Sustainability

Sustainability is part of our company’s DNA and one aspect of our long-term corporate focus. Klüh is a labour-intensive service provider with a long tradition that is committed to acting in the interest of people and to sustainably preserving the value of their environment. To us as a multiservice provider, sustainability in our business operations means creating value for our clients, maintaining a culture of innovation, being an attractive employer and preserving resources – both within our company and in the services we provide to our clients (see Klüh materiality matrix).

Initiated in 2022, our sustainability strategy provides us with the direction to achieve this. Our focus is always on ensuring our clients’ satisfaction because, without them, Klüh would not have enjoyed the success it has for more than 100 years. We see ourselves as the ‘#zukunftsleister’ – the service innovator – demonstrating our deep awareness for the future with services we are already introducing today.

Thanks to innovation by our divisions, with key contributions from our Center of Digital Excellence, we are pressing ahead when it comes to the future issues of sustainability and digital transformation. On the basis of data, we can achieve a great deal such as reducing the use of cleaning agents, avoiding food waste and safeguarding critical infrastructure. 

In an era of growing digitalisation, innovation in this area especially will ensure our company’s future viability. That is why we are strengthening our focus on digital transformation – both for our clients and within our own company. Established in 2018, the Center of Digital Excellence is our in-house digital hub that works closely with our divisions to develop digital solutions. We identify innovative opportunities and pilot the use of digital technologies such as the Internet of Things, artificial intelligence, robotics and assistance systems. In this way, we create new digital services and solutions which contribute to preserving resources and drive the industry’s sustainable development.

We utilise resources as sparingly and ecologically as possible. The highest priority in all our divisions is reducing CO₂ emissions. To this end, we are developing a fleet strategy aimed at transitioning to electric vehicles, use green electricity and deploy carbon-free processes in the Cleaning division. Here, we are also reducing the use of cleaning agents, choose chemical-free alternatives wherever possible and deploy biodegradable cleaning processes.

In our Catering division, our innovative AI Waste Management process is an innovative approach to reducing food waste. We also avoid packaging waste and use non-animal products to a growing extent. In line with our commitment to animal welfare, we support the Albert Schweitzer Foundation’s European Chicken Commitment.

One core focus at Klüh is social responsibility in all its many facets. We do everything we can to be an attractive employer and work continuously to improve our employer branding. And we are successful in this. Last year, we received recognition for our recruiting measures. In addition, our employees expressed their appreciation for the training and development opportunities provided by our in-house Klüh Academy.

Equal opportunities and diversity also play an important role for us as an international company. Employees from 122 nations contribute their origins, religions, world views and values to our daily work and collaborate in arespectful and prejudice-free working environment in line with the requirements of Germany’s General Act on Equal Treatment.

Our company has been firmly rooted in Düsseldorf since 1911 and has a long tradition of commitment to a wide range of sports, art and cultural projects within the region and across Germany. Each year, for example, the ‘Wir für Düsseldorf’ initiative established by Josef Klüh supports selected associations and projects. The Klüh Foundation sponsors innovation in science and research on an annual basis, providing both practical and financial support. Many of our employees are involved in volunteering – either as examiners for the Chamber of Industry and Commerce, as volunteer fire fighters, as disaster relief volunteers or as trainers in sports clubs.