Our engagement for more sustainability
Climate change is one of the greatest challenges of our time. Each of us leaves a carbon footprint - both individuals and companies.
Our mission: Reducing the ecological footprint
We are determined to minimise our ecological footprint as much as possible. That is why we are already implementing numerous measures:
Energy-efficient working environment: our office building is built to the latest energy standards and uses state-of-the-art technologies to minimise energy consumption.
Packaging reduction: We avoid unnecessary packaging and favour sustainable alternatives.
Raw material innovation: We are constantly looking for alternative and environmentally friendly raw materials to make our products even more sustainable.
Recycling and reuse: We use recycled and recyclable materials to conserve resources and reduce waste.
Understanding nature conservation: We promote an understanding of nature conservation and support initiatives that are committed to preserving our natural resources.
The triad of sustainability
Avoid
Our primary goal is to avoid environmental impact and waste of resources from the outset. We scrutinise every decision and every process to ensure that we avoid unnecessary environmental impact. From the selection of our suppliers to the design of our products and the optimisation of our logistics - sustainability is anchored in every phase of our activities.
Reduce
If environmental impacts cannot be completely avoided, we do everything we can to minimise them. We utilise the latest technologies and innovative approaches to reduce our resource consumption and make our processes more efficient. This includes measures such as reducing our energy consumption, minimising waste and improving our production methods.
Compensate
We rely on compensation for unavoidable environmental impacts. We invest in projects that have a positive environmental impact and help to offset our carbon footprint. These include initiatives such as reforestation, renaturalisation and support for renewable energies. Together with natureOffice, we are able to make a further contribution to climate protection.
Avoid
Sustainability through durability and high quality
When it comes to promotional items, quality is the decisive factor in ensuring longevity and therefore sustainability. This is exactly where we come in at mbw®: Our range consists of high-quality gift items and promotional ambassadors that not only impress with their durability, but also with their charming charisma and character.
Our products are not disposable. They have been developed to give pleasure for years to come and to find a permanent place in the recipient's everyday life. Each item is manufactured with the utmost care to ensure outstanding quality that you can see and feel.
Thanks to this combination of quality and sympathy, our promotional items will not only find their way into the hearts of your customers, but also into their homes - where they will remain for many years to come.
Ducks made from renewable raw materials
We use natural raw materials and make ducks from natural rubber!
The Schnabels® family is growing steadily - and is now also growing sustainably. The range includes some models made from natural rubber. Natural rubber is a product that is produced without petroleum. It is a rubber-like substance found in the latex of many different rubber plants and is therefore a natural and renewable raw material.
The natural rubber ducks are not only very pleasant to the touch, but are also durable, sustainable, biodegradable and environmentally friendly. The positive characteristics of this product will be transferred to your corporate image in no time at all.
Individual paper packaging
We want to reduce our environmental impact and avoid plastic waste!
We take the issue of plastic reduction very seriously. We are gradually replacing the individual packaging for our squeaky ducks and switching to 100% recyclable paper bags, which are replacing the compostable polybags previously used.
We are completely doing away with individual packaging for around 40% of the products we offer. Help us to further reduce the impact of packaging waste and do without individual packaging for your next order. Your mbw contact person can provide you with information on the options.
We always dispense with individual packaging for finished goods: Orders are packed and delivered in 20/50 pieces. This saves 95% of the individual packaging.
We believe in renewable energies
In a major step towards sustainability and ecological responsibility, mbw® equipped its plant in Wanderup with a modern photovoltaic system at the beginning of 2024. The system, consisting of 234 solar modules and an output of 100 kWp, coupled with a 32 kWh storage system, marks another milestone in mbw®'s environmentally conscious corporate management.
The system already demonstrated its efficiency in the first spring months of March and April by generating enough energy to supply the company completely self-sufficiently at times. This emphasises mbw®'s commitment to renewable energies and underpins the company's goal of making a positive contribution to environmental protection.
The realisation of this project was carried out in close cooperation with Holger Braaf GmbH, a neighbouring company from Wanderup. Holger Braaf GmbH, known for its expertise in consulting, planning and installation of photovoltaic systems, ensured that the project was implemented smoothly.
‘The investment in the photovoltaic system is an important step in our strategy to operate more sustainably and actively contribute to climate protection,’ explains Jan Breuer, Managing Director at mbw®. ‘It is an example of how companies can work together locally to leave a positive ecological footprint.’
