Keter North America, a prominent manufacturer of outdoor storage and furniture, has partnered with FoodCorps, a nonprofit connecting kids to healthy foods. This collaboration aims to spread environmental awareness by helping schools establish garden spaces for hands-on agriculture and ecology education.
As part of Keter’s Green Spaces sustainability initiative, led by CEO Alejandro Pena, the company introduced a product donation application for schools to receive tools and infrastructure for gardening projects. Items include sheds, raised beds, seating, and organizational equipment. Keter leverages its expertise in durable outdoor goods to facilitate such spaces as educational hubs and components of community wellness.
FoodCorps shares the objective of using garden-based learning to bolster student health, responsibility, and knowledge. Studies confirm school gardens’ benefits across nutrition, academic performance, and environmental awareness. By enabling more institutions to implement gardening, Keter and FoodCorps promote the school garden movement and its broad community impacts.
Keter distinguishes itself in sustainable manufacturing, like recycling materials and tightly controlling waste while making recyclable products. Under Pena, these practices constitute fundamental corporate identity. The Green Spaces campaign manifests Keter’s local and global commitment to sustainability. For example, on Global Recycling Day, Keter employees educated French elementary students on the company’s recycling and the nation’s sustainability symbols.
Vice President of Marketing Kerry Murfin stated Keter aims for 100% recyclable products with over 50% recycled content by 2025. Pena added Keter strives to reuse its own materials rather than sending factory waste to landfills.
To qualify for donations, schools must show clear academic purposes for gardens, available space, and commitment to using and maintaining items. Applicants agree to media coverage and providing Keter marketing photos. The application asks schools to describe their motivations, curricular connections, community involvement plans, and needs.
Keter’s school garden support cultivates far more than plants alone. It sows the seeds of hands-on learning, health awareness in youth, and environmental consciousness in communities. With FoodCorps expertise and Keter’s quality green equipment, this program can blossom into broad, lasting impact nationwide. Ultimately, it offers shade that future generations will enjoy.
