Rethinking Resources and Giving Them a Second Life
Tara Trueb
What happens to materials when they’re no longer needed? At MCH Group, we try to see more than just what something used to be. We look for what it could become.
This mindset is part of our DARE Framework, under the principle of “Rethink.” It encourages us to handle resources with care and creativity—to give them a second life whenever possible. Thanks to the initiative of employees like Boris Luksic, and in collaboration with Martin Wiechmann, this idea has led to real, tangible outcomes.
From Conference Chair to Classroom
When the Congress Center Basel replaced a large amount of furniture, Boris and Martin stepped in with a question: could this be useful elsewhere?
Working together, they coordinated the redistribution of more than 2,000 chairs and hundreds of tables. Several cultural and educational institutions were able to benefit:
Aeschbachhalle Aarau received 350 chairs
Roxy Theater Birsfelden took in 350 chairs and 20 tables
Rheinhafen Basel was equipped with 150 chairs and 25 tables
And in collaboration with the Brikama Nema Diaspora Group (BRIND), more than 1,100 chairs and 500 tables were shipped to schools in The Gambia
What once served at conferences and trade fairs now supports learning, creativity and connection—locally and internationally.
From Idea to Impact
Sustainability doesn’t just happen through guidelines. It takes people who notice an opportunity and act on it. Boris’s work shows how a thoughtful and practical approach can create value. For communities, for the environment, and for our organization.
We thank Boris Luksic and Martin Wiechmann for their dedication and collaboration. Their project is a reminder that progress often starts with a simple shift in perspective.
