Kneipp® The path to sustainability.

Kneipp®
The path to sustainability.
Personal greeting
For 120 years, Kneipp® has been
known for effective products
based on natural ingredients
and the holistic philosophy of
Sebastian Kneipp. Our mission
is to stay true to the company‘s
heritage and ensure the brand’s
long-term success while meeting
the demands of our time, particularly with regard to the increasing
scarcity of resources. At Kneipp,
we are conscious of our responsibility to make sure that our lifestyle
today is not at the expense of
future generations and nature.
For some time now, we have been
making intensive efforts in all
areas relating to sustainability in
connection with Kneipp’s business
activities. An initial, decisive step
towards anchoring sustainability
firmly within the company was taken in September 2010, when we
amended our mission statement
to include the following passage:
“In keeping with the spirit of this
philosophy, we are conscious of
Cover photo: Kneipp-contracted arnica cultivation
our corporate responsibility to act
in a manner that promotes sustainable development (economic,
ecological and social).” That move
laid the strategic foundation for
establishing sustainability in every
division, and having it inform all
departmental strategies. At the
same time, sustainability is no new
idea at Kneipp; on the contrary, it
has always been intimately connected with the holistic philosophy
of Sebastian Kneipp, which since
the brand’s inception has been the
guiding principle behind everything Kneipp does. An in-depth
process analysis revealed a variety
of sustainable activities, which we
would like to present in this report.
Yet we cannot be content to rest
on our laurels. Instead, our goal
must be to continue to develop
even further based on what we
have achieved so far, and to accept
our responsibility in contributing
towards a viable future for all.
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Dietmar Salein
Chief Executive Officer (CEO)
Kneipp®-Werke
Company profile
Effective and natural product concepts for health and well-being for 120 years
Bound by tradition: Known in his
lifetime as “Father Herb”, Sebastian Kneipp is considered a critical
pioneer in the field of plant-based
health products, which today
are more relevant than ever.
In 1891, he and Leonhard Oberhäußer, a pharmacist from Würzburg, laid the foundation for
the Kneipp Group, when Kneipp
transferred to his business partner
the rights to develop, manufacture
and sell pharmaceutical and cosmetic products and dietary supplements “bearing the name and
image of Father Sebastian Kneipp”.
Today, Kneipp is a modern, globally active company steeped in
tradition with considerable growth
potential that continues to heed
the important legacy and holistic
philosophy of its co-founder. The
Kneipp Group offers high-quality
medicinal and nutritional supple-
ments as well as body care and
bath products for people who
care about nature and health.
With naturopathic expertise,
pharmaceutical experience and
state-of-the-art production technology, the company is successfully tapping into new markets at
home and abroad, and demonstrating the unique ability of the
tradition-rich brand to innovate.
“Kneipp works. Naturally.” In
accordance with this guiding
principle, Kneipp focuses on
holistic concepts that function as
truly effective remedies. The five
elements of Kneipp’s philosophy
– water, plants, exercise, nutrition
and inner balance – play an important complementary role. That is
because Kneipp sees its main task
as providing support and advice to
consumers in the form of practical
concepts tailored to their needs.
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Father Sebastian Kneipp (1821-1897)
History
The foundation of today’s Kneipp
Group was laid more than 120
years ago, when in 1890 Sebastian
Kneipp met the pharmacist Leonhard Oberhäußer from Würzburg.
Thanks to a shared belief in the
beneficial effects of naturopathic
methods, the two men became
close friends and business partners. Using natural botanical extracts and other pure ingredients,
they created the formulas that
continue to make our products
unique today.
Kneipp pills for constipation. That
was quickly followed by teas, vegetable juices and powders, tinctures,
essential oil extracts, and medicinal preparations known as “specialities” – including rosemary wine,
and products like “stomach comfort” (Magentrost) and “flatuol”.
After Sebastian Kneipp’s death,
Leonhard Oberhäußer continued
to produce curative and preventive remedies based on his friend’s
recipes, and helped popularise
Kneipp products outside of Germany.
Inception of the Kneipp Group
Just one year later, in 1891, Sebastian Kneipp entrusted the legacy
of his life’s research to his friend
and collaborator Leonard Oberhäußer by granting him exclusive,
worldwide rights in perpetuity
to develop, manufacture and sell
pharmaceutical and cosmetic
products and dietary supplements
“bearing the name and image of
Father Sebastian Kneipp”. To this
day that contract remains the cornerstone of the Kneipp Group.
