Environmental protection and sustainability are no longer just buzzwords, they have become an integral part of our daily lives – and this also applies to businesses. Employees and customers actively contribute to this by developing a growing awareness of environmental issues and actively support sustainable measures. We look at why ISO 14001 is not just a certificate, but a guide to environmentally conscious and responsible action and how we promote sustainability within the company.
At G&D, the process towards more sustainability started in spring 2021 with the creation of an environmental working group, in which employees who are particularly committed to environmental issues have been involved in various projects within the company. For example, our paper dispensers were replaced with more efficient models that reduce consumption. The purchase of a water bubbler was another initiative, as the direct drinking water connection allows us to significantly minimize deliveries of drinks. We also use glass drinking bottles to avoid plastic. A sustainable exchange pool was an original idea from the working group to promote community engagement for greater sustainability. In addition, our purchasing department has worked continuously to increase the quantity of recycled aluminum in our housing parts.
Because of the growing interest and increasing importance of environmental issues, the beginnings in the environmental group led to the development of an environmental management system in accordance with ISO 14001. The efforts paid off: In November 2023, G&D received environmental certification. “G&D has been committed to active environmental protection for years. Now we can underpin this sustainable approach to the public by being awarded the certificate,” says Andreas Weitz, Head of Production/Materials Management and Quality Management Officer. The ISO certification ensures that companies’ environmental performance is transparent and measurable.
About ISO 14001
ISO 14001 is an international standard for environmental management systems that provides organizations with precise guidelines for improving their environmental performance. The standard focuses on the identification of environmental impacts, compliance with legal requirements and the continuous improvement of environmental performance. The aim is to reduce environmental pollution and promote the efficient use of resources.
As a manufacturer of KVM solutions, the first step in the implementation of an environmental management system was to identify relevant environmental aspects and derive sustainability targets accordingly. In the development of the system, we aimed to achieve a comprehensive reduction in our environmental impact, focusing in particular on building energy through the use of 100% green energy.
The concept of sustainability also plays a major role in the procurement and development of our KVM solutions. Sabrina Seyfert, Environmental Management Officer, explains: “The durability of our systems is our top priority, which is why we already take this into account when selecting the components and developing the devices with defined environmental aspects in mind.”
Production processes have also been optimized with the intention of preserving resources to further minimize our ecological footprint. According to Sabrina Seyfert, one example of a continuous process is the use of packaging, not only for the inbound delivery of components such as cables and assemblies, but also when shipping our finished devices to customers.
“We have already made great progress in this area,” shares Sabrina Seyfert, “of course we have to carefully consider when packaging can be dispensed with, especially when it comes to sensitive products that require protection during transportation. Nevertheless, we are taking measures, such as adding accessories without additional packaging, to reduce packaging and plastic waste.”
Certain components for further processing are even delivered without any plastic packaging at all. For over 80% of the purchasing volume, so-called ‘shuttle packaging’ is used, reusable packaging that ‘shuttles’ between suppliers and G&D. “The reusable packaging is designed to ensure the best possible protection of the components,” comments Sabrina Seyfert.
In addition, many production processes have been digitalized to save resources. However, the long-term goal is to progressively transform the majority of company processes into paperless ones.
Waste management was also optimized as part of the development of the environmental management system. Sabrina Seyfert emphasizes the importance of continuously improving the recycling rate of various types of waste, in particular our aluminum housings and paper waste generated in the company can be successfully integrated into the recycling cycle. G&D is also committed to ensuring that KVM products are easy to dismantle so that the components can be separated, and the best possible recycling is guaranteed.
Sabrina Seyfert concludes that the introduction of the environmental management system has increased sustainability awareness within the company. The continuous commitment to sustainability promises a future development in which environmental protection and responsible action are an integral part of the company. This lays the foundation for a sustainable and environmentally friendly future, towards which we are working together.
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