24 January 2012
Klasmann-Deilmann: Sustainably into a shared future
Klasmann-Deilmann GmbH’s future will be marked by an even greater commitment to a philosophy of sustainable corporate management. In 2010, the company set an internal process in motion by which activities in all parts of the company undergo continuous assessment and (if necessary) correction in terms of ecological, economic and social criteria. From now on, Klasmann-Deilmann will report on an annual basis concerning progress and changes made in the interests of sustainability. Its inaugural sustainability report will be publicly unveiled in spring this year. On the occasion of the opening of the International Plant Fair (IPM) 2012 in Essen managing directors Moritz Böcking and Norbert Siebels will – in advance – present a brochure on sustainability activities at Klasmann-Deilmann.
The first internal sustainability audit, which looked at projects and processes across all business units, yielded pleasing results. “Klasmann-Deilmann acts more sustainably than we ourselves had expected,” said managing director Siebels. ”Many of our activities that are in the spirit of corporate social responsibility have guided us in our day-to-day business for years. In certain other areas, however, our in-depth look at this issue has revealed potential for improvement. We can make our processes more sustainable still.”
The first internal sustainability audit, which looked at projects and processes across all business units, yielded pleasing results. “Klasmann-Deilmann acts more sustainably than we ourselves had expected,” said managing director Siebels. ”Many of our activities that are in the spirit of corporate social responsibility have guided us in our day-to-day business for years. In certain other areas, however, our in-depth look at this issue has revealed potential for improvement. We can make our processes more sustainable still.”
Klasmann-Deilmann GmbH’s corporate strategy has already been following the key principles of sustainable corporate development for some years now. An important development here was the composting of residual green waste, which began over two decades ago. For the last 10 years, all processes have been subject to ISO 9001, an international standard for management systems. And, in 2008, the ISO 14001 environmental management system was introduced. In Geeste, where the corporate headquarters is located, a wood fibre facility has been in operation since 2010 which is setting new standards in the production of peat-reduced substrates. The Mission Statement launched several years ago for all employees was another important milestone on the way to sustainable corporate management.
“With its call for sustainability, the public is presenting us with one of the biggest challenges of the present day,” Siebels comments. “A company’s success and strength will no longer be judged solely on the basis of its financial performance. Increasingly, an enterprise must be accountable in terms of the intensity and rigour with which it is committed to addressing not only the commercial but also the ecological and social aspects of its own actions, keeping future generations in mind. In this sense, Klasmann-Deilmann can already point to many good results. But we also know that this is a continual process in which we want to keep improving year in, year out. That’s something to which we’re all dedicated – together.”
Reporting on the outcome and progress of sustainable corporate management will b guided by international standards. In this way, external, independent bodies can review performance and make a comparative evaluation. Klasmann-Deilmann has therefore joined the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) and Lower Saxony’s own alliance for sustainability. In preparing its first report, Klasmann-Deilmann receives additional support from a consultancy that already assists other high-profile German companies with their sustainability reporting.
In particular, Klasmann-Deilmann GmbH’s new brochure on sustainability as well as the upcoming sustainability report highlight those of the company’s operations that are, at first glance, more obviously of prime importance in terms of sustainability. One of main focuses is, therefore, an examination of the criticism levelled at the management of raw peat materials. Managing director Moritz Böcking says: “Although this debate has become more objective over the years, we notice time and again that not all the salient facts are taken into account. In publishing our sustainability report, we want to convey relevant aspects which are important to the continuation of this discussion.”
In product development, too, the conservation of resources and the impact of products on the environment are vital criteria. At the IPM, Klasmann-Deilmann will be presenting new recipes containing its Klasmann GreenFibre additive. This wood fibre product has been PEFC-certified since June 2011.
There have also been new developments in the KKS range of organic substrates for ecological plant production, including:
“With its call for sustainability, the public is presenting us with one of the biggest challenges of the present day,” Siebels comments. “A company’s success and strength will no longer be judged solely on the basis of its financial performance. Increasingly, an enterprise must be accountable in terms of the intensity and rigour with which it is committed to addressing not only the commercial but also the ecological and social aspects of its own actions, keeping future generations in mind. In this sense, Klasmann-Deilmann can already point to many good results. But we also know that this is a continual process in which we want to keep improving year in, year out. That’s something to which we’re all dedicated – together.”
Reporting on the outcome and progress of sustainable corporate management will b guided by international standards. In this way, external, independent bodies can review performance and make a comparative evaluation. Klasmann-Deilmann has therefore joined the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) and Lower Saxony’s own alliance for sustainability. In preparing its first report, Klasmann-Deilmann receives additional support from a consultancy that already assists other high-profile German companies with their sustainability reporting.
In particular, Klasmann-Deilmann GmbH’s new brochure on sustainability as well as the upcoming sustainability report highlight those of the company’s operations that are, at first glance, more obviously of prime importance in terms of sustainability. One of main focuses is, therefore, an examination of the criticism levelled at the management of raw peat materials. Managing director Moritz Böcking says: “Although this debate has become more objective over the years, we notice time and again that not all the salient facts are taken into account. In publishing our sustainability report, we want to convey relevant aspects which are important to the continuation of this discussion.”
In product development, too, the conservation of resources and the impact of products on the environment are vital criteria. At the IPM, Klasmann-Deilmann will be presenting new recipes containing its Klasmann GreenFibre additive. This wood fibre product has been PEFC-certified since June 2011.
There have also been new developments in the KKS range of organic substrates for ecological plant production, including:
- a biodegradable wetting agent;
- the use of TerrAktiv FT, a fermented blend of TerrAktiv green-waste compost and Klasmann GreenFibre.
For conventional growing media, Klasmann-Deilmann offers BioComplete 8:8:4, a new, organic NPK fertiliser that yielded excellent crop performance in extensive field trials conducted in 2011.
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