Voluntary

Committed by choice

fairpflichtet is the sustainability code of the German-speaking events industry.

fairpflichtet members are all the players in the industry who work for environmental, social and economic sustainability and document their commitment transparently through fairpflichtet.

Tree-planting initiative: two men planting a tree

// Unser fairpflichtet Fortschrittsbericht berücksichtigt die Einhaltung der Nachhaltigkeitsziele der Vereinten Nationen (SDG Sustainable Development Goals).
As examples, here is how the fairpflichtet guiding principles map onto three SDGs that matter particularly to the events industry:
Responsible consumption and production
Guiding principles 6, 7
Gender equality
Guiding principles 1, 3, 4, 5, 8, 9, 10
Climate action
Guiding principles 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 10

The 10 guiding principles

of fairpflichtet

STRATEGY: Sustainable business means acting strategically, taking the lead and building sustainability into company processes.
Sustainability is seen above all as an OPPORTUNITY – a way of dealing with the future effects of business activity, for everyone’s benefit.
The ‘sustainable entrepreneur’ fulfils their responsibility to the region by contributing to the COMMON GOOD.
ECONOMIC CONSIDERATIONS, environmental concerns and social considerations must be balanced and given equal weight for the company’s long-term stability.
Responsible use of RESOURCES AND ENERGY means
1. avoiding their use,
2. reducing their use and
3. replacing them with renewable sources.

The ‘sustainable employer’ demonstrates strong PEOPLE SKILLS in its dealings with employees, develops their skills and qualifications and secures their jobs.
Out of RESPECT for people, the ‘sustainable entrepreneur’ stands up for human rights and opposes every form of discrimination and corruption.
OPENNESS is a mindset. Being transparent about sustainability measures follows from it.
The voluntary COMMITMENT to sustainability is a duty we owe ourselves, and one that becomes an expectation of society.
The ‘sustainable entrepreneur’ provides INCENTIVES for rethinking and taking action, involving employees and business partners in continually improving sustainability.

Strategy

// Das große Ziel eines Unternehmens: Klimaneutralität!

Becoming climate neutral and working as sustainably as we can is our goal, and we’re continually working towards it. As one step towards it, we were among the first companies in the events industry to launch the project “One Event – One Tree” and have inspired many people to join in.

To put sustainable business processes in place and keep them going, we have also had a designated sustainability officer since January 2018. The officer shares information about the company’s sustainability activities and training internally through personal conversations and newsletters, and makes sure that all decisions and business actions are taken and carried out with sustainability in mind. By regularly producing the progress report that documents our sustainability, we check our goals and adjust them accordingly.

Sustainability officer

Natalia Mikler

Opportunities

// Durch einige Eventformate bieten wir unseren Kunden die Chance ihr Teamevent mit sozialem Engagement zu verknüpfen.

We take our close cooperation with service providers and producers in the Ruhr region very seriously: it supports the local economy and lets us draw on valuable contacts. The short delivery distances for products are another plus.

We’ve set internal rules for waste management. To minimise waste, we keep our records digitally wherever possible, and we also want to raise our customers’ awareness of waste prevention through digital proposals and contracts. An app is also being developed that is meant to replace paper for tournament planning and results.

In future, every customer is to be offered the option of CO2 offsetting. It will be listed as an optional service and carried out by a certified partner.

Team events with added (social) benefits.

Common good

// Gemeinwohl bedeutet, dass wir Veranstaltungen so gestalten, dass sie nicht nur den Teilnehmenden zugutekommen, sondern auch einen positiven Beitrag für Gesellschaft und Umwelt haben.

Many local products are tasted and promoted. Leftover food from events and packaging material are donated to the Essener Tafel food bank or an animal shelter in Essen.

We also actively support volunteer projects. Every year, for example, we take an active part in MENSCHENMÖGLICHES’ charity golf tournament and help to raise funds. We also see projects like Sauber Zauber in Essen as a way both to bring our own team closer together and to do something for the environment.

For specialist expertise at our tasting events, we bring in

local experts.

We rely on valuable

contacts, local produce and short journeys.

We donate

money and leftover food.

Economic viability

// Das ökonomische Ziel des Unternehmens bildet die Existenzsicherung durch einen festen Kundenstamm, die Generierung neuer Kunden, langfristiger Aufträge und kontinuierlichen Umsatzzahlen.

Growing revenue and a stable order book are the results of running a business well. Alongside economic stability, our other goal is to become a climate-neutral company. All decisions are to be made on ecological grounds, and emissions are to be avoided where possible, or else reduced and offset. Taking environmental factors into account, all business activities are to be as cost-efficient as possible. For example, we try to get people to events in as few cars as possible.