Early Kneipp products
More confirmatory and expansionary declarations and contracts
followed through 1897. The first
product produced in the Engel
Apothecary in Würzburg under the
name of Kneipp, incidentally, were
Early Kneipp products
Values
The Kneipp Group - health united
with nature
Kneipp works. Naturally. In keeping
with this guiding principle, Kneipp
relies on proven and effective
products based on nature and a
scientifically founded philosophy.
That has a long tradition - Kneipp
has focused on natural health since
1891. Today, the Kneipp Group
views its mission as providing
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support and advice to consumers
with holistic concepts tailored to
their needs. The five pillars of the
Kneipp philosophy – water, plants,
exercise, nutrition and inner balance – are a unique complement to
Kneipp’s product concepts.
At Kneipp, quality is paramount.
That means botanical raw materials of the highest quality as
the basis for all our products,
complex analysis methods, and
gentle processing using innovative production techniques. Quality
also means ensuring our products
provide the highest level of benefit, efficacy and safety possible.
All Kneipp products are made with
minimally processed natural ingredients according to pharmaceutical
standards.
The exceptionally high quality
standards of Kneipp products are
based on a careful composition of
ingredients, the scientifically proven efficacy of the formulas, and
naturopathic and pharmaceutical
experience and knowledge handed
down through generations.
As a manufacturer of pharmaceutical and dietary products as well as
body care and bath products, we
have high demands in terms of the
quality and sustainability of our
products, and of our actions. That
is why environmental protection
and workplace safety are also high
on our corporate agenda.
Mission statement
The current Kneipp mission statement was formulated in 2005, and
since then has provided the basis
for our actions. Once a year the
mission statement is re-examined
in detail by all company executives
and adapted to current developments, while the underlying principle remains unchanged. In 2010,
an unanimous decision was taken
to amend the mission statement
to include the aspect of sustainability, thus laying the groundwork for a deliberate orientation
towards becoming a sustainable
organisation.
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tive in its traditional operating
areas of dietary supplements
and herbal remedies. In this
way the company makes an
active contribution to overall
health maintenance.
Our aim is to achieve comprehensive availability and significant visibility for our defined
product focus group.
Kneipp works. Naturally.
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Kneipp offers consumers
uniquely effective, innovative and natural products
and concepts for health and
well-being based on the holistic philosophy of Sebastian
Kneipp.
In keeping with the spirit of
this philosophy, we are conscious of our corporate responsibility to act in a manner
that promotes sustainable
development (economic, ecological and social).
Kneipp is the market leader in
bath products. Expanding this
market position and achieving
strong growth in the body care
and natural cosmetic segments are key priorities. At the
same time, Kneipp remains ac-
The five pillars of the philosophy of
Sebastian Kneipp
Sustainable development
at Kneipp
company’s business processes in
terms of these three dimensions of
sustainability. This report presents
the key findings. In the course of
that analysis, which was produced
using GRI G3 guidelines linked to
the UN Global Compact, it became
clear that Kneipp is already very
advanced in many areas.
Noteworthy examples range from
pre-existing environmental and
organic certifications, to energy
conservation measures and an
associated reduction in CO2 emissions coupled with carbon-offset
measures, all the way to efforts towards becoming a carbon-neutral
company.
Landmark projects in the field of
botanical raw materials include a
long-term arnica project – which in
2012 is “bearing fruit” for the first
time, making it possible to meet
part of our demand for arnica –
and the use of shea butter sourced
from a women‘s cooperative in
Burkina Faso.
Sustainable development is development that meets current needs
without compromising the ability
of future generations to meet their
own.
Sustainability always encompasses
the economic, environmental and
social dimensions.
In 2011, Kneipp conducted an
in-depth analysis of all of the
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Kneipp Garden in Hohestadt
Rigorous internal standards for our products
Kneipp body care products
Pharmacovigilance
The safety and effectiveness of
Kneipp products is at the heart of
Kneipp’s product philosophy. That
is why for years we have cooperated intensively on R&D with
external experts:
The Greek root “pharmakon”
means “drug,” and “vigilare” is
Latin for “to keep awake or alert.”
Pharmacovigilance is the process
of collecting and assessing information on adverse drug reactions.
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Dedicated Kneipp research
division with Kneipp skin
competence centre; immediate
application of interdisciplinary,
basic scientific research.
Each of our formulas is tested
for skin tolerance by two different dermatological clinics.
All of our products are developed by expert scientists in
close collaboration with internationally renowned academic
institutes.
