Billion Bees Program – A Global Initiative for Bee Protection, Biodiversity Conservation and Environmental Education

Description

The Billion Bees Program is an international initiative launched by APIVITA in 2023, aiming to contribute to bee protection, biodiversity conservation and public education on the importance of pollinators.

The initiative is implemented as part of APIVITA's commitment to 1% for the Planet, through which the company allocates at least 1% of its annual sales to supporting environmental organizations.

The Billion Bees Program currently operates in 13 countries, in collaboration with 17 environmental organizations that are members of the 1% for the Planet network.

The program combines a shared international strategy with locally designed activities. Each environmental partner implements initiatives tailored to local needs, including supporting beekeepers, managing and developing bee colonies, protecting habitats and delivering environmental education.

APIVITA centrally manages the program's strategic planning, funding, coordination and partnership monitoring, ensuring that local activities contribute to its two core pillars.

Bee protection and education

The first pillar focuses on the ambition to regenerate at least one billion bees annually worldwide through initiatives supporting beekeeping and bee populations.

The second pillar focuses on education and awareness, engaging students, educators, employees and local communities through learning experiences and outreach activities.

Innovation and social value measurement

A distinctive feature of the Billion Bees Program is its international network of environmental partnerships, combining centralized management and funding by APIVITA with local expertise and implementation.

APIVITA also collaborated with the International MBA of the Athens University of Economics and Business to conduct a Social Return on Investment (SROI) analysis. According to the study, every €1 invested in the program is estimated to generate €4.17 in social value.

Long-term ambition

By 2028, APIVITA aims to expand the Billion Bees Program to 30 countries, engage more than 5,000 beekeepers and educate over 50,000 students.

The program demonstrates how a company can establish long-term international partnerships that connect environmental protection with education, community engagement and the measurement of social value.

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Impact on Society

Since its launch in 2023, the Billion Bees Program has developed into an international environmental and social initiative, establishing a network of partnerships supporting bees, beekeepers and environmental education.

Key results and indicators:

13 countries: The program has established an international presence, enabling activities tailored to the needs of different local ecosystems and communities.
17 environmental partners: APIVITA collaborates with 17 organizations that are members of the 1% for the Planet network, supporting local beekeeping, bee protection and environmental education initiatives.
Bee regeneration: The program aims to regenerate at least one billion bees annually worldwide through the activities of its environmental partners. This figure represents the program's annual ambition and is not presented as an independently verified achievement.
Education and awareness: Environmental partners implement educational activities for students, young people and local communities, helping increase awareness of bees, pollination and biodiversity.
Employee engagement: In 2026, 16 APIVITA employees participated in organized field visits in Italy and Greece, gaining firsthand experience of the program's implementation.
Social value assessment: APIVITA collaborated with the International MBA of the Athens University of Economics and Business to conduct a Social Return on Investment (SROI) analysis. According to the study, each €1 invested in the program is estimated to generate €4.17 in social value. This estimate has not yet undergone independent external verification.

Long-term objectives for 2028: Expansion to 30 countries, engagement of more than 5,000 beekeepers and education of over 50,000 students.

Beyond quantitative indicators, the Billion Bees Program strengthens collaboration between environmental organizations, businesses and local communities, establishing a framework for long-term support of bee-related initiatives and environmental education.

The systematic monitoring of partner activities and deliverables is an essential element of program management and ongoing efforts to further substantiate its outcomes.

Initiative Location

Implemented across 13 countries through partnerships with 17 local environmental organizations. Activities take place in local ecosystems and communities, with central coordination by APIVITA in Greece.

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Working with Organization

Collaboration with environmental organizations lies at the heart of the Billion Bees Program and is essential to its international implementation.

The program operates within APIVITA's commitment to 1% for the Planet, an international organization connecting businesses with environmental partners and providing a verification mechanism for members' financial contributions.

The Billion Bees Program currently operates in 13 countries in collaboration with 17 environmental organizations, all members of the 1% for the Planet network.

APIVITA is responsible for the overall strategic planning and management of the program, partner selection and evaluation, funding, contractual agreements, deliverables monitoring and communication of the initiatives.

Local environmental organizations implement activities based on their expertise and relationships with beekeepers, educational institutions and local communities. They also provide progress updates and information on the outcomes of their activities.

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Workers Participation

Employee engagement is an important component of the Billion Bees Program, as APIVITA seeks to transform environmental awareness into meaningful experiences, strengthening employees' connection with bees, biodiversity and local communities.

Through the program, APIVITA organizes employee engagement, educational and experiential activities in collaboration with its environmental partners across different countries.

In 2026, two organized field visits took place, involving a total of 16 APIVITA employees:

Italy – Arnia Onlus (13–14 June 2026): Eight employees visited the local Billion Bees Program partner, participating in beekeeping experiences, visits to supported beehives and biodiversity education activities.

Greece – Mount Olympus, in collaboration with Vomvos (4–5 July 2026): Eight employees participated in experiential beekeeping activities, visited beehives supported by the program and attended environmental awareness activities.

In addition, internal events, World Bee Day initiatives and visits by environmental partners to APIVITA's facilities provide further opportunities for employees to learn about the program and its outcomes.

APIVITA's Sustainability & Corporate Responsibility team plays a central role, managing the overall coordination of the program, communication with international partners, monitoring of activities and employee engagement.

These activities contribute to fostering a corporate culture of environmental responsibility, collaboration and participation, encouraging employees to become ambassadors for bee protection.

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Benefits for Οrganization

The Billion Bees Program is a strategic initiative that connects APIVITA's longstanding relationship with bees and nature to specific environmental and social activities at an international level.

The main benefits for APIVITA include:

1. Integrating sustainability into business strategy: The program puts APIVITA's 1% for the Planet commitment into practice and supports the company's priorities related to biodiversity, social contribution and responsible business.

2. Developing an international partnership network: Through collaboration with 17 environmental organizations across 13 countries, APIVITA strengthens its engagement with local communities and develops relationships with organizations possessing specialized knowledge and experience.

3. Strengthening employee engagement: Educational activities, field visits and experiential learning opportunities help connect employees with the company's values and environmental commitments.

4. Developing monitoring and evaluation capabilities: Managing a program across multiple countries requires systematic monitoring of partnerships, activities and outcomes, strengthening APIVITA's organizational expertise in international sustainability initiatives.

5. Assessing social value: The collaboration with the International MBA of the Athens University of Economics and Business on the SROI analysis represents a step towards quantifying the program's estimated social value.

6. Strengthening corporate identity and credibility: The Billion Bees Program connects APIVITA's history and philosophy with concrete actions, partnerships and indicators, supporting evidence-based communication of its commitments.

The initiative also aligns with APIVITA's philosophy as a certified B Corp and the broader sustainability priorities of the PUIG Group, highlighting the importance of long-term partnerships in addressing environmental and social challenges.