Lived Responsibility – Nölken Hygiene Products is a Supporter of the Alliance for Development and Climate

With Agenda 2030 – adopted on January 1, 2016, under the title „Transforming our World: The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development“ – the member states of the United Nations are setting ambitious goals, the implementation of which is intended to promote general economic growth while improving the living standards of all citizens, establishing equal opportunities, conserving natural resources, and maintaining a healthy, resilient ecosystem. In Germany, the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development has committed itself to the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and is attempting to implement them within the framework of a global partnership.

On behalf of the BMZ, the Foundation Alliance for Development and Climate was established by the Kreditanstalt für Wiederaufbau (KfW) in December 2018. Its aim is to link development cooperation and international climate protection through the voluntary compensation of greenhouse gases within the framework of Agenda 2030. Funds are to be generated to finance development and climate protection projects in developing and emerging countries.

The work of the Alliance for Development and Climate relies above all on the voluntary commitment of its supporters. Through offsetting the emissions they cause, they all contribute to financing selected non-governmental projects of compensation partners. In turn, the Alliance for Development and Climate supports the sponsors, for example through information or the organization of a network for the exchange of experiences, and offers a platform for professional forums, working groups, workshops, and online seminars.

By participating in the Support Program, Nölken Hygiene Products GmbH has officially documented its commitment to the Alliance for Development and Climate's mission statement since November 2021. The company's overarching goal is to operate with climate neutrality by 2050. In fact, Nölken has already met this target since 2019 by compensating for 100 percent of its unavoidable emissions. However, the primary focus is, first and foremost, on avoiding and reducing CO₂Emissions.

„With the declaration of commitment from the Alliance for Development and Climate, we are continuing what we formulated years ago as a guiding principle in our corporate philosophy,“ explains E. Markus Nölken, managing partner of Nölken Hygiene Products GmbH. „Sustainability has always been a central aspect of our work. As supporters, we want to further develop ourselves through exchange, cooperative collaboration and the promotion of certified projects, and make an additional contribution.“

Since 2011, Nölken has published an annual sustainability report detailing the company's sustainability management initiatives from the past year. It also includes a progress report on the United Nations Global Compact (UNGC) and a declaration of conformity with the German Sustainability Code (DNK). By committing to the UN and adhering to an industry-wide transparency standard, Nölken has long embraced recognized initiatives that, not least, express corporate responsibility towards society and the environment.