Climate-neutral trade fair stand at Productronica

The topic of sustainability, energy efficiency, resource conservation is increasingly being discussed and is accordingly a major concern for Rehm Thermal Systems. This is reflected in the introduction of an environmental management system and the associated Rehm Climate Strategy 2030. It forms the basis for an even more conscious handling of energy, resources, and the continuous improvement of energy efficiency in the company. With a CO2-neutral trade fair stand, a further signal is now being sent to not only analyse the products and manufacturing processes, but to pursue a holistic approach in the area of environmental management.

Sustainability, climate protection and reduction of CO2 emissions are rarely associated with a trade fair appearance or stand. What is known are climate neutral letter mailings, climate-neutral print products or climate-neutral air travel. Admittedly, there will not be a completely emission-free exhibition stand. However, it is even more important to reduce CO2 emissions to a possible minimum. Like all climate-neutral services and products, the climate neutral exhibition stand is based on the principle of offsetting CO2 emissions that have arisen, avoiding, or reducing environmental pollution and recycling as many materials as possible.

The emissions that cannot be avoided are offset afterwards through the purchase of emission reduction certificates. The certificates, which are recognised according to international guidelines, are used to invest in selected environmental projects worldwide. For Rehm Thermal Systems, it is important to support a regional project where the concrete implementation and success can be tracked at any time. Therefore, the decision was made to support humus processing at a farmer in the immediate vicinity of the company headquarters in Blaubeuren – in Berghülen, only 6 km away. Lena and Johannes Mayer have been running an organic farm in Berghülen for years. The dairy cows on their farm are kept free-stall with grazing, while their offspring remain out on pasture all summer long. In addition, the farmland is managed according to the principle of regenerative organic farming. Catch crops and under sown crops provide diversity in arable soils and additionally provide a permanent forage base for insects.

The farmer is particularly committed to humus formation and the associated CO2 compensation. And this is where Rehm comes in: We compensate for the CO2 emissions caused by the company’s participation in the Productronica trade fair by supporting the cultivation of humus in Johannes Mayer's fields – a win-win situation for both sides.

But how does that work exactly? The green plant absorbs CO2 through photosynthesis and converts it into oxygen and carbon compounds. In the process, the oxygen is released into the atmosphere and the carbon remains bound in the plant. A large part of the carbon compounds is released into the soil through so-called root exudates. These exudates serve as food for the soil biology. In return, the plant receives the necessary nutrients returned in symbiosis with the soil biology. That creates natural soil fertility. This forms the basis for the natural removal of CO2 from the atmosphere to be stored firmly in the soil as carbon compounds. Only a green living plant is capable of this. This principle is also described by the term “liquid carbon pathway”.

But it is not only since the possibility of creating a CO2 offset through emissions trading that Rehm Thermal Systems has focused on sustainability and resource conservation. For years, environmental protection has already been taken into account during the development of a new system. Rehm's development engineers are concerned with future-oriented, sustainable solutions for innovative products. Together with scientific institutes, universities, customers and partners, we develop concepts for product optimisation and further development, especially with regard to energy management and resource conservation.