On 21st October at an official ceremony in Feucht, near Nuremberg, a team from DS Smith Aschaffenburg received the ‘Blossoming Company’ award, which was recognition of their achievements in protecting valuable local environmental resources.
The mill were not only the first Bavarian paper mill to receive this award, but were also the first company in the Bavarian Lower Main region to be recognised by the Ministry of Environment and Consumer Protection within the framework of the Bavarian Blossom Pact.
The Blossom Pact is an initiative for insect protection that aims to preserve and strengthen the diversity of species within the Bavarian region. In winning the Blossoming Company Award, DS Smith had to demonstrate a commitment to protecting endangered habitats by designing their open spaces to preserve environmental resources and allow insects to thrive and flourish in natural conditions.
Left to right: Traugott Reis, (DS Smith Paper Deutschland GmbH), Ulrich Albert, (DS Smith Paper Deutschland GmbH), Katharina Gritzka, (DS Smith Paper Deutschland GmbH), Thorsten Glauber, (Bavarian State Minister for the Environment and Consumer Protection), Thorsten Glauber (MdL).
Work recognised
Staff and management from the paper mill have been involved in a variety of sustainability initiatives which have been recognised by the Ministry as to significantly contributing to an improved local environment. Activities included engaging with the Nature Conservation Authority of the City of Aschaffenburg and various horticultural experts, through to compiling inventories of existing green areas and native plants whilst actively being involved in wildlife and floral conservation – including the removal of plants not native to the local environment and the installation of insect hotels.
Commentating on receiving the award, Ulrich Albert, Managing Director at DS Smith Paper in Aschaffenburg said, “Everyone here at Aschaffenburg and indeed across DS Smith, are delighted to receive this recognition – it is testament to the hard work and dedication put in by everyone at the mill. At DS Smith, as part of our purpose to redefine packaging for a changing world, we are committed to being a responsible neighbour in the communities in which we operate.”
Albert continued, “We are proud of what we have achieved to date, but our work to protect the local environment does not stop here. We’ll continue with all the work we are doing, and we have may plans to include; perennial and tree planting, setting up more insect hotels and bird nesting boxes and the exciting installation of a peregrine falcon nest box with a live video monitoring feed, which we will share across our organisation and the wider community.”
The Bavarian State Minister for the Environment and Consumer Protection, Thorsten Glauber (MdL), on presenting the award said, “I am grateful to you that you also live the image of a community spirit in your businesses here and also show your contribution to the outside world for more species protection and more biodiversity.”
The ceremony was attended by companies and organisations receiving the Blossoming Company award including DS Smith. As DS Smith Paper Deutschland GmbH is the first company in Aschaffenburg and surrounding area to receive the award, Jürgen Herzing, Mayor of Aschaffenburg City, Marc Busse Head of Aschaffenburg’s Office for Environmental and Consumer Protection,and Andreas Elsner, Head of Innovation at Aschaffenburg Chamber of Industry and Commerce joined DS Smith for the presentation of the certificate.
Thorsten Arl, Managing Director of the Bayerische Papierverbände (Bavarian Paper Industry Association) was also present at the award ceremony, as DS Smith is the first Bavarian paper mill to receive the Blossoming Company recognition.
Left to right: Andreas Elsner, (Aschaffenburg IHK Chamber of Industry and Commerce), Traugott Reis, Katharina Gritzka, Ulrich Albert, Jürgen Herzing, (Mayor of Aschaffenburg), Marc Busse, (Head of the Office for Environmental & Consumer Protection –Aschaffenburg) and Thorsten Arl (Bayerische Papierverbände).
