Environment
FLORIS has been taking ecological responsibility for over 10 years by incorporating many environmental aspects into our services and our company. We ensure responsible handling of our environment and its resources.

In the future we will continue to expand our ecological activities, FLORIS has set itself the goal of constantly improving its activities and continuing to act as a pioneer in terms of the environment for the catering industry.

FLORIS - A Green Caterer with a CO2 Compensation
We are proud to say that for many years already FLORIS has got a 100% climate neutral energy balance. This is being achieved by compensating for all CO2 greenhouse gases of our energy procurement as well as in the area of mobility!
FLORIS' climate-friendly compensation of CO2 emissions has been tested by TÜV Nord - you will find further information here.

We set a preference for untreated, biologically and fairly produced foods and drinks
Since 2010, FLORIS Catering has a cooperation with its climate protection partner  KlimaInvest and has developed a corresponding catalog of criteria for the implementation of the above points. This for us means using mainly organic / raw produce and beverages as well as fair trade products. We offer our own FLORIS coffee beans which are fair trade and organically certified. Also FLORIS gives preference to certified suppliers specializing in raw and organic produce. Furthermore, FLORIS processes primarily fresh goods and also supports the local economy. Our house wines are mainly organic. Our juices and mineral water are from the Berlin / Brandenburg region. The use of Berlin tap water instead of bottled water is now mandatory at many events.

A focus on vegetarian and vegan dishes
We are constantly trying to reduce our quantity of meat and fish. Vegetarian and vegan dishes are offered separately from other main courses. Furthermore we are happy to put together a menu based on just vegetarian and vegan dishes.

A Preference is set for producers either based locally or from Germany
FLORIS primarily sources fresh raw produce and uses these to produce high-quality dishes in our own kitchen. For the most part, these products (fruit / vegetables / meat / fish) are from the Berlin wholesale market and surrounding areas. FLORIS gives preference to suppliers who are organically certified to match with our own standards.
Another urban source of food - for instance fish and in particular the "Capital perch” - is the ECF Farm of the Malt Factory in Berlin, using the so called ‘aquaponics process’.
In addition, we have a partnership with a beekeeping based in Berlin. We generate about 40-60kg of spun honey per year, which we use for our own production.
In the future, we have set ourselves the goal of focusing even more suppliers on these aspects of sustainability. To do this, we hold regular discussions with them.

Avoidance of food waste
We offer our customers the opportunity to hand over leftover food to those in need in the city. FLORIS u. a. regularly with the “Berliner Tafeln” and the “Initiative Foodsharing e.V.”. More information can be found here.
In this context, we have regularly recorded and evaluated the food leftovers at events since 2019. We aim to raise awareness internally (employees) & externally (customers), check our production factors and produce more targeted amounts of food so that we can permanently reduce food waste. We aim to increase the event documentation by 10% annually and to check the factors at least once a year.

Sustainable waste management
FLORIS latest project is the development of an integrated waste management for the company and at the events. It will separate paper from plastic and food waste as well as oils. To add to this every workplace in the office has two separate garbage bins to separate paper from organic litter. Our goal is to offer sustainable waste management at every event in 2021.

Sustainable office work
The use of sustainable advertising media / print media: Our promise - reduce print jobs and print at least double-sided. We support a paperless work environment. Already years ago we have digitalised our filing system. We encourage the reduction of color printouts and have upgraded to electronic invoicing. We are working on ensuring that our main suppliers also implement these procedures, for example: electronic invoice dispatch without exception. This goal should be achieved by the end of 2020.

Regular training of our staff
Our staff is up-to-date about all sustainability aspects of food and beverages, all of which is also reflected in our food and beverages menue. Our staff are regularly taught new sustainability aspects and / or products through training courses and discussions.

Mobility
Our business premises are located next to the center of Berlin within walking distance to public transportation. We encourage our staff to walk, cycle or use public transportation. If they come by bicycle we ensure they can lock their bikes safely on our courtyard. In future, we are working on offering a job-bike for everyone. We already have introduced the monthly train ticket as an additional benefit. To add to this, we have an electric vehicle in our company fleet and the purchase of an e-van is planned.

Energy management
We only use green electricity and energy-saving lamps as well as motion detectors. We ensure that our employees care for efficient heating and energy saving. We do not have air conditioning in the offices. We are constantly working on improving our energy management and driving forward reductions in water and energy consumption.

Decorations
We reuse our decorations whenever possible and rather implement potted plants than cut flowers. In the event we use cut flowers we ensure they are seasonal and fair trade. Our goal is to do without cut flowers at events by the end of 2021 at the latest.

