Sustainability within the
HIH-Group.
Bringing Sustainability to Life
For us, sustainability is not just a trend but an integral component of our activities as the HIH group of companies. For quite some time, we have taken a forward-looking and environmentally aware approach. We are convinced that sustainability starts with the small things, such as buying and using advertising media. We favour quality over quantity, and will distribute only high-end, useful and sustainably produced advertising media, made from recycled or recyclable raw materials, for instance.
But what matters even more to us is integrating sustainability in our day-to-day regimes – be it the commute to the office or the trip to see a client, coffee breaks or the cleaning and decorating of our premises.
Accountability means a lot to us. Accordingly, the mindful use of resources plays a decisive role for us, and we strive to live up to this standard day after day.
But what matters even more to us is integrating sustainability in our day-to-day regimes – be it the commute to the office or the trip to see a client, coffee breaks or the cleaning and decorating of our premises.
Accountability means a lot to us. Accordingly, the mindful use of resources plays a decisive role for us, and we strive to live up to this standard day after day.
“Sustainability begins with small steps: By making prudent use of resources and by encouraging an environmentally friendly corporate culture, we act collectively to make a difference.”
Birgit Laghai
Head of Organisation and Office Management
Head of Organisation and Office Management
Working Sustainably
We aim for a “paperless” office operation. In fact, we have been working on the successive transition to a paperless operating environment since 2021. Increasingly, we rely on digital mailings and digital business cards while also speeding up the transition to electronic invoicing. Tons of stationery and copier paper have already been saved.
When fitting out offices, we prioritise high-quality, durable and therefore sustainable furniture. Getting the same standard equipment for all offices lowers the costs and the resource depletion whenever offices relocate internally – furniture is used flexibly, and individual pieces of furniture are removed rather than entire offices.
Repurposing instead of wasting: In our day-to-day affairs, we prefer to redistribute and repair existing furniture rather than replacing it. We start by checking whether existing furniture could be used in other departments or, inversely, could be retrieved from other offices and branches. Obsolete furniture is not discarded but – if possible – resold, e.g. via online marketplaces.
When fitting out offices, we prioritise high-quality, durable and therefore sustainable furniture. Getting the same standard equipment for all offices lowers the costs and the resource depletion whenever offices relocate internally – furniture is used flexibly, and individual pieces of furniture are removed rather than entire offices.
Repurposing instead of wasting: In our day-to-day affairs, we prefer to redistribute and repair existing furniture rather than replacing it. We start by checking whether existing furniture could be used in other departments or, inversely, could be retrieved from other offices and branches. Obsolete furniture is not discarded but – if possible – resold, e.g. via online marketplaces.
Sustainably Clean
Analogously, we have aimed for sustainability and environmental compatibility in the areas of building upkeep and the use of consumables. The use of environmentally friendly cleaning agents has long been standard practice for us and for our facility cleaning partners.
As things stand, we have already achieved notable resource savings in regard to plastics, petroleum and carbon dioxide.
Sustainable Use of Water
Naturally, we keep our staff supplied with beverages. However, we stopped providing it in the form of individual water bottles years ago. In our office kitchenettes and in event venues, we use a high-end water filtration system that is directly hooked up to the clean-water supply. Our employees use recyclable glass bottles that meet a high hygiene standard to take their beverages back to their desks.
When providing fresh fruit to our office kitchenettes, we make an effort to provide regionally sourced fruits to HIH Group employees. The coffee served in our offices bespeaks the same kind of awareness: We have been buying fairly traded coffee for many years.
The infrastructure in our head office at Ericusspitze in Hamburg has given us further opportunity to make frugal use of resources. For one thing, we use harvested rainwater to flush toilets. This operational use of rainwater comes with all sorts of ecological and economic benefits, including reduced rainwater drainage charges, clean water cost savings and technical advantages due to the low hardness of rainwater. Rather than vanishing unused down the drain, rainwater put to good use in line with the idea of environmental sustainability.
When providing fresh fruit to our office kitchenettes, we make an effort to provide regionally sourced fruits to HIH Group employees. The coffee served in our offices bespeaks the same kind of awareness: We have been buying fairly traded coffee for many years.
The infrastructure in our head office at Ericusspitze in Hamburg has given us further opportunity to make frugal use of resources. For one thing, we use harvested rainwater to flush toilets. This operational use of rainwater comes with all sorts of ecological and economic benefits, including reduced rainwater drainage charges, clean water cost savings and technical advantages due to the low hardness of rainwater. Rather than vanishing unused down the drain, rainwater put to good use in line with the idea of environmental sustainability.
Sustainable Travel
All employees of our corporate group have the option to order a bicycle of their choice through us. The office bike has become one of our favourite benefits, and understandably so: Leasing a bicycle or e-bike will help you save money, stay in shape and travel sustainably – all of which we are happy to support.
Need to travel on business locally? Let us help you get there pollution-free! Our employees are welcome to use one of our four office bicycles or our HIH electric vehicle.
In addition, our underground car park has been equipped with four charging stations for our electric and hybrid vehicles since 2024. It helps us bring down the fuel consumption for business travel and to expedite the clean transport revolution.
Need to travel on business locally? Let us help you get there pollution-free! Our employees are welcome to use one of our four office bicycles or our HIH electric vehicle.
In addition, our underground car park has been equipped with four charging stations for our electric and hybrid vehicles since 2024. It helps us bring down the fuel consumption for business travel and to expedite the clean transport revolution.