Prior to being made available
to consumers, Kneipp products
are subjected to a two-phase
safety evaluation conducted
both in-house and externally.
Special procedures enable us
to produce our body care products without preservatives,
protecting both natural skin
flora and the environment.
Risk-based safety assessments (HACCP)
Food safety risk analyses – known
as HACCP, Hazard Analysis and
Critical Control Points – are additionally carried out on all food-related
products. Each product is examined
for potential hazards resulting
from the manufacturing process or
the formula, and these are identified and eliminated in advance.
It also involves taking decisions
on any further action required. In
this context, Kneipp’s pharmacovigilance officer coordinates closely
with German drug regulatory
agency BfArM and the European
Medicines Agency. The systematic
collection of information ensures
that any harmful effects of active
ingredients are avoided.
The system is reviewed annually
by an independent expert as part
of an IFS (International Food Standard) certification procedure.
Complaints management
Customer satisfaction is our top
priority. We strive to address
customer concerns and complaints
quickly and efficiently, and resolve
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them to our customers’ satisfaction. The systematic recording of
all complaints and reports makes it
possible to initiate improvements
quickly if necessary.
Formula and packaging development
At the heart of the Kneipp brand
are our products, which embody
our core values: nature, efficacy, and quality. Upholding these
values means making sure that
every product meets them, starting in the R&D phase. Our policies,
particularly in terms of developing
our product formulas, have been
in place for many years and are
updated regularly, guaranteeing
the consistently high quality – and
sustainability – of Kneipp products.
ring specifications, we prioritise
low-energy processes (e.g. cold
processing); cleaning procedures are designed to minimise
water and energy consumption
to levels required with a view
to GMP (good manufacturing
practices) guidelines.
Formula development
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We take environmental and
social standards into account
when selecting our suppliers.
Paraffin-based raw materials
are avoided to the greatest
possible extent.
We use native plants whenever possible for our renewable
resources.
We avoid raw materials of
animal origin.
We take care to ensure that
the raw materials we use are
biodegradable according to
OECD guidelines.
We manufacture natural
beauty products according to
the internationally recognised
guidelines of Natrue, which
are ecological and based on
sustainability.
We promote the cultivation of
medicinal plants in Germany.
Kneipp formulas are siliconefree, because silicones are not
biodegradable and accumulate
in the environment.
Essential oils are developed
using Kneipp’s internal safety
guidelines, which are based on
the latest publications of IVDK,
(the Information Network of
Departments of Dermatology
for recording and scientific
analysis of contact allergies) in
Germany.
In preparing our manufactu-
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Packaging development
Kneipp takes the same non-resource-intensive and environmentally
friendly approach to its product
packaging as it does to making its
products – bath additives, creams,
ointments, tablets and dragées.
This applies particularly when it comes to developing new packaging
materials.
The following standardised checklist is employed in developing new
packaging designs to clarify if the
aspects described are addressed:
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Environmentally friendly design and material selection
Waste volumes
Material suitability for mechanical stress
Sufficient physical and chemical stability
Packaging design under environmental aspects
Adequate protection during
transport
Disposal options
Furthermore, projects are initiated
on a regular basis aimed at making
existing packaging materials more
environmentally friendly. One
example: the weight of our 100ml
glass bottle, one of Kneipp’s
primary packaging formats, was
reduced by 9g. That translates into
about 35 tonnes less CO2 for every
6 million bottles.
Own production as hallmark of quality
Kneipp is not just a distribution
company; instead, the company
endeavours to manufacture its
own products to the extent that
this is economically feasible. That
enables Kneipp to safeguard jobs
in production and related areas,
and to expand its workforce if
possible.
A maximum level of in-house production also contributes decisively
to reducing carbon dioxide emissions by minimising transport distances and saving shipping costs.
When outside production is unavoidable, we select our contract
partners carefully, and hold manufacturers to the same high quality
standards applied at Kneipp. Our
manufacturing partners are subjected to a standardised audit and
certification procedure prior to the
start of production, and subsequently evaluated periodically.
Part of our supplier certification process includes addressing
sustainability-related issues, such
as whether environmental and
quality management systems are
in place.
Contracts with outside manufacturers include quality agreements.
Kneipp limits its selection to
producers in the EU and Switzerland to avoid long transport routes
and to guarantee compliance with
social standards pertaining to
occupational safety, bans on wage
dumping, etc. This helps avoid risks
regarding the local procurement
of required raw materials, quality, complaints management, and
helps avoid potential legal disputes associated with sourcing from
companies in distant – and particularly low-wage – countries.