Use of reusable crockery / cutlery or fully compostable equipment (dispensing of disposable tableware, especially disposable plastic products)
FLORIS offers its customers reusable crockery and cutlery. Beverages are offered in returnable bottles (except alcoholic products such as sparkling wine and wine).
FLORIS already represents the "no-plastic alternative" today. We replace plastic with appropriate alternatives, e.g.: we use proper glasses  and returnable bottles, as well as plates, cutlery and bowls made of 100% biodegradable substances; straws made of glass or from self-dissolving natural products with taste.
We already have a complete internal waiver of plastic crockery and cutlery and do our own catering for our employees accordingly. See also our commitment to this here.

In process: composting plant
One of FLORIS' ongoing projects is the purchase of a composting facility, where food remains and remnants of raw materials are composted into peat and fed to surrounding gardens or the in-house garden (urban farming).

In process: sustainable own products
We produce new products from "food waste", e.g. wine vinegar from the remains of our wines, vegetable broth from the sections of vegetable processing. We have set ourselves the goal of continuously increasing these products at FLORIS.

It couldn't be "greener" - Urban Farming: A future project from FLORIS: A company garden in which your own herbs / salads, etc. are grown (from September 2020).

Society

FLORIS assumes social responsibility by understanding that the company cannot exist without its employees. Here we have a responsibility to act respectfully and as a role model. We ensure responsible use of the human resource.

In the future we will continue to expand our social responsibility. FLORIS has set itself the goal of constantly improving its actions.

FLORIS has been an instructor for the professions for many years: event clerk and cook. We support the preservation of our job profile and the training of subsequent generations through school internships and the Girls & Boysday project. Our goal is to keep the number of trainees in our company over the next three years with a decreasing overall interest.

We seek and encourage the professional development of each of our employees. Through regular meetings and updates we keep track of where we can improve. Mistakes will be recognized and discussed in a positive manner so that everybody can learn.

We regularly offer cross trainings within the company.

Throughout the year, we organize employee events - FLORIS Trips- to intensify the team spirit, create fun and a relaxed environment and at the same time open up Berlin's diversity to even the most in-depth Berliners among us.

We have introduced incentive schemes and develop employees in their fields of work.

FLORIS has an internal employee suggestion system through working groups in various subject areas. Our goal is always to provide time for this work.

We work with target agreements and develop the employees in their fields of work.

We hold regular discussions with our stakeholders (especially employees, customers and suppliers). The results are documented in writing.

We sponsor events that deal with sustainability issues, such as: Meetingplace Berlin, Expertdays, Restlos Glücklich, "Nachtschicht" by Tagesspiegel etc. FLORIS Catering has a donation and sponsorship guideline. According to this guideline we make donations and sponsor events.

Economy

FLORIS assumes economic responsibility by understanding that the company cannot exist sustainably without economic security. Here we have the responsibility to act with moderate growth and manageable risk. We ensure responsible business practices.

In the future, we will continue to expand our economic responsibility, FLORIS has set itself the goal of constantly examining opportunities and risks and aligning its actions accordingly.

FLORIS has introduced a customer services system and quality management.

In addition the company has established a risk assessment process (e.g. criteria catalog).

Also of importance are our innovation projects that we look out for on a regular basis (e.g. a regular trend working group by our team).

We have established a transparent cost management starting from a quotation to commissioning, detailed cost calculation as well as costing and internal margin agreements.

Equal treatment for women and men is important to us. A fair remuneration policy and a final pay equality between men and women is an important part of this.

We pay attention to our supply chains and oblige our suppliers in the best possible way to comply with ecological, ethical and social aspects of our business relationships and their products and service providers. We commit ourselves to include sustainable products and sustainable services in our portfolio in the future after having checked their implementation.

We are involved in various associations, thus keep in touch with the industry and are well informed about trends and developments. We participate regularly in network events.

We comply with legal provisions.

Company and ethical responsibility

FLORIS takes ethical responsibility in its actions as a company with its management.

Here we have a respectful responsibility to act as a role model and communicate clearly. We assure a responsible handling of this responsibility.

We value every individual, regardless of their origin, religion, gender or disability. Racism and exclusion are not tolerated at FLORIS.

We comply with the legal obligations to ensure occupational health and safety.

We promote the quota of women at FLORIS and are committed to employing employees of foreign origin.

We cooperate with a Dutch university (HAS) and regularly enable international study internships.

The managing directors and owners of FLORIS Catering are committed to the content of this sustainability promise and promote continuous development.

Berlin, April 2020