Sustainable corporate management has been firmly anchored in WIKA since its founding 75 years ago. As is usual in family businesses, we think in terms of generations rather than quarters. Our corporate guidelines define our social responsibility, as well as our responsibility towards the environment.
“We are committed to our social responsibility, secure jobs and a clean environment.”
With our 75th anniversary, we are starting the next chapter and aligning our sustainability strategy with the UN's Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). In 2023, we will publish our first sustainability report and show our path to becoming, as far as possible, a sustainable company.
WIKA already complies with all national and international environmental legislation. In addition to the highest quality, continuous attention is also paid to energy savings in manufacturing. New buildings, for example, take energy efficiency into account and integrate thermal recovery systems. CEO Alexander Wiegand has been committed to this since 1996 and, in this way, is successfully continuing his family's legacy.
As a family business, valuing our employees is particularly close to our hearts. Trust, cooperation and the promotion of strong personal qualities play a major role in employee culture.
Jürgen Reinhard, Technical Manager, WIKA Germany
Ma Chi, Assembly Worker, WIKA China
Angeline Wang, Project Manager, WIKA China
Luke Cochran, Controller, WIKA USA
Nayara Camargo, Process Analyst, WIKA Brazil
Beatrice Colabraro, Distribution Team Leader, Southern Europe
SDGs stands for “Sustainable Development Goals”, also known as the 17 goals for sustainable development. All 193 member states of the United Nations set these targets in 2015. They therefore apply equally to industrialised, emerging and developing countries. They are intended to ensure sustainable development at the environmental, social and economic level. The goals must always be considered in relation to each other, as the three levels are interconnected.
WIKA is already actively contributing to the Sustainable Development Goals. The following figure shows some examples of the individual objectives. We are continuously working to contribute more to the SDGs, especially internationally. It is also of great concern to WIKA to improve in the future, so that the UN 2030 Agenda can be realised.
Details on the individual sectors can be found in the Environment, Social and Governance tabs, as well as in Success stories.
The protection of the environment plays a special role at WIKA. This is also reflected in the certification of the WIKA headquarters in Klingenberg in accordance with the international ISO 14001 environmental management standard. In addition to the location in Klingenberg, the manufacturing subsidiaries in Switzerland, China, Brazil, Poland and India, among others, fulfil the requirements of ISO 14001.
For this purpose, WIKA draws up a departmental environmental programme every year, which is regularly reviewed and further developed. The employees are thus motivated to behave in an environmentally conscious manner and to contribute new ideas. Training courses and employee information complete the programme. They are designed to promote awareness and responsibility for environmental protection and energy-saving behaviour among all employees in a targeted manner.
Comprehensive energy-saving and the associated environmental protection are, alongside the high quality of the products and efficient occupational health and safety, equally important goals in the company. Here, WIKA complies with prevailing national and international environmental laws and regulations. Since 2013, more than 6.4 million kWh have already been saved through energy savings:
WIKA has always been committed to social issues. The emphasis is on employees and the promotion of regional and international projects. The commitment ranges from one-off campaigns to long-term cooperation and partnerships. The projects we support are partly initiated by the employees and partly by the company itself.
Support for employees
The company wants to offer employees a pleasant working environment. On average, they have worked at WIKA for 16 years (average in Germany: 10 years). Employees' wishes and suggestions are listened to and, where possible, implemented. Among others, the following have been available in Klingenberg for many years:
Support around education
Education is very close to WIKA's heart. Therefore, there are many long-standing partnerships, cooperations and offers in this area. For example, in Klingenberg and the surrounding area these are:
Support around the world
WIKA supports the Tharangini Matha Boarding Manginipudi boarding school in India. Children from rural families are often unable to exercise their right to education and health. By supporting the school, the boys and girls have the opportunity to receive a good education, good food, accommodation and sanitary facilities:
Support for social projects
“Sustainable development is development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.” - Brundtland definition
As a family-owned company, WIKA sees economic stability as the basis for sustainable management.
Examples of sustainable, economic action at WIKA
When it comes to sustainability, WIKA makes a significant contribution with technical know-how in combination with the quality and precision of the products offered.
Because: “Sustainability begins with measurement.“
Through innovative solutions and a wide range of products, WIKA supports customers with every measurement, in diverse applications, to promote sustainable process improvements. We are also working constantly on expanding our product portfolio in order to continue to provide customers with the best-possible support on their path towards sustainability. Through the newly built development centre, WIKA will continue to promote this innovative and creative product development in the future.