TI sites worldwide marked Earth Day with events to educate and inspire employees to become safer, greener and healthier.

Throughout April, TI sites around the world hosted events designed to educate and inspire employees to take specific actions to become safer, greener and healthier. TI volunteers worldwide participated in community-led initiatives, expanded existing programs and implemented new ones.

"Protecting the environment is not confined to just one day of the year. Earth Day is a chance to celebrate the good work done during the entire year," said Paul Westbrook, TI's sustainable development manager. "We use Earth Day as a time to renew our goals and encourage more employee involvement in identifying and implementing solutions."

Westbrook, who was recently named a Senior Fellow serving the US state department's Energy and Climate Partnership of the Americas Program, is one of TI's environmental champions and a recognized leader and speaker on energy and water efficiency. He helped lead TI to design and build the world's first LEED Gold Certified semiconductor manufacturing facility ("fab") by collaborating with the Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI), a non-profit organization that seeks to drive the efficient use of resources through design and technologies. The resulting 1.1 million square foot facility cut emissions in half and reduced energy and water use. These savings were achieved in a facility that cost 30 percent less to build than TI's previous fab.

As part of TI's Earth Week activities, RMI participated in a panel discussion for TI employees, "Inventing technology to reinvent fire." The discussion focused on creating efficient renewable energy and how TI innovation can help. Panelists from RMI described how a richer, fairer, cooler, safer world is possible, practical and even profitable.

Dallas-area TI volunteers also participated in the 17th annual Cottonwood Park Cleanup, picking up trash and helping beautify the park near TI's headquarters. The Dallas city park is used by hundreds of students each year and is the site of several summer and after-school programs for at-risk children.

Also during TI's Earth Week celebration, the company hosted a Wellness Fair for employees to learn more about environmental programs, safety, health and wellness and TI's work-life benefits.

Employees in Dallas and Santa Clara, California were encouraged to bring electronic waste for recycling to various locations hosting waste recycling events, which offered instructions for how to properly dispose of trash and compostable and recyclable items throughout the year. During TI's Spring Clean Fling in Houston, employees cleaned out old material to be recycled.

At TI's site in Baguio in the Philippines, employees celebrated Earth Month with a slogan contest, Earth Month booth, clean air car demonstration, water conservation tips, and a roadside cleanup.

Employees at TI's Clark facility in the Philippines gave a "High 5 for planet Earth. The five-pronged program called on employees to commit to activities to help save planet Earth; propagate trees for future planting; promote employee and community awareness through activities like the San Vicente Elementary School environmental awareness drive where children were shown a film and taught how they can contribute to environmental protection in their own simple ways; participate in a supplier road show, featuring eco-friendly products; and trade recyclables, such as batteries for small prizes.

TI Taiwan took a three-pronged approach to going green. The campaign called on employees to plant trees at the site and take some provided plants home; provide incentives for employees to return recyclable containers to the recycling area and use their own utensil/mug to buy coffee; and to participate in an Earth Day art competition.

"Earth Week is important to TI because it gives us an additional opportunity to raise awareness and inspire employees," Westbrook said. "We know we make an impact on the world, and we want that impact to be as positive as possible."