Sustainability report 2017 - Including the EMAS environmental declaration for the reporting period from 01/01/2016 31/12/2016 - schülke
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Sustainability report 2017
Including the EMAS environmental declaration
for the reporting period from
01/01/2016 – 31/12/2016
1
Key indicators, content:
highlights of 2016.
1,152 850,000 322
employees
worldwide. Euros for training measures. million
Euros of global annual revenue.
22
Market
presence on
4
continents.
locations worldwide.
Key indicators of Schülke & Mayr GmbH 2016 2015
Economic indicators*
Revenue (million EUR) 322 281
Produced volume in t 38,630 36,990
Tangible assets (million EUR) 8.2 7.9
Environmental indicators*
Specific power consumption per ton of product 222 222
Water consumption [m³/t] 1.67 1.65
Waste water emission AOX value per liter of wastewater (in mg) 0.09 0.09
Waste per ton of product [kg/t] 1,726 1,612
Social indicators*
Employees* 1,152 944
Employees** 671 657
Trainees** 24 23
Days of professional training** 2,120 1,616
Occupational accidents** 3 0
* schülke worldwide. ** Refers to the audited Norderstedt location.
Organizational structure of our headquarters in Norderstedt/Hamburg
General Management
Supply Business Inter-
Finance Business Research Business
Human Quality Chain & Line national
& Con Trans- & Reg. Line
Resources & HSE Industrial Infection Business
trolling formation Affairs SAI
Operations Prevention Operations
Content.
2 Foreword
3 Company profile
schülke – protecting lives worldwide, taking responsibility on site.
8 Governance
Sustainable corporate management relies on clearly defined rules and values.
10 Q
uality management
Quality is more than a claim: Total Quality Management (TQM) at schülke.
12 S
takeholder management
Great influence, great responsibility.
16 Supply chain management
Responsibility along the value chain.
17 Sustainability strategy
The schülke sustainability strategy.
18 Sub-index: reporting areas
20 Product responsibility
26 Sustainable employment
34 Environmental responsibility
44 Declaration of validity
45 Memberships and initiatives
46 Social commitment
We have been given privileges. So we can share them with others.
48 About this report
Imprint
1
Foreword/company profile
Foreword.
Dear reader,
As a leading manufacturer of chemical and phar- You may have noticed that this report has a new
maceutical products, including disinfectants and content structure. It is the logical next step in its
special technical preservatives, schülke carries a development from an environmental declaration
tremendous responsibility towards the environ- to a sustainability report that represents our busi-
ment. ness model along the value change and facilitates
transparency and comparability with our competi-
Today, we are publishing our fourth sustainability tors. This report summarizes the developments
report since 2008. It includes an EMAS Environ- that took place in 2016 (EMAS) and parts of 2017.
mental Declaration. It allows all stakeholders to assess the develop-
ment of our environmental and energy manage-
The past ten years have seen a considerable ment system objectively.
international expansion of our business areas.
Our marketing and sales activities now cover more We are grateful for your interest in our company
than 100 countries, and we operate 22 international and hope that this sustainability report will provide
sites. Besides our headquarters in Norderstedt, you with useful information.
we have production facilities in France and Brazil.
We have further expanded our position in Asia by Our reporting on sustainability is also an invitation
acquiring the MICROSHIELD® portfolio. for dialogue. We welcome suggestions and com-
ments.
We protect lives worldwide – our mission moti-
vates us to grow. Your schülke management team
Having positioned ourselves in the international
market successfully, we have been able to more
than double our revenue since 2008. We want to
keep this dynamic up: our growth strategy will
lead us to a successful future. We will further
strengthen our presence in international markets
without losing sight of our core markets.
Sustainable services will be an essential factor
of our future success. They include aspects such
as chemical compliance, energy efficiency, mea-
sures to reduce the environmental impact of
our business activities, and the responsible use
of resources. We develop innovative products to
serve our target markets and acquire new partners
and customers – including in Asia and Brazil.
We also plan to implement measures to shorten
transport routes, which will have highly positive
consequences: less fuel, fewer expenses and lower
CO2 emissions.
Dr Peter Geneviève Lars
Oltmanns Samson Lemke
Director Director Industrial Director
Research & Operations & Business
Regulatory Supply Chain Transformation
Affairs Management Management
2
schülke – protecting lives worldwide,
taking responsibility on site.
The chemical and pharmaceutical company schülke Norderstedt* near Hamburg has been the location
is an international market leader in the fields of of the schülke headquarters since 1963. This site
hygiene, infection prevention and chemical and comprises the factory, an office building and the
technical preservation. logistics center with a capacity of 18,000 pallet bays.
State-of-the-art warehouse and fire protection
Since 1996, it has been a part of the global corpo- methods guarantee that our products and packag-
ration Air Liquide, whose primary business activity ing materials are stored in safe and environmentally
is the sale and marketing of industrial and medical friendly conditions. Approximately 40 % of the plot,
gases. Air Liquide employs more than 67,000 staff which measures 80,000 m2, have been built up.
in more than 80 countries and generated a turn-
over of EUR 18.138 billion in 2016. schülke has made it clear to its employees and
the public that preventing accidents and limiting
The schülke group employs 1,152 people, which its own environmental impact are two of its main
includes staff at its international branches. In the responsibilities. The Norderstedt site has an inte-
reporting period, 693 employees worked for schül- grated system for the protection of occupational
ke in Germany. 671 of them are located at the Nor- health and safety and the environment. It precisely
derstedt headquarters, working in production, controls and documents all processes and proce-
logistics, research, marketing and sales. In addition, dures, behaviors and responsibilities at schülke.
