Looking at the big picture

By becoming environmentally accountable, we are considering the big picture. This means we take much more into consideration than what happens to a product after it has fulfilled its purpose. At Tchibo, protecting the environment begins with product design and covers all stages of the product’s lifecycle. We ask ourselves questions such as: How can we design a product to be as environmentally responsible as possible? How can we conserve resources in the production stage? Which type of packaging puts the lowest possible burden on the environment, and which shipping routes and vehicles are least harmful to the climate? In the course of our ongoing analysis, we also take sales, consumption and disposal – especially recycling – into account. Our work to protect the environment not only encompasses our individual sites, but also our business operations’ entire supply and value chain.

To sensibly and efficiently rise to the challenges resulting from our environmental standards, we are setting up a tailored environmental management system consisting of the following core elements.

Clearly defined rules

In 2010, we added further environmental guidelines to our Code of Conduct, which is binding for all employees, and in this way have provided them with clear rules for environmentally conscious conduct. It goes without saying that we comply absolutely with all applicable laws. This standard of conduct goes further by additionally encompassing ongoing communication with all relevant stakeholders and the continuous improvement of Tchibo’s handling of environmental issues. We agree on environment-related goals with our employees, particularly with those responsible in each respective department. This could include product range objectives for specific product groups such as cotton textiles. In this way, we ensure that the Code of Conduct’s rules and guidelines take hold in our everyday work at Tchibo.

Clearly defined responsibilities

We require each and every one of our employees to constantly consider the effects his or her actions will have on the environment. On top of this, employees responsible for environmental considerations in each of our various departments integrate environmental factors into our business activities. Taking on a special role, the Corporate Responsibility department pools and coordinates activities that cross departmental and corporate boundaries and provides guidance to the departments.

Always up to date

New developments in environmental protection requirements arise on a continuous basis. Has the legal situation changed? What materials can we use to minimise harm to the environment? Do our stakeholders have any new expectations that we want to fulfil? With such a variety of questions to answer, we have to stay well-informed at all times in order to react promptly to new developments. To make sure that we are always up to date, we take the following three courses of action:

• Issues Management: Through the Issues Management system in our Corporate Responsibility department, we observe and analyse societal trends and legislative initiatives. It is our aim to identify new developments early on and then to analyse the extent to which these developments are relevant to us. This could be something such as the “discovery” of a new material which is particularly safe for the environment. We would then assess the more environmentally-friendly material to determine if and how we could use it in our products.

• Memberships: Our memberships in associations and organisations also help us to encourage different stakeholders to exchange information. We also maintain an ongoing dialogue with other members, reporting on our experiences, exchanging information about current developments and sharing expertise. Working together to find ways to protect the environment, we also implement some of these solutions together. 

• Constant communication in our societal environment: At Tchibo, we continuously communicate with all of our relevant stakeholders. Our most important stakeholders, aside from our customers and employees, include environmental and human rights organisations, public authorities, trade unions and other organisations, and interest groups. We strive to find out about their needs and expectations in order to account for them in our processes.

The Corporate Responsibility department transfers the knowledge that we gain through this process to our company operations, making sure that we take the right action in the right areas to promote environmental protection. Our challenge is to create innovative solutions that become a long-lasting part of our daily operations. This requires us to integrate new processes and procedures into our everyday work, creating as little additional work as possible in the process.