Whenever possible, Kneipp tries
to work with organisations that
benefit the community. One way
we do this is by having companies
that employ the disabled assemble
gift boxes and displays, or carry
out packing work. We also consider
bids from government agencies
and institutions, including correctional institutions.
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Production – coating vats
Production - tablet press
Production – bulk mixer
Origin and procurement of plant-based raw materials
Kneipp – a special connection to nature. Botanical ingredients are the basis of all Kneipp
products. That is why we pay particular attention to the quality and origin of the plantbased raw materials we use – and to a sustainable approach to nature.
Procurement
Current purchasing strategy
Sourcing suitable raw materials and
other goods is a prerequisite for
making high-quality products that
meet Kneipp’s exacting standards.
Officially established policies exist
for procuring these materials.
Issues related to sustainability are
now a standard feature in discussions with suppliers, coupled with
a call to every company we deal
with to firmly establish the topic in
their corporate culture. Requesting
sustainability reports and sustainability concepts for manufactured
products are two of the ways we
accomplish this.
In 2012, our purchasing policy will
be officially amended to include
aspects of sustainability, and to document how the strategy is being
implemented within the company.
Kneipp has a longstanding practice,
for example, of sourcing goods such
as packing materials and services
from Germany and neighbouring
European countries.
The same is true as far as possible
for botanical raw materials. In this
area, however, the quality of raw
materials has priority. In addition,
due to naturally occurring conditions, not all of the natural plant
resources we need are available
from European cultivation.
Kneipp has defined specific and
immediate targets for purchasing
raw materials and goods:
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Intensified use of certified packaging materials, for example
FSC- or PEFC-certified paper,
cardboard and cartonboard
for package inserts, collapsible
boxes and secondary packaging
and marketing materials
Communicating our implemented activities by labelling packaging elements already pro-
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duced sustainably with relevant
logos, such as a quality seal
on overpackaging indicating
“corrugated cardboard made
with renewable resources”
Developing further potential sustainable concepts for
purchasing raw materials, using
the arnica cultivation project,
described in the following, as a
best-practice example.
Arnica
Arnica was Sebastian Kneipp’s favourite herb. Applied topically to treat
bruises, strains, sprains, muscle and
joint pain and circulation problems,
this medicinal herb – commonly known as “leopard’s bane” or
“mountain tobacco” – is remarkably effective. Today, arnica remains a
critical botanical raw ingredient at
Kneipp, used in herbal preparations
such as Arnica Joint & Muscle Intensive Cream, as well as in cosmetic
products and herbal baths.
Consistent with the Kneipp Group’s
stringent dermatological standards,
we use a special variety of arnica
in making remedies and products
containing the plant - “Spanish
arnica”, characterised by a very
Dr Frank Bruno with arnica seedling
low-allergen active ingredient profile (dihydrohelenaline derivatives).
This particular variety of arnica was
previously available only in the wild.
strain “Arvita”. The Federal Plant
Variety Office BSA granted the
Kneipp Group rights to the new
strain in December 2011.
In 1996, Kneipp, in collaboration
with horticulture expert Philip
Berne, began cultivating and
conducting breeding experiments
with arnica plants from wild Spanish stocks. Year after year, these
plants were further optimised both
through the targeted selection and
crossing of their agronomic properties (including homogeneity, vitality, flowering and yield), as well as
in terms of their active ingredient
content.”
Since that time, Kneipp has concluded contracts with growers,
which, if all goes according to plan,
by 2013 will result in the company
being able to source this particular variety of arnica exclusively
from German cultivation. Domestic
growers are already contributing
“Arvita” for parts of the required
raw materials in 2012.
That long and rocky road has now
culminated in the company’s own
Harvest from initial trials, 2010
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Shea butter
Used in Africa for centuries, shea
butter is a botanical oil extracted
from the nut of the indigenous shea
tree, also commonly known as karité.
In the countries where it is found naturally, shea butter is known for its
powerful moisturising and healing
properties, and as a proven natural
remedy that keeps skin healthy and
beautiful-looking well into old age.
People also value its anti-inflammatory and analgesic effect in treating
itching, scars, and burns.
For its products Kneipp uses shea
butter from the AAK Group (www.
aak.com), which sponsors a project in
Burkina Faso on the principles of the
UN Global Compact Office. Our shea
butter is produced as part of this
project – from locally harvested nuts
using traditional methods. Sourcing
our shea butter in this way directly
benefits the families who harvest
and process the nuts by providing
them a stable source of income.
