Wilo’s sustainable innovations are setting the bar

Aachen.The Wilo Group has been recognised as a successful practical example in the international comparative study “Managing Sustainable Innovations”. For the study, the Laboratory for Machine Tools and Production Engineering (WZL) of RWTH Aachen and the Complexity Management Academy analysed the sustainable innovation management of over 140 companies.

“We are convinced that innovation and sustainability management must go hand in hand. Only sustainable innovations are fit for the future and will prevail in the long term”, explains Oliver Hermes, President & CEO of the Wilo Group. “That’s why at Wilo every innovation must contribute directly to the Group-wide sustainability goals.” This approach is also reflected in the technology group’s strategic alignment. “We see our sustainability strategy as a top priority and all other functional corporate strategies must come into alignment with it”, continues Hermes.

“Our latest EcoVadis assessment shows just how seriously we take this claim”, adds Georg Weber, Member of the Executive Board and CTO of the Wilo Group. Last year, Wilo received the platinum medal for the second year in a row, the highest honour awarded by the sustainability rating agency. “Only 1 per cent of the more than 100,000 companies assessed by EcoVadis each year are awarded the platinum medal”, says Weber.

The comparative study “Managing Sustainable Innovations” was developed alongside consortium partners and examined the product, process and business model innovations, the innovation and development processes, the sustainability strategies, and how sustainability is anchored within the organisation and culture of the participating companies.

The companies Miele & Cie. KG, Brose Fahrzeugteile SE & Co. KG, INNIO Jenbacher GmbH & Co. OG and Festo SE & Co. KG were also honoured along with WILO SE. Representatives from the five award-winning companies visited each other at the end of last year to network and exchange experiences.