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.

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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 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.

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 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!

Electroplating with active sustainability

Wanzl – one of the biggest electroplating businesses in Europe – is also an environmental pioneer when it comes to surface coating: the electroplating technology as a whole uses trivalent chromium plating in order to protect people and the environment. The newly established electroplating plant in Leipheim sets a shining example and meets the strictest requirements in terms of sustainability. You can breathe easy here! The exhaust air is thoroughly cleaned down to the smallest particle using wet scrubbers and droplet separators. And the high air flow ensures a good climate. 

The exhaust heat itself is used for environmentally friendly heating in the halls, saving 3 million kWh of energy and thus a great deal of CO2 as well. By comparison: This use of regenerative energy from exhaust heat corresponds to a gas volume of 270,000 m³ (9,534,960 ft³) or 300,000 liters (79,252 gallons) of heating oil, and the CO2 reduction compared with fossil energy use is over 500 or over 770 tonnes of CO2. This sustainable commitment is catching on: in nature, with customers, suppliers, co-workers, and all other people and interested parties in contact with Wanzl.

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.

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