How do you make a reality of sustainability at your company?
As an innovative environmental engineering company we are committed to sustainability and resource conservation. To us, a solution is only sustainable if it is technically, economically, environmentally and socially responsible. Because of this, we judge our products and our internal processes by their energy and resource efficiency. The sustainability section of our annual report gives us a way of reporting on our performance in these areas, as part of our overall corporate communication effort.
Is there a fundamental conflict between profits and sustainability?
Any company has to aim to maximise profits, so as to be able to make the investments on which survival depends. And it goes without saying that shareholders expect returns on their investment in the form of dividends. But we cannot only look at shareholder value, we also have to keep sustainability and high quality standards in mind. Products and services with a sustainability dimension score on quality, and that is a source of strategic competitive advantage. In short, for us sustainability is not just a matter of image maintenance, it is central to the way we run our business..
What consequences does that have?
For our stakeholders, our commitment to sustainability means increased transparency, and hence credibility. For our clients it means the assurance that we use resources as efficiently as possible. And for our employees it means a chance to choose the work that they do and plan their careers, as well as high health and safety standards in the workplace.
How can your company help protect the environment?
SW Umwelttechnik has always been wedded to the concept of sustainable enterprise since its foundation in 1910. Long before “greenery” arrived on the scene we were already trying to strike a balance between environmental and economic considerations. Our products are at the interface between economics and ecology, and we try to ensure that they will perform well on both counts throughout their life cycle.
What can be done to promote the changeover to sustainable enterprise?
At present the economy works as though resources are infinite. We have to change that. As far as possible, we try to create closed cycles for our processes. For instance, rejects are crushed and returned to production, and we also recycle much of the water we use. Another step we have taken is to enter the renewable energy sector. This form of energy production is CO neutral, so it helps meet the Kyoto greenhouse gas targets.
How do you put sustainable enterprise into practice?
This is an ongoing process. The sustainability dimension is built into our stategy and management methods, and we exploit the opportunities this creates to identify risks and generate sustainable value.
SW Umwelttechnik's approach to sustainability reporting is based on the Global Reporting Initiative's GRI 2002 Guidelines.