24 trainees are learning seven different occupa- On the basis of this documentation, the company
tions in Norderstedt. schülke generated an annual has developed guidelines for all employees. Our
revenue of more than EUR 322 million in 2016. mission: we protect lives worldwide!
* The Norderstedt site is the subject of the EMAS III audit.
Dr Frank Anand Raj Dr Werner Jörg Ilja Christian
Stahl Bhandari Weltgen Zohner König Last
Chief Director Director Director Director Managing
Operating Business Line Quality & Finance & Human Director
Officer Special Additives HSE Controlling Resources
International
3
Company profile
schülke – business areas.
The business activities of schülke belong to three Special Additives International is our specialty
separate areas: infection prevention, industrial chemicals segment. It develops, produces and dis-
hygiene and specialty chemicals. tributes technical preservatives for a wide range of
industrial applications. Its customers particularly
Some of the microorganisms that occur in our come from the industries for cosmetics, oil and gas,
environment are hazardous germs that can cause home appliances, construction materials and met-
infection and disease. Our infection prevention al. Technical preservatives protect water-based
segment offers effective products, comprehensive products from microorganisms. We also offer multi-
services and expert advice to prevent contamina- functional skincare additives for cosmetic products.
tion and disease.
Other central units, such as research and develop-
Hygiene is a crucial aspect of production and pro- ment and regulatory affairs, safeguard our market
cessing in industrial environments. Good hygiene presence by ensuring our continued ability to offer
is the best basis for human and environmental innovative products and applications. Our integrat-
health. Correct disinfection practices are particular- ed supply chain management covers production
ly important in many industrial contexts. They can and logistics, quality control, occupational safety,
have a direct impact on the quality of the products HR, finances and IT. These areas control the value
that are being manufactured or processed. The ef- creation process of schülke.
fectiveness of decontamination and risk reduction
measures relies on three factors: disinfectants, dis-
infection techniques and consultancy. Our industri-
al hygiene segment offers comprehensive hygiene
concepts to support the diverse activities of our
customers.
schülke – portfolio.*
schülke develops, manufactures and distributes compliance with this wide range of legal require-
more than 220 products, including disinfectants, ments and in consideration of our customers’ high
antiseptics, medical skincare products, preserva- standards.
tives, deodorant substances and system cleaners.
These products belong to different categories – We offer innovative technologies, products and
medical products, biocides, pharmaceuticals, cos- services in our three core business areas: specialty
metics – and are governed by different legal frame- chemicals, infection prevention and industrial
works. Our production processes are designed in hygiene.
* Further information about our product portfolio and our product responsibility is available on page 21 and onwards.
4
The three schülke business areas
Infection prevention Industrial hygiene Specialty chemicals
A wide range of hygiene A wide range of hygiene A wide range of products
products and services to products and services for and services to facilitate
ensure the greatest possible industrial needs. optimal preservation.
hygiene.
Areas of application include Areas of application include Areas of application include
• hospitals, • manufacture of • cosmetics,
• medical and dental practices, pharmaceuticals, • household and cleaning
• mobile nursing services, • manufacture of medical products,
• cosmetic studios, products • concrete additives,
• veterinary practices, • cosmetic industry, • paints and varnishes,
• emergency services, • food production aid • glue and adhesives,
• geriatric care, processing industry, • cooling lubricants,
• tattoo and piercing studios, • animal facility, • mineral oil and gas ex-
• drugstores • laboratories, traction,
• mineral preservation,
• biocidal system cleaning
Services Services Services
• hygiene planning and • hygiene planning and • technical support in labora-
consultancy, consultancy, tories and microbiological
• education and training, • product application advice, operating controls,
• product application advice, • technical services • training
• technical services
Hospitals have the most ex- Hygiene plays an extraordi- The specialty chemicals areas
tensive requirements in the narily important role in partic- offers a wide variety of solu-
field of infection prevention. ularly sensitive areas such as tions ranging from household
pharmaceutical production. applications to the extraction
of mineral oil.
5
Company profile
The world is our market, health our target.
schülke is developing dynamically: a chemical com-
pany with a long tradition is becoming a modern Sales channels and customer segments*
pharmaceutical and chemical partner. All strands
of our business meet at our headquarters in Nor- Our sales channels
derstedt near Hamburg. This is where our central • sales representatives/distribution
departments work together like a well-oiled ma- • online sales
chine: research and development, management, • OTC
production, marketing, sales and logistics. It is also • private label
the place from which we drive our industry forward
as one of the market leaders for infection preven- Our main customer segments
tion, technical preservatives and multi-functional • household appliances, construction
skincare additives for cosmetic products. We create materials and metal industry
successful hygiene solutions for our customers and • industrial hygiene
continued global growth for ourselves. • hospitals
• cosmetic industry
schülke is represented on all five continents by • medical/dental establishments
its subsidiaries and other national distribution • oil and gas industry
partners. Customers all over the world value the • private institutions
products and services of schülke highly. Thanks to
our local advisors, they have direct access to our
services at any time.
schülke – international sites*
German headquarters Europe Americas Asia/Pacific
Schülke & Mayr GmbH Great Britain Poland Austria USA Australia
Norderstedt Netherlands Czech Switzerland Brazil New Zealand
Belgium Republic Italy Singapore
Luxembourg Slovakia Turkey Malaysia
France Russia India
Japan
China
* For more information about our international subsidiaries and sales partners, please have a look at the back cover of this report.
