DAW honoured as "Sustainable Manufacturer 2011"

(PresseBox) (Ober-Ramstadt, 06.02.2012) The consumers' group, VERBRAUCHER INITIATIVE, honoured the Deutsche Amphibolin-Werke von Robert Murjahn Stiftung & Co KG (DAW) on 24th January in Berlin for its sustainability commitment. The company with the well-known brands Caparol and Alpina was honoured in the category "DIY and construction materials" as the "Sustainable Manufacturer 2011" with a Silver Medal. Within the framework of the project “Environmental and social responsibility in brand companies and retail” the consumer organisation, VERBRAUCHER INTIATIVE e.V., conducted a survey on the subject of sustainability and social responsibility (CSR) in manufacturing companies. The objective of the study was to acquire the current state of the social commitment of manufacturers in order to simplify and encourage the purchasing decisions of consumers for environmentally and socially compatible products and companies. The project was supported by the Federal Environment Agency and the Federal Environment Ministry. For the first time important manufacturers in the six highest selling fields in Germany were queried: Nutrition and Semi-Luxury Foods, Hygiene and Personal Care, DIY and Construction Materials, Textiles and Shoes, Furniture and Information and Telecommunication Technology. The consideration of sustainable criteria in production and supply chains should produce important steering effects in the direction of sustainable consumption. The study should also contribute to making the sustainability commitment of companies visible to consumers and at the same time force the further development of sustainability and CSR activities within the wholesale and manufacturing companies. In this regard the whole supply chain from obtaining the raw materials through production and transport to disposal was examined. "Our Integrated Management System (IMS), our products and the 'practised' sustainability in the company were regarded as particularly positive," reported Bettina Klump-Bickert, who coordinates the activities in the field of sustainability at DAW. The questionnaire produced by the Öko-Institut (Ecology Institute) went to more than 1,300 companies, of which 31 received recognition from the VERBRAUCHER INITIATIVE as "Sustainable Manufacturer 2011" in Bronze, Silver or Gold.