Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts is supporting urban reforestation efforts in Metro Boston through its sponsorship of Bluebikes. Throughout September, they will donate $1 for every Bluebikes ride to the Boston Tree Alliance. This initiative aims to bolster the city’s tree canopy, reduce environmental disparities, and promote sustainability. Blue Cross is committed to environmental stewardship and has set ambitious goals to reduce its carbon footprint. The sponsorship aligns with their mission to create a more equitable and sustainable community.
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts, also known as “Blue Cross,” is showing significant support for Environmental Awareness Month by donating $1 to the Boston Tree Alliance for every Bluebikes ride during September*. The Boston Tree Alliance, a City of Boston initiative working with Mass Audubon to strengthen the city’s tree canopy, will receive these donations. This effort encompasses all Bluebikes rides across 13 municipalities: Arlington, Boston, Brookline, Cambridge, Chelsea, Everett, Malden, Medford, Newton, Revere, Salem, Somerville, and Watertown. Blue Cross is the sponsor of Bluebikes, a system owned and operated by these municipalities and operated by Lyft.
As the largest health plan in the state, Blue Cross is steadfast in its commitment to champion the environmental well-being of its communities while fostering the growth of public bike sharing as a sustainable and healthy mode of transportation. The donations from BCBSMA will directly support the Boston Tree Alliance in their endeavors to plant and maintain trees in environmental justice neighborhoods identified in the City’s Heat Plan and Urban Forest Plan. This initiative aims to expand the urban forest, reducing heat island effects and public health stressors while enhancing Boston residents’ access to the physical and emotional benefits offered by trees. Ultimately, it seeks to elevate the quality of life and encourage biodiversity.
Mariama White-Hammond, Chief of Environment, Energy, and Open Space for the City of Boston, emphasized the significance of this partnership: “As a result of redlining and historic disinvestment, communities of color experience heat and public health stressors disproportionately. We are thrilled about the sponsorship from Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts, Bluebikes, and Lyft and grateful for their commitment to helping us grow the tree canopy in environmental justice neighborhoods, delivering equitable solutions to areas that need it most.”
Bicycling itself has a favorable environmental impact. According to a 2021 study on commuting data by Bloomberg, opting for a bike over a car even once a day can reduce an average person’s carbon emissions from transportation by 67%. Furthermore, research from The Adventure Cycling Association indicates that modest increases in bicycle usage annually could save an estimated 6 to 14 million tons of carbon dioxide.
Jeff Bellows, Vice President of Corporate Citizenship and Public Affairs at Blue Cross, underscored the link between community health and environmental health: “The health of our communities is closely linked with the health of our environment, and Bluebikes is a key piece of Blue Cross’ pledge to build sustainable solutions to better health. We have a 10-year commitment to reducing our environmental impact and we’re proud to support crucial environmental initiatives like Tree Alliance through Bluebikes.”
Environmental stewardship stands as a paramount priority for Blue Cross, which has set an ambitious goal to achieve carbon neutrality and zero waste by 2030, thereby curbing its environmental footprint. Since 2010, the health plan has significantly reduced electricity, water, and paper consumption while diminishing landfill waste by nearly 80%. In a parallel endeavor, Blue Cross initiated a Health Justice Partnership and Grant program, offering funding and pro bono support to organizations dedicated to mitigating environmental health disparities within local communities. The health plan’s contribution to the Tree Alliance aligns seamlessly with the company’s commitments toward a more equitable and sustainable Commonwealth.
Stacey Beuttell, Senior Director of Mass Audubon’s Nature in the City program, expressed gratitude for Blue Cross’ dedication to environmental stewardship and its efforts to enhance Boston’s tree canopy, which promises to bolster human health, enhance wildlife diversity, and combat climate change. Beuttell encourages everyone to embark on a Bluebikes ride during Environmental Awareness Month to demonstrate support for climate action.
Blue Cross has served as the title sponsor of Bluebikes since its inception in May 2018 and remains steadfast in its mission to expand public bike sharing in Greater Boston, offering a safe and sustainable public transportation alternative in collaboration with the municipal owners of Bluebikes and Lyft. Throughout Blue Cross’ five-year sponsorship, the system has doubled in size, adding 200 stations and more than 4,000 bikes.
From September 5 to September 30, 2023, Blue Cross will generously donate $1 for each Bluebikes ride, up to a total of $10,000.