6
The Subsidiary OPAL
OPAL Service GmbH was founded in 1999 as The OPAL Academy offers vocational qualifi
a consulting firm promoting professional hy- cations and training courses in the fields of
giene management in healthcare facilities. hygiene and the preparation of medical prod-
The law prescribes that medical and industrial ucts. It has been developing its portfolio on the
facilities require a perfectly functioning hygiene topics of hygiene management and the proper
policy. It is composed of: preparation of medical products continuously
- skilled experts, for more than ten years.
- validated processes,
- qualified staff. Since 2017, OPAL has been selling selected
hygiene products through its online shop. The
OPAL is a specialist for infection hygiene that items offered in this way are pre-selected by
advises clients throughout Germany. In part- our hygiene experts. This keeps the product
nership with our clients, we focus on establish- range for each field of application as narrow as
ing effective hygiene management systems. possible for a straight-forward user experience.
Surveys conducted in hospitals and healthcare
facilities during the reporting period have con-
firmed that OPAL clients are satisfied with the
hygiene consultancy they receive from OPAL.
(For more information on the surveys, refer to
the chapter Stakeholder Management on page
12 and onward).
Ein Unternehmen
A company of von
Infection prevention
= qualification + process + products
Academy Consultancy Online shop
• education and training • clinics • hygiene products
• in-house courses • physicians • pharmaceuticals
• online training • nursing homes • biocides
• location: Norderstedt/ • hotels • medical products
Frankfurt • kitchens • cosmetics
• industry
7
Governance
Sustainable corporate management relies on
clearly defined rules and values.
To comply with social, environmental and ethical The schülke management aims for a shared under-
standards beyond legal regulations and the standing of openness and integrity. It believes in
boundaries of our production site, we need clear clear communication and flat management hierar-
guidelines. As part of our corporate responsibility, chies that facilitate efficient decision-making pro-
we must communicate our stance towards our cesses.
company values and goals in explicit terms.
To us, corporate governance also includes the
control and direction of a company that strives for
sustainable, environmentally friendly and socially
just value creation processes across all levels of
management.
Our mission
In a globalized world, germs know no borders. It is easy to underestimate their risk to humans and
materials. Instead of combating root causes, we often treat symptoms.
Our mission is to change this:
we protect lives worldwide!
With prevention, innovative technologies, products and services in select segments of hygiene and
preservation.
Our company guidelines.
Our company guidelines enshrine the fundamen- system. This means: we fulfil the expectations of
tal standards to which we hold our conduct as our internal and external stakeholders. We always
an international pioneer in our disciplines. They take criteria such as cost and benefits, occupa-
are based on the Air Liquide business principles tional health and safety, environmental protec-
and constitute the basis of schülke’s integrated tion and sustainable supply chain management
management and business activities. into account.
• We use progressive, safe and environmentally • We strive for continuous improvement and long-
friendly production processes. Economic criteria term growth of our company. We want to use our
are as important to us as strict adherence to profitability to prepare for future requirements
high quality standards. We are always aware of and challenges at an early stage. Innovative think-
the social relevance of our conduct. ing is an essential pillar of our international
growth strategy and success. We further ensure
• We always conduct our business in compliance the expansion of our international market shares
with the law and principles of free competition. by propelling the digitalization of our business
We reject corruption of any kind, and our anti- processes.
corruption measures go beyond the legal require-
ments. • Our relationship with our suppliers is based on
our continuous, objective assessment of their ser-
• We approach quality in a comprehensive way vices. The quality and competitive edge of their
as part of our Total Quality Managements (TQM) products and services play as much of a role as
8Dr Werner Weltgen,
Director Quality & HSE:
“Success is built on clear rules. Our
approach of Total Quality Management
and our integrated management system
are the foundation of the sustainable
development of schülke.”
their compliance with international social and In order to apply our company guidelines to our
environmental standards. Fair partnership and work, we operate an integrated management
productive dialogue with our suppliers and busi- system that covers all business areas. It constitutes
ness partners are important to us. the basis for our strategic decisions and programs
and minimizes risks for our company, its owners and
• Our international growth strategy never loses employees, society and the environment.
sight of our social responsibility in the regions
where we work. We support public welfare initia-
tives, especially in the fields of environmental
protection, healthcare, safety and education.
Our values.
Reliable: Proactive:
“trust in experience” “use global opportunities”
Our solutions and application capabilities meet the We recognize future opportunities and challenges.
highest standards. We draw from more than a hun- We develop solutions that are as innovative as they
dred years of experience, which creates trust – the are sustainable. We think and act with the future
basis of long-term partnerships and global growth. in mind. Customers of schülke are one step ahead.
Customers of schülke choose trusted products and Always.
outstanding quality.
Fair:
“focus on people”
We combine effective products with expert con
sultancy and comprehensive customer service.
This makes us a professional partner and advisor.
Customers of schülke get to take advantage of
tangible added value that goes far beyond the
mere provision of excellent products.
9Quality management
Quality is more than a claim:
Total Quality Management (TQM) at schülke.
schülke has been running its business activities • must be managed systematically to ensure best
sustainably and pragmatically for many years. Our practice at each individual workplace, in the part-
company philosophy, which is the foundation of nership between different departments, and
our everyday work, is based on a holistic approach even beyond the boundaries of the company;
to quality. Beyond the mere quality of a product • is ultimately a matter of customer opinion when
or service in the traditional sense, it comprises all it comes to products and services;
aspects that influence the business process and its • can only be optimized if all employees work for it.
individual steps. The continuous improvement of Everyone involved in the value creation process
our products, processes and services has clear goals: must therefore be accepting and motivated.
