FAIR AND GREEN was established as a seal for sustainable viticulture. Typically, wine producers are certified against strict criteria in the areas of business management, environmental protection and social engagement. We believed that sustainability delivers most when we take a holistic view and orient ourselves to our customers. With the central aim: to take responsibility for people and nature, and to act sustainably. In 2020, Vollherbst became the first printing company to be certified by FAIR AND GREEN.
Our vision – GIVING SOMETHING POSITIVE BACK TO NATURE AND PEOPLE
We inevitably consume natural resources, such as wood or metal, for our labels. We produce ink, foil and material waste like every printer. That is unavoidable in commercial production. We face this truth and have a clear vision: everything we take from the earth, we want to give back to nature and to people – in a positive sense. Through reduction and recycling, but also by supporting projects for CO2 offsetting, for biodiversity or for the socially disadvantaged. The “Fair´n Green” certification was a central step on this path. In this context, Fair’n Green das AmBiTo-Projekt to strengthen biodiversity in German viticulture together.
“FAIR AND GREEN provides a catalogue of measures, which we worked through with motivation. After that we asked ourselves more specifically: What can we improve, and where?“
FAIR AND GREEN and our vision
Commercial Director & authorised officer
Ökonomie – Digitalisation and packaging
We had already implemented important improvements in the economic sphere years ago. One example: since 2018, job wallets have no longer been physical – that is, filled with paper – but exist only electronically. The job wallets contain all the information for printing a label. A more recent example from 2020: self-adhesive labels were previously always packed in plastic bags so that the temperature remained constant and the moisture could be maintained. Stefan Vollherbst: “That was double packaging. Our warehouse already has ideal conditions. We were simply able to leave out the bags.” Strategically sound action is very important to us.
Ecology – Green electricity and sustainably operating suppliers
We also considered how we can use the resources of water, electricity and fuel more sustainably. The aerators on the taps were replaced in order to reduce water flow. The company was switched to green electricity. We now organise delivery trips as far as possible by region and thereby bundle orders and synergies. That requires more coordination, but saves CO2. Our long-term mission: we want to increase the share of sustainably certified products. That is, inks, varnishes, papers and outer packaging. Vollherbst also monitors and tests new technologies to improve the environmental footprint.
We attach great importance to the satisfaction of our employees and support a wide variety of projects – especially during the coronavirus period.
Work-life balance and project work
As a family business in its fourth generation, we attach great importance to our employees feeling at home. That is nothing new for us, but a long-established corporate culture. Stefan Vollherbst: “Even during the Covid pandemic we were able to show even more clearly: we are here for you! We make working from home possible and respond flexibly to family needs. In-person classes for our apprentices were cancelled – we considered what could be an interesting alternative in-house.” We also supported social projects during the coronavirus period: Endingen primary school was equipped with printers for home schooling, and the Caritas association in Freiburg received support for its work with homeless people. We also stand by particularly hard-hit segments of our own industry, such as the South African wine project IMVINI WETHU: together with retailers, we launched a new wine brand whose entire proceeds will flow back to the South African wine industry.
