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 organizations worldwide that have committed themselves to contributing to a sustainable economy through responsible business practices.

More information...

Corporate Social Responsibility

Our Wanzl CSR Policy – Sustainability Policy for the Environment and Social Affairs is based on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as a 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 fulfill 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 Award

EcoVadis, the world’s largest recognized provider of sustainability ratings, sets us apart. With the 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 according to 21 sustainability criteria in the four areas of Environment, Labor and Human Rights, Ethics, and Sustainable Procurement. The result was recorded in a scorecard with points, which enables us to document our sustainability measures and make them available to business partners. The EcoVadis methodology is based on international sustainability standards – such as the Global Reporting Initiative, the United Nations Global Compact, and the ISO 26000 standard – and is monitored by a scientific panel of CSR and supply chain experts to produce reliable CSR ratings.

Download

FSC® Certification

The Forest Stewardship Council® (FSC®) is an international, non-profit organization that is dedicated to ensuring environmentally appropriate, socially responsible, and economically viable management of forests worldwide. 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 would be happy to advise you individually!

Modern surface coating with powerful process technology

Wanzl operates one of the large-scale electroplating plants at its Leipheim site. A trivalent chromium plating process is used for the surface coating. The plant has modern exhaust air treatment systems, where the resulting air flows are cleaned by wet scrubbers and droplet separators. In addition, a high level of air circulation ensures a pleasant working environment in the production areas.

Energy savings through heat recovery

A key component of the plant concept is the use of process heat. The heat recovered from exhaust air treatment is used to heat up the production halls. This can save around 3 million kWh of energy per year, which is equivalent to around 270,000 m³ of natural gas or 300,000 liters of heating oil. According to the company, this saves more than 500 to 770 tons of CO₂ per year compared to conventional energy supply systems.

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 inclusion 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 a circular economy can be successfully implemented in the IT industry and at the same time supports the inclusion of people with disabilities in the labor market.

Certificate

News Release