ULRI

Global Action, Local Impact: UL Enterprise Marks Earth Week

Spreading woodchips along a trail at the renowned Chicago Botanic Garden might seem worlds away from safety science research, but for UL enterprise employees, it represents a direct line to their shared mission: working for a safer world.

This activity was one of many held across the globe during Earth Week 2025 as part of the UL enterprise’s volunteer initiative. Under the theme “Together for a Safer Planet,” employees from UL Research Institutes, UL Standards & Engagement, and UL Solutions collaborated on environmental projects in their local communities.

“It was so great to see all three organizations come together to volunteer this year, truly demonstrating the power of our collective efforts,” said Tina Vaughn, senior manager of community affairs and engagement for ULRI and ULSE. The initiative saw employees leveraging paid volunteer time for hands-on environmental stewardship. Examples of some global activities include:

Habitat restoration and cleanup: Teams removed debris from beaches along Illinois’ Lake Michigan in partnership with the Alliance for the Great Lakes, cleaned shorelines along Canada’s Ottawa River with the Ottawa Riverkeeper, restored creek habitats in California, and cleaned historic waterfronts in Mexico City.

Community greening and sustainability: Volunteers prepared community gardens, repaired bicycles with the Silicon Valley Bicycle Coalition, supported urban farms like Veggielution in San Jose, California, and tackled food waste with MoNo Foods in Singapore.

For many participants, the work connects personal values with professional purpose.

“Volunteer activities like the one at the Chicago Botanic Garden this week feel like a way to both honor and carry forward the efforts of the conservationists and activists who organized the first Earth Day events in 1970,” said Hannah Zuber, senior digital archivist for the UL enterprise. She noted those early efforts influenced the creation of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. “We all have a role to play to ensure this important work continues on into the future.”

The connection between environmental health and overall well-being is also a key takeaway.

“Earth Week reminds me of the fact that our physical environment plays a much more significant role in helping us achieve good health and well-being than is often recognized,” said Tatiana Isabel Amador, operations program manager at ULRI. Participating in the Chicago Botanic Garden event provided insight into the work behind maintaining such spaces, she added. “We can do so much individually and as a team to help our environment; simple things can make a huge difference.”

From North America to Europe and Asia Pacific, these collective actions during Earth Week underscore the UL enterprise’s commitment to fostering healthier ecosystems and safer communities worldwide, translating the mission of working for a safer world into tangible local impact.