• economic success,
• customer satisfaction, We use and steadily advance an integrated man-
• employee satisfaction, agement system to implement the TQM. It is
• safe conduct, certified to several standards, including ISO 9001,
• compliance with legal requirements. ISO 13485 und ISO 14001. The management
system further reflects the provisions of product
At schülke, comprehensive quality management law. It contains all management tools needed to
refers to the continuous control and improvement comply with the requirements of the corporate
of product and service quality in consideration of group.
economic aspects such as time and cost. Our com-
prehensive TQM approach is based on our deeply
held belief that quality
• g oes beyond products and services – it encom-
passes processes, working conditions and the
environment;
• is a systematic and planned process
with relevance for the entire company and
exceeds mere technical issues;
Group Policies
Air Liquide Air Liquide Air Liquide
Group Codes Group Procedures Group Reference Guide
TQM
schülke Company Policies
Risk Management Personnel Management
schülke Integrated
ISM Management Management System GMP/GVP/GDP
Crisis Management Occupational Safety Management
Quality Management Compliance Management Environmental Management
Standards and legal
Customer requirements Social environment
regulations
10Our corporate culture: compliance through TQM.
As a globally active company, we are subject to We have implemented our systematic compliance
many international laws, regulations and standards, management by
which change constantly. Compliance with all • establishing a compliance organization and
applicable rules and legislation is becoming an reporting system,
increasingly complex challenge. • forming a compliance workgroup to identify,
analyze and communicate relevant topics,
We take compliance very seriously; it is an integral • regularly training all members of our staff in
component of our TQM. Dealing with global issues, compliance topics;
such as human rights, corruption, and antitrust • creating our written code of conduct, which
law, is as much an obligation for us as it is a desire. communicates the rules and regulations govern-
Our compliance management covers topics such ing our business activities and requires strict
as product law, environmental law and occupa- adherence to these rules by way of written con
tional safety. It also governs our pursuit of long- firmation;
term goals, including: • ensuring that all managerial staff of our company
• s afeguarding the long-term success of all busi- conduct themselves in an exemplary fashion and
ness divisions by way of responsible, transparent in full compliance with all rules.
conduct,
• e nsuring safety in our everyday business,
• increasing the value of our company,
• living up to the trust that our customers have
placed in us for decades and consolidating it
further by conducting our business in compli-
ance with laws and regulations.
Our optimization measures are directly inspired by the market.
As part of its compliance with ISO 13458, ISO 14971, toring and reporting system. Based on these activi-
RL 93/42/EWG and MPSV, schülke monitors the ties, we derive corrective and preventive measures
market constantly. We achieve this by means of our that result in the continuous improvement of
Post-Market Surveillance (PMS) system. PMS is a schülke medical products.
systematic process that gives us access to informa-
tion about products that are already in circulation.
It is closely linked to our systematic market moni-
Spotlight 2017: transparency creates safety.
The new European Medical Device Regulation product identification numbers (Unique Device
(MDR) came into force in 2017. This law aims to Identification, UDI) constitutes a particularly im-
improve the transparency and traceability of portant change. schülke has had suitable organiza-
medical products on the European Single Market. tional structures in place since the middle of 2016.
It has considerably increased requirements for We meet all requirements stipulated in the new
manufacturers of medical products. In addition 2017 MDR.
to new requirements in clinical assessments and
special certification processes, the introduction of
11Stakeholder management
Great influence, great responsibility.
We are a manufacturing company and service We constantly communicate and cultivate healthy
provider in one. In practice, this means that the business relationships with our internal and exter-
actions of schülke affect the interests of many peo- nal stakeholders and interest groups – for their
ple in different industries and countries. This gives benefit as well as ours. We conduct our partner-
us great responsibilities: in everything we do, we ships in a fair, open and respectful manner. We
must consider the impact that our economic activi- work hard to integrate different groups of strategi-
ties will have on people outside of our own core cally relevant stakeholders into our business and
business. decision-making processes. It one of our greatest
challenges and an indispensable factor in the
future performance and success of schülke.
We must always consider the impact of our actions on humans and the environment – far beyond the
boundaries of our production site. That is our understanding of responsibility.
12We have high standards. And we apply them to our stakeholders, too.
Domestic/
international
Domestic/
Trade customers
international
associations
employees
Insurance
Applicants
companies
Banks The public*
Legislators,
regulators,
Suppliers
standard-
setters
Air Liquide
Unions and its
subsidiaries
Science &
Distributors
research
Competitors
* Near the company (neighbors), regional and primarily at the Norderstedt site.
13Stakeholder management
Aren’t customers a mystery? We’ve asked them what they want.
Traditional surveys have become a standard tool All results were extremely insightful. Many of our
in modern stakeholder relations management. customers are very satisfied with the availability
We have been using them for much longer. Learn- and quality of our products, their usability, our
ing about our customers’ expectations and needs technical support and consultancy and the order
helps us strengthen our business relationships process itself. But the study also identified indi
deliberately and sustainably. To avoid asking the vidual criteria with room for improvement. In
wrong questions based on our own perspective, particular: the topic of sustainability at schülke.
we also contract independent third parties for our Our customers believe that there is great potential
customer surveys. still. We view their feedback as a challenge and en-
couragement to improve our sustainability score
In 2016, Ipsos Loyalty carried out a systematic further.
survey on the topic of industrial hygiene for us.
