The Road to a Sustainable Future: It's Not a Sprint, it's a Marathon

"Panta Rhei, everything flows," was the opening line of the article I published last year. It is still a fitting parable for the incredible change at Hansgrohe. Time has passed since publication and a new year has begun- and what can I say ...? It's still flowing at Hansgrohe. The change continues.

At the end of December, I already announced that in 2022 I would like to dedicate myself even more to our path towards greater sustainability. And I already started doing so last year. For example, when I was invited to speak on the EY Business Circle panel at the Europa Park stadium, home of German Bundesliga Soccer Club, SC Freiburg, in early November. I was a guest there, telling our Hansgrohe story and highlighting our efforts as part of our sustainability agenda. Because the transformation to a climate-neutral company by 2030 is important to us.

In order to give all those who could not be there an insight into what sustainability means to us, I would like to present my thoughts on our sustainability agenda in a little more detail.

A "Green" Attitude in our DNA

I would even go so far as to say that it is not just a green attitude that lies behind our sustainability agenda, but our green DNA. And it is deliberately ambiguous: on the one hand, it expresses our responsibility towards the environment and society, and on the other, it stands for our special Hansgrohe culture that has developed since our founding in the beautiful Black Forest.

Brief review: It was Klaus Grohe, son of Hans Grohe, who focused on the issues of climate change and corporate responsibility for society as early as the 1980s and 90s. This was expressed, for example, through water-saving products that we have been developing since the 1980s. Or through the largest roof-integrated solar system in Germany at the time (Offenburg production site 1993). Another "milestone" over which our pioneering wave swept, was the publication of the Hansgrohe Sustainability Report in 2004, as the first of its kind within the industry.

But just being a pioneer is no longer enough today or in the future. Neither for our company, nor for our environment. We must continue to consciously fill this role with life in terms of climate protection, and at the same time, act in an economically responsible manner. That's why, right from the start of my time as a new member of the Hansgrohe family, I developed a desire to lead the company responsibly and sustainably into the future.

I would like to explain this in more detail: I spoke of a green attitude in the context of our DNA. However, this is even more true in the entrepreneurial sense: it is an important competitive factor. A sustainable strategy keeps us competitive and, above all, credible. I would like to briefly explain why this is so important and why the topic is also becoming increasingly important in society, using representative facts and figures:

• 70 percent of customers prefer environmentally friendly products.
• 70 percent of employees prefer a company with a sustainability strategy
• Requirements for building certifications are increasing; green building certificates (e.g., Sustainable Building, LEED) are worth mentioning here.

But it is not only the increasing demands on our environment and the corresponding requirements that are driving us to become more sustainable, but also the fact that we play an important role as a company. Of course, we offer inspirational moments in the bathroom and kitchen. But this requires water - an extremely valuable and, in many places, scarce resource. For us, water means life and passion. That's why we protect this resource - yesterday, today and tomorrow.

The Path to a Climate-Friendly World Needs Clear Targets and Measures

However, this is only possible if we act as a company that sets itself fixed goals and launches concrete measures. We are focusing on two aspects: firstly, reducing water consumption and improving water quality. Secondly, we want to sustainably reduce CO2 emissions.

All of this requires not only a high level of expertise, but also investments. We are supported in this by a team of colleagues on leave of absence who report directly to me on current measures and innovative ideas. A six-figure budget is also available for cross-divisional projects.?

One important, overriding goal in this context is decarbonization, i.e. the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. Explaining in detail all the levers we use to achieve this would certainly go beyond the scope of this article. Instead, I would like to give a brief overview of the measures we are currently taking: For example, we are focusing on "green electricity," renovation measures, new heating systems and modern, climate-friendly technology, as well as transport reduction through shorter transport routes, especially in Europe. Here I am pleased to refer to the construction of our plant in Serbia - in this sense a strategically important step. Furthermore, we are researching alternative materials with environmentally friendly properties for our products. There are also measures that we had to take in the wake of the Corona pandemic, and which we continue to promote to protect our climate. These include mobile working and reduced business travel.

Those who do not invest in sustainable measures now, will pay dearly later on

The necessary steps are not always easy or easy to identify at first glance. You need a good look at what is important to support the implementation of the appropriate measures with the necessary funds. However, not doing anything would cost us much more down the road - both financially, and in terms of a planet worth living on. That is why, in my view, there is no way around setting the course for more sustainable action now.

This ranges from the use of plastic-free packaging and completely recyclable water to our own plastic recycling plant and the mobilization of our employees, who are consciously committed to the issue of sustainability. And there's a lot of planning behind it. Since our initiatives to help us achieve our ambitious goal of becoming climate-neutral are as complex as they are extensive, I would like to communicate more about our commitment to a sustainable future from now on, and thereby perhaps be an inspiration to others.

I would be delighted if you would continue to follow me, and if I could regularly take you along with us on our path to climate neutrality, highlighting individual milestones and learnings in more detail in the future.

All in all, this is not a sprint for us, but an extreme marathon that will literally make us fit for a livable and economically successful future.