Swingle was recently awarded with the Elite Innovation Award from the Associated Landscape Contractors of Colorado (ALCC). The “ELITE” Awards stand for– Elevating the Landscape Industry through Excellence. This awards program was new to the ALCC this year – keeping the best of the old awards program (focusing on professionalism and excellence), while now recognizing companies for their innovation and adherence to sound business practices. Swingle was recognized for their innovation efforts for their hard work on the company’s “Saving the Honey Bees Campaign.”
“It is honor to be recognized as a leader in the green industry. We have a responsibility to promote awareness of an important ecological issue and take measures to ensure we do our part,” said Swingle President John Gibson.
The Innovation Award was distributed to a company who was able to offer a creative solution to a problem facing Colorado landscapes. Swingle’s ‘Saving the Honeybees’ campaign allowed the company to make a change in its services to protect honeybees, while being able to improve company products and services for its customers. In recent years, there has been a rapid decline in the population of honeybees. Experts have found the honeybee population has decreased by about 50 percent. Pollinators can be exposed to different types of pesticides, including neonicotinoids through sprays and residue left on plants. Swingle took a stance to reduce the impact on honeybees while continuing to provide quality tree and plant health care services to customers in Colorado.
Swingle’s Routing Manager and Colorado local beekeeper, John Swayze, said, “An apparent need exists for a partnership between the green industry and beekeepers to protect the honeybees while ensuring healthy Colorado landscapes”.
The company will continue to be proactive on protecting honeybees and other pollinators. Bees are a critical part of the environment and food supply, which is why Swingle believes it’s important to take precautions to look out for pollinators while continuing to perform services for Colorado customers.