Ecology
As a production company, our consumption of primary energy and raw materials is high. By formulating and pursuing ecological objectives, we manage our activities so as to improve our sustainability.
Our ecological objectives
- To reduce the specific energy consumed for each pair of pliers produced by 20 % by 2020.
- To reduce waste by 15 % by 2020.
- To improve ecological stability.
Reducing CO2 and energy use per pair of pliers
Reducing CO2 and energy use per pair of pliers
- The energy group has identified energy savings potential since 2009, and is implementing this systematically. To do this we work with an energy management system as set out in DIN EN ISO 50001.
- Reduction in energy use through use of new burner technologies and heat recovery.
- Optimised temperature control in heating systems leads to the lowest possible energy use with optimal quality result.
- Use of modern lighting and motion sensors permits efficient lighting with reduced electricity consumption.
- Close monitoring of compressed air allows increased consumption to be identified and the energy-intensive production of compressed air to be reduced to a minimum.
- Mind mapping offers employees in Production a chance to point out savings potential and ideas for improvements.
- Employee questionnaire on individual energy-saving opportunities at work increases the awareness of employees and reveals further savings potential.
Use of resources and recycling
Use of resources and recycling
- Use of an environmental management system in accordance with DIN EN ISO 14001.
- Introduction of waste monitoring for the systematic reduction of waste.
- 35 % reduction in the office paper used by converting the office printers to duplex printing and installing green printing software.
- All the office paper we use is recycled.
- Printed matter is exclusively printed in a climate-neutral manner on PEFC certified paper (sustainably managed forests).
- Constant expansion of electronic incoming and outgoing invoices, producing a great reduction in items sent by post – over 90 % of incoming and almost 70 % of outgoing invoices were digital in 2015.
- Significant reduction in unwanted mail and catalogues.
- Use of photovoltaics since 2011: we have installed photovoltaic systems on our factory roofs where load-bearing capacity so permits, and expanded this consistently.
- In 2015 we produced over 125,000 kWh of electricity with our photovoltaic systems, which corresponds to just under 1 % of our annual electricity needs.
- Own electric car – the KNIPEX electric car is used for local transfer trips.
Ecological stability
Ecological stability
Since the company was founded in 1882, its headquarters have been on the Wuppertal Cronenberg, surrounded by woodland and natural vegetation. Conservation areas are our direct neighbours. We invest in protecting our countryside.
We want to increase the ecological stability on our land, in other words the ability of an ecosystem to compensate for pollution or damage. With the support of the Heinz Sielmann Foundation, we have prepared a concept for a natural layout on our company premises as part of the national “biodiversity” programme, and implemented initial measures. We want to achieve an ecological upgrading of the company premises through the creation of additional habitats and the associated increase in biodiversity.
- Planting a meadow orchard with native varieties of fruit.
- -Eight own bee colonies are intended to counter the decline in the vital bee population.
- Unsealing areas of ground by laying lawn with gravel.
- Changing existing areas into biologically diversified spaces, as well as façade greening.
- Removal of recently introduced species and the return of indigenous plant species.
In Egypt, we are taking part in the revegetation of desert areas jointly with SEKEM, the partner with whom we are collaborating. In 2015, 25,700 young trees (saplings) were grown on behalf of KNIPEX, and will be planted out on a 40-hectare area of desert in the Libyan desert (approximately 370 km south-west of Cairo). With the reforestation project in Egypt, we want to make a contribution to improving our CO2 balance; in addition, further areas are being developed for agricultural use.
In the first year the trees planted by KNIPEX will reduce CO2 by 1.9 tonnes. This amount will increase as the trees grow, capturing 1,500 tonnes of CO2 in the first five years.