This external partner company specializes in rela-
tionship management between companies and
their customers and employees. It helps its clients
gauge the customer experience, the satisfaction
and loyalty of their customers and staff, and their
own relationship to these important stakeholders.
Ipsos Loyalty conducted one-on-one interviews
with the purchasers and technicians of our cus-
tomers in the food and life sciences industries to
find out their opinion about schülke disinfectants
and service. Their research focused on specific
aspects, such as:
• r eliability when delivering products,
• a vailability of goods,
• q uality of services relating to technical
consultancy,
• r esponses to complaints (if any),
• p roduct quality,
• v iability of individual orders (optimization of
processes, extraordinary projects, etc.).
The external institute further investigated how
satisfied our customers are with our commitment
to sustainability.
14Customer satisfaction ranks on top of our to-do list.
Our subsidiary OPAL conducted a similar, system It identifies unused potential for optimization in
atic survey of customer satisfaction in 2016. It customer communication and implements accord-
focused on the hygiene consultancy OPAL offers ing measures. The following steps were determined
to hospitals and care institutions. Ahead of the during the reporting period:
survey, the company distributed 97 questionnaires • redesign of the OPAL website,
to the designated contacts in the various institu- • publication an annual brochure containing the
tions per post or in person. The results of the sur- complete education portfolio offered by the
vey were pleasing: all clients were satisfied with Academy,
the contractual agreements, technical skills and • launch of an online academy,
service offered by OPAL. • introduction of structured annual evaluation
interviews between the contracting parties in
The questionnaire also inquired about their assess- order to optimize feedback processes,
ment of the process performance and training • preparatory discussions on the hygiene con
opportunities. Participants spoke highly of the sultancy service,
technical skills and quality of the training courses • constant availability of a telephone hotline for
on offer, but we also received constructive criti- customers and potential seminar participants,
cism. Our optimization process has been adapted • creation of a Facebook page.
accordingly.
Customer satisfaction across all channels.
OPAL uses a range of formats for its customer satis-
faction analysis, including conversations, feedback
questionnaires and e-mail inquiries. It organizes
team and management meetings to evaluate the
survey results and determine appropriate steps.
Ersin Yahyaoglu, member of the works
council (relieved of duty):
“I have been a workers’ representative
at schülke for 24 years. During this time,
I have learned something very important:
you must always be there for your
customers and colleagues. If you are,
everything will go well.”
15Supply chain management / sustainability strategy
Responsibility along the value chain.
When it comes to value creation, our responsibility standards have entered the picture. If we want
starts with upstream processes and procurement. to generate value sustainably and minimize risks
Financial advantages are no longer the only deci- in our processes, we must meet our suppliers on
sive factor in international competition and risk equal footing.
management. Safety, social and environmental
Confidence is good. Control even better.
The supply chain management department was This makes our supply chain management an
established in 2016. This was a step towards great- important contributor to our TQM system: it drives
er control along the international value creation the continuous improvement of our processes.
chain. In the future, the supply chain manager will Its work helps us honor the QM agreements we
focus on sustainability criteria along the supply have made with our suppliers. It also takes the
chain and control both upstream and downstream supplier contracts by Air Liquide, the parent com-
processes. pany of schülke, into account, as they are an im-
portant part of the agreements used by schülke.
Reliability is another important goal.
The schülke purchasing department carries great A supplier is only sustainable if it can ensure the
responsibility. Its duties go far beyond the creation future availability of the raw materials needed for
of optimal purchasing conditions for raw materials further value generation. Many of them are special-
and services. It is also the direct point of contact ty materials: our partners must make them avail-
for our suppliers and tasked with monitoring their able in sufficient quantities to prevent production
loyalty constantly. To nurture our business relation- downtimes. This, to us, is reliability.
ships, we must keep a close eye on the criterion
of reliability.
We face growing challenges along the entire value creation chain.
Suppliers Production Customers
16The schülke sustainability strategy.
Our goals remain the same. It is our strategy that As the EMAS certificate was expanded to include
must be adapted. We have based our business topics of energy management, energy efficiency
strategy on two overarching goals. One, to be a became a major part of our environmental man-
reliable partner to our customers and suppliers. agement. Today, we face new challenges. They in-
Two, to be a reliable employer to our staff. Our clude compliance with social and environmental
mission remains unchanged: we protect lines standards in upstream and downstream processes
worldwide which means we combat and prevent and the increased integration of relevant groups of
infection and contamination worldwide. stakeholders, an important element of the schülke
sustainability strategy.
Sustainable management plays a major role in this
mission. It is a matter of securing our future viability In the future, this strategy will focus on the inter-
and performance in an international competitive play of environmental, social and economic aspects.
environment. Sustainable management also gov- Within the scope of our sustainability management
erns our business decisions, as we strive to act for system, we document and communicate every
the benefit of future generations. action taken for the sake of sustainability.
As a manufacturer of chemical and pharmaceutical As we determine important aspects of sustain
products, we take full responsibility for the environ- ability and define corresponding measures, we
mental impact of our work. As early as 1996, we de- critically evaluate our own business model and
cided to implement the EMAS declaration in full. value creation chain on a constant basis. This
For the sake of the continuous improvement of our report documents our sustainability measures in
environmental goals and transparency towards our the following fields:
stakeholders, we have been issuing our environ- • product responsibility,
mental declaration since the 1990s to document • sustainable employment,
the use of the certified environmental management • environmental responsibility.
systems ISO 14001 and EMAS III. Both systems play
an important supporting role in our project of ex-
panding the Norderstedt production site.
