About Böllhoff

Sustainability – it’s part of the Böllhoff DNA

For many years, sustainability has been an integral part of our values, our corporate culture and our success goals.

Symbol for sustainability at the Böllhoff Group with a green globe

We think long-term

As a family-run company in its fourth generation, we take the long view. Sustainability and responsible action have long been firmly anchored in our corporate values. This is why sustainability is not a new challenge for us, but a tried-and-tested guiding principle on the way to a future worth living in – for all future generations. To follow this path systematically and transparently, we have developed a sustainability strategy for the whole Böllhoff Group.

Our approach

Böllhoff’s sustainability strategy

In an intensive process, we have created a bold strategy with a clear aspiration: Our actions should have no negative effects on people or the environment. We don't just want to meet the relevant legal requirements, we want to exceed them. To live and promote sustainability at Böllhoff, we pursue an interdisciplinary approach. This is because sustainability is a combination of topics that affects the entire company. Each individual department takes responsibility and contributes to the success of the strategy with its own measures.

Graphic representation of the Böllhoff sustainability strategy — **The Böllhoff sustainability strategy at a glance**

Our sustainability strategy

Areas of activity

A materiality analysis was at the heart of our approach when developing our Böllhoff sustainability strategy. This resulted in our three different areas of activity: Planet, People, Partnership.

Planet

Protecting the planet is important to us. This is why we see it as part of our corporate responsibility to save energy, conserve resources, prevent emissions and ensure a sustainable supply chain.
People

Our employees are our company’s most important asset. This is why we implement a wide range of measures to ensure that we are an attractive, long-term employer.
Partnership

We are a family company that focusses on people. This is why we are particularly committed to social causes.

"Year after year, Böllhoff strives for sustainability in joining. We’re doing this in two ways: Firstly, we're looking to create connections for our customers that stand the test of time. Secondly, we are striving to make the corporate world that underpins these connections increasingly sustainable."

Wilhelm A. Böllhoff Member of the company management

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Planet

Three specific fields of action in which Böllhoff achieves and exceeds the goals set in this area.

Innovative products and services

We create connections for a sustainable future. Our products are used in numerous industries and contribute to the conservation of resources and reduction of CO₂ emissions. For example, we support lightweight construction for various industrial sectors in two ways: We provide solutions for joining special lightweight components and optimise the weight of our fasteners.

We also provide customers with our expertise beyond that. Additional potential for sustainability results from good connection design. Functional optimisation often means that an equally strong connection can be achieved with fewer and smaller fasteners than before, thus using less material and resources. We support our customers on the way to an optimal connection with our application technology consulting service ECOTECH.
Reducing energy consumption and optimising our energy mix

The best energy is the one that is not consumed in the first place. This is why we are always looking for ways to reduce our energy consumption, for example through more efficient production processes and machines.

In addition, we focus on further optimisations to our energy mix. Renewable forms of energy play an important role here. For example, we will expand our energy generation through photovoltaic systems over the coming years, both nationally and internationally. In cases where we cannot cover our electricity needs ourselves using sustainable energy technology, we are increasingly purchasing electricity generated from renewable sources.
To the certificate ISO 50001
Carbon neutral

Climate change poses great challenges for the entire world population. The rise in global temperatures can only be stopped if we all get involved. It is therefore part of our corporate responsibility to make tangible contributions to environmental and climate protection, and to move continuously towards carbon neutrality in 2030. We do this by balancing the emissions that we cause directly and indirectly, identifying potential for improvement, and implementing measures to reduce emissions. Our next milestone is to cut Scope 1 and 2 CO₂ emissions by 2024, with a 25% reduction on the figures for 2020.
To the certificate ISO 14001

People

These are the most important measures via which we improve the well-being of our employees.

An attractive employer

Our company's most important asset is its people. With their “passion for successful joining”, our employees are the basis for our success. This is why we give them plenty of scope for continuous professional development. Our workplaces provide an atmosphere of respect, appreciation and a human touch. Because every successful connection starts with a connection between people.

What makes working for us so special? To walk what we call The Böllhoff Way together: Helping to shape the future of joining and fastening technology in a family business that always thinks long-term. Where each and every individual can make a big difference. And where everything is possible together – with courage, fairness and trust.
More on our guiding principle "The Böllhoff Way"
Diversity and equal opportunities

At Böllhoff, we value diversity as an enrichment for society as well as for our corporate group. All employees throughout the company receive the same appreciation and are treated equally. That applies regardless of age, disability, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, nationality, ethnic origin, religion or world view. This core principle is firmly established in our mission statement under the heading “Fairness – our teamwork is marked by respect and partnership” and is practised in all of our branches around the world.
Health and safety at work

With our occupational health and safety management (certified according to ISO 45001), we implement health and safety in the workplace in a practice-oriented manner. With the integration of occupational health and safety into our integrated management system, we can systematically identify potential for optimisation. We also promote the health of our employees with measures that go far beyond compulsory measures (elective and recommended preventive care). Numerous other occupational healthcare options are available as part of our training programme.
To the ISO 45001 certificate

Partnership

We are committed to the charitable work with our own foundations, donations, and personal commitments – regionally and internationally.

Responsibility for the region

For around 100 years, our head office has been located in Bielefeld, East Westphalia, and we feel a close connection to the people in the region. This is why we are financially and actively involved in numerous local charitable initiatives and associations. We also support the region through the work of the Wolfgang and Regina Böllhoff Foundation. The foundation supports young people in their academic and personal development through its two funding programs “Ich will!” and “Hand in Hand”.
International commitment

Böllhoff is also committed to the international charitable work, within the framework of its foundations. The Mechthild Böllhoff Foundation supports social, charitable and church initiatives in Israel, Palestine and Jordan. The main focus of these activities is medical treatment for those in need and training for young people. The non-profit association Instituto Böllhoff de Medula supports patients with blood diseases, especially leukemia. From Jundiaí in Brazil, we enable successful bone marrow transplants and reduce waiting times for a suitable donation. In addition, there are numerous external initiatives and associations that our branches around the world actively cooperate with, in some cases for many years now.
Sports funding

Sport and well-being are inextricably linked. This is why we support sports clubs locally as well as nationally. We have already provided jerseys for over 150 youth football teams in the U7 to U10 age groups. In September 2021, we extended this commitment to the U11 to U19 age groups with the "Jerseys seek players" campaign. In addition, we are involved in the Bündnis Ostwestfalen alliance of companies. This way, we are helping to preserve the local Bundesliga football club Arminia Bielefeld as a cultural asset and an important regional icon.

Downloads

Böllhoff Group Sustainability Report 2022

A long-term strategy and a focus on sustainability are vital, especially in uncertain times. A year like 2022 demonstrated that once again. Find out how we advanced the topic of sustainability in the company in our Sustainability Report 2022.