For many years, the Nature And Biodiversity Conservation Union NABU Burgstaedt has been committed to nature conservation in the Burgstaedt region of Saxony, Germany, and engages in environmental education in schools and kindergartens. One of its most important projects is the apple nature trail with the natural gardens in the Mulden and Chemnitztal landscape conservation area. Between apple, cherry and pear trees, it provides a home for many animals and plants and invites visitors young and old to learn more about orchards and their conservation. On the initiative of Claudia Rodinger-Steffen, an employee of Zschimmer & Schwarz at the Mohsdorf/Burgstaedt site and an active member of NABU Burgstaedt for many years, the organisation received a donation of 5,500 euros to expand this natural paradise.

"On the site of an allotment garden that was previously used conventionally and an adjacent empty garden,an insect paradise with a colourful flower meadow and several insect hotels as well as an herb spiral were created," explains Claudia Rodinger-Steffen, who submitted the project. "Between trellises for various plants, a sky pond and a dry-stone biotope, we have created plenty of space for insects, animals and plants. Thanks to the financial support from Zschimmer & Schwarz, we were able to quickly realise the plan to redesign the gardens. The area is now a beautiful piece of nature that also serves as an excursion destination for those seeking peace and quiet: all visitors can feel at home here."

On the occasion of the company’s 125-year anniversary in 2019, the shareholders of the Zschimmer & Schwarz Group started a special charitable programme: all employees around the world were asked to present local initiatives that the company could support with a donation. This donation campaign is now repeated every two years and already entered its third round in 2024. 

NABU Burgstaedt is one of 39 facilities and projects across Europe, North and South America as well as Asia supported by Zschimmer & Schwarz as part of the donation campaign with a total sum of around 350,000 euros. “Social responsibility and sustainable action have been part of the DNA of our family business Zschimmer & Schwarz ever since it was founded”, explains Gisela Rochow, shareholder of the Zschimmer & Schwarz Group. “We are happy that our donations have a direct impact at the locations where our companies are based and that we can thus give something valuable back to society”, adds Thomas Schwarz, also shareholder of Zschimmer & Schwarz.