Why Gigaset is setting up "Fair for Future"
What does "Fair for Future" mean?
Taking responsibility for the world of tomorrow today: Gigaset focuses not only on today’s important tasks, but also those of the future. The need for action is great: climate change and a shortage of resources are huge challenges. Measures to protect the environment cannot be postponed any longer. Change in our society also plays an important role: demographic changes, the protection of personal rights and the fight against social inequality.
Gigaset has decades of experience of producing high-quality communications solutions and technologies. Gigaset production is in central Germany, and that is how it should stay. Long product life, short distribution channels and social responsibility are important to us. This is also what we stand for with the quality seal "Made in Germany". Our "Fair for Future" seal of attentiveness is a logical continuation: this documents our activities in the areas of fairness, sustainability and future tasks.
What is fairness today?
Actually, it’s quite simple: treat others the way you would wish you be treated yourself. This will also be the case in the future. Responsibility, prudence, trust and reliability are fundamental values of society; they are our driving force. After all, we can only do well if things are going well for our fellow human beings and the environment too.
Fair to people: treating customers and business partners well, and colleagues too
Sports are not possible without consideration, respect and partnership; this should be no different in everyday life. At Gigaset too, we focus on fair play in our dealings with employees, partners and customers. This begins in our own ranks: we create optimum working conditions for our colleagues and an open, prejudice-free working environment in accordance with the standards of the "Diversity Charter". They are also guaranteed fair wages in accordance with the IG Metall collective labour agreement and equal opportunities for all. This is also demonstrated by employee turnover, which has been very low for years.
We also behave fairly towards our suppliers and sales partners: Gigaset stands for fair conditions, personal support, reliability and communication on equal terms. This pays off – for everyone: many national and international partnerships have been in place for decades. With our "Business Conduct Guideline", we have laid down clear rules for dealing with partners and customers. Find out more here.
Of course, we also attach great importance to fairness for our customers: Gigaset stands for high-quality, long-lasting products at reasonable prices. You can contact our customer service team at any time. And if something should break, we will repair it for you quickly and on site in many cases or dispose of it properly. For products with the Gigaset service promise, we also offer free warranty and repair services up to the right of return. We pay particular attention to data security. We take the confidentiality of personal data very seriously.
Fair to the environment: ask questions and act sustainably
Protecting our environment and combating climate change are a human task; Gigaset is committed to making a relevant contribution. This begins with questioning and developing an awareness of sustainable action.
We at Gigaset have been focussing on treating the environment fairly for a long time. For many decades, our production has been based in the centre of Germany, more precisely in Bocholt, Westphalia: using green electricity, recycled or recyclable plastic and paper, little water and as little CO2 as possible. We do not use natural gas for our production processes today either. More information about our sustainability initiatives can be found ...
Fair to partners: regional management, thinking in partnership
Protecting the environment and avoiding emissions can also be achieved by shortening routes and investing in flexible delivery volumes. Gigaset’s production is based in Germany, and many of our suppliers or sales partners also work here. This allows us to respond even more effectively to the needs of our customers, and we can often avoid long transport routes around the globe.
Gigaset is fair to the region, and this also pays off elsewhere: we create attractive jobs and train a wide range of professions. Our production process includes employees from a local workshop for the disabled who work on packaging accessories, for example. We support local events and initiatives and encourage regional sports. And of course we pay our taxes in Germany. Regional solidarity is important.
What is the argument for sustainability?
The short answer is: everything. There is no way around sustainability. That is why so much is written, spoken and debated about this subject. For us at Gigaset, sustainability is not a buzzword but an ongoing process: we are keen to constantly improve, protect the environment, conserve resources and pay attention to quality, recycling and regionality.
For the environment: use green electricity, conserve resources
Environmental protection and profitability need not be mutually exclusive. We see this day in and day out at Gigaset: for example, our plant in Bocholt operates 100% on CO2-free green electricity and as little water as possible. This conserves important resources.
The devices we manufacture are also resource-saving: in addition to recycled plastic, we primarily use pure plastic granulate, which is completely recyclable and can be fed back into the cycle. Thanks to the introduction of energy-saving mains adapters, Gigaset DECT phones use up to 60% less power than conventional cordless phones. Reduced transmission power in ECO mode – a technology developed by Gigaset – can help to make additional energy savings. This pays off for everyone.
