Sustainability
Social engagement: small gestures, big meaning
When people think of sustainability, the first thing they often associate with it is climate protection and the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. Don’t get me wrong, INDUS has also defined the achievement of climate neutrality by 2045 as a key sustainability goal. But if you take a look at the ESG criteria – a distinction is made here between environment, social, and governance – it becomes clear that the definition of ESG goes much further than the ecological aspect and also includes a large number of social criteria.
The INDUS Group is also aware of the importance of these social criteria, and one of the INDUS principles of sustainability is to assume social responsibility within its own sphere of influence. Social commitment is practiced in the INDUS Group in a variety of ways – from supporting children and young people to providing rapid assistance in crisis management to local charitable projects. For example, SCHUSTER Klima Lüftung has been supporting the nearby Förderverein Wärmestube SKM-Augsburg e.V. for many years. Last year, donations to purchase goods were used to fill 550 gift bags for the needy, on the occasion of the Augsburg Peace Festival. MIGUA also supports charitable projects in its immediate neighborhood. The specialist for joint profile systems has supported the Bergisches Land Children’s and Youth Hospice Foundation in Wuppertal Burgholz for many years.
The youngest ones are particularly close to the INDUS Group’s heart – as a father of three children, I know how important the topic of promoting children and young people is and am pleased that the INDUS Group is particularly active in this area. In November 2021, nine interested children were able to gain a valuable insight into the professional world of the metal specialist at HAKAMA’s Future Day. A highlight for the children was certainly watching the creation of their “sheet metal dinosaur”. The ASS from Overath also knows that the interested students of today are the skilled workers of tomorrow and has therefore been participating in the career exploration in the region for years. Since the first participation in 2014, more than 200 students have already successfully taken part in the career exploration at ASS.
For the INDUS Group, however, it is not only social commitment in the local environment that counts. Particularly in times of crisis, when help is needed quickly, the INDUS portfolio companies are on hand. For example, ROLKO donates wheelchair bags to refugees from Ukraine. Together with other companies in the rehabilitation industry, ROLKO is participating in a fundraising campaign for rehabilitation aids for Ukrainian refugees with physical disabilities or limited mobility. The company RAGUSE also supports the people in Ukraine and donates surgical gowns. In the event of the devastating flood disaster in the summer of 2021, the INDUS portfolio companies reacted very quickly and offered their help. This includes INDUS subsidiary REMKO, an air-conditioning and heating technology company from Lage. REMKO donated a total of 32 dehumidifiers and construction dryers to three different communities in the Ahr Valley. A subsidiary of REMKO, also sent 12 air-to-air heat pumps suitable for dehumidifying, heating and cooling to the Ahr Valley. Assuming social responsibility is an essential part of the values of medium-sized companies. After all, the proximity to the flood disaster areas, in which INDUS investments were also affected, shows how important uncomplicated and rapid help is.
The list of social projects from the INDUS portfolio companies could be continued endlessly, and I would like to emphasize that we have only picked out a few projects here. Sustainability is firmly anchored in the INDUS DNA, because sustainable action increases corporate value and strengthens the corporate culture. That is why the INDUS Group encourages its employees to make suggestions for suitable charitable cooperative ventures. After all, social commitment always depends on the commitment of employees.
With best regards,
Yours Dr. Jörn Großmann
Dr. Jörn Großmann
Dr. Jörn Großmann studied materials science and obtained his doctorate as Dr. rer. nat, MBA. He has been a member of the Board of Management of INDUS Holding AG since January 2019, overseeing the Infrastructure segment and responsible for Technology & Innovation. Innovation.