Our commitment to the environment

In our opinion, economic growth at the expense of the environment is not sustainable. We are convinced that an active environmental policy has a positive effect on the economic development of a company in the long term.

Installation of two cooling water circulation systems in 1985, 1991 and 1992 reduced the consumption of fresh water and thus the generation of waste water by 21,000 m³ per year. The integrated heat recovery system saves primary energy in the form of approx. 18,000 liters of heating oil per year.

Since 1993, Dentaurum has been using treated wastewater from the surface treatment process for flushing toilets via a service water system. This saves approximately 390 m³ of fresh water per year.

In 2002, the cooling capacity of the cooling water circulation system in Building I is increased by 40 kW. This saves approximately 2,800 m³ of fresh water per year when the cooling capacity is fully utilized. Two cooling thermostats in Building II in chemical production reduce water consumption by a further 450 m³ per year.

Rainwater cisterns are installed in 1995 when building the CDC training center and in 2003 when building the office and logistics center. Rainwater from the cisterns is used for flushing toilets and watering the green areas.

In 2005, a further cooling thermostat is installed in the chemical production building. This saves a further 250 m³ of fresh water per year.

The waste management practiced by Dentaurum is considered by the authorities to be one of the most exemplary of its time. In 1991 we are awarded the Enz County Commercial Waste Award.

By intensively examining the opportunities for optimizing packaging and avoiding superfluous or costly packaging, as well as the use of ecologically sound and recyclable packaging materials, according to the state of knowledge at the time, it was possible to drastically reduce the amount of packaging in 1992:

• Cartons by approx. 2,800 kg
• Plastic by approx. 260 kg
• Foam material by approx. 50 kg
• Aluminum by approx. 2 kg

With a broad range of five reversible hydrocolloid duplicating materials (Dublitop^®, Duplikat, Dubliform, Dublipast^® and DubliGel) Dentaurum offers both ecological as well as economical alternatives to the silicone duplicating materials. The hydrocolloid duplicating materials consist almost exclusively of the natural products agar-agar, glycerine and water – they can even be composted after being reused up to thirty times.

The Federal German Working Group for Environmentally Conscious Management B.A.U.M. is the first non-partisan environmental initiative of the business community and was already established in 1984. With over 700 members, B.A.U.M. is today Europe's largest network for sustainable business management.

In 1995, Dentaurum introduces the European environmental management system EMAS I, thus demonstrating social responsibility: EMAS-audited companies effectively contribute to environmental protection. All environmental measures from energy consumption to waste and emissions are implemented in a legally compliant and transparent manner. Owing to EMAS, companies are in a position to save resources intelligently.

In 1996, Dentaurum is certified for the first time in accordance with EC Regulation 1836/93 (EMAS I) and is thus one of the first 300 industrial companies in Germany to introduce an environmental management system in accordance with EC Regulation 1836/93 (EMAS I).

In 1996, the first Dentaurum eco-balance was drawn up in cooperation with the Pforzheim University of Applied Sciences under the direction of Professor Dr. Stehfest. For one, an eco-balance consists of an analysis of the material and energy flows of the entire product system, including all processes involved along the life cycle of a product. For another, from the systematic recording of emissions to air, water and soil, as well as resources extracted from nature.

The objective of this publication is to present the outlined environmental management activities as a positive stimulus for business.

The establishment and maintenance of an environmental certification include:

• The detailed review and, if necessary, optimization or modification of all processes with regard to their environmental compatibility. As people form part of the environment, Dentaurum pays very close attention to working conditions and, for example, draws up noise registers for internal and external areas, in other words, also outside the company premises.
• Regular emission measurements at the workplaces for solvents or oil mist. In terms of water protection, precautions are taken in all areas. All machines containing oil are located in stainless steel drip pans, the hazardous materials storage facility features an extinguishing water retention barrier, and the wastewater from the wastewater treatment plant is reused as service water after cleaning.

These process optimizations can considerably reduce the amount of residual waste and increase energy efficiency. These measures have the effect of reducing energy consumption and thus the climate-damaging impact of production.

On the administrative side, major savings can be achieved in paper consumption. In an input-output balance sheet, which is prepared annually, the above data are compared and short- and medium-term environmental targets are set jointly with business and production management.

Environmental protection was also given high priority in the construction of a new state-of-the-art logistics center with integrated administration area in 2003. Owing to its low-energy construction, the building only consumes about 30 percent of the energy of a conventional office building. Among other things, this is achieved by using a so-called ecological air conditioning system in the form of earth tubes over 330 meters long, in which the air is preheated in the winter and cooled in the summer.

