10 IMEX 2013
beverages are prepared with Fairtrade coffee beans and tea leaves supplied by J. J. Darboven and Eilles.
GCB: What areas does the commitment to sustainability at your company encompass?( workflows, transport, origin / processing of food etc.)
Suhling: At our company, we deliberately bank on low-emission means of transportation that conserve resources in order to make deliveries to our stands as well as events on the trade fair grounds in an eco-friendly manner. We already own nine electric vehicles and that figure will increase in future.
As far as the origin of our foods is concerned: as was already described, for the most part we obtain products from suppliers in our region and are continuously increasing the proportion of seasonal or regional products.
Waste avoidance and economical use of raw materials are absolute priorities. Waste separation is a matter of course for us; unavoidable waste is disposed of by the Meinhardt company based in Flörsheim, which also contributes towards eco-friendly operations thanks to the short driving distances.
In the area of hygiene( HACCP) and quality assurance, we work closely together with the Fresenius company, which has its head office in Bad Soden. Retained samples of all of our foods are taken every day and processed accordingly.
GCB: Since when has this awareness of sustainability played a role at Accente, or how has it developed in the course of the years?
Suhling: By bringing all operational units together in one modern building – our“ annex” – in the year 2004, we achieved tremendous savings in the area of energy and transport: there is no doubt it was a sensible step to take from the economic standpoint as well. Since then we have continuously made efforts to minimise the emissions of our vehicle fleet, to implement a waste avoidance and disposal concept as well to optimise purchasing and delivery.
We have always purchased fresh foods in particular from the region and when they are in season because of our convictions as well as quality considerations. In its present form, the thematic aspect of thinking and doing business sustainably has evolved in the course of the last two years. Now questions are asked about the environmental track record of products purchased as well as subsequent processes. We face up to ethical and social questions, for example the manufacturing conditions of imported goods. And we address the issues of ecological sustainability: How can we conserve resources and energy as well as reduce emissions?
This process will undoubtedly necessitate a great deal more efforts in the coming years and will never really be completed, but it will invariably be accorded everincreasing priority.
GCB: Has there also been a perceptible change in thinking on the demand side? Can you describe that / provide examples?
Suhling: We received the first customer inquiries as well as questions about our processes relating to these issues in the year 2011.
Our customers consciously incorporate the theme into their inquiries and specifications. The reason for that is that sustainable business activities are an integral part of corporate identity / process guidelines within companies, and therefore business partners / suppliers naturally expect that as well.
Growing demand for regional products and recipes: customers have become much more interested in origin, processing as well as the aspect of disposal and over-production than they were a year ago. We are obliged to ensure greater transparency and more sustainable working methods.
Accente Services will also focus on this thematic area even more in the coming year, as the new convention centre Kap Europa will be opening. That building will be the“ greenest” and most sustainable convention centre in Europe, and it goes without saying that we will also be implementing a“ green catering concept” for it.