Alina Oprea • 20 April, 2023 at 5:02 PM
Kaufland Romania has received the Zero Waste certification from TÜV SÜD Management Service GmbH, according to the DIN SPEC 91436 standard, a new benchmark for the management of operational waste and recyclable materials. Kaufland is the first and so far the only company in Romania to obtain this certification, becoming one of the local leaders in the transition to the circular economy. The certificate indicates that at least 90% of all operational waste has been prevented, reused, recycled, composted, or fermented. The certification was issued based on an audit conducted on a representative sample, consisting of 12 stores, one logistics center, and the head office, while relevant documents such as waste prevention plans, waste balances for the period October to December 2022, specific actions on waste disposal and training measures were also assessed.
"This new certification attests to the involvement and contribution that Kaufland Romania brings to the protection of the environment. Our efforts are aimed at reducing the amount of residual waste and reusing resources through recycling and composting. In the future, we hope that other companies will join the Zero Waste mission, too. Alone, we will not be able to change things for the better, but we know that together our actions do the talking", says Marco Hößl, CEO of Kaufland Romania and the Republic of Moldova.
The Zero Waste target has become increasingly important with the growing awareness of worldwide responsible resource use. As a result, it has become a part of the strategy of many companies, which are actively engaged in minimizing the amount of generated waste.
”Thus, all the measures Kaufland had been taking over the last two years were to reduce the amount of internal waste and to encourage environmentally friendly behavior among employees, partners, and customers that are part of the Zero Waste concept. The benefits of pursuing this goal are visible in the growth of the economical level and in combating climate change”, according to the company.
TÜV SÜD offers a new benchmark for managing waste and recyclable materials for private sector companies public institutions, cities, communities, associations, and non-governmental organizations.
"Kaufland's ambitious commitment to the environment in Romania is remarkable. In addition to its own measures, the company implements numerous programs that raise awareness of environmental and waste issues in local communities. This determination is visible in the case of all employees - from store management to behind-the-scenes workers responsible for waste management. It is particularly remarkable how motivated and knowledgeable the store staff is, even though, often very young, the staff is aware of environmental and waste issues. We are delighted to be able to offer Kaufland Romania the Zero Waste certification", said Cristian Panghea-Erdély, TÜV SÜD auditor.
The goal of the DIN SPEC 91436 standard is to limit the amount of waste, to make waste reuse more efficient, and to evaluate the performance of the waste and recyclable materials management system. The aim of the new professional standard goes beyond the minimum requirements prescribed by law.
TÜV SÜD Management Service is a company with more than 150 years of experience, specializing in auditing, assessing, validating, and certifying management systems, particularly, quality, environmental, occupational health, and safety management systems, in manufacturing companies and service providers from all industrial sectors.