Our intention to continue to live by the principle of sustainable behaviour as a company, and thus to act as a role model in our market together with our partners, requires foresight in all the relevant disciplines. In addition to factors that have an indirect impact on our emissions – such as the further development of our product portfolio, ongoing innovations in our production department and material procurement, and modern structures in our management – this also includes the direct optimisation of our carbon footprint. In order to demonstrate the impact of our clear direction in a transparent way, we also use the 17 SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals) as a guide for the activities described below. These were adopted by the UN in 2015 and apply worldwide.
Recyclable office furniture
In concrete terms, this means that we want to strengthen our position as a comprehensive provider of equipment for modern working environments. This requires new ways of thinking. ASSMANN will continue to operate on the market as an office furniture manufacturer and distributor. In addition to our comprehensive range of advice and services, our concepts are constantly being expanded to include important pillars such as rental and leasing offers: in an interdisciplinary project, “Circular.Office”, we are working with partners from the industry and research institutes to develop recyclable furniture and make it marketable. Combined with our revised, holistic product design, this approach results in logistical challenges for which we are already developing solutions and services, such as for the return of products. With this expansion of our product range and services, we are taking account of SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production).
Our aims with regard to material procurement also contribute to this overarching strategic goal. Our intention here is to optimise material efficiency and increase the proportion of recycled materials used in our products. We are also striving for further certifications for our furniture. The FEMB level certificates that already adorn our core products will also apply to other new products our company makes. We also intend to work with our suppliers to raise other products not manufactured at our site in Melle to a high sustainability standard.
For a pleasant team environment
We want to further develop ASSMANN as an attractive employer in order to create modern conditions that are in line with our innovations – and the four-day week is right at the top of our agenda. We also receive valuable feedback through regular employee surveys, which provide us with information on other needs. Our aim is to create a pleasant working environment both for and together with our employees – one in which we can all work together constructively. In this way, we are creating a healthy basis for everyone in accordance with SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-Being).
Working for nature
We consider environmental and climate protection to be overriding criteria that we take into account in all our endeavours – at both product and company level. Modern tools provide us with reliable figures that we can analyse and use to formulate our next goals. We continue to see great potential in our vehicle fleet, our power supply system and our use of materials. With regard to our electricity supply, our main goal is to achieve around 50 per cent self-sufficiency by 2030 using energy from wind power and photovoltaics. Our plans in this area bring us in line with SDG 13 (Climate Action) and SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy).
Through our continued focus on biodiversity conservation, we are advocating for SDG 15 (Life on Land), which is concerned with the protection of terrestrial ecosystems and the sustainable management of forests. Our compensation areas, which provide a habitat for many native animals and insects, will remain. We also keep an eye on environmental protection in our supply chain and are therefore committed to the responsible management of commercial forests, among other factors.
We create facts
Sustainability is and remains a complex but application- related topic that affects numerous areas, particularly in the corporate context. We are aware of the task before us and always work to fulfil it with the best possible results. It is in the nature of things that this leads to further areas of action. We see this as a positive development, and will remain vigilant in order to adapt to new circumstances and comply with them so that we can #go_further, as we always do.
