Designing the Future Responsibly.
Sustainability Report by robatherm.
Publishing our first sustainability report marked a significant milestone, documenting our commitment to sustainable corporate governance. Our goal has always been to remain independent as a medium-sized company and to look at the bigger picture in terms of generations. This mindset is firmly rooted in our self-image and our SHARE corporate mission statement as well as being a core element of our sustainable corporate governance. The 2025 sustainability report sets out the measures that we have successfully implemented over the last two years and those we have initiated.
Sustainability
As a company operating within the construction industry, we feel a greater responsibility to set good examples. We want to contribute to energy transition with our products and services and by operating our sites responsibly.
Our reporting is based on the GRI Sustainability Reporting Standards of the Global Reporting Initiative and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the United Nations. The report is prepared based on the GRI Standards. That is why the report mentions the GRI data, to which reference is made at the relevant point.
A clearly structured presentation of the measures taken to date is contained on 140 pages. Besides the topics of the environment and energy efficiency, this also includes the staff's individual concerns and the ethical and social aspects. After all, robatherm isn't just a producer and resource consumer but also an employer, trainer, sponsor, and supporter. The basis for this is the 2023 and 2024 financial years.
Robert Sauter, Head of Marketing at robatherm, prepared the Sustainability Reports 2023 and 2025. In the interview, he provides insights into the development process, how he views the subject of sustainability, and the next steps toward the future.
robatherm released its first Sustainability Report in 2023. Was sustainability not even a topic before?
Robert Sauter: „Indeed, absolutely! Sustainability has many different facets. Many of robatherm's decisions in the past were already sustainable. Purely out of the belief they are correct and meaningful. However, with this first Sustainability Report, we want to document our specific measures clearly. Above all, to create transparency. But also an incentive for additional improvements.“
Was there a trigger, so to speak, that drove the sustainability report forward?
Robert Sauter: „It was a combination of various reasons. A key factor was introducing our corporate mission statement, SHARE; aspects such as sustainability and the environment are also anchored in this. And of course the generally growing significance: This subject plays an increasingly vital role for our customers.“
Is it fair to say that air conditioning technology and sustainability share a problematic relationship?
Robert Sauter: „There is a controversial debate about that, but unfortunately, it often fails to reflect reality. There is a great need for education. In any case, abandoning air handling technology can't be the solution. On the contrary, in the future, their importance is set to increase under changing climatic conditions. Air handling technology is, therefore, part of the solution, not the problem. Instead, the decisive factor is to increase efficiency and provide information about the practicality of air handling technology. This is precisely where the sustainability report comes in.“
To what extent can the report contribute to clarification?
Robert Sauter: „It shows our fundamental sense of responsibility as a company. And it makes it clear as to how our products contribute worldwide to providing people indoors with clean air. Thanks to modern technologies that use little energy.“
There is a lot of substantial content in such a report. What are the most important goals?
Robert Sauter: „Predominantly transparency. For example, we can see the effect of our openness in discussions relating to robatherm's new headquarters. The more we discussed and explained our efficient building technology, the greater our understanding of it grew. We want to raise awareness for the topic of sustainability. And we've received encouragement. It became clear that we should take it to heart and put it into practice. However, we are well aware of the fact that we also open ourselves up to attack.“
In what way?
Robert Sauter: „Improved doesn't mean perfect. So someone could pick out a single aspect and say: "That could be even better." And that is something I would not disagree with at all. This has to do with how we perceive sustainability.“
How would you outline sustainability, from robatherm's point of view?
Robert Sauter: „At least, not in the form of total perfection at the touch of a button. Instead, we see the results we have achieved so far as the outcome of a continuous, dynamic process. Our aspiration is to progress in the spirit of sustainability. After all, the report does not document a permanent situation but rather ongoing change.“
Can you give us an example of this?
Robert Sauter: „Our trade fair exhibit at the ISH 2023 would be one such example. Design elements and the dividers within the catering area were made from recycled PET bottles. In addition, the booth's catering was organized so that virtually no food ended up in the trash. I'd like to mention that none of this was ever intended to be a mere marketing gimmick but rather a genuine concern of robatherm. The positive feedback we have received naturally encourages us to take these kinds of steps. These are the kinds of conversations we're interested in.“
What does this mean for tomorrow's sustainability report?
Robert Sauter: „A lot has happened since the beginning of the year. The following report is scheduled for 2025 and will provide information on all the measures that have since been implemented in the meantime. This should provide new momentum for constructive discussions. Where can we do better? Which solutions are of interest to our business partners? The open dialog provides excellent potential for ideas to get robatherm's following milestones on the road. And I'm already looking forward to this ongoing exchange.“
