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.

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 complete electroplating technology 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 litres (65,990 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 taking hold: in nature, with customers, suppliers, co-workers and all other people and interested parties in contact with Wanzl.

As another building block of our approach to sustainability, we are working with AfB social & green IT to recycle used IT equipment. In 2023, this partnership made it possible for 294 decommissioned IT devices from Wanzl to be remanufactured 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. By refurbishing and recycling IT equipment, considerable amounts of energy, water and CO2 have been saved, with defective hardware being used for spare parts or raw material recovery. 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.