Sustainability is an integral part of the corporate culture at SAERTEX multiCom and embedded in its DNA. Trenchless pipe rehabilitation using SAERTEX-LINERS makes a valuable contribution to protecting the precious resource of drinking water. Beyond this, the company is committed to its sustainability strategy, contributing to a sustainable future and a responsible society. This strategy is built on three pillars: socially fair, ecologically responsible, and economically efficient actions. With the EcoVadis Gold Rating and the publication of five EPDs, SAERTEX multiCom has once again demonstrated its commitment to sustainable solutions in trenchless pipe rehabilitation with GRP liners
EcoVadis Gold Rating for SAERTEX multiCom
EcoVadis is a globally recognized benchmark for sustainability audits of companies, offering reliable sustainability ratings. As a leading platform for sustainability information, EcoVadis assesses global supply chains and supports companies in making their processes more sustainable. Over 75,000 companies worldwide are part of the EcoVadis network, including global players like Johnson & Johnson, L’Oréal, Subway, Nestlé, Salesforce, Michelin, and BASF.
“EcoVadis is not about measuring the environmental impact of a single product. Instead, it takes a holistic view of the company, evaluating 21 sustainability criteria across four key areas: Environment, Labor & Human Rights, Ethics, and Sustainable Procurement,” explains Michael Clostermann, Sustainability Manager at SAERTEX multiCom. The assessment process is based on a comprehensive questionnaire addressing these four areas, with weightings tailored to the company’s industry, location, and size. Experts verify the information provided and create a clear scorecard summarizing the results, along with concrete opportunities for improvement. This helps companies further refine their sustainability strategies.
This year, EcoVadis awarded the German headquarters of SAERTEX multiCom the Gold Medal, placing the company among the top 5% of all companies evaluated worldwide and the top 2% in its industry. “The EcoVadis Gold Rating enables us to quantify our sustainability measures and showcase our achievements to partners and customers,” emphasizes Clostermann. Kai Diecks, Global Managing Director of SAERTEX multiCom, adds: “We are very proud of the GOLD award from EcoVadis. This recognition is valid for one year, and we will not rest on our laurels. We will continue to enhance our sustainability performance and maintain our leadership in this area. With the SAERTEX multiCom team and our innovative strength, we will keep creating responsible solutions.”
5 EPDs Published for the Entire Product Range
EPD stands for Environmental Product Declaration, a standardized document presenting the environmental impact of a product over its entire lifecycle using neutral and objective data. “An EPD provides a neutral representation of numerous environmental aspects of a product. However, it is not a sustainability certificate but proof of the quality of environmental information. It confirms that the life cycle assessment has been correctly conducted, the right data has been used, and all information is presented objectively. The key point is that an EPD must be verified by an external party,” explains Clostermann.
With the support of the independent consulting and auditing company WESSLING Consulting Engineering, SAERTEX multiCom compiled all data for its entire product range and standardized it in templates. A total of five EPDs were successfully verified and published by EPD Danmark, covering the entire product portfolio. These EPDs encompass the five product lines SAERTEX-LINER MULTI, ENVIRONMENT, INDUSTRY, H2O, and GAS. Valid for the next five years, these EPDs apply to GRP liners produced at the SAERTEX multiCom headquarters in Saerbeck. SAERTEX multiCom is now the first German manufacturer of GRP liners to publish EPDs for its product portfolio.
“For construction planners, EPDs now provide a detailed data foundation that can be used, for example, in the evaluation and planning of projects,” Clostermann highlights the significance of EPDs. Furthermore, EPDs are becoming a key criterion in tenders. “Scandinavian countries, in particular, are leading the way in terms of sustainability. EPDs are already in high demand there, and we know that these developments will soon extend to other countries. By publishing the EPDs, we are positioning ourselves and our customers for the future,” says Diecks.