Miele - Sustainability

	Production and Logistics
	Environmental management, based on the ISO 14001 standard, is part of the integrated Miele management system. The works managers are responsible for this in the production phase. Adhering to valid standards like RoHS and, more recently, implementing REACh, are self-evident. "Mieleaner" at work		Electric melting furnace in the foundry Stainless steel suds container		Final assembly of washing machines On the move in a high rack warehouse

Environmental Protection in Production
Miele is very conscious of the environmental effects of its production of domestic appliances. With a level of vertical integration of almost 50 %, which is unusually high for the sector, the company takes on a large responsibility.

The company’s own desire to continue to improve the company’s environmental protection is particularly obvious in this phase of the product life cycle: Right from the word go, the planning of equipment and processes is based on avoidance, reduction and recycling. Environmental equipment and processes have been developed by Miele and continue to be optimised. Key pre-requisites include using the best technology available and monitoring and controlling the environmental effect using environmental figures. These allow senior management to set targets and to plan necessary investments for particular measures to be implemented.

Training programmes teach employees about environmental protection and, as part of the company suggestion plan, staff are encouraged to make suggestions for environmental improvements.

Miele demands that its suppliers use environmentally-friendly technology and substitutes, and asks that the parts can be recycled in an environmentally-friendly way. This is confirmed with all suppliers through the use of checklists. Pre-requisites for this are an established quality management in accordance with ISO 9000 ff. and an environmentally-friendly approach in accordance with ISO 14001.

The equipment, including technical equipment, and processes used in Miele factories are optimised for their energy-efficiency. In 2007, the energy consumption was reduced by 7.7 % in comparison with the previous year, despite a production increase of 5.5 %. The introduction of temperature controls in buildings meant that the heating costs were reduced.

Between 2006 and 2007, the proportion of district heating from a CHP generation plant was increased to 75 % in the Gütersloh factory. This meant that factory energy production was reduced from 42 MW to under 15 MW. Regarding reducing emissions during the production phase, Miele uses the latest technology, equipment and fi lter technology, for example in the CO2-emission-free electric melting furnaces in the foundry.

Miele’s waste water management is based on a consistent avoidance strategy through the circulation of operating supplies. Waste water treatment equipment ensures that fixed limits regarding the indirect flow of waste water into the municipal drain system are adhered to. Regular measurements are taken and documented.

Environmental Protection in
Product Packaging
Miele uses as little packaging as possible. The materials are ideal for recycling and are often recycled themselves. Miele uses mainly corrugated cardboard made from almost 100 % secondary materials; untreated wood; polyethylene foil and as little expanded polystyrene as possible. The application of the latest packaging technology means that, since 1996, despite an 87 % increase in production, Miele has managed to limit the increase in product packaging to just 6.5 %.

Miele vehicle fleet with emission standards in %*

Environmental Protection in
Transport and Logistics
Miele uses environmentally-friendly and economic means of transport and avoids ineffective movement. This means that the routes from the German factories to the central warehouse in Gütersloh are short – a massive logistical advantage that ensures lower costs and less damage to the environment. Goods are stored, prepared and despatched at Gütersloh. Some Miele omestic appliances destined to be exported overseas are transported from Minden by boat, train or lorry to the ports of Hamburg and Bremerhaven. Around 50 % of the export containers follow his concept. The proportion of Miele products transported by rail is approximately 10 %.

In 2007 the number of Euro 4-classified vehicles in Miele’s fleet increased from 48.4 % to 69 % and the number of lightduty commercial vehicles increased from 8.1 % to 27.1 %.

Logistics at Miele: Close to customers and perfect planning
With a total sales share of 80%, Europe is the most important market for Miele. Germany heads the turnover league table followed by countries in its neighbourhood: The Netherlands, Great Britain, Switzerland, France, Austria, Belgium and Russia. The majority of products are produced in Germany with the nine most important plants all located in North Rhine-Westfalia and Lower Saxony. This guarantees short distances to customers on all levels.

From Central Headquarters in Gütersloh (Westfalia), all plants can be reached easily and particularly fast. A cluster of production plants in the vicinity of Gütersloh lends itself to a central warehouse concept: Before worldwide distribution, almost all products are initially stored at a central high-bay staging warehouse in Gütersloh where they are sorted and consignments prepared for dispatch. This concept ensures regular shipments direct to international subsidiaries and maximum utilisation of forwarding capacities. Only fully loaded vehicles, containers and freight carriages leave Gütersloh and are sent on their worldwide journey, always taking a direct route to their destination. This concept also includes spare parts for subsidiaries.

Reduction in freight transport volume
Well planned logistics can help in reducing freight volume. In other words: The better Logistics plan and coordinate the transportation of goods, the fewer vehicles are required and on the road. To ensure optimum utilisation on the operational side, Miele Logistics uses graphic computer-based optimisation tools which simplify the planning of the loads for individual lorries or railway carriages. The objective here is to keep the number of only partially loaded vehicles as low as possible to achieve the highest possible utilisation of crates, vehicles, containers and railway carriages.

Miele also makes use of particularly large articulated vehicles (Jumbo-Trucks) which contribute greatly to the reduction of the number of vehicles on the road. These vehicles are not the latest generation of vehicles which are more than 25 metres long and which have been a controversial topic for some time. These have a total weight of up to 60 tonnes and are only permitted in a few federal states in Germany. (By comparison: A standard HGV has a total weight of 40 tonnes and is no more than 18.75 metres long.) The large lorries used by Miele have higher trailers and therefore more volume providing additional space for 50% more major domestic appliances.