Düsseldorf, Germany, 14 September 2017: United for Efficiency Partners Arçelik AŞ and Electrolux were awarded the Ökovision Sustainability Leadership Award that is awarded annually to nine global companies pioneering environmental and social compatibility.
Fatih Demiray, Head of Sustainability Department and Manager for Regulatory Affairs said “We are proud that our efforts are being recognized at an international scale. The Ökovision Sustainability Leadership Award proves that we are on the right track. It endorses Arçelik’s dedication to continuous improvement and to create a better world for future generations, which is inherent in our vision “Respect the Globe, Respected Globally”.”
To Arçelik, circular economy is the key to sustainable development and a matter of competitiveness and innovation. The company recycled approximately 500,000 old and inefficient home appliances at its own two recycling centres in Turkey. Through private corporate campaigns, Arçelik has been collecting old and inefficient appliances regardless of their brand and category and replacing them with energy-efficient ones since 2014.
Energy consumption during use phase accounts for approximately 90-95% of carbon emissions in total life cycle of household appliances. Life cycle analyses at the product design stage serve to minimise the ecological footprint.
Arçelik knows that promoting and improving energy efficiency at home has an important role on combating climate change and achieving 2 degrees Celcius climate target.
“Designing and manufacturing energy-efficient products and investing in resource efficiency in production have always been the main pillars of Arçelik’s corporate sustainability strategy,” said Fatih Demiray.
Electrolux was able to convince the high-ranking jury and was highlighted as a “pioneer in the development of energy- and water-efficient household appliances”.
“We are proud to have received this promising award. The topic of sustainability is very important to us, because as a home appliance manufacturer, we ultimately bear a great responsibility for the environment,” said Stefan Löb, Director of Environmental Affairs at Electrolux Germany.
According to Electrolux, today’s new household products are more than double as efficient compared to 20-year-old products.
In recognition of their contribution to the greening of the economy, the companies received a symbolic donation voucher amounting to 13,000 euros. This amount was donated to the benefit of “Roads of the World” association, that is committed to the repair and construction of huts and houses, as well as to an agricultural project promoting better food supply in Swaziland.
About the Ökovision Sustainability Leadership Award
The award is granted annually by a Committee consisting of 12 representatives of environmental, human rights and consumer protection organisations, as well as experts in ecologically and socially sustainable economic development. Supported by the Ökoworld sustainability research team, the expert committee reviews the companies proposed by the fund managers and takes ecological, ethical and social aspects into consideration in order to decide whether to include these companies in the investment universe. Following this decision, it monitors the developments on an on-going basis. The panel is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year. The first Committee was established in 1992 and has since been supporting companies that are committed to a more equitable and sustainable society.