Shea nut harvest in Burkina Faso
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What makes shea butter so valuable
for skin care? Shea butter contains
both monounsaturated fatty acid
triglycerides, as well as a high level of
unsaponifiable lipids. Unsaponifiable
substances soften the skin and bind
moisture into its outer layers. Creams
made with shea butter can be spread
on the skin very quickly and evenly. They penetrate the skin quickly
without leaving a greasy film, while
providing long-lasting protection
against drying.
Environmental sustainability
Activities in the last 5 years
In the recent past, Kneipp
has achieved much in the
area of environmental
protection, thanks to a
series of measures aimed
at handling resources
sensitively and conserving
energy. Also contributing
to this success is our environmental certification,
uninterrupted since 2007,
for which we regularly
publish an environmental
report, as well as existing
organic certifications.
Kneipp furthermore is a
member of the local Energy Efficiency Initiative of
Lower Franconia.
Since 1996, we have been working
intensively on a variety of energy
conservation measures, thereby
reducing our carbon footprint:
Electricity
Our focus in recent years has been
on steadily reducing our energy
demand. A further major milestone was reached in October 2010,
when all Kneipp locations converted to 100 % hydroelectric energy.
In 2001, we achieved energy
savings of 10 % by implementing
efficiency measures in production.
Gas consumption
Business travel and company cars
Gas
Kneipp made the switch from oil
heat to natural gas-fired condensing boiler technology in the first
decade of the new millennium, to
cover all of the company’s heating
requirements. Natural gas combustion produces far fewer harmful
emissions than burning fuel oil.
Also, natural gas produces less
carbon dioxide per unit of energy
than fuel oil. The target in 2011
was to reduce energy requirements
by an additional 2 % compared to
2010.
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According to a 2010 analysis, the
vast majority of business-related
travel is conducted by train or car.
The amount of air travel that could
be avoided by using one of the
aforementioned alternate means
of transport is very low. Future
versions of the business travel
expense policy will explicitly reference low-emission transport as a
preferred option.
The Kneipp Group vehicle fleet consists of late-model vehicles with
newest technical standards.
Emissions
Waste
Data validation
Carbon dioxide emissions have
been declining continuously since
the first time they were measured, in 2006. Thanks to a variety
of energy efficiency measures,
consumption has been steadily
reduced. That success is even
greater, considering the quantity
of finished goods produced has increased consistently. In 2010, the
Kneipp Group more than halved
carbon dioxide emissions per unit
of finished product compared to
2006.
The Kneipp Group is conscious of
its responsibility to keep waste to
a minimum to avoid polluting the
environment. That is why we look
for and select packaging for our
products that is as environmentally friendly as possible. All of our
packaging materials can be recycled by consumers via Germany’s
“dual system,” or other local
systems of collecting and recycling
packaging waste.
The Kneipp Group has implemented
an environmental management
system, certified according to ISO
14001, since 2006. The system is
evaluated annually by an external
auditor from the German Society
for Quality Research on Plant Foods
(DGQ). Part of the annual audit process involves evaluating and verifying the above mentioned data.
CO2 Emissionen in Tonnen
2.500
2.000
1.500
1.000
500
0
2006
2007
CO2 (aus Gas) t
2008
CO2 (aus Strom) t
2009
2010
CO2 (aus Vertrieb und Poolfahrzeugen)
CO2 emissions, in tonnes
The aim is to achieve an absolute
reduction in CO2 emissions of 40%
compared to 2010 within one year.
Waste produced as a by-product
of the manufacturing process is
collected and most of it forwarded
to authorised and certified disposal
companies for recycling. On-site visits to a majority of the waste management companies we deal with
have assured us at Kneipp that our
waste is processed responsibly.
The amount of waste per unit of finished goods has declined slightly
in recent years.
CO2 Emission / Stück Fertigware (intern) [g/St.]
60
58
50
40
42
39
30
36
30
Environmental management system certificate
20
10
0
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
CO2 emissions/unit of finished goods, internal [g/
unit]
Waste volume/finished goods, internal [g/h]
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Verification of our carbon
footprint in 2010
The Kneipp Group commissioned
the company Climate Partner to
independently verify the carbon
dioxide emissions of all Kneipp
locations in Germany, as well as of
the company vehicle fleet. A copy
of that report is provided in the
Appendix.
Why Climate Partner? To conduct
the independent review, we were
looking for a competent partner
with a good deal of prior experience in analysing larger companies. Furthermore, we sought
a partner who would be able to
assist us in further developing our
sustainability strategy. Climate
Partner was founded in 2006.
