On the path of sustainable development and the green transition

Following the successful tree planting campaign conducted in Grubišno Polje last year, KONČAR continued with reforestation efforts this year and carried out a new large-scale drone-assisted tree planting campaign in collaboration with Project O2, in another effort to contribute to environmental preservation and reduction of the carbon footprint and aiming to raise awareness and emphasize the need for forest protection through socially motivated tree planting.

KONČAR partnered up with experts from Project O2 to organize the campaign in Vukovar, within the city’s Adica Forest Park. Drones were used to release seed balls containing self-sprouting seeds of indigenous and non-invasive tree species over an area spanning 483,668 m2.

This represents another sustainable development initiative at KONČAR. The innovative method of tree planting using drones enables easier access to remote and hard-to-reach locations, which accelerates extensive reseeding across large areas. The process relies on automated ejection of seed balls from drones, which are packets containing self-sprouting seeds made from a mixture of clay, sand, and substrate, exclusively sourced from indigenous tree species (such as mountain maple, hornbeam, wild cherry, small-leaved lime, beech, and birch) native of the reforested area.

Approximately thirty volunteers from 9 KONČAR Group subsidiaries participated in the one-day volunteer action in Vukovar. After a demonstration of drone-assisted planting and training on the importance of forest preservation and planting, they joined children from the Association of Parents of Children with Developmental Disabilities Vukovarski leptirići, in manual planting of oak trees. The primary goal of this initiative is to offset KONČAR’s carbon footprint, which will be calculated in collaboration with our partner, Project O2.

“As a major European player in the green transition focused on renewable energy sources, we are aware that dedication to environmental preservation and carbon footprint reduction is more critical than ever. Therefore, we acknowledge that, in addition to our professional contribution to the domestic and European industries made by our products and solutions, we must also give back to nature through social action. Initiatives such as this one reflect our corporate identity, mission, and vision. We thank our partner, Project O2, for their assistance in this campaign, and the City of Vukovar for providing us with the opportunity to contribute to the creation of a healthier and safer future for the generations to come”, stated KONČAR’s CEO Gordan Kolak.

KONČAR is the first company to carry out reforestation within the City of Vukovar, reaffirming our role as a domestic leader in advanced, responsible, and sustainable socially responsible projects.