There are a great many planets in the universe. But however far we have looked into space so far, we have not yet been able to find a second Earth. That should give us pause for thought. To mark Earth Day 2023, Martin Lostak presented the many measures that hsp is taking in the area of sustainability on the „hsp live at 11“ programme. He also clearly demonstrated that every company has almost limitless opportunities to become more sustainable.
Let’s be honest: it’s appalling how we treat our irreplaceable home planet. And how, as a wealthy nation, we are unable to view the economy and the environment as allies – rather than as opposites. As a software manufacturer, hsp has always been at the forefront of all manner of innovations and technical progress. It is therefore no surprise that small steps towards a more sustainable working day were taken at an early stage. For example, the company magazine „Nerd Alert“ – now known as „Opti.Mag“ – used to be produced as a print edition. Today, it exists exclusively as a digital version.
Two years ago, the team launched a strong initiative for sustainable business practices. A sustainability officer was appointed to leave no stone unturned at hsp. And that is exactly what he did. Since then, the hsp team has implemented a whole range of clever measures. Martin Lostak is part of the hsp marketing team and is using Earth Day 2023 on 22 April as an opportunity to highlight the wide range of ideas for more sustainable business practices. Earth Day in its current form originated in the USA in 1970, although there had previously been a lesser-known Earth Day intended to be celebrated at the start of spring. The aim of the international Earth Day is to encourage us to reflect on the environment and our consumption habits.
Sustainability is vital for survival – and it pays off too
Many business leaders still think that sustainability is about making sacrifices, high costs and additional burdens. Yet we are no longer in 1950, but in 2023. Sustainable business practices are worthwhile, first and foremost, because they are vital to our survival. Many people still fail to realise that, if we do not get global warming under control, we will no longer be in a position to discuss share prices and freedom tomorrow. However, alongside this social responsibility, there are also a number of benefits that come with more sustainable business practices: a positive image, a better reputation, increased appeal to talent and stronger customer loyalty.
Furthermore, legal requirements are becoming increasingly stringent. Car manufacturers offering innovative electric vehicles will know how to capitalise on the current transformation. Others who cling to the old ways will go under. Companies that think with an eye to the future are far more attractive to suitable employees and talented individuals. These individuals will not only drive the company forward in terms of sustainability, but will also bring their innovative spirit to bear in their day-to-day work. Furthermore, employees for whom sustainability is important are particularly loyal to a company that acts accordingly. Last but not least, smart sustainability measures can save valuable resources and reduce costs.
hsp is committed to protecting our planet in a variety of ways
The hsp’s sustainability officer has already initiated a number of measures. As a result, many individual projects are making a significant overall contribution. Examples of individual measures:
- Energy-saving options: Activating energy-saving mode earlier on all hsp computers results in significant electricity savings.
- Greening the office: hsp’s office premises have been fitted out with green plants to improve the working atmosphere in the truest sense of the word.
- Going paperless: Paper consumption has been drastically reduced through the digitisation of processes and the avoidance of printed materials.
Furthermore, hsp uses green electricity, avoids plastic, plants trees, has agreed with its building cleaning contractor to use eco-friendly cleaning products, now only buys organic coffee, sorts its waste and has taken on bee sponsorships. When it comes to transport, hsp is committed to an electric future. Furthermore, as a software manufacturer and provider of a cloud service, we rely on green servers. Further measures are already planned.
Bees as ambassadors for sustainability and a symbol of biodiversity
Even though hsp has taken on sponsorships for bees, there are many more species living here in our region that we need to protect. Martin therefore urges us, for example, to take children out into nature and introduce them to the local flora and fauna, rather than taking them to the zoo. This is not about questioning the concept of zoos – that is something everyone must decide for themselves. But Martin believes it is far more important that we become more aware of our regional flora and fauna. After all, this awareness affects our consumption patterns, for instance, which in turn has a positive impact on environmental protection.
Martin also demonstrates how even small steps can lead to significant results. Changes to habits have the greatest impact in this regard, for example when it comes to shopping or diet. What buying drinks is to hsp, canteen management may be to large companies. Intelligent process optimisation can also reduce transport distances and packaging materials. It is important that companies do not settle for small steps. Instead, there should be a commitment to constantly seeking out new sustainability measures.
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