The company is headquartered in
Munich. Climate Partner generates
solutions for global climate change
for more than 1,000 mostly large
and medium-sized enterprises.
The climate-change consultants
are also TÜV-certified providers
of IT solutions for carbon dioxide
accounting and carbon offsets.
Climate Partner works closely with
environmental groups, and has
members on various international
committees.
Additionally, unavoidable carbon
dioxide emissions are offset by a
Climate Partner-sponsored forest
conservation project in Sofala,
Mozambique.
In the medium term, the Kneipp
Group plans to offset unavoidable carbon dioxide emissions
through projects such as these.
Consequently, an initial step will be
taken in 2012 to offset the emissions of our vehicle fleet (based on
last year’s figures). Enter certificate number 116-50040-01121168 at www.climatepartner.com
for detailed information. The certificate is included in the Appendix.
Carbon offset project
Envirotrade Ltd. cooperates with
the government of Sofala Province,
Gorongosa National Park, and the
local community in Nhambita to
run a forestry and reforestation
programme in eastern Mozambique.
The project aims to rehabilitate
severely degraded forests, maintain sustainable living environments, and promote biodiversity.
Reforestation activities result in
carbon sinks, as the process of
photosynthesis in growing trees
binds carbon (CO2) while at the
same time releasing oxygen (O2)
into the environment. With an area
of 11,744 hectares, the project has
an annual reduction potential of
about 100,000 tonnes of CO2.
Besides carbon savings, the project
also improves local socio-economic
conditions. The sale of emission
reduction certificates generates a
regular source of income for the
local population. The sustainability
of this development project is ad-
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ditionally underscored by successful CCB certification.
Other positive effects of the
climate-change project include
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Significant increase in the
income of local households
Medium-term growth in regional commercial activities
Increase in local food production due to greater land
productivity and more efficient
land use
Increased sensitivity for responsible use of natural resources
Special training programmes
for women, resulting in greater
gender equality
Protection of endangered
species thanks to educational
campaigns and conservation of
natural habitats
The project is verified and validated by the Rainforest Alliance
according to the following standards: Plan Vivo (ex-ante), CCBS
Gold Level.
Reforestation project in Sofala, Mozambique
Responsibility for our employees
Responsibility and values
The Kneipp Group is a modern, globally active company informed by an
honourable heritage, which operates production sites exclusively in
Germany. Kneipp is committed to the
code of conduct of parent company
Paul Hartmann AG, which outlines
basic ethical principles. Kneipp has
also articulated a set of leadership
guidelines developed in collaboration with all of our managers. It
represents a binding framework, and
expresses our understanding of what
it means to lead.
The leadership policy comprises the
following guiding principles:
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Managers provide leadership
through objectives
Managers are role models
Managers assume and delegate responsibility with care
Managers encourage responsible cooperation
Managers communicate openly and inform staff in a targeted manner
Managers create a work environment in which motivation,
enthusiasm and performance
can flourish
Managers drive meaningful
change and improvements
With a comprehensive executive
development programme, we aim
to implement sustainable management principles in the next few
years.
High social standards
As a member of the Federal Employers’ Association for the German
Chemical Industry (BAVC), we offer
our employees many benefits
besides an attractive salary. Examples include our “demographic
fund” and company pension plan
to which the company contributes,
thus augmenting employee remuneration packages with a variety of
additional payments. We guarantee “equal pay for equal work,”
and ensure compliance with environmental and safety standards.
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Our steadily growing applicant
pool and negligible staff turnover
underscore the company’s attractiveness as an employer.
Flexible working time models
We actively promote a healthy
balance between work and family
with flextime models to accommodate employee needs. More than
20% of our staff are employed
under one of our various part-time
work models. In addition, we offer
paid and unpaid leave for childcare
and eldercare.
We make sure that overtime hours
remain within acceptable limits,
thus guaranteeing our employees
have ample downtime.
Cooperation based on trust
Health management
We promote partnership at work,
and nurture an environment
marked by a spirit of trust and
cooperation. A positive working
environment is important to us! As
an equal opportunity employer, we
select and promote applicants and
employees based on their abilities
and personal qualities – not based
on gender, age or ethnic origin.
Health is an important issue also
inside the company. “Healthy living
and working – naturally at Kneipp”
is the motto of our systematic
occupational health management
scheme. Together with our employees, we explore areas needing
improvement, and initiate action
where appropriate. Fruit and mineral water, for example, is
provided free of charge to all employees.