Dr Tim Hünniger,
Safety Manager for Medical Products:
“Part of my work is to assess reports
about risks inherent to medical products
and attend to my duty of disclosure. We
aim to guarantee the greatest possible
safety to patients every day. Success
means getting no reports.”
17Sub-index: reporting areas.
Product responsibility Sustainable employment
21 Versatile products and a holistic approach. 27 A passion for personnel management.
22 A closer look at our range of sustainable 28 We kick-start careers.
products. From the very beginning.
- hyclick® system: safety has never been easier.
-g rotan® OX: a new level of safety in fuel 28 Support the next generation.
production. Shape the future for everyone.
-p armetol® SBX and parmetol® BPX in
combination with the hygiene concept – 29 Only the best for our staff. They deserve it.
our intelligent preservation system.
-o ctenisan® set: provides safety, creates trust. 29 In charge of an outstanding team.
- Ideas
grounded in reality: sterile, sporicidal In pursuit of outstanding performance.
impregnated wipes.
-G entle on the environment with peracetic 29 The digitalization makes us faster.
acid. And smarter.
25 Sustainability shapes all our services. 30 Each employee counts. Together, we succeed.
It’s in our blood. - Workforce 2016
-m ein-hygieneplan.de: outstanding quality - Trainees
management with digital solutions. - Seniority
-M odern oil production: innovative and - Professional development
international. - Occupational accidents
31 A passion for occupational health.
31 The way to the heart is through the stomach.
So is the way to good health.
31 Posture matters. Sit right – for the sake of your
health.
31 Stage free for our health management.
32 We stay active. Together.
33 Top shopping. Top motivation.
18Environmental responsibility
35 An environmental policy cannot consist
of paragraphs only. It must manifest itself
in every aspect of our daily work.
- E xample instructions for the management
of major environmental aspects
- E nvironmental organization
37 We take responsibility. We take it seriously.
-M
ain aspects and indicators and direct and
indirect effects.
38 Great things require focus. Our energy
management is a good example.
-O
ur energy-saving measures.
39 The measure of our success: environmental
indicators.
- Electricity
- Heating
- Steam
- Water
- Waste water emission
- E xhaust air emission
- Waste
-R emediation wells
42 Additional steps in 2017.
43 Sustainability program 2017–2019.
19Product responsibility 20
Versatile products
and a holistic approach.
When it comes to our corporate responsibility, we After all, new questions and issues come up all the
do not tolerate any blind spots. schülke takes full time. schülke offers more than 220 products plus
responsibility – from the initial development of accessories. Multiple factors must be considered
our products to their eventual disposal. We operate for each of them, including the choice of the right
our production processes and sales sustainably product, its correct dosage, and its cost-efficient
and holistically and apply the same principles to application. It is extremely important that our con
the ways in which our customers will use our prod sultants can provide comprehensive advice on
ucts. Before launching our products on the market, the sustainable use of all products. Our technical
we carry out a wide range of ecological and toxi advisors, too, are experts in their fields: hygiene
cological assessments. Throughout the entire de and disinfection technology, electrical engineer
velopmental cycle, we are guided by the latest ing, installation and control technology, the instal
scientific insights. lation of dispensing systems, special cleaning and
disinfection technologies, cost-efficient and sus
Our specialist consultants advise us on all issues tainable maintenance, and the inspection and ser
relating to the fields of application, material be vicing of application technologies.
havior, tolerability and environmental impact of
our products. We continuously provide them with
training and further education in these fields, so
they can always find the right solutions for our
customers’ individual needs.
Sonja Tahmouresinia,
Biological-Technical Assistant:
“I really enjoy working in our department,
Quality Assurance for Microbiology. Our main
task is to verify that our products are free
of germs. I am proud to work in a renowned
pharmaceutical company whose products
help people and combat disease before it
develops.”
21Product responsibility
A closer look at our range of sustainable products.
All of our product innovations are developed It is also an additional contribution to sustainability:
in-house, which enables us to offer tailor-made We have developed a new product on the basis
solutions that perfectly match our customers’ of grotan® OX for removing hydrogen sulfide from
individual requirements and impress with their crude oil in fuel production applications. This new
sustainability as well as cost efficiency. product is especially powerful when used during
the refining process. The product development
hyclick® system: safety has never been easier. process saw our research and development team
Optimum protection against contamination: conducting close to 3,000 tests.
Thanks to the innovative click system, swapping
bottles is now quick and easy, making life easier parmetol® SBX and parmetol® BPX in combina-
for our customers - and difficult for pathogens tion with the hygiene concept – our intelligent
and germs. By developing the hyclick® system, preservation system.
schülke once again reconfirmed that it doesn’t Compliance with the legal framework for the prop
take rocket science to offer ingenious and sus er preservation of consumer products is becoming
tainable solutions. increasingly challenging. The preservatives used
in these products not only have to comply with the
Biocidal Products Regulation (BPR), their concen
trations must also remain below the threshold val
ues for triggering allergic reactions as prescribed
by the applicable labeling regulations. Market
ing-related considerations, such as environmental
quality seals (e.g. Nordic Swan), also play an in
creasingly important role. This limits the selection
of preservatives that can be used in consumer
products - with market requirements increasing at
the same time.
