BPW accomplishes wholesale switch to green electricity and publishes sustainability report

• BPW procures all of its electricity from renewables with a guarantee of origin
• Inaugural sustainability report satisfying UN Global Compact criteria published
  

Wiehl, 14.12.2017 --- BPW Bergische Achsen KG of Wiehl in the west of Germany is not only an innovation leader in the transport and logistics sector, but also ranks among the pioneers as regards sustainability. The company switched to procuring all of its electricity from renewables in the summer and has now published its first sustainability report in compliance with the UN Global Compact.

For some time now BPW has been generating a portion of the electricity it consumes at headquarters with its own solar panels and hydropower plant. It has now switched the rest of its power supply entirely to renewables as well – not an easy step to take in the energy-intensive metalworking industry.

The family-owned business, which has been recognised as a top-100 innovator among German SMEs, has also documented its commitment to man and the environment by publishing its first sustainability report. Its activities include numerous initiatives to support its employees’ well-being, from training sessions on an age-related working environment to striking a balance between work and family life. BPW fosters not only its academically gifted recruits, but also those who didn’t count among the high-flyers at school. It offers a scheme to give young people – those who would otherwise find it difficult to join regular apprentice programmes because of low grades – an opportunity to learn the fundamentals required to enter the world of work.

Michael Pfeiffer, personally liable managing partner of BPW, comments, “The future will be shaped not only by technology, but also by attitudes. We firmly believe that our ability to innovate depends on our willingness to accept responsibility for man and the environment.”

Achim Kotz, another of BPW’s personally liable managing partners, stresses the importance of continuity in the family business, which began producing patent axles for carriages and carts in 1898. The axles spared vehicle operators the daily task of lubricating with cart grease, which in turn saved time, effort, and resources. Nowadays BPW employs around 7,000 people worldwide. “Our goal of enabling vehicle manufacturers and operators to achieve the highest level of innovation, efficiency, safety and profitability in transport has remained unchanged for almost 120 years. We also have a tradition of using hydropower as a source of energy. For generations, BPW has been pursuing the principles of sustainability and corporate responsibility that are now very familiar. Our values are reflected in our strategies, products and services, and they provide us with guidance in a time of change.”

BPW Group, whose headquarters are located in Wiehl near Cologne, now engages globally in researching, developing and producing key components to facilitate the transportation of goods by road. BPW supplies everything needed to propel, digitally interconnect and illuminate trailers, and to make them safe, enhance their efficiency and reduce their environmental impact. The global market leader in axles and running gear systems has emerged as a pioneer and innovation leader in the transport sector. In recognition of its ability to think not only about products, but also about end-to-end processes and integrated solutions, BPW has been presented with a string of innovation awards. The electric axle drive eTransport, designed to eliminate emissions in the urban delivery traffic segment, is just one of its prize-winning developments. In its innovation centres, BPW Group is researching and developing intelligent logistics solutions for the future.