In the event of instances of harassment or discrimination, we take
effective and swift action to resolve conflicts. To this end, we employ a specially trained workplace
harassment and conflict resolution
consultant.
Social activities such as holiday
parties promote a positive environment – and are fun.
We are committed to healthy workplace ergonomics, and offer employees financial aid for health-related
courses.
Various campaigns, including one
on alcohol awareness, encourage
healthy lifestyles.
For a true Kneipp experience, employees are also invited to use our
Kneipp hydrotherapy pools.
Education, training, promotion
With vocational training programmes as well as trainee and internship positions, we offer talented
young people opportunities to
qualify for a professional career.
Our objective is to further develop
the expertise of our employees in a
targeted manner, which we accomplish in part by conducting training
needs analyses on a regular basis.
Target-setting linked to variable
compensation is an established tool
for encouraging management staff
to focus on our strategy and for
rewarding performance. Kneipp’s
management structure is characterised by a climate of cooperation
and flat hierarchies within an agile
and transparent organisation. This
flexible structure gives our employees the freedom to shape their
own projects and ideas in a crossdisciplinary environment leading to
useful and successful applications.
“Success through dialogue” is the
guiding principle behind our staff
performance reviews, which are
conducted with all employees –
from executives to assembly-line
workers.
Kneipp employees participate in the company
run in Würzburg
Kneipp hydrotherapy pool in Hohestadt
page 15
Accident prevention and
safety
At Kneipp, sustainability implies
a commitment to occupational
safety, health and environmental
protection at every corporate level,
because we believe every employee can actively contribute to this
goal.
That is why Kneipp implemented a
comprehensive health, safety and
environment (HSE) management
system in 2002.
The HSE management system is
designed to ensure compliance
with our corporate values, achieve
continuous improvement of our
business processes, and help avoid
negative effects associated with
our operations on the environment, workers and the community.
All relevant aspects are monitored using KPIs and other metrics.
Regular HSE site assessments are
conducted by external auditors,
and potential areas of improvement identified.
Responsibility for HSE issues at
Kneipp is clearly defined and delineated in an organisational chart.
All employees involved receive
training on a regular basis. An annual legal update keeps managers
of relevant departments apprised
of the latest legislation on this
complex subject.
As part of our HSE activities,
Kneipp operates an emergency
management system stipulating
actions to be taken in every concei-
Production in Hohestadt
page 16
vable crisis scenario (fire, disaster,
etc.).
Kneipp is integrated into the HSE
programme of parent company
PAUL HARTMANN AG, and works
very closely with Group HSE officers. Kneipp receives competent
support on all HSE-related issues
– both via one-on-one contact with
experts and the Paul Hartmann
intranet.
As a member of the German
chemical industry association VCI,
Kneipp is also involved in the ICCA
“Responsible Care” initiative, which
drives continuous improvement in
HSE performance, and open and
transparent communication with
stakeholders in the chemical industry. For more information, visit:
www.responsiblecare.org.
Social responsibility
Social projects
A genuine concern for
people’s well-being and
health was the core of
Sebastian Kneipp’s philosophy, and continues to
guide the Kneipp Group’s
activities today. This applies not only to our range
of consumer health care
products; it is also expressed in our sponsorship
of numerous social projects.
Support for nursery schools
that integrate the Kneipp
philosophy
As part of our “Kneipp Family” customer loyalty programme, two per
cent of purchases made with the
“Kneipp Family” card are donated
to kindergartens and preschools
that integrate the teachings of
Sebastian Kneipp – and the five
pillars of water, plants, exercise,
nutrition and balance – in their
daily curricula.
Working with organisations that benefit the community
For example, Kneipp invites bids
from companies that give back to
the community, including commissioning Mainfränkische Werkstätten GmbH, which employs
physically disabled workers, to
manufacture Kneipp gift boxes and
displays, and to pack our products.
This helps not only to provide jobs
and social security to many people
with physical or multiple disabilities; it also gives them a varied
work environment where they can
perform tasks suited to their abilities and needs.
Kneipp kindergarten in Eisenberg
page 17
Donations instead of giveaways
Instead of distributing holiday gifts
and other promotional items, every
year, Kneipp donates an amount exceeding the cost of such giveaways.
In 2011, for example, we supported
projects for kids and teens with
cancer by making a donation to
the charitable organisation “Hilfe
im Kampf gegen Krebs e.V.” at the
University of Würzburg.
