As a future-driven company with a 140-year tradition, we see sustainable conduct as an indispensable part of each entrepreneurial activity. This includes, first and foremost, the conscientious husbanding of natural resources and responsibility for our environment. We consequently take the view that it is nowhere near enough that the ship – measured by the CO2 emissions per ton/kilometre – is acknowledged to be the most environment-friendly mode of transport. For this reason we have conducted a variety of studies and long-term trials on our own initiative which, hopefully, will contribute towards further reducing shipping’s impact on the environment. We also take environmental stewardship beyond what is required by law. As a member of the Clean Cargo Working Group, we champion the drive for more sustainability in the international transport business.
Equally important to us is sustainable responsibility for our staff. For this reason alone our business activity is shaped by time-honoured principles that are not guided by the short-term maximisation of profit, but by the long-term creation and preservation of jobs. For us this also includes a working environment characterised by openness, tolerance and respect for each individual. As an internationally operating company with employees in all parts of the world, we take the stance that differences in ethnicity, religion, conviction, age and gender must not be allowed to lead to different treatment. That is why this maxim does not end when we leave our offices or our ships, but finds its logical extension in the way we treat our customers, partners and suppliers – every single day, worldwide.
Our understanding of sustainability does not end here. Being a responsible business, compliance with all relevant laws and regulations is of utmost importance to us.