Gary Phillips: A Champion for Native Plant Gardening and Environmental Stewardship
Gary Phillips: A Champion for Native Plant Gardening and Environmental Stewardship
Earth Day is a time to reflect on our impact on the planet and take action to protect our environment. Gary Phillips, a project manager at Sanofi, has taken this mission to heart. Leading facility projects to support manufacturing on the Sanofi Framingham, MA campus, Gary also spearheads volunteer efforts to reintroduce native plants into local ecosystems.
Gary's journey into native plant gardening began with a local Massachusetts group where he learned the importance of using native plants to stabilize the environment. Gary's approach is unique; he organizes and runs hands-on workshops where he teaches others how to collect seeds and grow their own native plants, providing free kits to participants to ensure that financial constraints do not hinder anyone from joining the cause.
With the help of these workshop attendees, Gary successfully installed a pollination garden in the town of Northborough, MA and a meadow at the Sanofi campus in Framingham, MA. His innovative method of using milk jugs to grow and donate native plants has resulted in significant contributions to local ecosystems.
Gary's commitment to environmental sustainability extends to his dislike for plastic in gardens. “As an environmentalist, I try to keep everything natural – that’s why instead of using plastic markers, my daughter and I paint plant names on natural field stones. It's a fun little project we do together, and it's our way of keeping the gardens sustainable,” he says. “This not only reduces environmental impact, but it’s a great way to involve my daughter in community projects, fostering a sense of responsibility and creativity.”
Gary’s daughter paints the name of a plant onto one of the fieldstone plant markers used in their garden projects.
Sanofi's Green Team, a group who promotes a strong sustainability culture within the company, has been instrumental in supporting these native plant projects. Despite challenges, such as the need to comply with specific plant lists and difficult planting conditions, the Green Team and Gary's perseverance ensured the survival and success of the native plant meadow on the Sanofi campus. The meadow now thrives, providing essential habitats for pollinators and serving as a public display garden to inspire others. Their efforts have resulted in environmental credits for the site and a positive impact on the local environment.
Before and after photos of the Framingham meadow.
“I'm passionate about this work because native plants stabilize our environment. It's about paying forward what I've learned and creating natural ecosystems that support local wildlife.”
Gary's dedication has earned him recognition in recent years, including the Environmental Impact and Climate Health Social Impact Award from Sanofi, and The Community Greening Award from the New England Botanical Garden at Tower Hill for the Northborough garden. These accolades celebrate his significant contributions to environmental stewardship and community engagement.
In addition to his gardening projects, Gary actively participates in his town's Earth Day trash clean-up efforts, advocating for corporate responsibility in maintaining clean environments. His proactive approach has led to successful collaborations with local businesses to keep their properties litter-free.
Gary is also a passionate member of the Sanofi Planet Care US affinity group, which is a group of employees who have a strong interest in reducing the company’s environmental impact, contributing to the fight against climate change. His most recent initiative includes improving the wastewater treatment process at Sanofi, demonstrating his commitment to integrating environmental sustainability into his professional work.
Gary Phillips exemplifies the spirit of environmental stewardship, community involvement, and innovative problem-solving. His efforts in native plant gardening and beyond continue to inspire and make a tangible impact on the local environment and community.