Environmental protection

Nowadays, environmental protection is more in the spotlight than ever, as we are clearly feeling the effects of climate change, deforestation and species extinction. Almost on a daily basis, we are confronted with news about extreme weather phenomena or loss of habitat or diversity, and so we must act to preserve the Earth and all its beauty for future generations. We may often feel that our hands are tied, but everyone has the ability to contribute to great change or inspire others to rethink through their own actions.

Every year, we lose around 13 million hectares of forest to logging, slash-and-burn farming, and conversion to agricultural land. This order of magnitude is difficult to imaging and requires some form of comparison. The loss is equivalent to about 33 football pitches every minute, or half a football pitch per second. Not only does this result in a loss of the habitat of a wide range of creatures, but without this habitat, species diversity is under increasingly high threat. However, it is not just animals, but also we humans who are affected by forest dieback in the long term. Forests are the lungs of the Earth becau, as they sequester carbon and convert it into oxygen. In so doing, they reduce greenhouse gas and enable us to live. But how can we do anything about it? Awareness is the magic word.

The vast majority of forest dieback is due to illegal timber production or unsustainable logging. Consumers often fail to realise this, but, essentially, everyone is aware that products such as furniture or doors are made from a wood product. For years, we have grown up within an environment driven by consumption, and it is only with the noticeable effects of climate change that we are beginning to act more consciously.

This is also part of the basic idea behind resimdo’s “upgrade your home” campaign. Rather than disposing of old or unsightly furnishings, give them a second chance by retaining the framework and changing the finish. Even if you’re only upgrading small pieces, you still get the piece of furniture in the process, while reducing disposal and re-production. Here’s an interesting example involving remodelling in a hotel.

If you would like to learn more about climate and forests, and how the two are linked, you can find interesting facts about German forests at the Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture, clearly laid out and based on the Federal Forest Inventory. The WWF advocates intensively for the global importance of forests and presents the interrelationships clearly and understandably in the Forest Report 2019.

However, when it comes to environmental protection, forest dieback is not the only factor. Emissions play a major role in our world, and, simply put, it is we who produce them. Whether heading into town by car to do some shopping, or receiving a delivery, there are emissions involved. But even here, a change of mindset is required in order to achieve long-term improvement. We ourselves can remedy the situation by switching to alternative options such as cycling or using public transport. However, companies also have a responsibility and, in the present day and age, a rethink is required. Therefore, package delivery, with its various emissions, plays an important role.

Our parcel service stands alongside us, as a partner – not only because of its ability to deliver packages, but also on account of its awareness of this responsibility. GLS switched all packages to climate-neutral shipping on 1 October 2019. There is no choice as to whether or not to opt for climate-neutral shopping – this is the only form of delivery offered and makes a clear statement with a profit-oriented business world. Comprising both reduction/avoidance and compensation, this switchover did not happen overnight, but rather evolved over a long period of time prior to its final implementation. You can learn about the development and why GLS is assuming responsibility in GLS’s Sustainability Report.