Ravne na Koroškem, 15 September 2023 – SIJ Group companies in the Koroška region, in cooperation with the bee-friendly municipality of Ravne na Koroškem and the Kotlje and Ravne na Koroškem beekeeping associations, opened the Ravne Beekeeping Trail yesterday – a new educational, themed loop trail. One of the stops along the way is the beehive, which we set up in the spring in the atrium in front of the SIJ Metal Ravne office building.
The municipality of Ravne na Koroškem, home to SIJ Group companies SIJ Metal Ravne, SIJ Ravne Systems and SIJ ZIP center, is one of the municipalities that attaches particular importance to the preservation of bees and the environment. At the same time, they raise awareness about bees and beekeeping cultural heritage, and collaborate with beekeeping associations. With bees in mind, they are also improving the town's public spaces, around which they have been planting honeybee-friendly plants in recent years. This allows bees to feed and collect pollen in and around the town. In 2021, Ravne na Koroškem was also awarded the title of the most bee-friendly municipality. Andrej Erjavec, Deputy-Mayor of the Municipality of Ravne na Koroškem praised the efforts made so far: "I am pleased to see the tradition of beekeeping being passed on to the younger generations and that beekeepers are teaching and educating the younger generations, inviting them to join their ranks and thus learn about ways of actively protecting and preserving the natural environment, learning the basics of beekeeping, and familiarising themselves with holistic and sustainability-oriented activities. This is also evident in the town and its surroundings, as we are planting ever more honeybee-friendly plants in the town, which not only benefit the bees but also contribute to the beauty of our area. Above all, I am proud that beekeeping and the sustainability-related approach regarding our local habitat and focus on self-sufficiency are being preserved."
The 11-kilometre-long honey trail connects four beehives in Ravne na Koroškem and Kotlje: the school beehive at the Ravne Secondary School, the Kotlje educational beehive, the “Na Piglu” educational beehive in Ravne and the SIJ Metal Ravne beehive, forming a beautiful walking and cycling route fused with an educational element. The route is not strenuous and can be walked or cycled. It makes for a relaxing and informative outing, interesting for individuals, families, young people, and sporty types alike.
The SIJ Group also wants to maintain a sustainable environment for bees so that they can care for the future of the planet by pollinating plants and provide for people's health through products made from honey. The purity of their honey is also a sign of the purity of the environment in which they live.
For several years now, we have been planting honeybee-friendly plants in areas around our companies' premises, and this year, as part of the Community Partnership Day in Jesenice, we installed a beehive at Koroška Bela Primary School; as part of our activities to celebrate World Earth Day, we also set up the aforementioned beehive at the SIJ Metal Ravne site.
Going forward, we will continue to build on our work in apiculture by cooperating with the Slovenian Beekeepers' Association. In an effort to go one step further in this direction, we have also supported the Ravne Beekeeping Trail in our efforts to be socially responsible, support the local community and promote sustainable development. The stylised image of the Carniolan honeybee, which the SIJ Group created for the purposes of its sustainability strategy, has become the emblem and signpost marker for the Ravne Beekeeping Trail. Borut Urnaut, Advisor to the Managing Director of SIJ Metal Ravne, announced: "We are delighted that our beehive, which is located in front of the office building, has become part of the Ravne Beekeeping Trail. A yearly analysis of the honey from the hive, to be carried out by a laboratory of the Slovenian Beekeepers' Association, will also monitor the presence of various substances in the honey and thus the impact of SIJ Metal Ravne on the natural environment." The SIJ Group will also arrange for the honey from the beehive at Koroška Bela Primary School in Jesenice to be analysed.
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SIJ – Slovenian Steel Group is one of the leading producers of stainless steel and special steels in Europe. We are committed to global and European climate goals and operate in line with circular economy principles. With our steel and steel products, we are the right partner for facilitating the green transition in Europe. We aim to confirm our sustainability credentials by achieving certification to the stringent ResponsibleSteel standard by the end of 2023. This will position us as one of the most responsible and sustainable steel producers in the world. Our two largest companies are modern recycling steelworks, and our steel is recycled because it is made from steel scrap. With more than 3,800 employees, we are one of the largest employers in Slovenia and a pillar of the Slovenian steel sector. We are one of Slovenia's leading exporters. About 85% of our revenue is generated in foreign markets.
More information:
SIJ – Slovenska industrija jekla, d.d.
Sara Wagner, Head of Corporate Communications
Corporate Communications
Telephone: +386 1 242 98 27
Mobile phone: +386 41 313 532
E-mail: sara.wagner@sij.si
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