Shaping the future step-by-step

Each journey begins with a first step. wedi took the first step towards sustainability 15 years ago, when sustainability in the building materials industry was just a fashionable term. Since then, we have been steadily progressing and will continue to do so with commitment in the future. Because we are aware that the path is still long.

„Since its foundation in 1983, wedi has been providing practical solutions for planners, installers, contractors and the trade. Taking responsibility over the long term has always been a crucial building block for this.“

Fabian Rechlin, General Management wedi

Building tomorrow

For us, building tomorrow means building for future generations and thus shaping a sustainable future. We are aware of our responsibility and role in the sustainable development of the construction industry. Under the umbrella of 'Building Tomorrow', as a member of the ARDEX Group, we will continue to keep sustainability in focus across all of our activities, such as our group-wide climate protection strategy 'ARDEX goes zero' for example.

It is our goal to …

REACH CO₂ neutrality for direct emissions from owned or controlled sources (Scope 1) and indirect emission from the purchase of energy (Scope 2) in Europe by 2035
BE CO₂ neutral groupwide for all direct and indirect emissions (Scope 1–3) by 2045

For more information on 'Building Tomorrow' and 'ARDEX goes zero', visit www.ardex.eco.

The power of STEPS

The best thing about small steps: You get better every day – and you just keep at it. Because small actions, which are consistently repeated, lead to big changes. Every day, our team makes decisions that add up to a visible effect. These efforts are the driving force behind our journey toward sustainability.

The colours of GREEN

Every single decision made can have a green impact. We think beyond the potential for savings in emissions, energy and resources in production and logistics. Family, health, gender equality, life on land and in the water – everything that secures the future is a GREEN STEP for wedi.

wedi principles of sustainable action

Responsible handling of raw materials, products and packaging.

By keeping an eye on the entire supply chain.

Monitor the life cycle of all products.

From development through declaration to disposal.

Promote product repair and recovery.

To prevent waste and replacement of core structures.

Use energy efficiently in all business processes.

By reducing consumption through constant monitoring

Targeted waste prevention

Through recovery, recycling and reuse of non-avoidable waste.

Create a sustainable working environment.

By raising awareness and encouraging employees to take responsibility.

The first GREEN STEPS are done.

From A to B with E

At wedi, a total of 33 forklifts are currently in use – and all are electric. Since 2010, we have gradually converted our entire forklift fleet from gas operation to electric operation with CO₂ -neutral green electricity. In order to always operate with the highest degree of efficiency, we also replace our E-forklifts every four years with the latest model.

This is how we save 23 tons of CO₂ emissions annually!

Feel the Power! H₂O instead of CO₂

Water is our favourite element, so maybe it is no surprise that we use its power to make wedi greener. At our site in Emsdetten, we use 100% CO₂ -neutral electricity from hydropower plants. Because watergreen provides us with energy that is entirely derived from renewable energy sources.

Be mindful! Efficiency and technology

Once a year, our drivers complete so-called "eco" training sessions, directly at the manufacturer of the vehicles. They learn to drive more efficiently and thus more fuel-efficient. The "Eco Trainer" display in the cab provides them with a continuous assessment of their driving style and feedback on fuel-consumption and thus helps them to be more environmentally friendly whilst on the road.

The result is impressive: in 2022 alone, we saved 7,680 litres of diesel. Seven thousand six hundred and eighty litres!

Stretching with athletic appeal

The stretch film we use to wrap our pallets is 12 microns thin. Almost non-existent. We are now saving around 22 tons of this ultra-thin material every year. The combination of this innovative material and the optimized process led to around 51 tons reduction in CO₂ emissions in 2023. Conclusion: even something as thin as our stretch film, can make a huge contribution to sustainability.

Good things from up above

At wedi we don’t just simply enjoy the sun when it’s shining, we make use of it! Installed on top of our office building at our administration site in Emsdetten,
a powerful photovoltaic system generates electricity for us since 2013! With a peak of 63 kW, it is designed for an average energy generation of 5,300 kWh – and it is used completely for self-consumption.

Thanks to the generated electricity, we cover almost all the electricity requirements of our administration at the headquarters.

Everything is well documented

At wedi, Environmental Product Declarations - issued by the Institute for Building and Environment (IBU) - are available for our core products the wedi building board and Fundo shower elements. Since product-specific environmental declarations are objectively more valuable than industry-specific environmental declarations, the EPDs provide our customers with a much better basis for making decisions on which products to choose. Material properties such as insulation or sound insulation values or the effect on air quality are also clearly documented. Architects, planners and builders can therefore use the EPD data to evaluate the ecological balance of the construction.

To the EPDs

Let it be LED!

Do you miss the good old light bulbs?
We don't. Quite the opposite. We are glad to be rid of them – 100% of them.
Our lighting power consumption is now reduced by an impressive 36.5%. This alone saves us around 450 tons of CO₂ – and this is measured annually!

Measure and have them measured

At wedi, we understood the relevance and importance of recognised certifications early on. Since the beginning of the 2010s, we have been continuously and comprehensively surveyed, audited and tested in terms of the sustainability of our processes as well as products. Not only maintained standards are assessed, but also the continuous improvement.

What if everything is clearly trackable...

wedi continues to make progress in the future: with steps towards recycling management, with long-lasting quality products for sustainable and energy-efficient construction, with a responsible purchasing policy and clear social goals.