14 Company | Sustainability Managemen

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Our Climate Missio

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The goal: to be an exclusively climate-neutral busines

s

around the world by 2045. That is why we have embarked on

a climate mission that is as ambitious as it is comprehensive

.

As a company with roots deep in the Black Forest regio

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that has also become a global player, we feel a special sens

e

of obligation to the concept of sustainability: When we talk

about taking on responsibility, we’re not only thinking abou

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our company, but above all the next generations. We aim t

o

rely on carbon offsetting as little as possible.

Our climate mission is just one component of our overarch-

ing sustainability strategy, which is based on the UN’s

Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and focuses on the

areas of climate, water, resources, and people. We review

the effectiveness of the measures we have initiated on a

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annual basis, and react when we need to.

Ceramic is a sustainable material with a proven track recor

d

for thousands of years – and also has a place in a climate

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neutral future. After all, as one of the oldest materials used

by human culture, there is much to commend ceramic from

a sustainability perspective. Stability, robustness, and use o

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purely natural materials lend it properties that, from the

outset, go a long way to satisfying the requirements fo

r

preserving the environment and saving resources. Most of

our ceramic products also come with a lifetime guarantee

.

Throughout the company, we are constantly seeking way

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to conserve resources, limit our use of raw materials, and

reduce emissions as much as possible. All of our German

manufacturing facilities and our central warehouse in Acher

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already use electricity generated exclusively from renewabl

e

sources. Solutions, some of which were developed in-house,

continue to reduce energy and resource requirements in the

production process, waste heat is reused consistently, an

d

wastewater is treated. Further aspects of the portfolio o

f

measures include PEFC-certified (Program for the Endorse-

ment of Forest Certification Schemes) furniture productio

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(PEFC/04-31-2357) that adheres to the principles of sustain

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able forestry together with “local for local” production

methods that ensure shorter transport routes.

The challenges in the field of ceramic production remain

significant and require a profound and disruptive transfor-

mation. Our new plant in Canada, which will become

operational in 2025, marks a decisive step in this direction

.

It is a direct expression of our aspiration to combine techno

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logical innovations with ecological responsibility.

In keeping with the Green Claims Directive, it is important fo

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us that our progress remains measurable and transparent

–

including retrospectively. In this context we are especially

proud of being awarded the EcoVadis silver medal, which

confirms our commitment to operating sustainably and

places our credibility on a solid foundation. At the same

time, it gives us valuable insights into where we can improve,

which we can take forward in a focused manner and further

develop our sustainability strategy.

GRI 2-23