Blue is the new green – Use the blue technology
As a manufacturer of energy-efficient and sustainable sealing solutions we feel we have an obligation to continually improve the environmental impact of our products and to constantly extend our company's environmental activities. But we don't want this to be just empty words. We act!
With actions that are in line with the needs of the current generation and do not threaten to restrict the options of future generations. It's important not to simply state values. We need to live by them as well. We regard reducing our carbon footprint as a major part of our environmental policy. As a company certified to ISO 14001 and ISO 9001 we are facing up to our responsibility for a future worth living – entirely in line with our corporate "Use the blue technology” strapline.
Facing up to our responsibility for a future worth living: Environmental certification to ISO 14001
We constantly work to further extend our company's environmental activities. One outward sign of our commitment is certification to the ISO 14001 international environmental management standard.
This internationally recognised environmental management system is based on voluntary measures implemented by the company to protect the environment and contribute to a continuous improvement process. For this, we have defined measurable environmental targets, such as waste disposal measures, a further lowering of energy consumption and a reduction of CO2 emissions through the use of photovoltaic technology to generate energy. Other important targets include the sparing use of resources by working with environmentally-friendly, non-harmful, recyclable materials and minimising our use of water, electricity and raw materials.
So we have aligned our environmental policy towards achieving these demanding targets, whilst complying with the applicable statutory obligations. Our environmental management system is regularly checked by an external body to ensure that we continue to improve.
Low-emission and energy-efficient products protect people and the environment
Many of our sealing products are rated as “very low-emission” with the GEV mark EMICODE® EC1 PLUS. This premium classification by the Association for the Control of Emissions in Products for Flooring Installation, Adhesives and Building Materials e.V. (GEV) means maximum possible protection against ambient air contamination. As a result, both users and clients can be sure that these products do not give off hazardous substances into the ambient air and do not represent any risk to health.
As a further statement of the sustainability of our products, we have drawn up environmental product declarations (EPDs) for many of our sealing systems. The EPDs for our polyurethane and polyethylene sealing tapes and our pre-wall installation systems or façade and window connection foils provide a comprehensive overview of all the environmental impacts associated with product manufacture. In addition to quantified environmental information from the life cycle of the products, the EPDs also show that the products are extremely energy-efficient and that their use has a positive impact on energy consumption and therefore on the life cycle assessment of buildings.
Today, many of our sealing solutions are already geared up to meet future requirements and, in addition to the Building Energy Act, also conform to the new EU Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD) which specifies that all new-builds in the European Union must meet the standard for a “lowest-energy house”.
Our ISO-TOP WINFRAMER in front of wall installation system, also our ISO-BLOCO HYBRATEC and ISO-BLOCO ONE multifunctional joint sealing tape have been awarded the title of “Certified Components” by the Passive House Institute Dr. Feist Darmstadt (PHI).
ISO-Chemie sustainability initiative: Maintaining the diversity of species
Since ISO-Chemie was established over 45 years ago, the company has been committed to acting responsibly towards people and nature. For example, we have supported the environmental and species conservation work of the WWF (World Wide Fund For Nature) with our donations.
To reinforce these efforts at the “micro” level, we continually develop new ideas to maintain the diversity of species as part of the ISO-Chemie sustainability initiative.
An insect hotel and wildflower meadows created at various places in our company grounds act as artificial nesting sites and food sources for wild bees and other insects threatened with extinction. We are particularly proud of the many diligent “employees from our Sustainability department” who work from the beehive set up on our green roof.
We are also receiving significant support from our human employees who have taken on a number of environmental projects or actively participate in campaigns such as “Donate a mobile to rescue gorillas”. This project, led by WILHELMA Stuttgart, donates the profits from recycling mobile phones to Berggorilla & Regenwald Direkthilfe e.V. (which works for the conservation of lowland gorillas).
With our sustainability initiatives we hope to contribute to promoting biodiversity on our site and improving the environmental condition of the Earth.
