Achim Zwick, Managing director of Albrecht Zwick GmbH

Sustainability
We think and act with the future in mind. Comprehensively considered sustainability is highly important to us.

Zwick principle of sustainability
Trading with stainless steel means acting sustainably.

Our commercial product is stainless steel. Energy-intensive to produce, but at the same time extremely durable and recyclable, it can be used across many generations. This generational mindset has been firmly embedded in our family business from the beginning and is also reflected in our sustainability approach.
For us, acting sustainably always includes corporate governance, social issues and the environment. We are highly committed on all three levels. At the same time, we are aware that there are still many challenges down the road that we will face.

We see responsibility as the key concept of acting sustainably. Because for us, corporate responsibility means that, in addition to being economic players, we need to keep an eye on the impacts of our actions at all levels. For us, what comes above everything else, is the question as to how we can hand a financially healthy company over to the next generation while simultaneously contributing to creating a liveable ecological and social environment.

Our responsibility revolves around people, and we pay particular attention to our staff as the beating heart of the company: occupational health and safety, fair pay, equality and taking a clear stand against discrimination and racism are aspects of particular importance to us. 

We have firmly enshrined social commitment in our business activities both through our vocational training opportunities and by supporting selected organisations in Hagen that champion development opportunities for children in need of support both locally and internationally. 

CO2 neutral by 2030
Measures of the SIHK’s ‘Klima-Initiative CO2 neutral bis 2030’ initiative

  1. Increasing energy and resource efficiency
  2. Own generation of renewable energies
  3. Consistent transition to green electricity
  4. Offsetting of unavoidable carbon emissions

     

Regarding environmental protection, we are committed to the goals of the Paris Agreement. We have also made a commitment to make our site carbon-neutral by 2030 as part of the ‘Klima-Initiative CO2 neutral bis 2030’ initiative of the Southwestfalia Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SIHK). The initiative is mapping out the way to climate neutrality on four different levels. To assess ourselves and gauge how we are doing, we have been producing an annual emissions report in accordance with the Greenhouse Gas Protocol since 2020.

Our administrative building newly built in 2019 is a milestone and an expression of our responsibility in a number of ways.

It was planned around our staff as the focus. They are able to enjoy healthy and focused work in well-lit rooms with good acoustics and at ergonomic workstations. It goes without saying that the building has been prepared for the installation of large-scale photovoltaic systems which will provide power for our energy-efficient electric heating system in the future. There are likewise plans for further photovoltaic systems on our warehouse roofs, which will provide us with an almost self-sufficient power supply in the future. 

Foresighted as a matter of principle

The new Zwick administrative building has been built in accordance with the latest standards not only in terms of energy efficiency. Thanks to foresighted planning featuring a clever combination of gradient and drainage, the entire site is also protected as best it can be from extreme weather effects. 

Close-up of flat stainless steel bars