Managing Director Felix Riegel and Logistics Manager Dieter Hallerbach received the award in the Trade and Services category from the hands of the Minister of the Environment Thekla Walker at the “Neue Schloss” in Stuttgart. Riegel Bioweine was thus awarded the Environmental Prize of the State of Baden-Württemberg 2022 for outstanding achievements in corporate environmental protection as well as for exemplary environmentally-oriented corporate management.
Riegel Bioweine is already demonstrating that its climate protection efforts are far from over by the way it handles the prize money: the 10,000 euros awarded are to be invested directly in further climate and environmental protection projects.
For the first time in 2018, Riegel Bioweine calculated its carbon footprint with myclimate and has made plans for the following years. For 2019 and 2020, the carbon footprinting as well as the calculations of greenhouse gas emissions and resource consumption were carried out with the myclimate Smart 3 module, enabling the company to determine its carbon footprint according to ISO standards.
Milestones in the avoidance of emissions include the photovoltaic system commissioned in 2020, which feeds around 414,000 kWh of green electricity into the public grid in addition to using the company's own electricity. The company also focuses on sustainability when it comes to heating and only uses biogas. Further climate protection measures have been implemented in the logistics and transport sector and in packaging.
Riegel Bioweine finances a high-quality climate protection project certified according to the Gold Standard for the amount of greenhouse gases that are still unavoidable.
The supported myclimate-project promotes the installation of photovoltaic cells on the roofs of Ethiopian and Kenyan houses to generate electricity. This gives families access to light and thus improves the living conditions of people in rural regions. The use of solar lighting instead of paraffin lamps has a positive impact on their health and leads to a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions.
Important environmental prize with a long tradition
"The awarding of the Environmental Prize to companies has a long tradition in Baden-Württemberg. Since 1993, we have been awarding this prize to companies that have shown a particularly high level of commitment to environmental protection and sustainable management," said Environment Minister Thekla Walker in her laudation of the nominated companies.
In addition to the classic requirements for water and air protection, the economical use of resources and questions of energy efficiency are among the topics that are at the top of the list of priorities for the selected companies, not only in times of crisis. "All the companies that have made it to the final round today often go far beyond the legal requirements with a high level of personal commitment on the part of the company management and employees. They prove on a daily basis that environmentally oriented corporate management also pays off economically," emphasised the Environment Minister.
By acting according to the principle of preserving natural resources for future generations, these companies make an important contribution to the country's prosperity and environmental protection, according to Minister Walker. Thekla Walker: "They are important role models who live climate protection, energy transition and resource efficiency with a great deal of energy and innovative spirit in their companies and will hopefully find many imitators.
Climate protection commitment pays off many times over
With the goals it has achieved, Riegel Bioweine not only demonstrates the many ways in which it can reduce emissions, but also how these measures are perceived and rewarded by the public. We congratulate Riegel Bioweine on the award!