In addition to supporting worthy
causes, this approach is also kinder
to the environment, thanks to more
sparing use of natural resources
(less energy, waste and emissions
from transport).
Appendix I:
Climate Partner report
I.
GEGENSTAND DER PRÜFUNG
Die Kneipp-Werke GmbH & Co. KG („Kneipp“) erstellte für den Zeitraum vom 1. Januar bis
31. Dezember 2010 auf Grundlage des Greenhouse Gas Protocol Corporate Accounting
and Reporting Standards (GHG Protocol) den Carbon Footprint des Unternehmens.
Die organisatorischen Systemgrenzen umfassten die Standorte Ochsenfurth/Ho-hestadt,
Bad Wörishofen, Steinbachtal (Würzburg) und Heidingsfeld (Würzburg).
Die operativen Systemgrenzen umfassten alle relevanten Emissionsquellen innerhalb der
Kategorien Scope 1 und Scope 2. Hierzu zählten:
Heizung (Erdgas)
Fuhrpark (Diesel)
Strom
Kältemittel
¥
¥
¥
¥
Verifizierung des Corporate
Carbon Footprint 2010
Der Carbon Footprint wurde durch ClimatePartner hinsichtlich der grundlegenden Prinzipien und Anforderungen des GHG Protocols geprüft.
II.
Kneipp-Werke GmbH & Co. KG
Januar 2012
ART UND UMFANG DER PRÜFUNG
Die Prüfung erfolgte am 15. Dezember 2010 am Unternehmensstandort in Ochsenfurth/Hohestadt. Die Prüfung wurde so geplant und durchgeführt, dass ein hinreichend
sicheres Urteil darüber abgegeben werden kann, ob der Carbon Footprint ein korrektes
Bild der Treibhausgasemissionen des Unternehmens gibt und im Einklang mit den Richtlinien des GHG Protocols erstellt wurde.
Die den Berechnungen zugrunde liegenden Verbrauchsdaten wurden hierzu unter Einbeziehung der Abrechnungsunterlagen der Energieversorger und Leasingpartner vollumfänglich überprüft. Zusätzlich wurden die Lieferverträge der Stromversorger einbezogen.
III.
ERGEBNIS DER PRÜFUNG
Die Prüfung des Carbon Footprints hat zu keinen Einwänden geführt. Der Carbon Footprint
der Kneipp-Werke GmbH & Co. KG gibt nach unserer Einschätzung ein realistisches und
korrektes Bild der Treibhausgasemissionen des Unternehmens an den betrachteten
Standorten in den Kategorien Scope 1 und Scope 2 für den Zeitraum vom 1. Januar bis 31.
Dezember 2010.
München, 5. Januar 2012
ClimatePartner Deutschland GmbH
climatepartner.com | Munich | San Francisco | Athens | Tokyo | Vienna | Yerevan
i.A. Dennis Uieß
1
ClimatePartner Deutschland GmbH | Ainmillerstr. 22 | D-80801 München | Steuernummer 143/125/20754
Telefon +49-89-1222875-0 | Telefax +49-89-1222875-29 | [email protected] | www.climatepartner.com
Registergericht AG München HRB 169257 | Geschäftsführer Moritz Lehmkuhl
page 18
Appendix II:
Climate Partner certificate
klimaneutral
Urkunde
Dieses Zertifikat bescheinigt die
Kompensation von Treibhausgasen
durch zusätzliche Klimaschutzmaßnahmen in Höhe von
VERLIEHEN AN
Kneipp-Werke
FÜR DAS PROJEKT
CO2-ÄQUIVALENTEN
240.000 kg
Klimaneutraler Fuhrpark
1.1.2012 - 31.12.2012
UNTERSTÜTZTES PROJEKT
Waldschutz, Sofala, Mosambik
Zertifikatsnummer: 116-50040-0112-1168
www.climatepartner.com
page 19
Imprint
Published by
Kneipp®-Werke
Kneipp-Mittel-Zentrale GmbH & Co KG
Würzburg
Steinbachtal 43
97082 Würzburg
www.kneipp.de
Tel.: +49 (931) 8002 0
Fax: +49 (931) 8002 197
[email protected]
Responsible for
content
Head of Communication Department
Angela Kreipl
[email protected]
Tel.: +49 (931) 8002 0
Sustainability Officer
Sascha Landgraf
[email protected]
Tel.: +49 (931) 8002 0
Image credit
p. 10 AAK Aarhus Karlshamn AB
page 20