![[Translate to English:] Ehrlich Nachhaltig - Nachhaltigkeit bei Pahlke Schaumstoffe](/fileadmin/user_upload/rz-ehrlich-nachhaltig.png "[Translate to English:] ehrlich-nachhaltig-pahlke-schaumstoffe")
Honesty has been part of our DNA for over 60 years, whether this be in our communications with our customers and suppliers, our dealings with our employees, or our public messaging.
We say what we mean, and we mean what we say.
This commitment extends to climate and environmental protection. We are passionately dedicated to driving a rapid, sustainable transformation of our economy and lifestyle—and we lead by example. However, we firmly reject greenwashing and misleading promises, such as claims about product- or company-level “climate neutrality.” For us, such promises are simply dishonest.
Instead, we strive to be TRULY SUSTAINABLE! This means reporting openly about our efforts and any challenges we face—because, for us, transparency is part of honesty!
Everyone is talking about climate neutrality. But not us.
Has Pahlke Schaumstoffe failed to understand the urgency of the situation? Are we refusing to do our part towards meeting the 1.5-degree target? Absolutely not!
The fact is, we believe it’s dishonest for any company to claim to be climate neutral. Doing business consumes resources. Even renewable energy sources like green electricity and biogas have a carbon footprint. Renewable resources need to be grown, and recycled materials must be collected and processed into new products. And there is no such thing as completely climate-neutral transport.
"Climate neutrality" can only be achieved through offsetting, which is rightly criticised: dubious projects, inadequate prices per tonne of CO2 equivalent, and double counting are just a few of the issues associated with this approach.
That’s why we’ve made the conscious decision not to aim for climate neutrality. Instead, we strive to be TRULY SUSTAINABLE!
For our children and grandchildren
As a family business, the well-being of future generations is particularly important to us. We already have some of our children and grandchildren working for the company, and they will take on greater responsibility in the future. They represent our legacy.
This gives us a special sense of duty towards them. We feel an obligation to preserve a liveable future for them, which means a planet free from climate collapse and an environment that remains as intact as possible, as well as secure, attractive jobs, and a positive social environment.
And it’s not just future generations who benefit—current ones do too. Sustainable ways of living and doing business are rooted in the respect and appreciation we feel towards all people.
Sustainable in every respect!
When most people think of sustainability, they tend to focus on climate and environmental protection. While these are vital components, they are only part of the picture. For Pahlke Schaumstoffe, sustainability means ensuring that our actions today do not compromise the future of our children and grandchildren.
This future is shaped by more than just environmental concerns—it also has economic and social dimensions. A competitive economy is essential for creating secure, attractive jobs that provide a good standard of living. Equally, a positive social environment is necessary for people to flourish and lead fulfilling lives.
True sustainability, grounded in respect for future generations, is only achieved when all three aspects—environmental, economic, and social—are given equal priority. That’s why, at Pahlke, we place all three pillars at the heart of our efforts.
![[Translate to English:] Die Säulen der Nachhaltigkeit](/fileadmin/user_upload/saeulen-der-nachhaltigkeit.png "[Translate to English:] saeulen-nachhaltigkeit-pahlke-schaumstoffe")
![[Translate to English:] Die Säule der Umwelt](/fileadmin/user_upload/saeule-umwelt.png "[Translate to English:] saeule-umwelt-pahlke-schaumstoffe")
The environmental pillar
Our environment forms the basis for life, and preserving it for future generations is a responsibility we take very seriously indeed. At Pahlke, the ecological side of sustainability, and the impact of our activities on the environment, is a central focus. As an industrial company whose materials are still largely derived from petroleum, we face a significant challenge in transforming our business model to embrace sustainability. For many years, however, we have been tackling this challenge, continuously striving to make our production processes and products as environmentally sustainable and climate friendly as possible.
The social pillar
When it comes to the social aspect of sustainability, we feel a profound sense of responsibility toward our employees in particular. As a family business, we strive to provide secure, healthy, and attractive jobs for the long term. As a training company, we also want to prepare the next generation for the future. Beyond our own operations, we are deeply rooted in our local community, where we take on social responsibility by promoting employee engagement and supporting local clubs and organisations.
The economic pillar
As a business, we know that the economic aspect of sustainability is critical. Without economic competitiveness, there can be no future for the company, no secure, attractive jobs, and no sustainable transformation of our business model. This is why our corporate strategy focuses on long-term competitiveness, with customer satisfaction at its core. Additionally, we actively participate in various industry associations and initiatives, particularly those related to sustainability.