To keep things stable internally, we build on respectful treatment of all our stakeholders, from employees and customers to our partners. We regularly gauge the mood inside the company with feedback forms.

Growing revenue and a stable order book.

Reducing, avoiding and offsetting emissions.

Resources and energy

// Wir bemühen uns, um einen ressourcensparenden Energieeinsatz. Sämtliche elektronischen Geräte werden so sparsam und effizient wie möglich genutzt und seit Beginn der Unternehmensgründung mit Ökostrom betrieben.

To keep waste as low as possible, all our event boxes (over 30,000 of them) are packed plastic-free, and more and more customers tell us how pleasantly surprised they are. The cardboard packaging is also certified with the FSC label and shipped via DHL GoGreen.

With health and environmental awareness on the rise, we actively offer vegan and vegetarian options at our food service events. Where our products come from matters a great deal to us, so we largely rely on regional produce from, for example, local bakeries or breweries.

We use green electricity.

Since 2020, all office, streaming and storage spaces have been fitted with

energy-saving bulbs and extension leads with on/off switches.

Plastic? Not in our boxes.

People skills

// Wir pflegen im Team ein freundschaftlich-kollegiales Verhältnis mit einer schnellen Kommunikation und flachen Hierarchiestrukturen. Verschiedene Themen werden im Team besprochen und entschieden. Verantwortungen werden an die Mitarbeitenden übertragen.

Our weekly meetings bring us together in an atmosphere of mutual appreciation. We regularly hold a team breakfast or barbecue to go with them. We aim for long-term working relationships with our employees. To that end, we have been a company that trains apprentices since 2018, currently with four apprentices who gain experience across all aspects of the events industry. Further education and training opportunities for our permanent employees, as well as training for freelancers, are offered regularly. To build interest in the events industry, we’re happy to offer work placements to people interested in the industry.

To show our appreciation for our staff and strengthen the bonds within the team, we hold team events several times a year.

We maintain a friendly, supportive working atmosphere.

We train apprentices and provide further education and training.

Respect

// Wir sprechen uns explizit gegen jede Form von Diskriminierung sämtlicher Art aus. Diversität spielt bei uns eine große Rolle und gilt als Selbstverständlichkeit, sodass unser Team seit Unternehmensgründung aus verschiedenen Nationalitäten mit unterschiedlichen religiösen Ansichten besteht.

We monitor compliance with standards and statutory working hours and breaks, keeping digital records. When people work extra hours or at weekends, we take care to balance this out appropriately soon afterwards. Preventive health measures and rehab programmes after an illness are taken seriously and supported. Employees can leave work to attend these appointments.

With the food and drink we offer at events, we respond to the needs and wishes of everyone involved.

There’s no room for discrimination here.

We pay attention to preventive health measures and to meeting statutory standards.

For us, diversity in the team goes without saying.

Openness

// OFFENHEIT ist eine Einstellung. Transparenz der Maßnahmen für Nachhaltigkeit ist die Konsequenz.

Sustainability topics should be communicated transparently. We actively suggest the most climate-friendly and sustainable options for planning an event to our customers – from vegetarian / vegan catering to the most climate-friendly transport.

By publishing the sustainability report, we want our customers and partners to be able to gain insight into our sustainability strategies and measures.

Recommending the most climate-friendly and sustainable options.

Transparent communication.

Our commitment

// Durch die Verpflichtung zu der Initiative „fairpflichtet“ streben wir nicht nur intrinsisch das Ziel der klimafreundlichen Unternehmung an, sondern sind verpflichtet, unser Handeln zu dokumentieren und nachhaltige Aktivitäten bestmöglich anzuwenden.

The initiative’s guiding principles serve as inspiration for continually making the way we work more sustainable. We regard this as an important part of the road to becoming a “Green Company”. Documenting our work every year in the progress report lets us check our own goals and present them transparently.

We continually put our guiding principles into practice, work towards our goals and refine both.

Incentives

// Autofreier Arbeitsweg

Within our team, we try to keep emissions from commuting low and leave the car at home. More than 50% of the team use public transport or happily take the bike in summer. A public transport pass for commuting is also offered to all employees free of charge.

// Teilnahme am Essener Firmenlauf

By taking part in the Essener Firmenlauf every year, we also want to raise our employees’ health awareness and boost their motivation to run. Publishing the photos from the run is meant to inspire customers, partners and others interested in the company to invest in their health too. After the run, there’s an informal get-together on site with other local businesses.