A STORY BY Stefan Vollherbst
FAIR AND GREEN
Our vision: Sustainability
A STORY BY
Stefan Vollherbst
Published
15. Aug 2024
CATEGORY
Sustainability
Reading time
3 Minutes
Our vision: Sustainable printing
Vollherbst aims to become a sustainable print and labelling company. We inevitably consume natural resources such as wood and cotton for our labels. And in the course of our running our business we generate waste material. Now we want to give back to nature by not only reducing waste and recycling, but also by supporting biodiversity projects. Obtaining Fair’n Green certification is an important step on this path.
FAIR AND GREEN provides a catalogue of measures which we consult for motivation. At each step we ask: What can we improve and where?
Stefan Vollherbst
Head of Strategic Projects
Economising: Digitisation and packaging
Vollherbst recently introduced various improvements to reduce costs. Since 2018, for instance, the order pockets are no longer physically filled with paper but are only available electronically. The order pouches contain all the information for printing a label. Self-adhesive labels were always packed in plastic bags to ensure the temperature is kept constant and humidity is maintained. “But our warehouse already has the ideal conditions for temperature and humidity control so last year we stopped using the plastic bags,” Stefan says. “Strategically, sensible action is very important to us.”
Ecology: Green electricity and sustainable suppliers
Vollherbst has taken steps to use water, electricity and fuel resources more sustainably. We have fitted faucets with aerators to reduce the flow of water and also switched to green electricity. Orders are bundled and where possible deliveries are organised by region. While this requires more coordination, it reduces CO2 emissions. Vollherbst’s long-term mission is to increase the number of sustainably certified products, including paints, coatings, papers and outer packaging. We are also constantly monitoring and testing new technologies to improve the eco-balance.
Corporate culture
We attach great importance to the satisfaction of our employees and support a wide variety of projects - especially in Corona times.
Work-life balance
As a fourth-generation family business, we attach great importance to making our employees feel at home. This is not an objective measure for us, but rather part of our corporate culture. “During the Covid pandemic, we wanted to show our employees we are here for them,” Stefan says. “They were able to work from home where possible and in-person classes for trainees were replaced with an interesting in-house alternative.”
Vollherbst was also involved in social projects during Covid-19. We provided Endingen Elementary School with printers for home schooling and the Caritas Association in Freiburg received assistance for the homeless. We also supported hard-hit segments in our own industry and, for instance, launched the Imvini Wethu wine project in South Africa. In conjunction with retailers, we launched a new wine brand whose entire sales flow back to the South African wine industry.
FAIR AND GREEN and Vollherbst
FAIR AND GREEN was founded in 2013 and has members in Germany, France, Switzerland, Italy and Israel. Its members are mainly wineries, but suppliers are also encouraged to join. The Vollherbst family was first introduced to the association at the Intervitis Interfructa trade fair. Stefan and his brother, Matthias, were excited by the idea and took a critical look at their company from a sustainability perspective. Only members who meet 50% of the required criteria receive certification. Vollherbst became the first print and labelling company to receive Fair’n Green certification in 2020. Members must commit to making an annual sustainability improvement of three percent. Vollherbst is delighted to take on this challenge
Here you can find info about FAIR AND GREEN and about the South African wine project IMVINI WETHU you can find here
Contact
WE will gladly
ADVISE you
Would you like to improve the sustainability of your business? We are happy to advise you about uncoated papers, finishing and shipping logistics. Let’s talk!
Stefan
Vollherbst
