After a one-year process and a strict audit, AustroCel Hallein GmbH is awarded the B Corporation certificate by the non-profit organisation B Lab. The seal of approval certifies in particular commitment to sustainability, responsible use of resources, socially responsible management and innovative strength. As a manufacturer of pulp and bioenergy, AustroCel Hallein is thus joining its owner TowerBrook in the network of around 3,300 companies worldwide that meet the highest standards of ecological action and transparency.
“We are very proud of the B Corp certificate, as it is a testament of our commitment to sustainability, environmental protection and innovation. We will continue on this promising path of ‘Green AustroCel’ and bring together sustainability and economic success”, explains Jörg Harbring, CEO of AustroCel Hallein.
The internationally respected B Corp certificate measures the overall social and environmental performance of a company. AustroCel Hallein achieved high scores particularly in the areas of environmental protection and sustainability. On the one hand as a producer of cleaner bioenergy in the Hallein and Salzburg region, and on the other hand as a pulp producer with a focus on the responsible use of resources, waste avoidance and energy efficiency. The implementation of the new bioethanol plant and the secure, quality jobs were also included in the evaluation.
“The thorough, holistic analysis and evaluation goes far beyond the scope of many other seals of approval, which is what makes the B Corp certificate so special. As an international supplier of highquality textile pulp, proven sustainability is very important to us. Our customers in the textile industry will benefit from this, as will consumers, who increasingly want to know whether their clothing has been produced responsibly”, says Christian Spark, Head of Purchasing and Logistics in AustroCel Hallein and project manager for certification.
After the successful certification as a B Corporation, AustroCel Hallein will continue to promote sustainable business: The “zero-waste operation” objective is being intensively pursued and the bioethanol plant currently under construction will come into use at the end of 2020. The plant will produce up to 30 million litres of bioethanol annually. This biofuel is considered particularly environmentally friendly because it is not produced from feed or food, but from pulp production residues. The end product is added to petrol and replaces about one percent of the annual petrol consumption in Austria. Such replacement of fossil fuel makes a saving of around 50,000 tonnes of CO2 each year.
