Change, together.

We live circularity 

What does circular economy look like at CWS and what does circularity mean for us? Find out in our Think Circular clip.  

More colourful and better: diversity and inclusion at CWS

Diversity and inclusion are a matter of great discussion throughout  society. CWS is also actively working to strengthen diversity within the company. After CWS put the topic of diversity & inclusion on the management agenda internally, the company already took the next logical step: CWS signed the "Diversity Charter" in Germany. All other country organisations will follow. This is an official commitment by CWS to consistently promote diversity and inclusion throughout the company.

"We want to create a working environment in which every single person, regardless of their gender, age, nationality, religion, disability or sexual orientation, is valued and can play to their full strengths. I am convinced that diversity is a good breeding ground for innovation and top performance," Jürgen Höfling had recently emphasised in his interview in the employee magazine ONE.

This process is driven by the Diversity & Inclusion Council - CWS understands diversity as the integration of different perspectives, i.e. across all aspects of diversity. This is not about quotas or rules, but rather about valuing every single perspective.

Jointly pioneering in sustainability

For us, sustainability is the central guiding principle for our actions. This means: We place people and the environment at the centre of our services. Over the next four years, we want to further expand our pioneering position in sustainability and become the most sustainable company in our industry by 2024.

We are revising our sustainability management system in order to anchor this claim throughout the company. We have already established a new strategic framework and defined strategic priorities.

To ensure that these strategies are followed by action, we are developing goals that reflect our priorities. For example in the area of sustainable products: In line with the circular economy, we already think many of our products and services in terms of closed cycles. With our rental model, we make it possible for products to be used again and again. At the same time, we extend the service life of our products by using resistant, durable materials, repairing them time and again and putting them back into circulation. Wherever possible, we avoid environmentally harmful disposable products and employ reusable products such as our cotton towel rolls.

What does this mean in concrete terms? By 2024, we want to market only sustainable products in our new business. To this end, we are, for example, further expanding the use of Fairtrade-certified cotton and intensifying the use of recycled polyester.

We are already on the right track with our commitment. This was recently recognised when we were nominated for the German Sustainability Award 2020, an annual prize that honours German companies that play a key role in driving the change towards a sustainable and resource-saving economy.

We take the fact that we did not make it to the final round this time as an additional incentive to constantly question ourselves and improve our efforts. With ambitious goals, we are working to achieve continuous further development. Our sustainable goals go hand in hand with our economic goals. We want to grow, but in a sustainable way.

"Managing sustainably is a holistic task," says CEO Jürgen Höfling. "And every step forward counts. Together we are working consistently at all levels to learn and improve so that we can do justice to people and the environment in our business activities. This is how we make CWS a sustainable leader".

The CWS Sustainability Interim Report clearly summarises what CWS has already achieved on its way to becoming the most sustainable company.