Even the founders of the mineral spring knew that our most important asset, namely the pure, fresh spring mineral water, came unchanged from nature and had to be protected for the future. The topic of sustainability is still firmly established in the management team today.
Patrick Marti, CEO
What does sustainability mean for you personally and what is your perspective as CEO?
There are many definitions of sustainability. For me personally, daily actions are especially relevant, which is to say that one should think about the responsibility that we have for future generations while making decisions in everyday life. This is also grounded in the basic message of the Brundtland Report.
My perspective as CEO does not differ here, since the environment does not differentiate between private and business activities. I believe that this mindset must be adopted and lived by every single employee. This requires that the entire management set a good example by the daily implementation of our strategy and offering support in everyday work.
What was the motivation for Mineralquellen Adelboden AG to work with a climate partner?
As a small business, we simply do not have the skills and human resources required in order to handle such a comprehensive topic in-house. With ClimatePartner, we have the expertise and the analytical skills of an experienced professional in this area. This enables us to maintain full transparency regarding the climate footprint of Mineralquellen Adelboden AG and to come up with future measures for our company.
And what does sustainable action actually look like at Mineralquellen Adelboden AG?
Sustainability is primarily a major issue for us from an ecological standpoint. In this context, we worked together with ClimatePartner to clearly determine where there is still a need for action and where there is room for manoeuvre. Various projects are underway here and will certainly take us a big step forward.
Our goal is to continue reducing CO2 emissions from the possibilities within our company. But the processes that take place outside are also being analyzed and, together with our suppliers and partners, we are optimizing the procurement of various materials.
The inescapable emissions, which simply cannot be avoided in a production facility, are offset by our support of projects related to climate protection. In this way, our company can contribute to sustainable development – because sustainability is the future!
Fred Bürki, CFO, Member of Management
As CFO, you are primarily responsible for the administrative area of Mineralquellen Adelboden AG. How do you assess sustainability from this point of view?
At first glance, the topic of sustainability in administration seems irrelevant. However, this is a mistake, even though it plays a smaller role in this area since our work generally requires significantly fewer resources. But there is potential here. With digitization, for example, we have been able to reduce our paper consumption by over 50% in the last five years.
In the administration, as in rest of the company, we live by the maxim that we use resources where necessary but do not waste anything.
Sustainability is not just a necessity, but also economically worthwhile. Is there any way to quantify this?
When you conserve resources in production, produce less waste or recycle materials when possible, this is clearly reflected in a reduction of overall costs.
It is always important to consider what makes sense and what measures can be implemented without any loss of quality. Because the quality of our products is our top priority.
How important is sustainability to you personally?
For me, sustainability means that we can hand over the world, especially the environment, to our descendants in at least the same condition that we received it in. We should not live at the expense of future generations.
I am thinking in particular about the great air and water quality here in Switzerland. Our goal has to be that our descendants can still experience that same quality in the future and enjoy the same prosperity that we demand for ourselves.
Eugen Maurer, CSO, Member of Management
How would you define sustainability?
For me, sustainability means using the resources that are available to us in the most appropriate and sensible way. The goal should always be not to consume more than is absolutely necessary. The obvious conclusion then would be to shop locally, buy Swiss goods, and choose products that are produced in a reasonable and fair manner. In the end, it’s really about treating people, animals and nature with respect.
Important words like organic, regionality and now sustainability – how do you see these topics from a sales point of view?
Sustainability, as well as the idea of shopping locally which is a direct result of sustainable practices, is very important for me in sales. In my private life, I pay close attention to fair products, and I also want to implement this in my everyday professional life. I want to be able to stand behind our company 100% in order to sell our products and services at a fair price. For me, sustainability also means entering into a partnership with our customers.
How do you rate the importance of sustainable products for our customers?
The importance of sustainable products, like food, doesn’t mean the same to everyone unfortunately. For some customers, a lower price is just more important. It is often overlooked that the consumer ultimately decides in the end. And here the relevance of sustainability has increased dramatically in the last several months. Ultimately, you are playing with your own existence in the market.
With many customers, we maintain a genuine and open relationship that is incredibly rewarding. With these relationships, we can not only cover the market needs and attract consumers, but also secure all of our jobs in the long term, which in turn contributes to economic sustainability.
How important is sustainability to you personally?
Everything starts small – I, for example, love to enjoy a breakfast egg from our very own chickens in the mornings. Whenever possible, I try to shop locally and concentrate on Swiss products. My wife, on the other hand, is an absolute professional when it comes to waste separation. We also heat our house with a geothermal probe and produce solar power on our roof. Like in most households, we still have a lot of potential…
Sandra Eggler CMO, Member of Management
What do you think about sustainability?
Due to the increase in wealth and the abundance of consumer goods, we have certainly done a lot wrong in the past few decades. However, with the determination and effort of the western world, we can definitely achieve global sustainability goals and give the environment the opportunity to recover in time.
And what does sustainable action mean for you?
Action is everything – the responsibility rests with each individual and starts with the way we make decisions. For me, it’s not strictly about doing without, but about the careful and economical use of resources. Research and development in this area has taken a big step in the right direction over the past few years, and I am convinced that the industry is on the right track.
How does communication play a role here?
Sustainability will only become more and more of a requirement for companies over time. Consumers expect producers to act responsibly at all levels. Working methods and processes need to be constantly monitored and adapted to ensure that sustainability-related goals can be met.
In cooperation with ClimatePartner, we now have the opportunity to closely examine our company and make improvements where necessary.
How is this topic handled at Mineralquellen Adelboden AG?
Sustainability encompasses so much more than just the hotly discussed topic of climate protection. As a small business in a peripheral region, Adelbodner has always been focused on sustainability. Of course, there has always been a trade-off between productivity and profitability.
Sustainability must be grounded in the core business model in order to have an effect on a company. Our commitment to the environment is ultimately reflected in the quality of our natural mineral water.