SIX STEPS
TOWARDS SUSTAINABILITY
By Benjamin Andersen – JULY 2021
For being a sustainable and green company, you need more than just "keeping up appearances" or doing it because it is a "trendy thing"; it is about working hard and have a clear strategy on how to be as green as possible throughout the whole supply chain and organization. Furthermore, all green values should be shared by all within the organization. The usual business should be green instead of "just" falling back to doing business as we did before.
Sustainability at Promovec
1. STEP - sustainable packaging box
At Promovec, we are continuously looking for improvement internally. Our plan for the immediate future clearly shows our ambition to innovate and contribute to the world's challenges. We have gone from the black, colorful battery packaging boxes to a reasonable and sustainable packaging box. The new packaging boxes are recyclable and entirely made from cardboard. The material has been certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) and we get it from a local source.
The FSC initiative fits perfectly with the fact that we at Promovec always seek sustainable and high-quality solutions to serve both the planet and our customers best. Moreover, with our new shredder machine, we can recycle cardboard for our packing web orders. In that way, we assure that we do not waste any carbon and are recycling as much as possible.
2. STEP - healthy lifestyle
Internally we encourage all employees to have a focus on a green and healthy lifestyle. We have become a certified Bicycle-friendly Workplace, and every year we participate in the fantastic initiative "We Cycle to Work" from the Danish Cyclists' Association. The campaign helps to increase the focus on a healthy and sustainable mode of transportation. By cycling, we can save the climate a tremendous amount of CO2 and help to supplement a healthy lifestyle.
Winners from We Cycle to Work 2021
3. STEP - renewable energy
In general, we are always seeking to become more sustainable. As an example of this, our battery production facilities use 100% renewable energy and are supplied by sustainable energy sources. We are using an electric car for internal transportation. Furthermore, we use a CO2-neutral server for running our website and LED lights with 60-75% improvement in the overall energy efficiency. We are saving money by doing so, and at the same time, it is easier than expected. It is all about creating a sustainable mindset throughout the business.
4. STEP - sustainable bonds
In order to be as sustainable as possible, we have changed the company’s pension fund. By doing so, we can now buy sustainable bonds. It fits our vision and philosophy regarding our green values. Furthermore, we now have a positive impact on the environment through our pension fund.
5. STEP - new sustainable HQ
In 2022 we will move into our new headquarter just outside Aarhus. The building will be the first in Denmark to reach a golden certification standard in DGNB. The measurements of the DGBN system are based on three key factors; sustainability areas of ecology, economy, and sociocultural. Those three factors are weighted evenly in the final evaluation.
6. STEP - green ambitions
When it comes to our batteries, recycling is essential for us, as they contain valuable and hazardous materials. To reduce our environmental footprint even further and incorporate our green ambitions into our daily routine, we gave our waste management system an overhaul to make sure that we recycle as much as possible. The metals we use in our batteries can be recycled, and we are looking for a supplier with a high recycling rate.
Sustainable battery produced in Denmark
Making e-bikes and battery packs sustainable is not an easy goal but a long and arduous process. To become more sustainable, and to engage fully with the Sustainable Development Goals, it is necessary that we maintain a long-term perspective. With our production facility, we have control over the process and development, and we have a real possibility to make the production of e-bikes and batteries more sustainable in the years to come.
