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Dear Readers!
The refugee crisis, caused by the war in Syria, has awakened Europe from a deep slumber. Individual member states are outdoing each other – introducing one uncoordinated measure after another as they attempt to stem the seemingly never-ending flow of people desperately seeking help. Whilst Chancellor Merkel is hoping to bring about a European solution, others are closing their borders and seriously thinking about exiting the European Union. No matter where you look, people are saying the party is over. It is time now for facts rather than emotions to be brought to the table. Germany has around 81 million inhabitants and its economy has never been so good. Approximately one million refugees had entered the country when the state elections were held in Baden-Württemberg, Saxony-Anhalt and Rhineland-Pfalz on 13 March. To use the same metaphor: if 81 people are invited to a party and they are joined by one international guest, then the party is by no means over. On the contrary, there is a great opportunity here for the new guest’s culture, experience and vitality to enhance the event and make it even more interesting.
As Germany’s population continues to fall, demographers are assuming that the country will need around 500,000 new immigrants every year simply to keep its social security system functioning. In the future, therefore, we may find ourselves being grateful each time a migrant decides to stay and do an apprenticeship in our country. What is needed is genuine integration. The Minister for Labour, Social Affairs and Inclusion in the state of North Rhine-Westphalia, Rainer Schmeltzer, recently published a brochure in four languages so that refugees could find out how the public transport system works in the district of Unna. Whilst talking to one of REMONDIS’ board members, he called on the recycling sector to do something similar. The majority of the migrants have little or no experience of using different coloured bins to separate waste. REMONDIS has stepped up to the mark and published a flyer in German, English, French, Farsi and Arabic. We would also be very pleased to receive applications from registered refugees wishing to do an apprenticeship at our company, for example to become a professional truck driver.
If the state of North Rhine-Westphalia were to be a country in its own right, then it would be among the top 10 European nations when it comes to population figures and economic power. The latest waste management report shows that our industry has become one of the biggest drivers of growth. Whilst traditional industries, such as coal, steel and energy, continue to decline, an ever increasing number of people are working in recycling, industrial and municipal services and water management. REMONDIS is both a driving force and the backbone of this really pleasing development. And what makes REMONDIS what it is, is its 32,000 employees who work for their local inhabitants and their municipal and industrial customers in 33 countries every single day. Looking at all this, it is a shame that politicians would appear to be paying so little attention to the IFAT exhibition which is being held in Munich from 30 May to 03 June. REMONDIS is going to be there even if the Federal Minister of the Environment is not. We look forward to seeing you there!
Yours
Ludger Rethmann
Taking stock – from a global perspective
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Sustainability and sustainable development are not only the focus of REMONDIS’ business, they are also an incentive for it to do more. All this has been documented in the company’s new sustainability website. This latest online project presents the measures and in-house guidelines implemented at REMONDIS to promote sustainable development and takes a wider look at the subject, for example, at how it is perceived by society as a whole and its future prospects. Its primary goal is to provide the user with a wide range of facts about this interesting and highly topical subject.
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Now available online:
remondis-sustainability.com
Not only interesting but entertaining, too
The aim of the website is to be both informative and entertaining, with much attention being put on it being intuitive and user friendly. Users can, for example, choose between skim reading the content by clicking on different motifs to reveal short texts or calling up more detailed information. Elaborately designed charts have been placed throughout the site which can also be downloaded. The users’ experience is further enhanced by the site’s full-screen and responsive design which has been optimised for desktop computers and tablets. The whole website can, of course, be viewed via smartphones.
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“We wanted to create an information platform that is as detailed as possible but still easy to understand.”
Pia Rohlmann, REMONDIS Marketing
Extensive editing work required beforehand
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The sustainability website project was designed and developed with all of the REMONDIS Group’s companies in mind. The coordination work needed beforehand to set up the website was, therefore, extensive. The task was, after all, to pool together the information contributed by the 750+ business locations in 33 countries to create a clear overview. ‘Clear’ here primarily means user friendly as Pia Rohlmann, responsible for all sustainability matters in the corporate communications department at REMONDIS, pointed out: “We wanted to create an information platform that is as detailed as possible but still easy to understand. Which is why we deliberately decided not to use the classic subsections of ecological, economic and social sustainability but a structure that more closely reflects the lives of those using the website.”
One website – Five sections
Acting // Living // Inspiring // Fostering // Sharing
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More than just an advertisement
The website is not just about documenting the way REMONDIS promotes sustainability in its various fields of business. The final section – the fifth chapter “Sharing” – demonstrates this perfectly. Here, users can find a wealth of background information – for example how German, European and global sustainable development strategies have changed over the years, some interesting facts about the efforts being made to curb global warming and the SDGs.
Sustainable development is an ongoing process
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Even the other chapters, however, that directly involve REMONDIS take a look at the bigger picture. “The idea behind this website was to show what is happening at REMONDIS at the moment as well as to take a look into the future. Just one example here is the presentation of the Cradle to Cradle design concept which is calling for products to be designed so that absolutely all of their components can be recycled,” explained Johanna Spinn, head of marketing and corporate communications at REMONDIS. In fact, this statement also perfectly describes what REMONDIS is aiming to get across with its new website – that sustainability is not a state but an ongoing process.
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Making this process at REMONDIS even more transparent in the future – that, too, is one of the missions of remondis-sustainability.com
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The informative charts – for example REMONDIS’ network of plants and facilities – can be downloaded as a PDF