Girsberger Holding AG
Climate Impact & Sustainability Data (2014, 2019-2020)
Reporting Period: 2014
Environmental Metrics
Total Carbon Emissions:670 tCO2e (offset)
Scope 1 Emissions:Not disclosed
Scope 2 Emissions:Not disclosed
Scope 3 Emissions:Not disclosed
Renewable Energy Share:100% (Bützberg and Endingen from 2013)
Total Energy Consumption:Not disclosed
Water Consumption:2,961 m3/year
Waste Generated:Not disclosed
Carbon Intensity:Not disclosed
ESG Focus Areas
- Environmental protection
- Social responsibility
- Product safety
Environmental Achievements
- Reduced CO2 emissions by 33.5% from 2009 to 2014
- 100% of electricity requirements at Bützberg and Endingen covered by green electricity from 2013
- 42.62% of Endingen's electricity needs generated by photovoltaic system (2011-2014)
- Waste reduced by 48% in Bützberg (2012-2014)
- Recyclable waste increased to 71.7% in Endingen (2014)
Social Achievements
- Employee satisfaction consistently high (8.2/10)
- 100% of employee appraisals performed (2014)
- Reduced short-term absences by 5% per annum in Bützberg
Governance Achievements
- Supplier code of conduct implemented
- Annual confirmation of environmental relevance achieved
- Further monitoring and review of Asian suppliers achieved
Climate Goals & Targets
Long-term Goals:
- Not disclosed
Medium-term Goals:
- Refurbish heating in Bützberg (2016/17)
- Renovate roof of production and administration areas in Endingen
- Implement lighting concept in Endingen
- Explore use of self-generated electricity in Endingen
- All key supplier partners to sign code of conduct by end of 2015
Short-term Goals:
- Reduce waste by 5% in Bützberg compared to previous year
- Increase recyclable waste to 75% in Endingen
Environmental Challenges
- Fierce competition and price pressure in the office furniture industry
- Difficulty in meeting the 5% reduction target for short-term absences in Endingen
- Increasingly difficult to source suppliers within a 600km radius due to cost pressures
- Growing proportion of indirectly sourced materials from Asia
- Two incidents involving the Sway standing stool requiring a product recall
Mitigation Strategies
- Strategic transformation into specialized market niches
- Health care specialists consulted to address absenteeism in Endingen
- Revised supplier evaluation system incorporating ecological aspects
- Development of a supplier code of conduct
- Replacement of all sold Sway standing stools with modified models
Supply Chain Management
Supplier Audits: Not disclosed
Responsible Procurement
- Supplier code of conduct
- Preference for suppliers located near production sites (where feasible)
Climate-Related Risks & Opportunities
Physical Risks
- Not disclosed
Transition Risks
- Not disclosed
Opportunities
- Not disclosed
Reporting Standards
Frameworks Used: GRI
Certifications: EN ISO 9001, EN ISO 14001
Third-party Assurance: SQS (Swiss Association for Quality and Management Systems)
UN Sustainable Development Goals
- Not disclosed
Not disclosed
Sustainable Products & Innovation
- G 125 wooden swivel chair
Awards & Recognition
- Not disclosed
Reporting Period: 2019-2020
Environmental Metrics
Total Carbon Emissions:639 tCO2e (offset)
Renewable Energy Share:100% (Bützberg and Endingen)
ESG Focus Areas
- Economy
- Ecology
- Social affairs
Environmental Achievements
- Climate-neutral production since 2015
- 100% green electricity at Bützberg and Endingen sites since 2013
- Photovoltaic system at Endingen generated 62% of site's electricity needs in 2020
- Reduced water consumption by 36.6% in 2020 at Bützberg due to reduced wood-drying
- Reduced paper consumption by over 20% in the reporting period
- 99.8% of wood sourced from European, sustainably managed forests in 2020
- Wood waste meets over 90% of Bützberg site's heating energy needs
- Recyclable waste share maintained at 89.1% in Bützberg and 83.7% in Endingen in 2020
Social Achievements
- Employee turnover rate decreased significantly to 4.2% in 2020
- Employee satisfaction rating of 8.3 out of 10 in 2020
- Implemented safety protocol during COVID-19 pandemic with no production stoppages or above-average absences
- Offered permanent employment to four individuals who completed internships
- Introduced a credit of up to two days a year for voluntary work
Governance Achievements
- Annual verification of suppliers' environmental relevance
- Girsberger Code of Conduct signed by all A-suppliers and numerous B-suppliers
- Regular assessment of pay equality at both sites
Climate Goals & Targets
Long-term Goals:
- Not disclosed
Medium-term Goals:
- Further reduce waste volumes at Endingen
- Expand photovoltaic system at Endingen
- Promote e-mobility at both sites
Short-term Goals:
- Certify Boreal doo (Serbia) to ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 by end of 2022
- Maintain recyclable waste share at Bützberg and Endingen
- Investigate switching to water-based lacquers to reduce VOC emissions
- Implement new working time regulations by start of 2022
Environmental Challenges
- COVID-19 pandemic impacting sales targets and production capacity
- Downward pressure on office chair prices and currency exchange rate fluctuations
- Material availability issues due to the pandemic
- Volatile raw material prices and potential shortages
- Lack of economically viable and eco-friendly recycling solution for fabric remnants
- Difficulty in finding sustainable packaging materials that meet requirements
Mitigation Strategies
- Partial use of state-supported short-time working compensation
- Cost-cutting measures across all business areas and subsidiaries
- Adapting product range and services to changing market conditions
- Optimizing procurement for resource and energy efficiency
- Shortening transport routes
- Investing in new, more efficient machinery and processes
Supply Chain Management
Supplier Audits: Annual assessment of A and B suppliers
Responsible Procurement
- Preference for suppliers within 600km radius
- Girsberger Code of Conduct for Suppliers
Climate-Related Risks & Opportunities
Reporting Standards
Frameworks Used: GRI
Certifications: EN ISO 9001, EN ISO 14001
UN Sustainable Development Goals
- 3. Health and Well-being
- 4. Quality Education
- 5. Gender Equality
- 7. Affordable and Clean Energy
- 12. Responsible Consumption and Production
- 13. Climate Action
The report details how Girsberger's initiatives contribute to these SDGs.
Sustainable Products & Innovation
- Barra table range and Biala chair family (usable in home and office)
Awards & Recognition
- EcoVadis Gold Medal (2019)