Sustainability - Responsibility with Strategy
Sustainability has always been a key driving force in corporate management for Manfred Hoffmann. At HOFFMANN MINERAL, it is not just legal requirements that dictate the course; rather, a sense of responsibility has been embedded in the thinking and actions of the family business for decades. With the establishment of the sustainability department in 2023, Laura Sommer and Sergey Golovachev are bringing this commitment to a comprehensive strategic level, from strategy development to the implementation of individual initiatives.
How does the medium-sized specialist for mineral fillers effectively and efficiently implement its ecological and social corporate values? What small steps and major milestones shape the company's path in Neuburg? And how does an energy-intensive company like HOFFMANN MINERAL manage the balance between ecology and economy?
A high sense of responsibility is deeply rooted in the tradition of the medium-sized generational business. Management and employees have lived this responsibility for decades – long before EU regulations and green trends defined new standards. With the creation of the independent sustainability function in January 2023 and the expansion of the team with a second manager position in July 2024, this attitude was not only reinforced but deliberately elevated to a professional and strategic level.
Laura Sommer provides inspiring insights in the interview. After almost three years, the sustainability manager reflects on experiences and successes. They serve as a benchmark for the future course and simultaneously create inspiration and incentives for business partners and the entire industry.
Stable Foundation with Four Growing Pillars
The sustainability department pursues a clear, comprehensive sustainability strategy based on the following four essential pillars: optimization of the product portfolio, active social responsibility, reduction of environmental impact, and transparent and responsible design of supply chains. Laura Sommer emphasizes: "A successful sustainability strategy requires holistic and long-term thinking and action, considering all impacts, risks, and opportunities." Accordingly, the department coordinates targeted measures that interlock across all four essential pillars.
Entrepreneurial Prudence – With Magnifying Glass and Binoculars
The company can already look back on a number of significant successes. For instance, the entire product portfolio has undergone a comprehensive lifecycle analysis (LCA) in recent years. The entire lifecycle of the products – from raw material extraction through production to packaging – was thoroughly analyzed. The aim was to accurately identify the sources of emissions and impacts of the products and to develop targeted improvement opportunities. The results of these analyses now form the basis for sustainably optimizing the entire portfolio and further reducing environmental burdens.
Closely related to this is the continuous optimization of energy use in production processes. "As an energy-intensive company, we place great importance on continuously improving our energy balance. Therefore, we regularly invest in the modernization of our facilities and equipment and increasingly rely on the use of self-generated electricity," explains Sommer. An important success factor in this area is the active contribution of the entire workforce. In recent years, innovative ideas for energy savings from all areas of the company have been systematically collected, analyzed, and prioritized. These proposals are now being gradually implemented to achieve measurable improvements. All employees can contribute their ideas to increase energy efficiency and actively participate in the company's progress. This creates a shared sense of responsibility that promotes sustainable resource management and sustainably reduces energy consumption.
In addition to energy efficiency, another focus is on HOFFMANN MINERAL's deeply rooted environmental commitment. Beyond legal requirements, the company has been actively involved in the reclamation of open-pit mines for over 60 years and has been specifically committed to the protection and promotion of endangered amphibian species for around 30 years. Through close collaboration with nature conservation associations and support from the company's own conservation foundation, HOFFMANN MINERAL actively supports projects that make a noticeable contribution to biodiversity and promote ecological sustainability. The company has been recognized for its efforts, demonstrating that economic action and ecological sustainability successfully go hand in hand.
These and other measures demonstrate that HOFFMANN MINERAL understands sustainability not just as a duty but as an integral part of its corporate strategy. The company has met the demanding requirements of recognized ISO certifications for years, participates in voluntary sustainability assessments, and actively engages in regional environmental and sustainability initiatives. With the planned publication of a voluntary sustainability report, HOFFMANN MINERAL plans another step to make its efforts transparent. In doing so, the medium-sized company – in contrast to large corporations with mandatory reporting – sets a proactive and clear example of transparency, responsibility, and credibility.