CWS Group awarded EcoVadis Gold Rating The CWS Group receives the EcoVadis Gold Rating, placing it in the top 5 percent of companies of comparable size and industry. Compared to last year, CWS rose from silver to gold. EcoVadis provides a platform where ESG criteria for companies are reviewed and evaluated and thus made comparable. ESG refers to environmental, social and corporate governance. ESG assessments examine and evaluate corporate social and environmental responsibility. The EcoVadis assessment process queries a large number of projects and their status, which is then converted into an evidence-based assessment with easy-to-read score cards. Based on the score, i.e. the final score achieved, the organisation then assigns its ratings. It identifies both strengths and areas for improvement within the organisation. Read more Der neue CWS Nachhaltigkeitsbericht 2022/2023 The CWS Sustainability Report 2022/2023 For CWS, sustainability is a future vision, a business model and a guiding framework for responsible action. To achieve this, the company primarily focuses on sustainable products and decarbonisation. Read our new sustainability report to find out how we are doing this in the areas of Hygiene, Workwear, Cleanrooms and Fire safety. Click to read the PDF. Hier können Sie den Nachhaltigkeitsbericht runterladen 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. Please accept marketing cookies to play the video Accept marketing cookies Kaizen: improving together The Japanese expression "Kaizen" means "to improve continuously". CWS uses this method from lean management to identify problems and optimise processes. See in our video how we put Kaizen into practice at our Swiss site in Glattbrugg. Please accept marketing cookies to play the video Accept marketing cookies Enkelfähig - tomorrow always starts today At CWS, we act enkelfähig. As part of our parent company Haniel's enkelfähig initiative, our circular business model contributes to a healthier and safer future. At CWS, we act enkelfähig through our overarching sustainability strategy Think Circular and create value for generations by linking economic success to value-oriented action. For us, sustainability and profitability are closely linked. We do business in a way that is generation-friendly and thus enkelfähig. For a healthier and safer future. Starting today. Our sustainability strategy Sustainable products We want our sustainable products to account for more than 90 percent of our new business by 2025. By the same year, we also want to have converted our supply chains to sustainability and transparency; among other things, 100% of our suppliers from risk countries are to be audited. Decarbonising our business By 2030, we aim to reduce CO2e by 50% in our logistics and laundry operations. Closing the loop We offer our products in a service cycle and continue to use them sensibly even after their useful service life. Responsible supply chain We are reducing our environmental and social footprint in all our processes. Best in class working environment The health of our employees is our top priority along with the professional development and inclusion of all talents and perspectives. Sustainable product portfolio As a service provider, we keep our products in circulation for a long time. This means that their durability and sustainable design are particularly vital. With the enkelfähig rating, we do even more: We put our products to the test, evaluating and quantifying their sustainability. At CWS, we want to be sure that our product and service portfolio is in line with our approach to sustainability: being able to realise a truly all-encompassing sustainable offering that contributes to a healthier, safer future. One measure which takes us even closer to achieving this goal is the enkelfähig rating. From dust control mats to dungarees to soap dispensers, we put our products under close scrutiny in terms of biodiversity, climate change, circularity, innovation, health & safety, and profitability throughout their entire lifecycle. These criteria allow us to rate them according to their Enkelfähigkeit – a guiding sustainability principle of our parent company Haniel. A principle we take extra seriously: According to CWS' particularly strict take on enkelfähig, only those products achieving a score of 3.5 or higher are rated as sustainable, which goes beyond Haniel's specification of a score of 3. To date, we have rated more than 90 per cent of our hygiene and workwear portfolio, and we are using our insights to help us develop even more sustainable products in the future. Our customers and partners can thus rest assured that the choices they make also contribute to a future worth living. Learn more Find out here how CWS commits to sustainability 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," said Jürgen Höfling, CEO of the CWS Group. 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. Climate analysis confirms: workwear in the rental service reduces CO2 emissions Workwear in the rental service contributes to climate protection with its active circular economy – that was the finding of the Circular Advantage Study conducted by the CWS Group in collaboration with the consultancy firm sustainable thinking in 2020. On average, the rental service cuts greenhouse gas emissions by around 50% (including transport). Read more here. Together protecting our values: The CWS Compliance HelpLine The CWS Compliance HelpLine enables CWS suppliers and clients to confidentially inform about irregular and unethical behavior as well as compliance breaches. Find more information here. Load More Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Sustainability for tomorrow At CWS, we work every day for a healthier and safer future. In doing so, we are guided by the official sustainability goals of the United Nations, also known as Sustainable Development Goals (SDG). The UN formulates a total of 17 political development goals, which are divided into the three areas of economy, ecology and social affairs. This division is intended to ensure that all relevant levels of sustainability are taken into account. At CWS, we support this holistic approach with a wide range of activities. Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls At CWS, we believe that diversity is a critical component of a vibrant, productive company culture and enriches each and every one of our teams. That's why we work strategically with our Diversity Board to strengthen diversity throughout the company. Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all Clean water is indispensable for the health of people and nature. That is why we take a variety of measures to reduce the use of environmentally harmful chemicals in washing processes and minimise our fresh water consumption by all means. For example by: Harmonising our detergent suppliers Investing in water treatment Resource-saving washing programmes Product innovations (for example SmartWash) Microplastic-free products Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all For us, the focus is always on people. That is why we work on the satisfaction of our employees as well as that of our customers. We check that social standards in the supply chain and compliance rules are adhered to. We favour the diversity of our workforce and promote the talent, health and safety of all the people who work for us. QESH activities within CWS (Quality, Environment, Safety & Health) Diversity Board within CWS Use of Fairtrade cotton BSCI partnership (Business Social Compliance Initiative) United Nations Global Compact membership (UNGC) Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns Our business model is based on the idea of a continuous and consistent circular economy. We are continuously working on making our products more and more sustainable while maintaining the same performance and extending their service life with constant quality. Following the Circular Economy approach, we already think about the entire life cycle during development. Rental service at the core of our business model Repair of garments, recycling of our donors Activity in the wear2wear™ initiative. Ecodesign Use of Fairtrade cotton and FSC paper Organic certifications Cradle2Cradle certifications Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts We are actively involved in the fight against climate change. We are continuously reducing our CO2 emissions and energy consumption. With our circular business model, we also help to conserve other resources. Cooperation with ClimatePartner (climate-neutral certification of print material, reforestation projects with customers) Innovative products (such as SmartWash) Resource-saving washing processes Optimisation tool for our delivery routes "Optimize My Day Expansion of e-mobility Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss The health of our environment depends on intact ecosystems. With our sustainable products and diverse efforts along the value chain, we contribute to protecting our land ecosystem. Cooperation with ClimatePartner (climate-neutral certification of print material, reforestation projects with customers). Organic certifications FSC certifications (over 90% of our paper is FSC certified or comes from sustainable resources) Fairtrade Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalize the global partnership for sustainable development At CWS, we always have the big picture in mind. With sustainable products, we can create added value for the customer and at the same time drive positive development for people and the environment. We also look at our supply chains and work to achieve fair working conditions and minimal environmental impact. Membership of the UN Global Compact Fairtrade Membership of the Business Social Compliance Initiative (BSCI) Cooperation with World Toilet Organization Cooperation with Made Blue Load More An all-encompassing offering One for all. Many people are familiar with our dust control mats, as well as our towel and soap dispensers. But at CWS, we also optimise your washroom, create fire safety concepts, as well as designing and cleaning business attire. These are just some of our solutions and your possibilities. We work for people in a wide variety of industries, advising, planning, checking, repairing, sorting, washing, documenting, etc. We do it with pleasure. And in a sustainable way.
