Environmental responsibility is very important to us.
Black Forest and Harz –
Our home
Our production facilities are located in recreational areas in the Black Forest and Harz. As an owner-managed company, Schneider has now been associated with these regions for three generations, and the conservation of the environment has always been firmly rooted in its company policy. We place particular focus on reducing land consumption, transport and emissions as well as on the protection of waterways - always for the sake of our environment.
We Care –
Yes, we really do care
We did not just jump on the eco bandwagon but have been actively promoting environmental protection for a very long time.
This is demonstrated by the early EMAS certification of our company in 1998: we were the first and for a long time the only company in the industry to obtain this. Since then we undergo regular auditing by an authorized, independent environmental expert. The achievement of set environmental targets and formulation of new targets are fixed components of certification.
Our registration number: DE-169-00015
Open and transparent
We are pleased at our accomplishments but we don’t conceal areas where improvement is still needed. Honest communication with our customers is important to us.
For this reason we publish our sustainability report every three years, also including the verified EMAS environmental statement. The performance figures this contains provide an exact summary of how our activities impact on the environment.
Climate protection –
Actively countering global warming
Climate protection is vital for preserving the very foundation of our lives. Greenhouse gas emissions are distributed evenly throughout the atmosphere and we are all affected by the consequences.
To counter this, we have charged our environmental protection officer with recording, calculating, reducing and compensating for CO2 emissions.
Entirely climate-neutral manufacture:
We act consistently. All of our products are created with consideration for the environment.
Avoiding emissions and waste –
For the sake of the environment
Since 2005 we have reduced our CO2 emissions by 2/3 by means of renewable energies and energy-saving measures.
Waste volume in relation to product weight has dropped by 30 %. At the same time we have increased our share of recyclable production waste to 85 % .
Renewable energy:
From water and sun
We have been using renewable energy since 1998. We obtain our electrical energy from hydroelectric sources and we also generate our own energy from heat and power cogeneration as well from a photovoltaic system. By installing new machinery with an energy recovery system, we have been able to reduce our energy consumption in relation to products sold by around 40% since 2004.
Natural energy - Whylen Hydro-electric power plant
Click nature - Electricity from the Steinerne Renne waterfall
Our materials –
Consciously selected
To avoid waste, our products are designed to ensure a high utility value combined with a long service life. But we also pay attention to what comes after: wherever possible, we avoid using substances requiring hazardous disposal, such as PVC or cadmium dyes. We even go beyond what is required by law.
The safety of our writing implements is tested by internal and external laboratories. Potentially hazardous substances are being replaced.
Global commitment
We look beyond our own walls. By compiling our corporate carbon footprint we have created the basis for identifying saving potential. This also takes account of emissions generated by raw materials purchased and transportation, for example.
We develop long-life products. To combine sustainability and quality.
Our products –
Designed with care
The long service life of our writing products is our most important contribution to the avoidance of waste.
Our sound workmanship ensures that our products enjoy full use over a period of many years. The ink capacity is the maximum possible. Our products can be refilled cleanly and easily. The use of special ink formulations and barrel materials maximises storage ability.
Plug+Play
And other clever ideas
Our ballpoint pens with Plug+Play system have a universal fit for a variety of cartridge formats. This makes it simple to buy replacements as well as store and change them. You always have the right cartridge at hand.
refilling reduces waste and saves money. We offer a wide range of clean and straightforward solutions.
Organic and recycling material –
This allows us to conserve resources
We check carefully where application makes sense without impairing the quality and appearance of our products. By means conscious application and making the most of the potential available we are able to save crude oil as a finite resource.
Bio-based products
Packaging –
Ecologically considered
Most of our packaging consists of cardboard boxes made from a minimum of 80 % recycled paper. Plastic packaging is not made of PVC but of non-critical PET film. We obtain more than half of our packaging materials from suppliers located within a radius of 50 km, which allows us to avoid long transport distances.
We provide retailers with millions of paper bags for packaging made from 100% recycled paper; in this way we are playing a role in avoiding the use of plastic bags.
It is in our nature to take responsibility.
Quality –
Our standard
We develop and produce our products almost exclusively in Germany. This is the best way for us to ensure the high quality of products and secure compliance with the complex German ecological and social standards. All of our actions are transparent and self-controlled.
Procurement –
Regional and effective
For procurement we prefer local sources in order to maintain the transparency of our environmentally-friendly manufacturing. We also aim to keep transport distances to a minimum. We use a single cargo company for our freight transport to maximise capacity utilisation and minimise traffic.
Our corporate carbon footprint also includes CO2 emissions for goods purchased. This allows us to identify emission drivers and work specifically on solutions to reduce them.
On the go:
Mobile and sustainable
Many of our employees start their day working on their fitness and protecting the environment. We have provided 70 e-bikes, for which we have been awarded the B.A.U.M environmental prize by the state of Baden-Württemberg. As a further sustainable alternative to the car, our employees can also use our free company bus. In this way, we can save on car journeys of around 50,000 kilometres and reduce the number of parking spaces by as many as 25.
We also practice environmental responsibility on our business trips: we prefer to travel either by train or use electric and hybrid cars.
Our everyday work –
Sustainable and aware
Even in our offices, we work in accordance with the precepts of sustainability: we use low-energy computers and low-consumption monitors with the Green IT (3 stars), EnergyStar and Blauer Engel labels; this has enabled us to reduce our electricity consumption by more than half. Moreover, the air-conditioning in our computing centre uses air from the outside.
Even our choice of printer paper takes the environment into consideration: we only use paper certified with the Blauer Engel seal or the EU Ecolabel.
Preserving nature –
Reducing land consumption
Our production facilities are located in recreational areas in the Black Forest and Harz. Our focus is constantly on reducing land consumption, transport and emissions as well as on the protection of waterways.
Overall, the amount of built-up and sealed land space in relation to products made has been reduced by almost 50% in the last ten years.
We Care. This means getting involved with our hearts and minds.
Our employees –
The key to success
We provide training in technical and commercial professions on a yearly basis with an eye towards long-term success. The average length of employment in our company is nearly seventeen years.
Our daily concern is to constantly improve working conditions. We do this by employing air-circulation and air-extraction systems in our premises, together with dust filters and noise-insulated ceilings. Well-balanced wage levels are also extremely important to us, and our employees also benefit each year from our profit sharing scheme.
We think ahead –
For ethical and moral behaviour
Because we design and produce our pens in Germany, we are able to guarantee our compliance with high social standards.
Ecological involvement and social responsibility are very important to us. Which is why we refuse to outsource our production facilities to low-wage countries. We were awarded the European Office Product Award 'Corporate Social Responsibility' in 2011 and named an exemplary company.
Fair purchasing –
In the long term
We work together with our suppliers as partners. Performance and counter-performance, chances and risks are in a balance with each other.
It is important to us that we satisfy our social requirements: 90% of our purchasing volume is conducted in EU states, with less than 1% originating from risk countries (as per BSCI list). We require our suppliers to furnish us with a declaration stating that they are ensuring continuous humane working conditions. Around 70% of all paid outsourced work is performed in disabled persons' workshops.
Against corruption –
For fair competition
Schneider is a signatory of the PBS (paper, office and writing products) code of honour. This is an ethical initiative signed by the four major business associations for the stationery industry; it provides for transparency, equal opportunities and fair business practices among the market partners in the entire industry.
The honorary committee for commercial mediation in the stationery industry monitors the fundamental principles and consistently pursues any violations. Anybody may submit a complaint.