Lighting and heating in the offices are controlled by presence sensors. The roof of the adjoining high-bay warehouse is extensively landscaped with greenery and a spacious, water-rich Asian-style garden is laid out in the administrative section, which, as a welcome side effect, also significantly improves the indoor climate.

Greening the roof surfaces commences in 2003. Meanwhile, more than 3,500 square meters of roof area on the company's premises in Ispringen have been extensively greened in a multi-layer structure. This includes parts of the administrative buildings and the logistics center.

Extensive greening implies near-natural green areas on roofs which largely preserve and develop by themselves. In addition to architectural benefits such as improving fire protection and proofing roofs against wind and weather, green roofs also play an important role in reducing wastewater. As more and more surfaces are sealed with impermeable, solid concrete, rainwater can no longer seep into the ground, but enters the sewage system directly. Especially during heavy rain, this can repeatedly lead to flooding. A green roof counteracts this, as much of the precipitation is consumed by the plants, which in turn supports the natural water cycle. The remaining precipitation drains off with a time lag, relieving the burden on the sewage systems and reducing the risk of flooding.

A green roof offers additional ecological benefits: the planted roofs are natural air conditioners, as water evaporates during photosynthesis of the plants, which creates a pleasant cooling effect during the day. In contrast, water condenses on the surface of the plants at night, which generates heat. The natural evaporation of water stored in the green roof improves the microclimate, providing both cooling and humidification. This has a particularly positive effect on the adjacent administrative offices. Throughout the year, the plants insulate against cold, heat and wind, thus balancing the temperature. By doing so, they make a considerable contribution to energy savings.

In addition, green roofs filter between 10 and 20 percent of particulate matter from the air and reduce pollutants in the air and precipitation. Green roofs are natural sound absorbers and reduce noise by up to eight decibels.
Another particularly important aspect is the promotion of biodiversity, as green roofs help to replace the habitat for insects and other small animals ruined by building development. If one takes a closer look, one can discover various wild bee species such as bumblebees, wasps and solitary bees, blue butterflies, checkerboard butterflies and other butterflies, ants, ladybugs and spiders on the roofs of Dentaurum ... even the wasp spider, one of the most beautiful spiders native to Germany, has already been spotted on the roofs. In turn, the abundance of insects attracts birds such as wagtails and redstarts.

The non-monetary prize honors outstanding personal achievements and individual commitment to corporate environmental protection. It honors long-standing commitment and exemplary initiative for innovations in corporate practice as a contribution to sustainable development.

Specifically matched cleaning programs can be stored and called up for each product group, whereby they can also be individually adapted for each batch. The water continues to be fed through three rinses, the so-called cascade, after which it is filtered and reused.

The greatest benefit for the environment stems from the economical use of surfactants. By using large filters, the active detergent substances can be used considerably longer, thereby reducing the amount of wastewater. The cleaning line is equipped with an automatic system which determines the exact usage of surfactants. This leads to significantly improved cleaning results and more consistent product quality.

Virtual bundling of the units and consolidating the many small servers in a few large servers reduces complexity and improves the infrastructure. Virtualizing the data processing center not only reduces power consumption, but also significantly reduces the requirement for constant cooling by reducing the amount of space required and therefore the amount of heat generated.

Centralizing the server hardware of the ten subsidiaries worldwide leads to further energy savings. This is controlled and maintained centrally in the Dentaurum data processing center in Ispringen. On the one hand, this optimizes costs, on the other and above all, it consistently pursues the aim of a careful use of the environment and resources.

In addition to the energy content (calorific value) of the fuel, condensing technology also utilizes the energy of the water vapor in the exhaust gases. Condensing technology is an efficient alternative to conventional heating systems as it makes optimum use of the fuel, thus maximizing energy yield and conserving fossil resources.

Due to steadily increasing quality demands and ever higher requirements for hygiene and particle-free medical devices, Dentaurum has fundamentally modernized its production facilities step by step in recent years.

The metallic materials used are cleaned before, between and after processing. As these are largely medical devices, very high demands are placed on cleaning quality. Until mid-2015, degreasing of these materials was performed in a closed system which used a cleaning agent containing chlorinated hydrocarbons.

After replacing it with a system that employs hydrocarbons as cleaning agents, the use of harmful CHCs can be eliminated completely.

