NORDWEST awards future prize for sustainability
Dortmund. 31/10/2024 - For the third time, the NORDWEST Handel AG association group is awarding the sustainability prize among its supplier partners in the construction, trade/industry and building services sectors in order to make manufacturers' sustainability strategies more transparent and to honour pioneering projects. This year, the award ceremony took place in Düsseldorf at the Theatre of Dreams and was attended by more than 100 participants who had submitted their project applications in advance. An independent jury selected three winners from the 67 sustainability applications submitted: Hamberger Sanitary GmbH, Kleining GmbH & Co KG and LAUFEN GmbH, who impressed the jury with their innovative strength and holistic approach.
In a festive ceremony on 29 October 2024 in Düsseldorf's Theater der Träume, the winners were presented with their awards in front of over 100 guests. The event not only provided a platform for the award-winning projects, but also offered inspiring insights into current aspects of sustainability. Member of the NORDWEST Management Board Michael Rolf hosted the evening and summarised: “The NORDWEST Future Prize for Sustainability unites forward-looking projects and a shared vision. The enthusiasm of our partners shows that together we are on a good and important path - and for greener and more responsible business practices as well.”
Thorsten Sega, Member of the NORDWEST Management Board, presented the sustainability commitment of the group at the company headquarters in Dortmund and at the new logistics site in Alsfeld, where NORDWEST is creating one of the most modern and sustainable logistics centres in Germany. "Our new building in Alsfeld is an important factor in our sustainability strategy - a state-of-the-art complex that is operated in a resourceconserving and energy-efficient manner. With projects like this, we as a company are sending out a signal that sustainability not only characterises our actions now, but also defines our vision for the future," emphasised Sega.
Commitment and vision: the award winners in detail
Jury members John E. Toft, CEO of TheKnot Recycling Consulting in Bremen, and Sandra Honigs, Deputy Director of the Aquazoos Löbbecke Museum in Düsseldorf, also helped present the NORDWEST Future Prize for Sustainability with inspiring speeches. Toft shed light on how companies can improve their environmental footprint through the circular economy. Honigs gave impressive insights into the importance of species conservation for sustainable development. Both emphasised that each of the numerous submissions makes a valuable contribution to promoting sustainability and provides creative, viable solutions to strengthen ecological and economic resilience - with the awardwinning projects as outstanding examples.
This year's three winning projects reflect a wide range of approaches and sustainable solutions, from resource and energy management to the promotion of an environmentally conscious working environment. The three winning companies each received a prize of 6,000 euros:
• Hamberger Sanitary GmbH: With the HARO Greenline toilet seat, the company presented the first seat that is made entirely from recycled plastic and is delivered in plastic-free packaging. Thanks to a CO2 savings of 77% and a potential to avoid 50,000 tonnes of CO2 per year, this product sets new standards for sustainable design and functionality.
• Kleining GmbH & Co. KG: The company impressed with its KaminFILTERKat, an innovative, electricity-free retrofit solution for wood-burning stoves that drastically reduces fine dust and pollutants. With recyclable materials and simple installation, this system helps to make older stoves more sustainable and protect the environment.
• LAUFEN GmbH: The world's first electric, CO₂-free tunnel kiln for the production of sanitary ceramics reduces energy consumption by a third and uses photovoltaics to provide a self-sufficient supply of energy. LAUFEN is thus paving the way for climate-neutral production and setting a new milestone in the ceramics industry.
After the awards ceremony, the evening provided ample opportunity for socialising and networking over dinner. An impressive scarf acrobatics show provided a festive finale.
