ASSMANN collects sustainable management prize

ASSMANN Büromöbel GmbH und Co. KG features among Germany’s top 3 companies for sustainable management in the category of mid-sized enterprises. The manufacturer of office furniture systems and interior design solutions was honoured to be nominated as one of the three finalists for the German Sustainability Award in Düsseldorf. Featuring eight categories and over 800 entrants, this is Europe’s most prestigious accolade.

“The excellent ranking in the German Sustainability Award plainly shows that we are on the right track with our multi-pronged approach and focus on sustainable management,” says a visibly delighted Dirk Assmann, managing partner at ASSMANN. “Our consistent, transparent and practised sustainability strategy has now attracted considerable nationwide interest, even outside our own sector.” The German Sustainability Award is conferred on companies, municipalities and research institutions in the Federal Republic of Germany for outstanding achievements in the services of sustainability.

Winners are selected by the German Council for Sustainable Development in cooperation with the Federal Government, business associations, local authority associations, civil society organisations and research institutions. Dr Franziska Giffey, Federal Minister for Family Affairs, is the patron of the award.

Multi-pronged sustainability strategy

Among other things, ASSMANN picked up the nomination for its use of renewable energies, recyclable materials and wood from sustainable forestry. In addition, the company continuously trains its staff in sustainability topics, which helps to raise awareness. The family-owned enterprise regularly publishes an environmental and sustainability report in accordance with the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) and in 1996 was one of the first German businesses to be entered in the EMAS register, the world's strictest system for environmental management and auditing.

EMAS stands for “Eco-Management and Audit Scheme” and was initiated by the European Union to create standards for companies and organisations that are demonstrably seeking to improve their environmental performance. Besides EMAS certification, ASSMANN submitted the German Sustainability Code (DNK) declaration in spring of this year and in summer received certification according to FEMB’s pan-European level programme, the most comprehensive European sustainability standard for office and non-domestic furniture. By applying this approach, the company underlines its clear commitment to sustainable and responsible management in the three relevant areas of ecology, social affairs and economic efficiency.