, broken glass, bags, various bits of plastic and the inevitable cigarette ends could be seen, looking like many small wounds. Now, all that huge amount of rubbish has been collected during a hard morning’s work, which also saw great involvement and plenty of cheerfulness. In a spirit of joy and awareness-raising, over a hundred POLIMI Graduate School of Management staff members, in collaboration with nine volunteers from Legambiente, joined the initiative for the cleaning up of the Franco Verga Park vicinity, located in the heart of Milan’s Bovisa district. The results were clear to see and, thanks to everyone's efforts, about 67 kg of waste was collected, including over 8 kg of glass bottles, an incredible amount of cigarette butts (over a kilo in weight) and the rest, various kinds of rubbish. 

Teamwork to protect the environment

The cleaning up of the Franco Verga Park meant not only making a contribution in an area that is close to us in some way, but also represents the taking on of responsibility for our environment and a commitment to our common future. Scattering rubbish is a symptom of incivility that we should never get used to, but it is also a real crime against nature and the generations to come. Suffice it to say that the most recent studies have shown that cigarette filters are hazardous waste because of the toxic substances and plastic microfibres they contain.

This activity was a concrete gesture to raise awareness among the community about the importance of preserving our environment and fighting pollution together: we are talking of a war made up of small battles such as the cleaning up of the Franco Verga Park. Because even actions that might seem unremarkable can have a significant impact, and each of us can do our part on behalf of a cleaner, healthier environment.

“The time spent cleaning up the park in via Castellamare alongside the volunteers from Legambiente and our colleagues at POLIMI GSoM was not only a wonderful opportunity to dedicate ourselves to an outdoor volunteer activity, but also a way of getting to know a new green area in the city and participate, in our own small way, in its maintenance and care. It was great to see how ─ with everyone’s commitment, and in just two hours ─ we managed to collect over 60 kg of discarded waste! This reminds us that the small actions of each of us can really make a difference and is linked to the greater purpose that we try to put into practice daily by working in education, that is, to help to create a better world.”

-       Veronica Cenci, Product Manager, Management Academy

The environment is everyone's responsibility

This initiative was not an isolated gesture and is a tangible sign of POLIMI GSoM's closeness and commitment to the community in which we live. This voluntary activity reflects the deep sensitivity that permeates the whole School on environmental issues and the sense of responsibility that this entails. 

The most significant aspect of the morning was that we all got together to work on a common cause, showing how only unity  and solidarity can really make a difference. Activities like these, while minor, invite us all to reflect on our daily actions and how we can contribute to creating a better future for everyone. 

“This day, spent with colleagues from POLIMI GSoM and Legambiente, was an enriching experience ─ one in taking responsibility ─ during which we joined forces to make the Franco Verga Public Park a cleaner and more welcoming place. It was the perfect opportunity to get to know each other better and engage outside the work context too, putting in place small but practical actions for the good of all.”

-       Riccardo Martino, Product Manager of the Institutions and Public Administration area (IPA)

“This initiative is part of a programme of activities dedicated to our staff in the field of environmental sustainability and demonstrates our desire to contribute in a practical way to generating a positive impact on the local area and on our community. Actively participating in initiatives of this kind promotes values of social and environmental responsibility and is a tangible expression of POLIMI GSoM’s Purpose, which aims to educate and raise awareness among communities of students, alumni and employees for the creation of a better and more sustainable future.”

-       Gianvincenzo Scarpa, HR Director, POLIMI GSoM