At Ardagh, sustainability is core to the production of our infinitely recyclable metal and glass packaging solutions. Protecting biodiversity and natural habitats is an important part of our environmental management under the ecology pillar of our Sustainability Strategy. We also believe in the importance of giving back to the communities in which we operate. Our unique collaboration with the Design Museum in London is one of many key social sustainability initiatives we support.

Last year, our teams in Germany created a biodiversity initiative for one of nature’s smallest but most vital creatures – the bee. To protect and conserve these vital pollinators, we installed beehives across some of our German locations. Our aim was to nurture the local bee population and the health of their ecosystems by installing beehives containing up to 100,000 bees. Our honey has been lovingly produced by our colleagues and by Bee-rent, a social enterprise that operates beehives and provides employment for beekeepers. The wax-wrapper that accompanies our honey has been designed for you by graduates of the Ardagh Young Creatives 2021 programme.

In 2020, we partnered with the Design Museum to support the unique Ardagh Young Creatives programme to introduce young people aged from 14-16 from under-represented backgrounds to design, engineering and the creative world. Ardagh Young Creatives is an innovative, annual programme that aims to make a positive impact and address diversity in the design and creative worlds elevating young people’s voices, experience, and expertise. Working with established and emerging designers, the young people on the programme engage in practical and exploratory workshops.

On completion of the Ardagh Young Creatives programme, young people are invited to be part of an alumni network where they continue to receive opportunities to build their creative portfolios. Our honey is part of the alumni network’s creative portfolio which saw three alumni (Bukunmi, Naveen and Tomi) from the 2021 programme collaborate with Sandra Finnegan, Graphic Designer at Ardagh Group, to create unique wax wrappers to accompany our honey.

Ardagh Young Creatives is an innovative annual programme creating new pathways into design for 14 – 16-year-olds from underrepresented backgrounds. The programme aims to make a positive impact addressing the lack of visible diversity and representation in the design and creative worlds elevating young people’s voices, experience, and expertise. Working with established and emerging designers, the young people engage in practical and exploratory workshops. The programme culminates with the Young Creatives live-build-installation prominently displayed at the front of the Design Museum. On completion of the Ardagh Young Creatives programme, young people are invited to be part of an alumni network where they continue to receive opportunities to build their creative portfolios. Your honey is part of the Young Creatives alumni network’s latest creative project.

This year, Bukunmi, Naveen and Tomi – alumni of this year’s programme with Sandra Finnegan, Graphic Designer at Ardagh Group. They got the opportunity to design three unique wax wraps covers for artisan honey produced by Ardagh Group beehives based at their German facilities.

Bukunmi, 16 based in London, has always had a passion for art and design. She is aiming for a career in engineering to design installations and spaces which promote sustainability and care for the community.

Naveen, 16 from Kent, loves design and believes in its ability to care for others and the world around us. Her future includes a career where she can care for others, in the form of product design.

Tomi, 16 from London, believes design is one of the greatest connections humans have with the world. Tomi is moving towards developing a career in architecture.

To find out more about the Design Museum click here. For more information about Ardagh’s sustainability journey, click here.