GROHE successful at the German Sustainability Award
• Sanitary fittings manufacturer GROHE is among Germany’s
most sustainable companies
• Third top ranking in a row
• Accolade recognises company’s commitment and leadership in
sustainability
Grohe AG’s holistic commitment to 360-degree- sustainability is
paying off – the company’s uncompromising integrated approach
covering resource protection, environmental protection and social
responsibility did not fail to impress the jury of the German
Sustainability Award 2016. The world’s leading supplier of sanitary
fittings and faucets has scored a top ranking for the third
consecutive time, making GROHE one of the most sustainable major
companies in Germany. GROHE was among the top 3 in the same
category in 2015 and among the top 3 in resource efficiency in
2014. “We are proud of our enduring success at the German
Sustainability Award,” said Michael Rauterkus, CEO of Grohe AG. “It
shows us that our passion and our commitment to sustainability are
appreciated also outside our company. By presenting us with this
award, the jury of experts has acknowledged the performance of our
employees, who are willing to go that extra mile every day in order
to meet our high demands made on sustainability.”
Improved sustainability in all areas
GROHE is constantly working to improve its sustainability through
new product solutions and process optimisations. Among other
things, the jury of experts based its decision on the company’s
excellent sustainability management system, which helps to master
challenges such as resource protection, demographic change, social
responsibility and compliance. The combined heat and power plants
installed in the production sites of Hemer and Lahr as well as the
waste recycling ratio of almost 99 percent at all plants are just
two examples of the investments made, and the expertise
demonstrated, by GROHE in all areas of sustainability.
Among the most important innovations of the year is the GROHE Blue
Home water system, which fits into virtually any kitchen. It
delivers filtered and chilled water straight from the faucet,
offering a choice between still, medium and sparkling refreshment.
The carbon footprint is reduced by more than 60 percent compared to
bottled water. Other milestones of GROHE’s sustainable development
efforts include the GROHE Light brass alloy, which contains 35
percent less lead than conventional alloys, as well as the GROHE
SilkMove ES technology, which ensures that only cold water is
dispensed as long as the faucet lever remains in the default centre
position. The reduced consumption of hot water helps users save
energy and CO2 emissions.
Germany’s greenest gala
The prize ceremony of the German Sustainability Award held at
Düsseldorf’s Maritim Hotel on 25 November was attended by some
1,200 invited guests, among them corporate, government and
political figures as well as representatives of the research sector
and civil society. Needless to say, the entire event was planned
and organised with sustainability in mind down to the last detail.
The gala was hosted by the initiator of the Award, TV science
journalist Stefan Schulze-Hausmann, with the prizes presented by
such prominent figures as Malu Dreyer, President of the German
Bundesrat, Federal Environment Minister Dr. Barbara Hendricks, and
other high profile figures. Dr. Gerd Müller, Federal Minister for
Economic Cooperation and Development, was the patron of this year’s
event.
An initiative of the German Sustainability Award Foundation, the
German Sustainability Award is endorsed by the Federal Government,
umbrella organisations of local governments, confederations of
business and industry, civil society organisations and research
institutions. It has been presented on an annual basis since 2008
to companies who are role models in combining economic success with
social responsibility and environmental stewardship and, since
2012, also to local authorities committed to sustainable local
development.