Together for the Environment
The Düsseldorf Climate Pact unites a large number of companies, businesses and organisations in the city who are pursuing a common goal: to achieve climate neutrality by 2035. We asked four of them what they are already doing to successfully implement this ambitious plan and what reasons prompted them to become part of the
Climate Pact.
Sustainable product shipping: Foto Koch relies on DHL GoGreen and RePack-packaging.
For Foto Koch, joining the Climate Pact was a logical next step. It was one of the first companies to become part of the Düsseldorf Mobility Partnership, in which companies are committed to making their mobility more environmentally friendly. Further measures have been implemented to get closer to the targeted climate neutrality: in the shop, the electricity used is green, the photo shop offsets shipping via DHL GoGreen, and many products are shipped in reusable RePack packaging. For Managing Director Thomas Görner, joining the Climate Pact comes at just the right time: “We know that we are on a very good path thanks to the measures we have already implemented. At the same time, we believe that the professional support and exchange within the framework of the Climate Pact will help us to go the last ten per cent in terms of sustainability”. He is aware that it is not possible, even for him, to guarantee environmentally friendly practices by all actors along the supply chain. It is therefore all the more important to “implement what is feasible on your own doorstep and thus be a role model for others”.
„We know that we are on a very good path thanks to the measures we have already implemented”
Thomas Görner, Foto Koch
The Weiß Stahl- und Metallbau GmbH & Co.KG saves energy through production-optimised operation.
The Weiß Stahl- und Metallbau GmbH & Co. KG also wants to serve as a role model: “We tell people about our activities even if they don‘t want to hear about it,” explains commercial manager Kerstin Lau with a twinkle in her eye. There is a lot to tell: the machines run in a production-optimised way, waste is kept as low as possible, energy-saving LEDs provide light, electric vehicles are used. The trigger for the numerous optimisation measures was the move twelve years ago into the then poorly insulated production hall: “At the beginning, of course, we also changed over for cost reasons, for example to individual radiators on the machines. Now, above all, we want to make a contribution to counteracting climate change.” The Climate Pact is a great help: “We want to know where there is still potential to further reduce our carbon footprint. Cohesion in the city is very important to us. As entrepreneurs in Düsseldorf, it is our responsibility to learn from each other and to tackle the great challenge of environmental protection together.”
„WE WANT TO KNOW WHERE FURTHER POTENTIAL FOR THE REDUCTION OF OUR CARBON FOOTPRINT IS.”
Kerstin Lau, Weiß Stahl- und Metallbau GmbH & Co. KG
As a family enterprise, ARAG Versicherung emphasises its responsibility for future generations. The business model of what it claims is the world‘s largest legal insurance company is gaining new relevance. “We are convinced that the sustainable transformation will only be successful if it is transparent and verifiable, offers enforceable rights and enables everyone to actively participate,” explains Kathrin Köhler, Chief Sustainability Officer & Corporate Responsibility.
„We are convinced that the sustainable transformation will only be successful if it is transparent and verifiable.“
Kathrin Köhler, ARAG Versicherungen
Simple access to justice is therefore not only a Sustainable Development Goal of the UN Global Compact, but also the core of ARAG‘s business and sustainability strategy. In addition, the company has also set itself clear ecological goals as an investor: the insurer‘s capital investments are to be climate-neutral by 2050. The interim goal is to achieve a 50 percent reduction in the carbon footprint of equities and corporate bonds by 2030. By joining the climate pact, ARAG Versicherung wants to pool the experience and knowledge of all its members, exploit synergies and thus implement sustainability measures more effectively. “It is clear that climate change is the greatest challenge of recent years. It is also clear that we all have the same goal: We want to contribute to keeping the extent of climate change as low as possible. That only works together,” explains Köhler.
Emissions along the supply chain pose challenges for companies. The Teekanne wants to tackle them together.
„Since tea is a natural product, a careful approach to the environment is naturally particularly important to us“
Mara Woermann, Teekanne GmbH
For Teekanne GmbH & Co. KG, nature and its protection has always been a top priority. “Since tea is a natural product, a careful approach to the environment is naturally particularly important to us,” emphasises Mara Woermann, Head of Sustainability Management. Accordingly, the Düsseldorf-based family business has been pursuing a comprehensive sustainability strategy for many years. All production sites are climate-neutral: the electricity is 100 per cent green, which corresponds to about 50 per cent of the total energy purchased. Teekanne offsets the remaining part via certificates from recognised environmental protection projects. The Düsseldorf site is certified according to the ISO 50001 energy management system, and a new high-bay warehouse was equipped with a PV roof. To ensure that the tea is grown in an environmentally friendly way, regular visits and audits are carried out on the plantations. But: the biggest challenge in climate protection - as with the other companies - are the so-called Scope 3 emissions. For Teekanne, this primarily concerns the cultivation areas: “Determining the emissions that are not within our direct sphere of influence presents us with a major challenge. Especially in this area, it is important for us to exchange information with other companies. We believe many are still at the beginning here. Networking in the city is all the more crucial in order to become even more sustainable together” - a concluding sentence that sounds like a joint statement by all members of the Düsseldorf Climate Pact.
The Climate Pact is constantly growing and thriving: there are now over 30 climate partners in the state capital who want to do something for the environment together - and are excited to welcome many more pioneers. •
Düsseldorf Climate Partner
Stand: 08.12.2022
ARAG, auxmoney, Bart Schoenmakers, BEST Versicherungsmakler, Crossmedia, Der Meisterbetrieb Jörg Schmitz, Elektro Kai Hofmann, Enplify,
Evers + Kregel, Fischer HRM, Fortin Mühlenwerke, HiFi & Foto Koch, HPP Architekten, HSD, ISS, Kaiser Immobilien, KIYO, Messe Düsseldorf, Metro, Provinzial, SCALA Glasbau, Sebastian Fuchs Bad und Heizung, Sipgate, Stadtsparkasse Düsseldorf, StepStone, Studio Kunst, Teekanne, Verkehrswacht, Düsseldorf Dienstleistungsgesellschaft, Weiqiao, Weiss Stahl- und Metallbau
So kann Ihr Unternehmen Klimapartner werden:
Words Dominik Deden
Pictures Foto Koch: Lennart Filthuth // Weiß Stahl- und Metallbau GmbH & Co. KG // Teekanne GmbH & Co. KG.