Environmental Responsibility
Corporate Sustainability
Development
We assume responsibility for sustainable development
Sustainable management of our business practices is a key aspiration for us, the Zech Group. This aspiration equally ensures the future viability of our consortium. As an internationally active, medium-sized family business, we are aware of our responsibilities and are committed to pursuing our goals in the sustainability development domain. We consider it an important task to provide viable solutions for future buildings by pooling the knowledge located within our consortium and providing innovative solutions as well as pioneering products in a changing world.
„ We want to generate new business opportunities in an authentic, genuine, and integer way. I support the development of sustainable practices by picturing a three-legged footstool and thinking of its function, the three realms of sustainability – environmental, social, and governance – must be promoted equally.
Kurt Zech
Environmental Responsibility
WE ASSUME RESPONSIBILITY FOR OUR IMPACT ON THE ENVIRONMENT AND FUTURE GENERATIONS WITH REGARD TO THE PRODUCTS AND SERVICES WE PROVIDE AS WELL AS WITHIN OUR CORPORATION.
- We pursue carbon neutrality in our business practices as of 2045.
- We pursue a continuous reduction of the negative impacts of our business operation on the environment.
- We pursue a responsible utilization of resources and constant reduction of our waste volume.
Respectful Togetherness
WE ARE COMMITTED TO A RESPECTFUL COEXISTENCE WITH OUR EMPLOYEES, BUSINESS PARTNERS, AND SOCIETY.
- We provide an attractive working environment in which our employees feel valued and supported
- We foster a corporate culture that is defined by team spirit, fairness, and equal opportunities.
- We aim at making a positive contribution to a society that is worth living in.
Transparent Entrepreneurship
WE ARE COMMITTED TO CONDUCTING TRANSPARENT BUSINESS ENTREPRENEURSHIP.
- Our business actions are guided by values that have been anchored in our family business for several generations.
- We create business structures that enable us to realize a responsible and successful business activity.
- We ensure transparency and sustainability of all our business relationships in a customer-oriented and partnership-based manner.
As our business actions are guided by specific and transparent standards, further information are depicted in our Code of Conduct:
Strategy
RESPONSIBILITY, RESPECT, AND TRANSPARENCY
In line with the self-image and business conduct of proper entrepreneurs, the values of responsibility, respect, and transparency are deeply embedded in our Group's DNA. All of our actions are guided by these values, as is the strategic orientation of the whole Group.
Throughout the company's history, the family business has always refined itself in alignment with changing social and economic conditions. To keep this aspiration, we are committed to a sustainable development of our business activities.
Reporting & Connecting
LEVERAGING SYNERGIES WITHIN THE GROUP
A variety of projects conducted by several companies of our consortium contribute to and support a major growth of the sustainability development domain. We aspire to continue the utilization of synergies between the Group’s companies to ensure high-quality, innovative, and appealing products.
Diligence in supply chains
RESPONSIBLE AND SUSTAINABLE MANAGEMENT
The introduction of the German Supply Chain Due Diligence Act has led to the establishment of a framework that sets out conditions for responsible and sustainable value creation along the entire supply chain.
Strength of the Group – this is what we believe in
To preserve the environment, our society, and entrepreneurship in a changing world, transformation, innovation, and measurability, are called for. To manage our business activities sustainably is not only a requirement but constitutes a foundation for the future viability of our Group. On that account, we aim to tap into new business opportunities to strengthen our corporate sustainability development. We draw upon on existing structures in various fields within the Group as well as lean on selected core values:
- To assume responsibility for our planet and environment
- To ensure respect for employees and society
- To safeguard transparency in our corporate management and strategy
To enable strong growth, and create liveable space, it is our vision to develop solutions along with our customers and to be the first port of call for sustainable products in all lifecycle phases of a property. To achieve our vision, we are working on expanding the Group's network, to create a platform that connects players and projects of sustainable development.
Projects realized by the Group
The following overview contains selected examples of sustainable building projects realized by the Group’s divisions: Building, Real Estate, and Hotel.
Remediation of smaller water bodies
FOREST OF SEEBLÄNKEN
To restore important ecological benefits of water bodies in the forest of Seeblänken, various small water bodies were de-silted. Additionally, the clearance profile around these bodies was widened. To ensure the accessibility of all water bodies, existing forest and woodland paths were extended and construction roads were located on aisles. To meet specific concerns regarding existing species and nature conservation, the project was conducted in two steps.
EDGE Südkreuz: Highest DGNB Score
"OUTSTANDING: EDGE SÜDKREUZ BERLIN" (DGNB)
- Certificates:
DGNB Platin (95,4 %)
DGNB Diamant
WELL Platinum - Largest timber-hybrid-building in Germany
- Timber-hybrid-modular construction designed by CREE Buildings which saves up to 80 % CO2 on a component-to-component basis
- Use of only environmentally and health-friendly building products
- Focus on user comfort and modern working conditions
- Project team: ZECH Bau, Rhomberg, and CREE Buildings
Cradle-to-cradle pilot project
CUSTOMS UNION IN ESSEN
New building administrative building RAG-Stiftung and RAG AG
- German pilot project with extensive Cradle to Cradle-inspired measures
- Certifications/awards:
DGNB Platinum (82,6 %)
Federal Award for Environment & Building in the category "Special Award for Sustainability and Innovation" (2020) - Construction is accomplished by utilizing local and pollutant-free materials
- Documentation of recyclable materials through material passport
- Generation of renewable energy generation by photovoltaics and geothermal energy
- Enhancing biodiversity, e.g., through urban gardening and nesting boxes
Biological soil cleaning
GAINING SOIL WITH TERRAFERM®
ZECH Umwelt operates nine stationary biological treatment plants in Germany to treat contaminated soil biologically using the TERRAFERM® process. Depending on the contamination profile of the soil, ZECH Umwelt can remediate up to 1.5 million tonnes of contaminated soil per year at its sites and then return it to the economic cycle in an ecologically sound manner.
New-Work-World in Berlin
MACHEREI BERLIN KREUZBERG
Three architectures signify the vision of a diverse, environmentally friendly, and people-centred "New Work"-world: the wooden "Carré", an innovative new building in timber-hybrid construction, the 90-meter-high "Design Tower", an ecological revitalization, and the completely climate-neutral "Zero CO2 House".
#greensail in Bremerhaven
ATLANTIC HOTEL SAIL CITY: #GREENSAIL IN BREMERHAVEN
The ATLANTIC Hotel Sail City has changed its alignment: sustainability is anchored in its corporate philosophy with its "Green on the move" approach. Excellent service for its customers and guests shall always be in harmony with its responsibility towards the environment and the entire hotel team.