Reduce
Recycable likeable
We recycle and make cuddly toys from 100% PET bottles!
We are always on the lookout for new, creative product ideas and also keep ourselves constantly informed on the subject of sustainability. After several series of tests and quality and safety tests, the raw material for our RecycelBears was determined. This consists of used PET bottles and is therefore made from 100% recycled material. We also wanted to do without additional plastic parts such as plastic eyes. This is why the eyes and nose of the RecycelBear® are embroidered on. This means that each bear is made exclusively from one material and is itself recyclable.
As a long-lasting advertising medium made of soft and cuddly plush with an elegant feel and beautiful design, this teddy bear has the potential to become a beloved companion and create moments of joy - and not just for children. This is how old PET bottles are turned into new favourites that will live in the recipient's household for several years, if not decades. In addition to the classic bears, there are now many other models made from 100% recycled PET bottles.
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M170042
MiniFeet® Dog toy RecycleFox -
M170041
MiniFeet® Dog toy RecycleRaccoon -
M170040
MiniFeet® Dog toy RecycleBeaver -
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MiniFeet® RecycleMoose -
M160962
MiniFeet® RecycleCow -
M160956
MiniFeet® RecycleWhale -
M160955
MiniFeet® RecycleOktopus -
M160954
MiniFeet® RecycelStarfish -
M160953
MiniFeet® RecycleRabbit -
M160952
MiniFeet® RecycleBear Nature -
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MiniFeet® RecycleBear Ice -
M160950
MiniFeet® RecycleBear -
M160162
mbw® Triangular scarf all-over-print -
M140910
mbw® Mini-t-shirt all-over-print -
M134001
Schnabels® Natural rubber duck, classic
SEAQUAL® YARN: A high-tech yarn made from upcyceld marine plastic
Sustainable accessories - made in Germany
We support the SEAQUAL INITIATIVE and offer printed mini accessories for our cuddly toys made from upcycled marine plastic.
The SEAQUAL INITIATIVE works together with NGOs, fishermen, authorities and local communities to help clean up our oceans. Litter from our beaches, seabed and surface, rivers and estuaries is collected through clean-up programmes. This rubbish is then sorted into different types of material and the plastic content is cleaned and processed into upcycled marine plastic.
The mini T-shirts, triangular scarves and other items for the ‘all-over print’ finishing process are made from 100% upcycled marine plastic from the world's oceans. In contrast to other printing methods, the all-over print finishing process allows motifs to be printed from seam to seam. There are virtually no limits to the choice of motif.
The environmental detectives - a practical example!
We help to understand and learn about nature conservation: the environmental detectives
Do you remember your first cuddly toy? What is emotionally imprinted early on is kept. Soft toys simulate closeness, warmth and security. They make it easier to connect and open emotional doors. Cuddly toys also help to convey important messages and knowledge in other areas of child development. A real-life example shows how this can work:
In March 2020, Wanderup primary school in Schleswig-Holstein launched the Environmental Detectives project to teach children about sustainability and environmental protection through play. In cooperation with us, pupils from first to fourth grade were encouraged to start a PET bottle collection campaign.
These bottles, which the children had collected and brought to school, were used to make symbolic teddies, the RecycelBears, so that at the end of the collection campaign, the young participants were able to enjoy ‘their’ very own personalised bear made from recycled PET bottles and labelled with the individual names and logo of the environmental detectives.
Compensate
Cooperation with NatureOffice
We are working towards climate neutrality and offset emissions through compensation measures
Not all emissions can be completely avoided. But the good thing is that what is eliminated in one place can be saved in another. Together with natureOffice, we are able to make a further contribution to climate protection.
How does CO2 offsetting with natureoffice work?
Founded in 2008, the company develops climate protection projects that meet the highest standards and are certified by TÜV SÜD, for example. Once the emission values have been determined by natureOffice, the customer invests in a climate protection project of their choice to offset the amount of CO2 emitted.
Climate-neutral products
With climate-neutral products, the CO2 emissions generated along the production route are calculated and offset by targeted investment in a climate protection project.
Our RecycelBär® and the RecycelBär® ICE are the first climate-neutral products in the mbw® range and many more are to follow.
Nature protection project: PROJECT TOGO
Creating ecosystems - developing diversity
The PROJECT TOGO natural forest reforestation project stands for certified CO2 sequestration and is supported by recognised experts from science and civil society. Thanks to end-to-end transparency, PROJECT TOGO shows how fruitfully ecology and economy can work together and how this can improve the development of a region. The climate protection project developed and implemented by natureOffice in the area of natural forest afforestation combines nature conservation and environmental protection with the expansion of social structures and self-sustaining value chains.