In December 2014, Dentaurum conducts an employee survey at the Ispringen site to analyze the CO₂ emissions generated on the way to work. The survey of around 400 employees is based on an analysis of ZIP codes to determine the distance from the place of residence to the workplace. Further survey topics included the use of the different means of transport such as bus, train, bicycle or motorized private vehicles. The analysis showed that over 90 percent of the workforce live within a 20-kilometer radius of the company's location. Approximately 80 percent of employees use their cars, 3.9 percent use scooters or motorcycles, 8.6 percent use public transportation, and 7.5 percent come to work by bicycle in a climate-neutral manner. Based on these data, emissions of approximately 230 tons of CO₂ annually are calculated for the entire workforce. This corresponds to around 0.56 tons of CO₂ emissions per employee per annum.

How can CO₂ emissions be reduced on the way to work?

By the choice of transportation! Particularly on short distances, cars, scooters and motorcycles consume considerable energy, emit high levels of CO₂ and have a poor eco-balance. By setting up carpools, employees can help reduce their impact on the environment, just to give an example. One alternative for short distances is the use of e-bikes. The electricity-powered bicycles stand for minimal CO₂ consumption from production to their use. They guarantee environment-friendly, sustainable mobility and boost health at the same time. More home office work can be another way of reducing CO₂ emissions created on the way to work. Mobile working offers enormous potential savings in terms of CO₂, time spent traveling, fuel costs and wear and tear of the vehicle. The conducted survey is the first step in developing future options for CO₂ reduction on the way to work.

Supported by Dentaurum, a tree nature trail is opened in Pforzheim in 2017. Amber trees, bluebell trees, flowering ash and ten other tree species are showcased in more detail on the approximately one-kilometer-long nature trail, which also serves as an educational project. Posters with detailed descriptions about their origin and characteristics are displayed next to the individual trees to inform interested people, residents of the neighborhood and school classes. The fresh green in Pforzheim is intended to inspire people for their neighborhood, bring together different cultures and stimulate dialog among citizens.   

Further information is available at:
https://www.pforzheim.de/tourismus/sehenswertes-im-stadtbild/baumlehrpfad/ea-baumlehrpfad/article/detail/News/informationen-zum-baumlehrpfad.html

The majority of working people - be it in the office, on the shop floor or in the warehouse - spend most of the workday indoors. Pleasant temperatures and an optimal oxygen supply play a decisive role in ensuring that employees feel comfortable at their workplace.

In addition, when manufacturing high-precision parts and tools, a constant temperature is a basic requirement for adhering to tolerances. By investing in the new ventilation system, Dentaurum makes it possible to meet the increasing demands for a modern working environment. The new ventilation system can significantly reduce summer temperatures and also uses 20 percent less electricity than its predecessor.

Dentaurum has been actively involved in environmental protection for decades and is consistently pursuing this path.In addition to resource-saving production, the continuous reduction of disposable components is a firm part of the strategy. Due to the novel HLD coating, scan superstructures and caps have become more sustainable. After use, they are sterilized, titanium as the material makes them robust and dimensionally stable - they are more durable and thus more environment-friendly.

Dentaurum implements digital selling and trains its sales force accordingly. Sales training and meetings are also held as virtual events to save on fuel. Virtual training of employees conserves resources and saves time.
In recent years, the diesel consumption by company vehicles has been declining steadily. Hybrid Selling has proven to be a successful sales model.

• Natural gas for heating purposes
• Electrical energy
• Diesel for company vehicles

The reduction of waste is of great importance to Dentaurum. Raw materials are expensive and leave a large carbon footprint. Therefore, it is important to minimize the loss of raw materials, waste prevention is the top priority.

Measures for implementation include the improvement of separation, preventing waste, sensitization of employees as well as control. The volume of residual waste could be reduced by 37.5 percent within a single year, from 2019 to 2020, due to short-time work, home office and the above-mentioned measures.

Output - Waste for recycling

In 1995, Dentaurum had already become a member of the Federal German Working Group for Environmentally Conscious Management (B.A.U.M). Dentaurum has been certified acc. to DIN EN ISO 14001 and EMAS for many years. For more than three decades, Dentaurum has optimized all production and handling processes with regard to the careful use of raw materials and environmental protection.

The certificates and the environmental statement can be found here:

https://www.dentaurum.de/deu/profil-31434.aspx#umwelt
https://www.dentaurum.de/deu/profil-31434.aspx#certificates_environment