Sustainability at item – systematic responsibility

In this interview, our Sustainability Manager explains how sustainability considerations are shaping decision-making and developments at item.

Sustainability is a multifaceted concept. The term originated in the forestry industry, where it referred to a seemingly simple principle – the amount of wood taken should never exceed the amount that grows back. In the corporate context, sustainability has become a framework for complex environmental, economic and social decisions. We discuss how item puts its understanding of sustainability into practice in an interview with our Sustainability Manager, Nicole Urbach.

The graduate economist and qualified banker has been with the company for around three years. Prior to that, she spent a long period at a cooperative bank. Having previously worked in marketing, corporate communications and quality management, Urbach has been specialising in sustainability for roughly 15 years. Her management science background and her experience give her a pragmatic, realistic perspective.

Company-wide commitment to sustainability

How important is sustainability at item?

“At item, sustainability is of great importance. As a company, we have a social responsibility that we take very seriously. In my role as Sustainability Manager, I enjoy a great deal of support from all sides, especially the management team. The practice of acting sustainably is firmly established throughout the company. We are highly committed to this and do a lot of things we aren’t actually obliged to.

Obtaining ISO 14001 certification is one example. Last year, we also started calculating our carbon footprint in line with the Greenhouse Gas Protocol. There is no greenwashing at item. We are committed to taking concrete measures. For example, item uses 100 percent certified green electricity at all the company’s sites in Germany. Our staff also currently have 150 charging points available to them at our sites.

We are gradually converting our entire fleet to electromobility, and we are investing in the expansion of photovoltaic systems at our sites.

We are gradually converting our entire fleet to electromobility – out of pure conviction – and we are investing in the expansion of photovoltaic systems at our sites. The rooftop PV system at the item logistics centre in Solingen is a sizeable investment that will generate an output of 1.2 megawatts (MW).

item is also investing in sustainability research. We are helping to support and finance the Endowed Professorship for Technical Sustainability Management at the Solingen Campus of the CBS University of Applied Sciences. The in-house focus of our sustainability efforts is on energy and packaging.”

Why is packaging so important alongside energy considerations?

“Since item is not a manufacturing company, we ourselves do not produce any emissions. Consequently, water and air pollution is not an issue. The reason packaging is so important is that we need to succeed in maintaining a balance between sustainability and protecting our products. We have employed an engineer for the specific purpose of systematically improving our packaging.

Given that item customers expect premium quality, sustainability must not come at the price of quality. Everything we do in the name of sustainability has a clear link to business considerations.

Details are important – plastic doesn’t always have to be a bad thing if you can use it repeatedly, and its light weight also reduces CO₂ emissions during transport.”

Sustainable profiles – modularity, material selection and the circular economy

Would you say the modularity of the item Building Kit System contributes to sustainability?

“Yes, I would. Modularity is definitely a key aspect of sustainability. Constructions can be taken apart, and profiles are easy to reuse. End-to-end compatibility means combining old and new components, for example, is perfectly straightforward.

Another option is recycling, which involves melting down the profiles. Reusing aluminium requires around a tenth of the energy consumed when manufacturing it from scratch. There are no health risks associated with using our aluminium profiles. No outgassing substances or problematic emissions are generated when coming into contact with them, and they are suitable for decades of indoor use.”

What about the manufacturing of profiles?

“There’s no disputing the fact that the primary production of aluminium is an energy-intensive process. We therefore pay very close attention to how our suppliers obtain the necessary energy. The use of hydropower in Scandinavia, for instance, changes everything right from the start, and our suppliers use recycled aluminium.

item aluminium profiles are made up of over 50 percent recycled material. We ourselves recycle both aluminium and aluminium chips.

item aluminium profiles are made up of over 50 percent recycled material. We ourselves recycle both aluminium and aluminium chips. We deliberately do not use the term ‘waste’ and instead talk about recyclates and the circular economy. We expect our service providers to adopt the same approach. We check the certifications of recycling centres, for instance.

The new item WFC profiles are made using the wood-based material GCC HOLZart, with GCC standing for German Compact Composite. This material has gained gold certification from the Cradle to Cradle Products Innovation Institute and has even achieved platinum certification in the ‘Material Health’ category, in recognition of the fact that its constituents pose no hazards or risks. Once it is no longer being used, the material is fully reprocessed and utilised to manufacture new profiles. We are continuously trying out new things and constantly improving.”

Making sustainability transparent and adopting a holistic approach

Does item publish a sustainability report?

“In 2022, I compiled an item Sustainability Report (in German) that is in line with the German Sustainability Code (DNK) and also meets the requirements of the CSR Directive Implementation Act (CSR-RUG). Although item was not actually obliged to do this based on the size of our company, documenting the company’s commitment transparently is naturally entirely beneficial. Everything can be clearly documented, which is particularly important to large customers.

Since a comprehensive sustainability report of this kind is primarily aimed at specialists, we have also published a brochure (in German) that captures the essence of the report. This format is ideal for existing and potential customers, who we hope will enjoy reading it.

At present, we don’t yet know the requirements for the next sustainability report. A Stop-the-Clock Directive is delaying the relevant EU regulations.”

Is there a common misconception when it comes to sustainability?

“People often think sustainability is just an environmental issue. In fact, it combines three aspects – environmental, economic and social considerations. The environmental aspect is obvious. Economic sustainability involves being successful in order to meet social responsibilities – in other words, provide secure, well-paid skilled jobs and apprenticeships, just like item does.

The third aspect is social sustainability. The concerns of staff are the primary focus in this case – training, diversity, equality, fair pay and development opportunities, for example. The entire supply chain is becoming increasingly important in this context. Outside the company, this aspect of sustainability includes our social commitment, as demonstrated by our sponsorship of sports clubs and organisations – locally, nationally and internationally.

The different aspects of sustainability often overlap. At item, for instance, we subsidise the ‘Deutschlandticket’ that can be used on all local public transport and also support the JobRad bike leasing scheme. This combines the economic and environmental aspects of sustainability. The same applies to the charging points at our sites.”

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