sustainability

UN Global Compact sustainability initiative

Wanzl GmbH & Co. Holding KG has joined the United Nations Global Compact. The world’s largest and most important initiative for sustainable and responsible corporate governance has officially confirmed the inclusion of the Leipheim-based manufacturer for Retail, Material Handling and Access Solutions as well as Airport and Hotel Services. By joining the UN Global Compact, Wanzl is now part of an alliance of more than 21,000 companies and organisations worldwide that have committed themselves to contributing to a sustainable economy through responsible business practices.

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Corporate Social Responsibility

Our Wanzl CSR Policy – Sustainability Policy for the Environment and Social Affairs is based on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as its strategic framework. These not only serve as a guideline for our daily work, but also reflect our firm belief in making the world a positive place, independently of our legal obligations. We are determined to actively contribute to these goals and fulfil our responsibility to society and the environment. By joining the UN Global Compact, we want to underline our commitment, guided by the ten principles on human rights, the environment and anti-corruption.

EcoVadis sustainability rating

EcoVadis, the world’s largest recognised issuer of sustainability ratings, has acknowledged our efforts. With our voluntary certification by EcoVadis, we disclose how well our corporate group has integrated the principles of sustainability and CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) into our business and management system. The EcoVadis rating is based on a comprehensive assessment of 21 sustainability criteria in the four areas of environment, labour and human rights, ethics and sustainable procurement. The result is a scorecard that allows us to document our sustainability performance and share it with our business partners. The EcoVadis methodology is based on international sustainability standards – such as the Global Reporting Initiative, the United Nations Global Compact and ISO 26000 – and is monitored by a scientific panel of CSR and supply chain experts to produce reliable CSR ratings.

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FSC® certificate

The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC®) is an international, non-profit organisation that promotes environmentally sound, socially responsible and economically viable forest management on a global scale. The FSC® certification (FSC®-C147070) guarantees that wood and paper products come from responsibly managed forests, adhering to strict environmental and social standards. Buying FSC®-certified products ensures you are actively contributing to protecting forests and promoting sustainable forestry. Ask about our FSC®-certified products - we’re here to provide you with bespoke advice!

Modern surface coating using advanced process technology

Wanzl operates one of its large-scale electroplating facilities at its Leipheim site. A trivalent chrome plating process is used for surface coating. The facility is equipped with modern exhaust air treatment systems, in which the resulting air flows are cleaned using wet scrubbers and droplet separators. In addition, a high rate of air exchange ensures a pleasant working environment in the production areas.

Energy savings through heat recovery

A key component of the plant design is the use of process heat. The heat recovered during exhaust air treatment is used to heat the production halls. This saves around 3 million kWh of energy per year, which corresponds to around 270,000 m³ of natural gas or 300,000 litres of heating oil. According to the company, this saves more than 500 to 770 tonnes of CO₂ per year compared to a conventional energy supply.

AfB social & green

As a further component of our sustainability, we are working with AfB social & green IT to recycle used IT equipment. In 2023, this partnership enabled 294 end-of-life IT devices from Wanzl to be reconditioned and largely resold, extending the service life of the devices and conserving resources. The cooperation with AfB, an inclusive company that employs people with disabilities, contributes to achieving the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals. Refurbishing and recycling the IT equipment saved significant amounts of energy, water, and CO2, using defective hardware for replacement parts or raw material recycling. The collaboration with AfB shows how the circular economy can be successfully implemented in the IT industry and at the same time supports the inclusion of people with disabilities in the labour market.

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