Our responsibility for the environment, people, and the future
Sustainability at
H. & J. Brüggen KG
For us, sustainability is much more than just a buzzword. It has always shaped our actions. Our goal is to develop the company responsibly and one day pass it on to the next generation. We take a holistic approach: we want our actions to make a positive contribution to people, the environment and our company. Our focus is on taking long-term responsibility rather than achieving short-term success at the expense of future generations.
Our responsibility for the environment, people, and the future
Sustainability at
H. & J. Brüggen KG
For us, sustainability is much more than just a buzzword. It has always shaped our actions. Our goal is to develop the company responsibly and one day pass it on to the next generation. We take a holistic approach: we want our actions to make a positive contribution to people, the environment and our company. Our focus is on taking long-term responsibility rather than achieving short-term success at the expense of future generations.
Our responsibility for the environment, people, and the future
Sustainability at
H. & J. Brüggen KG
For us, sustainability is much more than just a buzzword. It has always shaped our actions. Our goal is to develop the company responsibly and one day pass it on to the next generation. We take a holistic approach: we want our actions to make a positive contribution to people, the environment and our company. Our focus is on taking long-term responsibility rather than achieving short-term success at the expense of future generations.
Environmental responsibility
Certified environmental and energy management
Since 2012, we have been operating an integrated environmental and energy management system in Germany in accordance with the internationally recognised standards ISO 14001 (environmental management) and ISO 50001 (energy management). An energy management system is currently being set up in France, and an alternative system is in place in Poland. These systems enable us to systematically record, analyse and specifically improve key figures such as energy and water consumption or waste generation.
Energy efficiency and reduction measures
We are specifically increasing our energy efficiency through various reduction measures. This includes the continuous modernisation of production facilities, for example by optimising the compressed air system with new compressors or replacing outdated motors. In addition, we are increasingly focusing on heat recovery: for example, waste heat from bar production is used to heat the administrative area. Another important component is the use of photovoltaic systems. These currently supply around 830 MWh of electricity per year at the site in France and around 1,300 MWh per year in Germany, which is used for our own consumption.
Sustainable mobility
For us, sustainability does not end at the factory gates. That is why we are gradually converting our vehicle fleet to electric drives and have already achieved a share of 74%. Our bicycle leasing programme gives our employees the opportunity to travel sustainably on their way to work and in their private lives.
Social responsibility
Responsibility towards employees
Our employees are at the heart of everything we do.
We offer them numerous measures to promote health, well-being and community, including:
Bicycle leasing for sustainable mobility
Discounts for gyms, leisure activities and more
Psychosocial counselling and support in finding a specialist doctor
Provision of fresh fruit and vegetables
Design of attractive break areas
Company sports programmes such as football, badminton, yoga and other activities
Regular vaccination campaigns as part of preventive healthcare
Addiction prevention and confidential support from specialists
Responsibility in the value chain
The values and principles that guide our actions are enshrined in our Code of Conduct (Code of Conduct – H. & J. Brüggen KG). They form the basis for trusting, constructive and long-term cooperation, both internally and with our business partners worldwide. To strengthen our partnerships and continuously improve cooperation, we conduct our own supplier audits worldwide. In this way, we ensure that our corporate responsibility is lived out along the entire value chain.
Supply Chain Due Diligence Act (LkSG)
(BAFA – Due diligence in the supply chain)
Since 1 January 2024, H. & J. Brüggen KG has been complying with the requirements of the national Supply Chain Due Diligence Act. Using specialised software, we have carried out a two-stage review of our nearly 3,000 business partners. This review covered not only Lübeck, but also our locations in Wilga and Thiers. Further information on our approach and our policy statement can be found here: Compliance - H. & J. Brüggen KG
Sedex / SMETA
(Sedex: Sustainable business and supply chain solutions)
The SMETA (Sedex Members Ethical Trade Audit) takes place every two years at all Brüggen locations. SMETA is one of the most widely used international audit procedures for documenting sustainable and ethically responsible behaviour in business relationships in a transparent and comprehensible manner.
The audit focuses on these four pillars:
Labour standards
Health and safety
Environmental management
Business ethics
Social responsibility
Responsibility towards employees
Our employees are at the heart of everything we do.
We offer them numerous measures to promote health, well-being and community, including:
Bicycle leasing for sustainable mobility
Discounts for gyms, leisure activities and more
Psychosocial counselling and support in finding a specialist doctor
Provision of fresh fruit and vegetables
Design of attractive break areas
Company sports programmes such as football, badminton, yoga and other activities
Regular vaccination campaigns as part of preventive healthcare
Addiction prevention and confidential support from specialists
Responsibility in the value chain
The values and principles that guide our actions are enshrined in our Code of Conduct (Code of Conduct – H. & J. Brüggen KG). They form the basis for trusting, constructive and long-term cooperation, both internally and with our business partners worldwide. To strengthen our partnerships and continuously improve cooperation, we conduct our own supplier audits worldwide. In this way, we ensure that our corporate responsibility is lived out along the entire value chain.
Supply Chain Due Diligence Act (LkSG)
(BAFA – Due diligence in the supply chain)
Since 1 January 2024, H. & J. Brüggen KG has been complying with the requirements of the national Supply Chain Due Diligence Act. Using specialised software, we have carried out a two-stage review of our nearly 3,000 business partners. This review covered not only Lübeck, but also our locations in Wilga and Thiers. Further information on our approach and our policy statement can be found here: Compliance - H. & J. Brüggen KG
Sedex / SMETA
(Sedex: Sustainable business and supply chain solutions)
The SMETA (Sedex Members Ethical Trade Audit) takes place every two years at all Brüggen locations. SMETA is one of the most widely used international audit procedures for documenting sustainable and ethically responsible behaviour in business relationships in a transparent and comprehensible manner.
The audit focuses on these four pillars:
Labour standards
Health and safety
Environmental management
Business ethics
Governance
Internal structures and processes
For us, sustainable corporate management means clear structures, transparent processes and a value-based corporate culture. Sustainability is an integral part of our corporate goals, is regularly discussed in management meetings and is supported by a cross-departmental sustainability team.
We act in accordance with applicable laws, regulatory requirements and internal guidelines. Our corporate values and code of conduct form the basis of our actions. In addition, we are involved in networks and associations such as foodRegio in order to strengthen and further develop Northern Germany as a business location together with other companies and to actively promote sustainability.
Supplier relationships
Long-term, trusting relationships with our suppliers are particularly important to us. We pay attention to quality, fairness, transparency and ecological and social criteria. With projects such as the cultivation of flowering oats or the recording of raw material-specific carbon footprints, we are working together to create the basis for a sustainable and more resilient supply chain.
Pictured here: Hof Ratzbek GbR
Certificates
We attach great importance to purchasing certified raw materials:
https://rspo.org
We purchase all our Rainforest Alliance products according to the mass balance (MB) traceability model. This model allows certified and non-certified products to be mixed. However, no more product may be sold as certified than was originally purchased as certified. For our own production, the following applies: products that are advertised as certified contain 100% of the corresponding raw materials purchased as certified.
All of our purchased cocoa products are Rainforest Alliance Certified, unless they are sourced in Fairtrade quality.
https://www.rainforest-alliance.org
https://www.fairtrade.net