Launching the Green Communities Initiative and 2020 Flower Season

Surrounded by the delightful sights and sounds of the Dhahran Nursery, Aramco’s president and CEO Amin Nasser launched two programs on Friday, October 16: Community Services’ Green Communities initiative and the 2020 Flower Season.

On Oct. 16, Faisal A. Al-Hajji, executive director of Community Services (CS), welcomed Saudi Aramco president and CEO Amin Nasser and senior vice president of HR & Corporate Services, Nabeel A. Al-Jama’ to one of the company’s first ever greenhouses, which has now been repurposed into the company’s enviro-green exhibition, showcasing agricultural innovations.

The Green Communities program reflects Aramco’s ongoing commitment to managing precious natural resources, and promoting environmental awareness within and outside the company.

Overall, the Green Communities Program is the framework under which multiple CS initiatives (in collaboration with other organizations) have been structured to provide clear alignment between these initiatives and the company’s strategic objectives.

Under the same initiative sits the company’s vertical farming concept to advance sustainable agriculture, along with reducing water consumption by some 70%, it can also produce organic crops year-round. These were on display in the enviro-green exhibition, and included exhibitions of strawberry, okra, zucchinis, and other crops grown through this innovative system. A pilot project with two vertical farming types — hydroponic and aquaponic — is currently being executed at the Dhahran Nursery across 10 greenhouses.

Under the Circular Economy project, Nasser was shown the work the company has undertaken to address the global emissions challenge by implementing a range of high-impact Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle initiatives across the business, including water conservation, office furniture reconditioning, the company’s community recycling program, and clever landscaping to reduce water consumption.

Under the third initiative of Best Place to Live and Work, Amira I. Abdulgader, supervisor of the Print Shop, illustrated Office Services’ co-work concept, emphasizing the new “well” concept by showcasing a model of a workplace that is environmentally friendly and green. It introduces features of the new office furniture to support the employees’ well-being; uses sustainable and recycled materials from the floor covering up to the ceiling’s LED lights; and includes advanced office technology to promote a healthier, smarter workplace with happier, more productive employees.

After the tour and introduction to the Green Communities initiative, Al-Hajji invited Nasser to inaugurate the 2020 Flower Season with a ceremonial planting of flowers into one of the Nursery’s flower displays. The inauguration launches the planting of 4.5 million flowers across Aramco communities, which will be in full bloom from November until March, with 55 plant varieties and seven shades of color. This year’s theme is “Deep Sea” with colors inspired by nature’s ocean bounty.

After inaugurating the flower season, Nasser and Al-Jama’ were taken through the Nursery’s Knowledge Plaza, which includes the innovative use of QR codes on trees and other plants, teaching everyone how to care for the individual species of plants, including their watering and fertilizing needs.

The Knowledge Plaza will soon be open to Aramco employees and their dependents, helping spread the message of green living and how each and every one of us can make our homes and workspaces places where nature can be nurtured, contributing to a greener world.

A final stop on the Nursery tour was the soon to be opened dining area, embedded deep in the Nursery and surrounded by flowers and greenery. Opening in November, employees and their families will be able to have breakfast during the weekends in this most beautiful of settings, with a range of new concessions invited to deliver a variety of dining options.

Green Communities program reflects Aramco’s ongoing commitment to managing precious natural resources, and promoting environmental awareness within and outside the company.

Caption for top photo: Under the Green Communities initiative sits the company’s vertical farming concept to advance sustainable agriculture.