Working together for the environment
We take our responsibility to protect and preserve a healthy environment very seriously. Already in the product development phase, we are guided by considerations for environmentally friendly business operations. Partners and suppliers are critical to achieving sustainability, which is why we include them in our endeavours. We also actively involve our employees, promote awareness, provide regular training and ensure transparent communication of the outcomes of our efforts. In addition, we are committed to:
to climate-conscious business activity and to further improvements in our environmental management
complying with legal requirements and other obligations
subjecting our activities to regular and independent monitoring and certification
Targeted emissions reductions
Our CO₂ emissions and the climate protection projects that we support relate to Ifolor AG, the operating site in Switzerland. These two areas are covered by the "Swiss Climate Label". ifolor continuously adapts its measures to reduce energy consumption and consistently ensures the correct recycling of cardboard and printing paper waste. Furthermore, ifolor has set itself the long-term strategic goal of reducing CO₂ emissions by 50% by 2020, with reference to the base year 2011. This target was already achieved in 2016. Compared to the base year, CO₂ emissions had even been reduced by 54% by then. This first target period has therefore been successfully completed. We are now embarking on a new target path. We have set ourselves an ambitious target: to achieve a further 30% reduction in CO₂ emissions by 2023 compared to the new base year 2020. We are constantly working to optimize our waste concept and source 100% of our electricity from Swiss hydropower. In 2024, ifolor will be awarded the "Swiss Climate Label" by Swiss Climate for the 13th time. This includes the operationally relevant emission sources for the manufacture of the products: Chemicals (incl. inks and varnish), heating energy, electricity, paper and water consumption, business travel, commuting by our employees and waste. However, the photo products themselves are not considered here. A life cycle assessment (ISO standard 14044) of the photo products is planned.
Emissions from business heating
Compared to the reference year 2020, emissions from our heating system in 2023 fell by 50% and by 30% compared to the previous year. Optimized heating settings helped us achieve this good result.
Emissions from electricity
In 2023, we consumed significantly less electricity and were thus able to reduce emissions by 16% compared to the reference year 2020. Purchasing electrical energy from 100% Swiss hydropower helps us to keep emissions low in general.
Emissions from paper and printing
We have our advertising flyers printed on recycled paper in the most climate-friendly way possible. Here, too, we have been able to optimize and reduce emissions.
Our climate-conscious business
We measure all consumption required to manufacture our products, such as chemicals (incl. inks, varnish), energy, electricity, paper and water consumption, business travel, commuting and waste. We offset the emissions calculated from the consumption by supporting the two climate protection projects. This gives us a climate-conscious business. We have had our CO₂ management independently audited by Swiss Climate AG since 2012 and are re-certified "Swiss Climate Label" every year.
Environmentally friendly products
We believe that making the production of our products more environmentally friendly is essential to ensuring long-term environmental sustainability. Therefore, sustainability is just as much a focus when procuring products from external suppliers as it is when making the photo products. We also strive to design durable products, which we do by producing items of the highest quality. Users are then able to enjoy our products for longer, with no need to buy a replacement. We currently offer the following range of environmentally friendly products:
ifolor’s CEO Hannes Schwarz
“As a family-run company, we have lived and breathed photography since 1961. Environmentally friendly development and production on site according to Swiss quality standards is a tradition with us".
Andreas Schmidt, Head of Quality Management Systems
“We are renowned for carefully crafted, high-quality products and guaranteed satisfaction.”
Employee engagement activities
On Earth Day, which took place on 22 April 2024, we launched our first Clean Up Day initiative in Kreuzlingen. This is part of our ongoing commitment to social responsibility at ifolor. Environmental awareness is particularly important to us as a manufacturing and resource-consuming company. We also believe that even small measures can lead to significant changes. In our endeavour to offset our impact on the environment, a total of 15 employees took part in the Clean Up campaign and collected waste in the vicinity of the ifolor headquarters in Kreuzlingen.
Social commitment to climate protection project
By investing in Swiss Climate projects and saving resources within the company, we are making our contribution to environmentally conscious living and a sustainable future. The greenhouse gas emissions generated by business operations are offset via a percentage-based contribution to one of Swiss Climate's climate protection project. This amount is calculated based on the quantity of CO₂ generated in the corresponding reporting period. The two projects we have been supporting since 2016 are:
Certified environmental management
Swiss Climate Label
We have been awarded this certificate - based on the international ISO 14064 standard - since 2012 for our commitment to strive for continuous improvement of our greenhouse gas balance in line with Swiss Climate. As we are aware of our responsibility for a healthy environment, we attach importance to an environmentally conscious use of natural resources in our daily operations. For more information on the "Swiss Climate Label", go to www.swissclimate.ch
ISO 14001:2015
In 2022, we received this certificate – based on the international ISO 14001:2015 standard – for our excellent and thorough organisation in setting up and implementing our environmental management system. Our commitment to environmental issues is part of this integrated management system and is constantly being developed and optimised. You can find further information on the “ISO 14001:2015” label at https://www.sqs.ch/en/services/products/iso-140012015
