Tree sponsorship a key purchase criterion
STILL and Hartmann GmbH join forces to protect the environment
Hamburg, 04 March 2021 - 10 tree sponsorships of the PLANT-MY-TREE project made the difference for logistics service provider Hartmann International when it came to purchasing 57 electric forklift trucks. The company opted for the Hamburg-based intralogistics provider STILL, not least because of the 'environmental bonus'. The PLANT-MY-TREE project contributes to offsetting CO2 emissions with nationwide reforestation campaigns. The two companies are thus underlining the fact that they are serious about protecting the environment and taking responsibility for future generations.
Sustainability and - associated with it - the environmental compatibility of internal company processes have long been top priorities at the Paderborn-based Hartmann International GmbH. "We had ourselves certified according to DIN ISO 14001 very early on, making us one of the first four medium-sized companies in Germany to be awarded this environmental certificate," says Uwe Lachmann, managing director of the internationally operating logistics service provider. Examples of the group's green logistics philosophy include the installation of more than 10,000 square metres of photovoltaic modules at the company's locations and regular driver training to reduce fuel consumption.
Environmental bonus gave „the final impetus"
When it came to expanding the existing fleet of forklift trucks and replacing old equipment, the forwarding company got in touch with the STILL branch in Hanover. "We held very intensive negotiations with the people responsible at Hartmann. After all, we were talking about a potential new customer and an order volume totalling 57 trucks," recalls sales manager Sven Budelmann and adds: "When towards the end of the negotiations we threw in ten tree sponsorships as an environmental bonus, the deal was sealed. This was the crucial impetus for the company, which carries the idea of sustainability in its genes just as we do."
Uwe Lachmann has a similarly positive view of the new business partnership: "As an internationally operating company, we are aware of the global impact of climate change and therefore want to actively contribute to the preservation of the earth. The trees of the ' PLANT-MY-TREE' campaign will make their contribution to this. Sharing these common values is the ideal basis for a trusting collaboration between STILL and Hartmann International." Hartmann International has to meet strict environmental requirements for many national and international clients and tenders and therefore also attaches great importance to the sustainability efforts of their own suppliers. These are required to do their part in complying with the environmental targets. Lachmann: "When selecting suppliers, we therefore naturally also pay attention to the sustainable and future-oriented technologies they have to offer - such as the purely electrically powered industrial trucks by STILL, for example."
Combustion engines replaced by electric forklift trucks
Industrial truck models in different versions and sizes were delivered to the Hartmann Group and will be used at all of the group's locations in the future. Among them is an individually painted hand pallet truck with a design that once more underlines the partnership between the two companies. "In the process, we have replaced many existing forklift trucks with combustion engines with modern, electrically powered equipment," says Sven Budelmann with satisfaction. Uwe Lachmann adds: "Our expectations have thus been met in full, so that we are already exchanging ideas for follow-up projects - such as the planned logistics parks in Paderborn and Ibbenbüren".
Background
The Hamburg-based STILL GmbH is actively participating in the PLANT-MY-TREE project by planting a total of 1,000 trees, a project that contributes to carbon offsetting with nationwide reforestation campaigns. In particular, customers who order new electric trucks from the Hanover-based STILL subsidiary and thereby dispose of their IC engine-powered trucks will receive personalised tree certificates as an incentive. They can display these certificates on their company premises to show that they think and act in an environmentally conscious way.