To this end, PROJECT TOGO realises self-sustaining value creation units:
- Plants for energy production,
- water supply and soil improvement
- Infrastructure for health and education,
- projects for sustainable agriculture and forestry,
- self-sufficiency and market production.
Germany-Plus-Mix
NatureOffice has been supporting the work of the Bergwaldprojekt e.V. in Germany with the ‘Deutschland Plus’ initiative since 2012. This initiative is an effective tool for sustainably improving the condition of forests, biotopes and moors in the various project regions in Germany. Every year, over 10,000 volunteers get involved in these projects, which range from the island of Rügen to the Bavarian Alps. The NatureOffice project offers a special opportunity to combine certified climate protection measures with regional commitment in Germany.
More projects from natureOffice
Engagements in Germany, Europe and around the world
In addition to the projects mentioned above, NatureOffice supports many other projects in which we invest in CO2 compensation measures. You can find an overview of the projects in this PDF (source: natureoffice.com)
We are sponsors of the German Sustainability Award!
We are supporting the German Sustainability Award on 22 November 2019 in Düsseldorf.
The participants in this award will wear their printed name badges on lanyards made from wool felt, a natural, renewable and compostable raw material. The lanyards are manufactured by us in cooperation with sheltered workshops in Germany and are OEKO-TEX® certified.
We print our annual catalogues climate neutrally
In this digital age, the printed annual catalogue is still an important sales tool for us that we do not want to do without completely. In recent years, we have continuously adjusted the catalogue quantities to the needs of the market. We want to avoid unnecessary overproduction by making enquiries with our dealers at an early stage. Help us to continue to make these adjustments and pre-order your catalogue quantities.
Since 2020, the CO2 emissions generated during the printing of the annual catalogues have been offset through the voluntary support of recognised climate protection projects.
You can find more information here:
Project: Natural forest reforestation
Project-ID: DE-077-158725
Compensated amount of CO2: 40,141 t CO2e
www.natureoffice.com/DE-077-158725
Natural forest afforestation on the North Sea island of Amrum.
Part of this compensation payment supports the work of Bergwaldprojekt e.V. on the North Sea island of Amrum. Forest areas that have been damaged by storms, among other things, are being reforested there. This serves to bind CO2 emissions on the one hand and to protect the coast on the other.
>> More information on the project on Amrum (PDF)
(Source: Bergwaldprojekt e.V.)
Buy sustainable promotional gifts and invest twice in the future
Promotional products are always a future-oriented investment. After all, the aim is to attract or retain customers as well as to present certain services or products and the company in general. Every promotional item has a basic message and fulfills a marketing purpose. Sustainable promotional products add to this with their own message, as they address hot topics such as environmental protection and are an expression of your responsible actions.
By having sustainable promotional gifts printed, you are making multiple investments in the future and can hope that the resulting relationships will also be long-lasting. Sustainable promotional products at mbw® are partially recyclable. Just take the popular RecycelBear made from 100% use and recycled PET bottles. It is available in several models, such as the RecycelBear IC" in white. It is suitable as a promotional gift for children, but also appeals to adults. Sustainable promotional items for children are a worthwhile investment: this important topic is discussed in schools, and parents also attach importance to ecologically sound products for their offspring. Speaking of school children, we worked with a local school for our project with the innovative RecycelBears. The children collected empty bottles and then traded them for a bear. This was a fun way to teach them about recycling and sustainability. You could use the sustainable promotional items in a similar way or emphasize their interesting background story.
The Natural Rubber Ducks are also ecological promotional items with logo that can be ordered from mbw®. If desired, they can be personalized or refined, like many of our promotional products. The cute squeaky ducks made of natural rubber convince visually as well as with their material.
Natural rubber, formerly simply called rubber, is a rubber-like substance in the latex of various rubber plants. The rubber-bearing latex is usually present as a milky liquid, but it may also be contained in the plant in semi-solid form. The liquid is often released by scoring the bark of the tree because it is contained in liquid form in tubular milk tubes. It is collected in containers. The natural rubber is bound in the vulcanization process and with the addition of other substances such as China clay, calcium carbonate and sulphur, among others. Vulcanization refers to processes that result in elastic behavior.