Die REMONDIS-Welt der Nachhaltigkeit
REMONDIS' World of Sustainability
De REMONDIS-wereld van de duurzaamheid
The whole notion of sustainability will be a lost cause unless we take action here and now to conserve our planet's natural resources. Future generations and today's developing countries will only be able to enjoy prosperous lives if steps are taken right now to counteract the growing shortages of raw materials. For us – being one of the world's leading recycling, service and water companies – there can be only one goal: to tackle this problem and lead by example. Why not join us on this path?!
Everyone agrees that global warming must be limited to 2°C – or preferably 1.5°C – if we wish to prevent our ecosystem from being irreparably damaged. Large areas of woodland in Germany are dying as the country suffers ever longer periods of drought. Pussyfooting around is not going to stop climate change. Some major action needs to be taken. And not just switching from fossil fuels to renewables but from virgin to recycled raw materials as well. We are showing how this can be done.
The Lippe Plant in Lünen is not only a high tech site, it is also an important project for combatting global warming. The various activities carried out at the site help to cut carbon emissions by 488,000t every single year. For a forest to have the same effect, it would need to contain 37 million trees. Certainly a lovely place to take a walk in but perhaps not an ideal place for creating 1,400 jobs.
People searching for an argument in favour of plastics recycling need look no further than at our seas and oceans. Vast areas of waste are floating around in them and are so big that they can even be seen from space. This problem, however, can only be solved on Earth – with more responsible consumer behaviour and systematic plastics recycling.
Talking the talk but not walking the walk? Not at REMONDIS. It goes without saying that our all-encompassing view of sustainability also includes us being sustainable ourselves. This covers all aspects of our business – from the energy efficiency levels of our head office buildings, all the way through to ensuring that all our locations adhere to our high social standards, no matter where in the world they may be.
Every company tries to make a profit. And things are no different at REMONDIS either. For us, however, money is always a means to a good end – which is why a large part of the profits we make is invested in developing new and innovative recycling processes and technologies. Helping to preserve our planet’s valuable natural resources.
Sustainability is not a state or a condition but an ongoing process. First and foremost, sustainability is team work. Which is why we cooperate closely with experts and research institutes that also feel strongly about conserving our planet’s natural resources and preventing climate change. Such work always leads to new approaches and innovations.
Wherever we see an opportunity to drive forward the notion of sustainability and to fix it even more firmly in the minds of people, then we are there, full of passion and enthusiasm for the cause. This covers a whole range of activities – from educational projects, to acting as advisers, to supporting universities.
Everyone is talking about the scarcity of raw materials and about sustainability. But what exactly is behind it all? We decided to do some research to find out what it’s all about – so that we could put together some pages with the most important background information for you to read.
Melting polar ice caps and glaciers, an ever growing number of regions suffering from droughts or other natural disasters – the consequences of the man-made greenhouse effect are plain to see and are becoming more and more devastating. It is clear that action must be taken to counteract this development and reduce climate change to a level that is at least halfway tolerable. Many years ago, a concrete goal was decided on in order to achieve this, namely to slow down global warming and ensure it does not exceed the threshold of a 2°C increase on pre-industrial levels. A goal that has been pursued in – at best – a half-hearted manner for too long now and one that can only be achieved if all nations truly pull together. The resolutions reached at the 2015 UN Climate Change Conference, however, were encouraging with, for the first time ever, practically every single nation pledging to reduce their carbon emissions. A sign for hope, therefore, and a sign that humankind has finally made it into the next age – the 'Age of Sustainability'. For the fact remains that climate change can only be halted if all sections of society are sustainable – from energy production to product design, from political frameworks to the consumer behaviour of each individual.
If the 2°C target is to be achieved, then global carbon emissions must have been reduced to 2.5 tonnes per capita per year by 2050. In Germany, for example, this figure currently lies at 10.2 tonnes
The waves of innovation from the 18th to the 21st Century
The term 'sustainability' originates from the world of forestry and was coined for the first time by Hans Carl von Carlowitz in 1713. His principle of sustainability was simply that the number of trees felled should not exceed the number of trees able to be replenished. Whilst today's understanding of the term sustainability has a much wider reach, the fundamental principle remains the same. It is still all about not consuming more resources than our planet is able to replenish, than can be regenerated or than can be made available again. Only now it no longer refers only to wood but to all raw materials. The subjects of recycling and sustainability are, therefore, closely entwined. Both aim to use raw materials so that (a) there is never a lack of supply and (b) the environment does not suffer. If the whole concept is thought through and implemented across the board, then sustainability becomes an integral component of everything we do and affects all social, political and economic processes.
As far as a company is concerned, running a sustainable business is not only a means to increase efficiency but is also responsibility in practice. If governments and the business world fail to act in a sustainable way, then the inevitable outcome is inequality among generations as well as among nations. The fact remains that neither future generations nor today's developing countries will be able to achieve the quality of life currently found in the industrial nations unless they, too, have access to sufficient quantities of raw materials.
Further details regarding sustainability in Germany, the EU and the world as a whole can be found in the section Sustainable development strategies
It all began in the forest
The chief mining administrator, Hans Carl Carlowitz, developed the principle of sustainability for the forestry industry.
Spring: The “Limits to Growth” study
This study, commissioned by the Club of Rome, provided scientific proof for the very first time that human production processes and consumer behaviour were putting the Earth at risk.
June: 1st Conference on the Human Environment
The United Nations (UN) held its first Conference on the Human Environment in Stockholm. This event triggered the first ever global environmental policies.
Report: “Our Common Future”
The World Commission on Environment and Development published a report on our common future and defined the concept of sustainable development.
June: United Nations Earth Summit in Rio
The nations taking part in the summit declared their commitment to sustainable development and signed a convention on climate change. The Agenda 21 was established with the goal of creating prosperity and a high quality of life for all people around the world.
September: Millennium development goals
The United Nations drew up eight millennium development goals (MDGs) to combat poverty, hunger and child mortality in developing countries.
May 2001: The EU develops its own strategy
The European Union drew up its first strategy on sustainable development
June: 3rd Earth Summit in Rio
Following the suggestion of Columbia and Guatemala, 192 nations agreed to develop global sustainability goals.
September: The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development
17 sustainable development goals (SDGs) were agreed on during the 70th United Nations General Assembly that apply to all countries around the world.
December: UN Climate Change Conference in Paris
196 nations signed a legally-binding agreement to curb global warming. The resolutions affect all sectors of society.
For the most part, people identify sustainability with the environment and resource conservation. By definition, however, sustainability is considerably more complex. Not only ecology plays a decisive role but also social and economic issues. This division into three individual parts is particularly relevant when a company wishes to create a sustainable business. Simply looking at environmental issues is not enough. Subjects such as good working conditions and long-term commercial success are equally important. The most common form used to present the system of sustainability is the so-called 'three pillars of sustainability' which is also based on a draft paper drawn up by the Enquête Commission of the German Bundestag. Various modified forms of this model exist – for example where the environmental pillar is illustrated as an inherent part of all other areas. What all the variations have in common, however, is that they emphasise the interaction between the various different aspects. True sustainability is only possible if there are sufficient quantities of all components.
Being one of the world’s leading recycling, service and water businesses with over 30,000 employees, everything we do revolves around sustainability. We ensure that the environment is protected and that natural resources are conserved in over 30 countries across four continents.
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