Cueros Vélez is furthering its “Leather for Good” initiative by establishing 15 bee hotels in Antioquia, Colombia. The company has also set up a sanctuary containing 22 hives of Apis Mellifera bees. Spanning three hectares of native forest, the project has involved planting over 6,000 plants to feed these vital pollinators.
Given that bees are responsible for 70% of the crops that feed the world’s population, Vélez has built these specialized shelters near operational areas in Colombia like Medellín, Fredonia, and Amagá. Kenverly Quintana, the company’s environmental management coordinator, emphasized the importance of contributing to environmental conservation in this manner. Vélez is also encouraging volunteer participation for planting and establishing additional shelters for both employees and customers.