The hyclick® dispenser system allows for quick
and easy swapping of bottles. It therefore becomes even more important to use
the available preservatives in a sustainable and
grotan® OX: a new level of safety in fuel responsible manner. An efficient use of preserva
production. tives is also imperative for minimizing the risk of
One of the most difficult and pressing challenges a potential pathogen contamination and for en
in oil and gas extraction is to effectively control suring the availability of alternative preservatives
hydrogen sulfide. While it may only make itself no over the long term.
ticed by a foul smell of rotten eggs, it actually is an
extremely poisonous gas. Higher concentrations To ensure that preservatives are used sustainably,
can quickly be lethal, because the combination of it is crucial to utilize any available synergies be
hydrogen sulfide and air forms explosive vapors tween the individual preservatives. This ensures
that are also highly corrosive. In the area of oil a high level of effectiveness at the lowest possible
and gas extraction, this vapor is almost exclusively concentrations. In the future, it will also be import
attributable to the anaerobic metabolism of sul ant to understand production hygiene as an inte
fate-reducing bacteria (SRB). gral part of the preservatives concept, to adapt
processes accordingly and to optimize the preser
schülke offers a highly effective “antidote”: vatives’ application concentration.
grotan® OX breaks up the poisonous hydrogen
sulfide into non-toxic products. In the future, this Our new products parmetol® SBX and parmetol®
application will become an important pillar in BPX are designed to precisely meet these future
the Special Additives International (SAI) sector requirements. Additionally, the hygiene concept
of schülke. offers an innovative approach to using these
22An intelligent preservation system: parmetol® in combination with the hygiene concept
Production / application Addition of raw materials / Ready-made product /
process other components in-can preservation
parmetol® Raw materials
contaminated
Storage tank /
ready-made
product
Mixing Mixing Container
container container
High/low Low Low
contamination risk contamination risk contamination risk
preservatives in the best possible way. There are octenisan® set: provides safety, creates trust.
many different potential sources of contamination Infection prevention is at the heart of modern
within a production process. One example is stag hospital hygiene. Recent scientific studies show
nant water in pipes, which can have a germ count that whole-body decontamination washes prior
in excess of 106 CFU/ml. Raw materials or other to surgery can assist in reducing the infection risk.
components can also cause problems. In the con
ventional process, the preservatives are added in A single square centimeter of skin may contain
the last step of the process. up to 10 million germs, which are a normal part
of the skin and also have a protective function.
The hygiene concept is based on the approach A surgical procedure penetrates the skin’s natural
that the outstanding stability and the instant ef barrier and allows germs to enter the body and
fectiveness of these new products allow for them cause infections. schülke also offers essential
to be added in their entire concentration already protection in this area: The octenisan® set allows
at the start of the production process. In this way, patients to take effective preventative action
any pre-existing contamination can be treated against infections prior to surgery while still at
at the same time, while the contamination risk home.
remains low over the entire production process.
parmetol® SBX and parmetol® BPX also guarantee
the effective long-term preservation of the cus
tomer’s finished product.
In addition to using raw materials in a sustainable
and resource-conscious way by optimizing the
preservatives’ application concentration, schülke’s
new products ensure a safe production process
and assist in preventing quarantine periods, prod
uct recalls or production losses.
The octenisan® set assists in effectively reducing
the infection risk during surgical procedures.
23Product responsibility
Ideas grounded in reality: Gentle on the environment with peracetic acid.
sterile, sporicidal impregnated wipes. Peracetic acid is an organic peroxide, i.e., a chemi
A major customer from Marburg has come up with cal derivative of hydrogen peroxide. As a disinfec
a very innovative application for our wipes: they tant, it has a complete microbiological effective
simply removed the spray cap of the product spectrum and an especially low environmental
bottle and poured half of the liquid into the soft impact. Following a reaction that ‘cold-burns’ the
pack. Voilà: impregnated wipes! germs, the peracetic acid disaggregates into oxy
gen and small amounts of regular acetic acid. It
When we got wind of this ingenious idea, we does not produce any environmentally harmful
knew: this has got to happen. Together with our residue.
subsidiary Bioxal, we carried out a range of tests
and ultimately developed a new 300-ml bottle. On account of its ecological safety and the wide
It contains the first gamma-irradiated PAA disin microbiological effective spectrum, peracetic acid
fectant on the market and has a very low risk of is a genuine alternative to aldehydes for the pre
contamination. This allows schülke to bottle the paration of medical products. Its balanced bi-com
product in-house at Bioxal for a rapid product ponent formula changes the pH value of the per
release. During a specialist forum in 2016, acetic acid to a neutral range. This allows us to
Air Liquide awarded this innovation, which was guarantee a high degree of practical material
inspired by a customer’s idea. compatibility in addition to a complete effective
spectrum. The final disinfection even of highly
sensitive medical products, such as flexible endo
scopes, becomes effortless.
Preparing impregnated wipes
In addition to gigasept® PAA concentrate and
thermosept® PAA, our instrument portfolio has
gained a new product based on peracetic acid: our
gigasept® pearls. This manual cleaning agent
and disinfectant has an innovative, pearl-shaped
structure. It aids the safe preparation of medical
products and protects the environment.
Peracetic acid – environ
mentally friendly with a
high material compatibility.
Things can be so
simple: just un
pack and mix!
24Sustainability shapes all our services.
It’s in our blood.
From research to disposal: our processes are built Modern oil production: innovative and inter
for sustainability. Creating the necessary scope to national.
develop innovative solutions within an increasing Since late 2005, schülke has been working with the
ly strict body of regulations is an art and a chal Institute for Chemical Additives at the Azerbaijan
lenge. It takes the power of outstanding ideas. We National Academy of Sciences. This partnership is
initiate partnerships that transcend departmental dedicated to the joint development of better oil
boundaries and national borders to set an example production processes.
for future projects.
