WeCare – sustainability in practice at the sister groups Leitz, Boehlerit and Bilz

With the global WeCare initiative, the worldwide activities of the group of companies, some of which have existed for decades, in the areas of society, social affairs and culture as well as species, nature and environmental protection have been combined. The important thing here is that the strengths and commitment of all the companies and employees involved are bundled to achieve the best possible result in terms of sustainability. In this way, smaller, local campaigns in particular are to receive targeted support, because the regional roots are close to the heart of the fourth- and fifth-generation global family business.   

The first WeCare campaign weeks recently came to a successful end after two weeks dedicated to sustainability. On a voluntary basis, the employees of the Leitz, Boehlerit and Bilz companies around the world achieved extraordinary things with around 110 projects. With a great deal of joy, enthusiasm and exemplary commitment, heartfelt projects were implemented together and a special sign of social responsibility was set.  

Huge response in the name of a good cause

In 31 countries, around 1,500 employees contributed more than 2,600 volunteer hours in the name of a good cause. As part of a wide range of projects, more than 6,000 trees were planted worldwide, more than 3,500 kilograms of waste were collected or fished out of waters, and 1,400 kilograms of clothing were donated to charitable organizations. Nearly 500 nesting boxes, whether Asian woven or of conventional wooden construction, and a total of 20 bee colonies populating numerous newly created flowering areas are further projects of the successful initiative. In addition, the participants also succeeded in generating a donation volume of around 40,000 euros, which will be used to support local, national and charitable organizations.

Core component of the corporate philosophy 

The shareholders and management of the three sister companies were overwhelmed by the fantastic response to the first WeCare campaign weeks and the worldwide enthusiasm for implementing all the projects, large and small.

Dr. Cornelia Brucklacher, Chairwoman of the Supervisory Board and shareholder, summarizes her self-image as an entrepreneur and her enthusiasm for WeCare as follows: "As a family business, we feel jointly responsible for the sustainable development of our environment and have been expressing this for generations with numerous activities around the globe. Sustainability is a core component of our corporate philosophy. In our companies, we act and operate in the awareness that the decisions of yesterday and today will continue to have an impact on the livelihoods of tomorrow. Therefore, sustainability in products and services as well as reliability towards all reference groups are the guiding principles that underlie our corporate decisions. The high number of voluntary participants in our first WeCare campaign weeks and the results achieved fill me with particular pride. My heartfelt thanks go to all those involved and responsible worldwide for what they have achieved and for their exceptional commitment."