Neckarsulm, October 8, 2024. Today, at the Expo Real in Munich, the central building of PreZero Stiftung & Co. KG received certification according to DIN SPEC 91436, achieving a maturity level of “Gold” in the process. Verification was performed by an independent external auditor from certification body ZER-QMS (Zertifizierungsstelle Qualitäts- und Umweltgutachter GmbH). There were various steps involved in the audit: interviews were conducted with Executive Board members and various departments (including CSR, marketing and facility management) and an inspection was carried out on the entire site. Important verification documents were also checked, including records of waste disposal and weighing slips.
The headquarters of PreZero Stiftung in Heilbronn is the first Schwarz Group administration building in Germany to receive gold certification in accordance with DIN SPEC 91436. By taking home the gold, PreZero is making significant strides on the “Road to Zero Waste”. “Bronze”, “Silver” and “Gold” maturity levels are up for grabs in terms of certification, with gold indicating top marks with respect to recycling and waste prevention. For example, positive recovery (waste prevention, waste reduction, recycling, composting, fermentation) stands at 95 percent at least and neutral recovery (incineration with energy recovery) stands at 5 percent at most. The objective of DIN SPEC 91436 certification is to reduce waste as much as possible, minimize non-recyclable waste, and ensure optimal recycling and disposal practices. The certification holds special significance for PreZero, as the DIN standard can be traced back to a PreZero initiative. Together with a consortium of NGOs, science and industry, PreZero developed the DIN SPEC 91436 standard for the development of sustainable waste and recyclables management.
“By developing the DIN SPEC standard, we wanted to create transparency and comparability. This is something we have implemented very successfully with our administration building: independent inspection bodies certify our commitment to sustainability and a circular economy according to defined criteria. Our employees are all on board with this mission and show their dedication through their sustainable use of recyclable materials,” says Dietmar Böhm, Executive Board Member PreZero Dual, Intragroup Services & New Business PreZero International.
“Following a thorough examination of all the requirements of DIN SPEC 91436, we're excited to report that the audit of our headquarters in Heilbronn has concluded with the award of maturity level “Gold”. This audit is repeated at least once a year to ensure consistent compliance of all inspection points," concludes Dr. Norbert Hüsgen, Managing Partner of the , ZER-QMS.
PreZero’s commitment doesn’t stop there, however: Together with Lidl in Germany, both companies are working tirelessly to ensure that all Lidl stores and the 39 administrative and goods distribution centers in Germany receive certification according to DIN SPEC 91436 by 2027. With this milestone, the companies of Schwarz Group are fast becoming pioneers on the road to a sustainable circular economy.
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