The former Soviet Republic of Azerbaijan is lo-
mein-hygieneplan.de: outstanding quality man- cated at the Caspian Sea. Its annual oil production
agement with digital solutions. is approximately equivalent to that of Great Britain.
We want to support our customers as efficiently as Together, we have been working on new tech
possible. To this end, we develop detailed hygiene niques to optimize the extraction of mineral oil.
plans for their quality management – perfectly We recently developed a chemical formula on a
suited to their individual requirements. These laboratory scale that can increase the yield from
hygiene plans are based on the German Infection an oil well that is about to run dry. Our product
Protection Act (IfSG) and the guidelines of the rel grotan® OX is the most suitable preservative for
evant professional association. They govern the this purpose.
documentation and coordination of hygiene
measures. Hygiene management systems are The result of our work has been published in a
an important part of every quality management joint article. As a next step, we will carry out a
system, and schülke’s is designed to meet its legal feasibility analysis on the technical realization of
requirements perfectly. We commit to a binding the newly developed process.
hygiene standard based on relevant laws, such
as the RKI guidelines, hygiene directives, UVV, etc.
State-of-the-art IT systems help us conceptualize
our hygiene processes autonomously and create
an individual hygiene plan. This solution is legally
watertight and efficient, as it saves administrative
effort.
Hendrik Böhm,
Shift Manager for Bulk Containers:
“We face immense challenges every
day. Our goal is to find answers that are
suitable down to the details. It motivates
us to make steady progress.”
25Sustainable employment 26
A passion for personnel management.
At schülke, we give it our all. Not just for our The code of conduct also contains our manage
customers but also for our applicants and em ment principles, which every new manager re
ployees, whom we support with great dedication. ceives upon entering our company. New managers
Our holistic approach to personnel management undergo regular training on a variety of personnel
holistically allows us to recruit qualified staff and development topics to ensure that these principles
ensure their continuous professional development. are deeply enshrined in their daily managerial
This strategy opens up a plethora of individual ca work. This allows us to implement our philosophy
reer opportunities to our employees at schülke and of leadership sustainably and in depth.
the Air Liquide group. As a company, we can rely
on our excellently qualified and motivated staff.
Openness is the fundamental pillar of our compa
ny culture. Each new employee commits to our
code of conduct, which enshrines diversity and
equal opportunities and governs the global guide
lines of our work. We conduct annual training
courses on ethical questions and practical topics
such as competition and antitrust law. This ensures
that all employees implement our principles in
their everyday work.
Ilja König,
Director Human Resources:
“We want to create a motivating work
environment by sustaining fair partner
ships with our employees and managers.
We allow our team members freedom
to act independently, give them respon
sibility and actively support their profes
sional development.”
27Sustainable employment
We kick-start careers. From the very beginning.
We have developed a clear recruitment strategy system: a long-standing, experienced employee
to get the best experts, managers and entry-level helps them in their daily work and supports them
professionals on board. Based on objective criteria, in building a professional network. The mentor
we aim to establish a diversified staff structure. benefits from their mutual exchange by being
We use a wide-ranging campus management strat exposed to new ideas and impulses.
egy to find talented young people with an interest
in the business areas of our company. By working To advance the personal development of each
with selected universities and offering a range of employee, schülke offers a training catalogue and
domestic and international internship programs, various courses every year. Employees further
we build our team with a view to the future. have the option to sign up for international train
ing measures within the scope of the group-wise
There are different measures in place to help new Air Liquide University. Regular career discussions
employees find their bearings in our company. help them plan their professional development
During their induction phase, we assign them a for the medium to long term. Especially skilled em
team member who familiarizes them with our pro ployees can choose the career path of a technical
cesses and supports their personal integration. community leader.
Young newcomers have access to a mentoring
Supporting the next generation. Shaping the future for everyone.
Training young people is a high priority to us. We To encourage the innovative spirit of our employ
invest a great deal of work and time in supporting ees, we also support part-time professional devel
the next generation. Together with Nordakademie opment measures, such as specialist certifications,
and many other professional training facilities, we bachelor’s degrees and master’s degrees.
offer vocational training and dual degree courses
for many occupations. In 2016, we focused increas
ingly on commercial and technical fields to prevent
a shortage of skilled workers.
28Only the best for our staff. They deserve it.
Highly flexible working hours cater to the individual initiatives include sabbaticals, childcare grants,
needs of our employees. They also create family- career re-entry management and the subsidized
friendly working conditions. We also offer our ProfiCard. Our in-house canteen offers healthy and
staff a profitable pension scheme. Other beneficial nutritious meals at low staff prices.
In charge of an outstanding team.
In pursuit of outstanding performance.
HR switched to a business partner model in 2016. port not only our managers but also our employ
We carried out this restructuration to position the ees with this advisory and mediating role. They will
unit as a strategic partner within the company and actively influence company affairs, develop strate
align its work more closely with the requirements gies for the company to improve its business per
of our business. HR will assume the function of a formance by leveraging its employees, and try to
professional, individual consultant to the manage increase the value creation in the company visibly.
ment. We want the HR business partners to sup
The digitalization makes us faster. And smarter.
Everything is digitalizing, even professional devel our digitalization efforts in 2017 by implementing
opment. We started implementing digital instru a modern application management system. Topics
ments on a global scale in 2016. Our first step was such as social media and digitally supported career
the introduction of a learning management sys development will constitute further focal points.
tem. It allows us to access group-wide educational
resources and manage training and qualification
courses much more efficiently. We will continue
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