Founded in 1865, Julius Hoesch GmbH & Co. KG is one of the largest suppliers of chemicals. In their cutting-edge warehouses and facilities spread over 80,000 square meters, more than 5,000 industrial and specialty chemical products are processed, tested, and packaged. The company employs 170 people and achieved an annual turnover of 200 million euros in 2023. In October 2023, Julius Hoesch underwent its first EcoVadis assessment and secured a Silver Medal.
Since May 2023, Lukas Thuir and Nathalie Adolphs have been jointly responsible for the topic of sustainability at Julius Hoesch GmbH & Co. KG in Düren, Germany, developing the sustainability department together. Nathalie Adolphs, a qualified chemical technician, has been responsible for chemical law and quality management since 2007 and has been the quality management representative at the company since 2022. Lukas Thuir holds a Master's degree in Sustainability Management from the University of Wuppertal and joined Julius Hoesch in 2020, where he serves as the sustainability officer and head of business development and marketing.
During the interview, the two talk about their experiences, the chemical distributor's commitment to sustainability, and the EcoVadis Rating, where the company earned a Silver Medal in 2023.
What role does sustainability play at Julius Hoesch?
Nathalie Adolphs: I have been with the company for 17 years and can confidently say that sustainability, environmental protection, and quality assurance have been essential in the chemical trade and our company for many years, if not decades. These issues are deeply embedded in our corporate philosophy, and we are continuously working on their implementation.
Lukas Thuir: We have observed that the scope and requirements for sustainability are growing almost daily, driven by increased customer demands and regulatory requirements. This led to our decision last year to establish a dedicated sustainability department to manage the topic comprehensively and handle specific tasks.
What is the current sustainability focus of your company?
LT: Our sustainability efforts are quite varied. A significant focus is on decarbonization and emission reduction. At the moment, for example, we are working on determining the product carbon footprint for over 5,000 products in our portfolio. In addition, we are implementing a variety of infrastructural measures, including the construction of a photovoltaic system and a highly efficient gas turbine on our company premises, the conversion of our vehicle fleet to electric mobility, and many other individual measures to reduce our emissions.
NA: Besides decarbonization, safety is an important issue, including quality assurance and, of course, the safety of our employees. That’s why our methods to ensure safety include training and regular checks. We are also continuously optimizing our production processes and implementing innovative technologies to produce in a more resource-efficient manner.
Sustainability: sprint or marathon?
NA: Definitely a marathon. Over time, we have already gone through various certifications such as ISO 90001, Responsible Care, and others. The demands, however, keep increasing. That’s why we focus our sustainability strategy and actions on continuous improvements. EcoVadis Ratings help us gauge where we stand, identify our strong areas and highlight the ones that need improving.
What benefits or added value does your company gain from the EcoVadis Rating?
LT: Initially, the effort for the EcoVadis assessment was quite high because we had to examine all departments and processes within the company to create a sort of inventory of sustainability. Through this intensive engagement, extensive review, and the evaluation including EcoVadis's improvement suggestions, we can now address individual areas to be a little more sustainable every day. Furthermore, the rating helps us not only capture the status quo but also build and expand our sustainability management system.
NA: EcoVadis holds significant importance in the chemical industry. The EcoVadis Siler medal helps us in strengthening and boosting our market position. We can present ourselves as a dedicated partner and transparently and demonstrably communicate our performance to our customers. It also helps us internally. Sustainability initiatives are not always easy for other stakeholders to comprehend and categorize. The rating supports our communication with colleagues from other departments, as well as with investors and shareholders. Our performance, strengths, and improvement areas are outlined clearly, making it easier to involve other stakeholders in our work and progress.
Many thanks to Nathalie Adolphs and Lukas Thuir for the interview and the valuable insights.
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