The Dortmund-based WILO SE has been awarded the renowned German Sustainability Award (Deutscher Nachhaltigkeitspreis, DNP) in the “Climate” transformation field. The German Sustainability Award honors companies for which sustainability is part of their business model.
“We are proud that an industrial company has been recognized as a climate protection pioneer. This is a strong signal and is proof that we are a climate protection company”, says Oliver Hermes, President & CEO of the Wilo Group.
Sustainability protection initiative
Sustainability is an integral part of the Wilo Group’s corporate strategy. By 2025, for example, 100 million people are to have better access to clean water. “Our products, systems, and solutions contribute to supplying people all over the world with water in an intelligent, efficient, and climate-friendly way,” emphasizes Oliver Hermes.
Wilo was already selected as one of the worldwide “50 Sustainability & Climate Leaders”
Wilo was already selected as one of the worldwide “50 Sustainability & Climate Leaders” in August this year. The global sustainability and climate protection initiative involves companies that act based on the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Opportunity for transformation
The committee of the German Sustainability Award sees 2020 as a year of change. More than ever before, entrepreneurial role models are needed who can drive change forward and use the crisis as an opportunity for real transformation.
“The world climate needs pioneers. At Wilo, we claim to not only promote the topic of energy efficiency but also to be climate protection and digital pioneer. We do this in the firm belief that the most digital, smart, and energy-efficient products are always the most intelligent choice. This means that digital transformation, energy efficiency, and climate protection are firmly correlated,” explains Oliver Hermes.
Climate protection continues to be one of the key challenges currently, even though the coronavirus crisis has temporarily pushed socio-political discourse on global environmental and climate policy into the background over the last few months.
Transformation to greater sustainability
“While global challenges such as climate change and species extinction have intensified over the last few years, the competencies of the sustainable economy have grown at the same time,” says Stefan Schulze-Hausmann, initiator of the German Sustainability Award.
While global challenges have intensified over the last few years, a sustainable economy has grown at the same time
“We are looking for companies that use these competencies boldly and effectively to accelerate the transformation to greater sustainability.” With its sustainability strategy, which is based on the corporate strategy, Wilo focuses on seven of the 17 SDGs of the United Nations which correspond to the values and objectives of the Group.
Climate protection pioneer
“I would like to thank all those at Wilo who hold the issue of sustainability in high regard. That is all of our 8,000 employees worldwide. They are all climate protection pioneers and have contributed to Wilo winning this award. Climate protection has been part of our DNA since the company was founded in 1872, in other words for around 150 years,” emphasizes Oliver Hermes.
The prize is awarded by the German Sustainability Award Foundation (Stiftung Deutscher Nachhaltigkeitspreis) in cooperation with the German government, the Association of German Cities, business associations, civil society organizations, and research institutes. The prize was awarded on 4 December during an online gala.
