Sustainable Business Practices as a Focus Topic

Employees from Poland donate a total of 150 liters of blood

The 2021 anniversary year has placed Bardusch entirely under the main theme "Sustainable Business" and transparently informs about its ecological, social, and economic goals. The company very early set the course for increased environmental protection and had itself certified according to DIN ISO 14001 as early as the mid-1990s. Since then, Bardusch has done a lot to further reduce resource consumption and promote the circular economy. But it also takes its social responsibility very seriously.

As the first German service company, Bardusch was certified in the mid-1990s according to the international environmental management standard ISO 14001, thereby committing to regularly optimize its environmental policy. Together with environmental experts from the state of Baden-Württemberg, Bardusch laid the foundation for a comprehensive eco-audit – and this was a pioneering effort for the entire industry. In 1995, Bardusch received the environmental award from the state for "Outstanding achievements in promoting operational environmental protection and environmentally oriented corporate management".

Special Responsibility for Employees and the Environment

In recent years, the expectations of customers and the public towards a modern, forward-looking company have changed significantly. It should not only offer high-quality products or services but also act sustainably, considering ecological and social factors alongside economic aspects.

Since 2018, Bardusch has maintained a "Code of Sustainability" that ensures decisions in all areas of the company are made based on sustainability principles. For a personnel-intensive company like Bardusch, the top priority is to ensure the health and safety of its 3,500 employees. But the company's social engagement extends well beyond its own workforce.

The shareholders and management are just as committed to social issues as the Bardusch employees. The company regularly supports national and regional organizations with donations. In 2013, Bardusch received the SME Award for Social Responsibility in Baden-Württemberg. This award recognizes voluntary engagement for clubs, schools, welfare associations, and social institutions and organizations.

Conserving Resources and Promoting the Circular Economy

Bardusch consistently promotes the circular economy to fulfill its special responsibility towards the environment and to protect natural resources. Modern water and heat recovery technologies reduce water consumption and improve the energy efficiency of the plants.

The results are impressive. Thanks to modern systems, the company today uses about 50 percent less water than a private household for a comparable amount of laundry. The current website and the regularly updated Bardusch Environmental Statement explain the idea of the Bardusch circular economy.

In addition to certification according to ISO standards, Bardusch now relies on the European environmental management system EMAS III, also known as the EU Eco-Management and Audit Scheme. Furthermore, Bardusch's textiles are subject to quality assurance according to Öko-Tex Standard 100. The company received the "Sustainable Textile Service" award from the German Textile Cleaner Association.

Country Companies and Branches with Additional Activities

Environmental protection is also a top priority at Bardusch's country companies and locations – as exemplified by the following two examples representing the group.

The Bardusch AG in Basel was awarded in 2018 – for the second time after 2011 – by the Swiss Foundation Nature & Economy for "the exemplary and nature-friendly design of its site". By fully greening the company roofs, valuable habitats for many native animal species were created. The biotope on the Bardusch roofs resembles an Alpine meadow and is about half the size of a football field.

The Dresden branch participated from 2015 to 2018 in the pilot project "Solar Process Heat for Laundries" (SoProW) conducted by the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems (ISE), Freiburg. The goal was and is to improve energy efficiency in industrial operations through optimized process control and the integration of renewable energies.

150 Projects for a Sustainable Future

In its anniversary year, Bardusch is documenting its ecological, social, and economic activities for the first time in a comprehensive CSR report (Corporate Social Responsibility). This allows the company to transparently and verifiably demonstrate how it fulfills its societal and ecological responsibilities and what measures are planned for the future.

To further raise awareness of the importance of sustainable business among employees, customers, and the public, the management of Bardusch has decided to theme the 2021 anniversary activities: "150 Years of Bardusch – 150 Good Deeds".

"150 Years of Bardusch – 150 Good Deeds"

The response from employees to the anniversary idea is very positive, and their commitment is notably high. All country companies and branches of the Bardusch group have selected social and/or ecological initiatives in their respective regions, which they wish to support especially through voluntary efforts or monetary donations in connection with the company anniversary. A total of 150 of these projects across the six countries where Bardusch is present will be supported by the company in 2021 with up to several thousand euros each.

Creativity and Personal Commitment of Employees

The range of proposed projects is enormous. It spans from generous donations to existing social and ecological facilities, volunteer efforts by Bardusch employees, to the implementation of entirely new initiatives. Especially the international colleagues attract attention through creative ideas – sometimes directly related to "150 Years of Bardusch".

For example, employees in Poland plan to donate 150 liters of blood and plant 150 trees. Similar tree-planting campaigns are planned by branches in Switzerland and Hungary. Physical activity is also involved in the Polish project "150 Kilometer Charity Run". Across borders, the organizers of litter collection campaigns can also look forward to the engagement of Bardusch employees.

In some of the 150 CSR projects, the company's connection to the textile sector is evident: colleagues in Hungary plan to wash team uniforms from clubs for free 150 times. Employees of a Swiss branch want to organize a charity sale to equip their community with vests for student crossing guards, and in Germany, work clothing is to be provided for an inclusion project. Last but not least, flora and fauna are also considered: employees in France and Germany are funding beehives and placing them on their company grounds. The German colleagues also want to support the preservation and renaturation of a biotope, as well as animal sponsorships in zoos or a registration campaign for DKMS (German Bone Marrow Donor Registry).

Social Engagement Affects Everyone

With its focus on sustainability, Bardusch aims in its anniversary year to demonstrate that the company designs its own business processes as sustainably as possible. However, Bardusch also wants to send a signal to the public with the 150 CSR projects and draw attention to the fact that everyone can contribute to shaping our society and environment for the future.