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Sustainability of major importance
Sustainability based on a comprehensive definition –
environment, people/social matters, economic aspects
– has traditionally been of major importance to Geberit
and has a crucial impact on the corporate culture. The
issue of sustainability cannot be addressed in depth
in this Annual Report. However, in June 2004, Geberit
presented its first Sustainability Report to the media,
analysts and environmental associations, receiving a very
positive response. In the aforementioned report, the
Company supported sustainability as a major component
of the corporate value. The report’s intent was to show
how Geberit successfully combines above-average
economic success with an actively assumed ecological
and social responsibility. Sustainable management
has contributed to strengthening international competitiveness,
diminished the entrepreneurial risk, improved
transparency and enhanced credibility. Geberit has set
targets for the future and will report on its achievements
in the next Sustainability Report. The report, which will
be published every three years in the future, will be supplemented
by topical information on the Internet.
Due to its long-standing reputation as an environmental
pioneer and socially conscious company, Geberit is also
of interest to investors specializing in sustainability and
the environment. Geberit shares are held by renowned
funds as well as private investors focused on the environment
and sustainability. Such investors rate Geberit
in terms of sustainability in a range from “good” to
“very good”. Geberit has also been included in the “Dow
Jones Sustainability Index” (DJSI STOXX) since 2002
and thus is one of the European sustainability leaders.
Traditionally, Geberit places great value on the optimization
of its environmental performance. This was again
promoted in the past fiscal year. The database for corporate
eco balances was improved, in terms of quantity
as well as in terms of quality, by adding further production
sites. More than 80% of the gross value added is now
covered by corporate eco balances. For example, the
fact that the Jona (CH) production site was awarded
a CO2 certificate in the year under review indicates the
high-quality environmental performance. This certificate
is given to companies who have voluntarily implemented
climatic protection measures, thereby supporting the
reduction of CO2 emissions and the increase of energy
efficiency. In addition, Geberit reviewed and updated
its life cycle assessments and prepared a new one for
the Duofix WC element in the reporting year. The Mapress
acquisition in the past year triggered extensive activities
in the environmental area. The acquired company
will be completely integrated into the Geberit environmental
management system. At the Langenfeld (DE)
location, an environmental manager has been appointed
and a “Certification ISO 14001” project, with certification
scheduled for the end of 2005, has been initiated. At
the same time, an ISO 14001 certification project has
been started at the Geberit production plant in Slovenia
where the certificate is also anticipated to be obtained
by the end of 2005.
Business and Financial Review 19