Silhouette’s natural garden boosts biodiversity

To mark International Day for Biological Diversity (May 22), eyewear company Silhouette shared news of its efforts to boost biodiversity with a 4.9 acre natural garden on its premises in Linz, Austria.

In the densely built-up, mixed-use area of land on Ellbognerstrasse, featureless lawns have been transformed into a sanctuary for insects, beetles, small mammals and birds.

Native and local plant species were promoting soil life and improving the microclimate and the gardens have been irrigated by three groundwater wells, saving the company 400,000 gallons of water a year.

The well water used for irrigation forms a circular water supply, as it returns to the groundwater through the untreated soil, demonstrating how ‘business and biodiversity can flourish side by side.’