And if you want to replace your smartphone or phone with a new model, you can send your old device – even broken ones – to us free of charge with the Gigaset take-back programme. We check individual parts for re-usability and dispose of all other parts properly through our certified partners. To make disposing of your old device in an environmentally friendly manner even more attractive, you will receive a 15% voucher towards your next purchase in the Gigaset Online Shop.
Forever: durable products, packaged in an environmentally friendly way
Sustainable products last for a long time. Using products for as long as possible improves the ecological balance. Incidentally, the ecological balance of our products is first-rate: Gigaset devices are built to a high quality so that you can enjoy them for many years to come. Regular, extensive checks are carried out in our own test laboratory to ensure that this is the case. A lifespan of over 10 years is not uncommon for our fixed-line telephones: longevity also means sustainability.
We are not only concerned about our products, but also how they are transported. Because paper is an important raw material, Gigaset’s packaging is made from more than 90% recycled materials. Gigaset has largely banned plastic from its product packaging, replacing it with paper tapes or sleeves made from tissue paper in an environmentally friendly manner.
We have also optimised our packaging sizes: they have been adapted even more closely to our products – so they are no larger than they need to be. This also has an impact on transport: our products are transported without any unnecessary air. And the new Gigaset packaging will be gradually converted to be CO2 neutral.
For the climate: shorten transport routes, reduce greenhouse gases
If you want to act sustainably, you also need to address transport and logistics: this is where most of the emissions that are harmful to the climate usually occur. So it can only be a matter of shorter routes and flexible delivery quantities. Gigaset’s production is based in the centre of Germany, in the heart of Europe: this gives us a decisive advantage over all our competitors. Greenhouse gases are therefore significantly reduced in comparison with competitor products from the Far East.
Gigaset’s location also offers another benefit: in many cases, if something breaks you can have the damage repaired at our premises in Bocholt or by our partners on site. Important components such as batteries, displays and cameras are also interchangeable in many of our devices. Of course, the service life of Gigaset’s devices is not artificially shortened by the manufacturer (so-called obsolescence) either. After all, you should be able to enjoy your device for as long as possible.
For all: meet standards, certify systems
At Gigaset, the areas of environmental protection, human rights, fair business practices and sustainable procurement are reviewed internally. But we go one step further and also undergo external certification. We are committed to meeting the standards of sustainability management set by EcoVadis. And we’re succeeding: Gigaset currently holds the EcoVadis gold seal. When it comes to environmental protection, too, regular checks are carried out by the TÜV: Gigaset's environmental management system is certified to ISO 14001.
As part of the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP), we publish the CO2 emissions of our company and our products (Scope 1 to 3). This already shows the impact of our numerous measures. From 2020 to 2021, we were able to reduce CO2 emissions by more than half (51%).
What does the future have in store?
No one knows exactly what the future will bring. But what we do know is that if we protect our environment, conserve resources and pay attention to our fellow human beings, the years and decades ahead will be better. Despite its commitment to the cause, Gigaset still has a long way to go before it reaches its destination. We can and must become even better, constantly questioning ourselves. After all, transparency and honesty are also part of "Fair for Future".
Above all: improve processes, forge plans
Gigaset is the only European company that manufactures innovative telephones, smartphones and innovative communication solutions for business customers in Germany. We are proud of this fact. In order to manufacture our products, we still have to purchase components from the Far East or from other regions of the world, such as microchips and storage media. It is not always possible to fully monitor their manufacturing processes and supply chains. Gigaset therefore strives to make the preliminary stages transparent and to further optimise them. We are constantly facing new challenges and are continually working on innovative ideas.
On-site: optimise processes, continue to optimise
"Fair for Future" also means that we are constantly optimising our workflows. Among other things, we are keen to reduce hazardous substances in our Bocholt plant and further optimise energy consumption at all our Gigaset sites. Noise and CO2 emissions are also to be significantly reduced, for example through a gradual switch to electric drives in the factory. The further prevention of waste and even greater use of recycled products are also on the agenda. Our wish is also for our environmental and social standards to be extended to our suppliers and partners. Because the more "Fair for Future" takes hold, the better it is.
Our non-financial group report
You can find out more about our sustainability activities in detail in our Sustainability Report.
