Finzelberg nominated for Environmental Management Award

Finzelberg has been shortlisted for the 2023 Umweltmanagement-Preis (Environmental Management Award). It is nominated in the category Best Sustainable Corporate Development Strategy. An expert jury has honored Finzelberg as one of 16 companies that have made outstanding efforts toward greater sustainability, environmental protection and climate change mitigation. Michael Braig, CEO of Finzelberg, is delighted: “As experts in botanical efficiency, we have made sustainable approaches part of our daily business activities. We have been embracing sustainability consistently for many years – out of deeply held convictions. Our next goal is to achieve climate neutrality by 2025. This nomination for an Environmental Management Award is an endorsement of our efforts to date and makes them visible to a wider public.”

Transparently sustainable

The Umweltmanagement-Preis places particular emphasis on verifiable, transparent, honest commitment to environmental protection. Dietmar Kaiser, Finzelberg Board Member responsible for Operations and Process Development, explains: “In producing an EMAS Environmental Statement, we have taken on the most comprehensive and demanding environmental management standard in Europe. But our proven successes in environmental protection go back much further. For example, since 2014 we have saved 23,000 MWh in the energy-intensive production of our plant extracts.”

Pioneers in climate neutrality

A crucial part of Finzelberg’s sustainability strategy is its goal to become CO2e-neutral. As a pioneer within the nature network, Finzelberg aims to achieve climate neutrality by 2025 – five years earlier than the rest of the group. The most important components of the nature network’s climate strategy are: measure, reduce, avoid. Finzelberg and the nature network will only compensate for those CO2e emissions that they cannot avoid or reduce – by promoting high-quality, certified climate protection projects, preferably within their own supply chains. Recently, with the help of TÜV Rheinland, Finzelberg published certified proof that in 2021 it reduced its CO2e emissions at its sites by a total of 4,300 tonnes – that’s a reduction of around a quarter within a single year.

Honoring members of Eco-Management and Audit Scheme EMAS

In Germany the Environmental Management Prize is awarded exclusively to companies and organizations that have integrated the voluntary European Eco-Management and Audit Scheme (EMAS) into their business processes. In 2023, Finzelberg had its premises in Andernach audited in line with the scheme and has been certified ever since. The prizewinners will be selected by an expert jury of representatives from science, government and business. The jury focuses in particular on criteria such as continuity and credibility of environmental measures; motivation and commitment of the employees involved; the use of innovative environmental technologies; health and safety aspects; and the expansion of green jobs.

Award ceremony on November 8, 2023

The award ceremony takes place on November 8, 2023 at the premises of the Federal Environment Ministry in Berlin. The event organizers are the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Nuclear Safety and Consumer Protection (BMUV) and the Austrian Federal Ministry for Climate Action, Environment, Energy, Mobility, Innovation and Technology (BMK). The event is supported by the German Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DIHK), environmental assessors committee UGA, and sustainability and environmental management union VNU.