Sustainability at P+M - from Nesting Boxes to KPIs

When we wanted to start our sustainability project, we quickly realized that we were already in the midst of it. Many necessary measures had already been implemented and numerous initiatives launched. Sustainable practices were simply part of our routine, without focusing on ESG scores. The desire to act sustainably stemmed from the intrinsic motivation of the people working at Produkt + Markt. As a medium-sized company, we are not obliged to report according to the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive and the Supply Chain Act, but eventually, inquiries from our clients accumulated. There were also the first audits, where visions, strategies, measures, and processes were scrutinized in detail. We quickly realized that goodwill and ad-hoc implementation were no longer sufficient. The problem: Our measures existed side by side, without coordination and without documentation of their effectiveness. A sustainability management system was lacking. Thus began our journey with good resources but without clear direction.

We started with an inventory. What sustainability measures had we already implemented? Where was action needed? The list on the credit side was surprisingly long. It included company health offerings, a green garden oasis with nesting boxes, donation campaigns, and energy-efficient building measures. Yet, there was no system to monitor the effectiveness of our measures with KPIs. Important documentation, essential for the transparency and traceability of our sustainability strategy, was also missing. After the inventory, three measures took priority:
 

• Formulate principles and a code of conduct and create comprehensible action guidelines.
• Pool resources and competencies in a team.
• Implement a system to make measures measurable and controllable.

Sustainability management is the strategic integration of environmental, social responsibility, and economic success. Companies develop and monitor measures that minimize ecological and social harm while ensuring economic stability. Key guidance is provided by the ESG criteria: Environmental, Social, and Governance.

Such definitions are helpful for orientation but must be translated and specified into the language and culture of the company. For this purpose, we formulated our Code of Conduct (COC), drafted new policies, and revised existing Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs). Behind all these complex terms lie principles, guidelines, and process descriptions. The COC outlines the values, attitudes, and principles underlying our sustainability strategy. Policies and SOPs provide operational clarity and help integrate sustainability into daily practice. The latter includes, for example, guidelines for sustainable business travel, data protection and privacy rights policies, or process descriptions for personnel development.

Sustainability can only succeed if it is supported by everyone. At Produkt + Markt, a specially established sustainability team has taken on this task. Composed of employees from various departments, the team quickly evolved into the driving force behind the transformation. It gathered ideas, managed projects, and monitored progress. But that was not all: the team members became pioneers and mediators, strengthening awareness of sustainability throughout the company through training and informational events. This created a compelling dynamic and a healthy sense of unity.

The EcoVadis platform has proven to be an indispensable tool for making our measures measurable and manageable. It enables us to assess our performance in the areas of environment, labor and human rights, ethics, and sustainable procurement. Additionally, EcoVadis is our platform for transparently sharing our progress and successes with business partners and stakeholders. Thus, sustainability becomes not only an internal matter but also a binding promise to all we collaborate with.