It is always a consideration whether the further use of an older device does not require less energy or water than the production of a new, energy-efficient device. Therefore, the energy requirement along the entire product life cycle (from production to use to disposal) must be considered. Companies need the competence to weigh up the right time for a new purchase of devices, but also the determination to then purchase the most sustainable and not only cheapest devices.

LED 'light bulbs' are now available for really all lamps, even with pleasantly warm light colors. Also, think about the lights outside - are they LED as well?

Standby power consumption is often reminded and extrapolated. For example, if a screen consumes 5 watts in standby, that is 120 watt hours (Wh) per day, i.e. about one eighth of a kilowatt hour (35 cents/kWh). Companies can quite easily calculate for themselves what savings potential all their computers, screens, beamers and even routers have if they do not use StandBy.

Modern lamps require little electricity, and yet it is worthwhile not to let them burn unnecessarily, for example when we are not in the room for a long time. Corridors, toilet rooms, cellars often have the light burning unnecessarily. In some indoor and outdoor areas, companies also sometimes have the light on too long or too early.

The compensation of greenhouse gas emissions is very controversial. Someone flies, drives a car or organizes a barbecue and donates an amount for the associated greenhouse gas emissions to a service provider who promises projects for greenhouse gas saving / binding (e.g. via forest afforestation). Unfortunately, many providers prove to be fraudulent because they do not achieve the promised effect at all. So only reputable providers should be supported. In addition, the compensation should not be misunderstood as a free ticket. It is therefore important to avoid emissions as much as possible and only compensate for the rest (see also the point Donations).

Apart from the fact that every device can have a high power consumption, a refrigerator is not regularly defrosted, the door seal is leaking, the washing machine is driven with too high temperatures and spin numbers, etc., there are still some unnecessary things that consume a lot of electricity: In the company, these can be exaggerated light installations, electric bollards, and much more.

The area we need for rooms and outdoor places means the area that is sealed, the building material that is needed, and most often the room that needs to be heated. If we use the rooms here, possibly sublet them or share them with others (e.g. co-working spaces), we take big steps towards sustainability. Especially in the course of home office, the shrinking of company space is not a step backwards, but a progress.

Despite the claim to do without your own company car or to share cars in the pool with others, allows you to save a lot of money and is good for a better world.

Many people who earn above average can only do this because others earn below average. The gap between rich and poor is getting bigger and bigger. Consumers complain about cheap wages, but the price increase by 50 cents is rarely accepted. What we deserve is not, as liberals or neoliberals like to think, just a question of diligence. It is the product (!) Out of diligence, skill and the right framework conditions. Anyone who knows many talented and hard-working people who are simply not lucky develops empathy and is willing to pay more, even if it is through tips. Companies can set an example in the case of remuneration, in particular for less well-paid activities within the scope of their possibilities.

Volunteering, whether at the fire brigade, in the sports club or the help in the neighborhood, is enormously important for togetherness and society. Companies can help here to honor volunteering and accompany it through donations.

We experience what happens all over the world when the successful depend on large parts of society: radical currents get influx, the climate catastrophe is denied, hatred against foreigners but also against their own politicians is stoked. Some "ego trolls" who want to punch through their interests are deliberately playing with such a breeding ground when, for example, conservative parties speak of ideology with the progressive parties or an automobile boss is against vaccination in order not to have to close his works, or others complain against wind power and e-mobility and pro-nuclear power without any expertise. Dissatisfied citizens take this up as 'troll lemmings', feel they belong to the common enemy images and complain on social media against everything that means change towards future viability. It is the fight for so-called memes and no longer, as in the past, solely for sovereignty of interpretation, especially since the experts agree on most questions. As uncomfortable as it is, we should therefore stand against it in social media and not wave off in frustration. In our environment, we can also get together with others and talk about politics or the design of togetherness - even if many do not want to talk about politics privately at all, because they have an opinion, but not the feeling that they can support it themselves. For example, there is the Open Society Day and regionally certainly many other initiatives. Politicians can motivate, join a party, go to public council meetings, and participate in demonstrations. Having been to Fridays for Future once is an experience! Companies can show attitude! Ideology is not the opinion of the other, but what is not scientifically proven robustly (i.e. more than a single study). https://www.know-why.net/model/Ch6pG92HeaVbtguDEvK11Iw

Both organ and blood donations or even bone marrow donations cost us overcoming - until we or our loved ones are dependent on it. Here, too, the same applies - those who do it can be proud of themselves. Entrepreneurs can go ahead and release their employees, for example, if it is blood donation during working hours.They also can spread information about the topic and management can be a role model.

Societies must take in refugees - no matter how many there are. To be distinguished from this is the number of those who we can also permanently integrate into our society and also have to with regard to our economy and retirement provision or demographic change. A company should actively anticipate and help to accept people with a migration background within the scope of the legal possibilities. Linguistically, English is sometimes the lowest common denominator that can also be chosen in companies. As far as it is legal, we should help these people.

Cultural promotion can take place in all facets - from young people who make music to exhibitions to the care of traditional festivals.

Bringing people together in the world is more important than ever in times of globalization. Companies can also get involved here beyond the direct economic interest.

Globally, conventional cotton is an environmental problem due to the use of sprays and the high water consumption. In addition, the textile factories poison entire rivers and exploit people during conventional dyeing. In addition to ecological cotton, there are other natural fibers with sometimes much less damage to the environment. In the case of virgin wool, attention must be paid to the certification, which excludes animal suffering. By the way, there is now also outdoor clothing made of densely woven organic cotton as an alternative to the plastic fibers. Plastic fibers always allow microplastics to enter the wastewater during washing and microplastics in the environment may lead to multi-resistant super germs - a long history. With the points for clothing, if you do not buy conventional cotton, but sometimes choose recycled and sometimes organic cotton, you can give a full 3 points for both. By the way, organic is also possible with curtains, tablecloths and bed linen!!!

Green IT starts with the devices and goes on to the power consumption from streaming to the use of IT to increase efficiency. The devices are about the use of used or refurbished devices, repairable devices, the recycling of materials and the minimization of questionable raw materials.

Many devices from vacuum cleaners to cordless screwdrivers to TVs are amazingly inexpensive today. Relying on valuable devices that last a long time, or even buying used devices, helps to save raw materials and energy.

Unfortunately, many devices can no longer be repaired at all, for example if the control unit breaks down from the washing machine and costs more than a new washing machine. And yet there are workshops that also repair mobile phones, washing machines, lawn mowers, etc. - and even if it is as expensive as a new device, it is the good feeling of having done something for a better world again.

This does not refer to the skater track or the artificial turf sports field, but motorsport, skiing on artificially snowy slopes, kiting in bird protection areas, sailboats with biocides on the underwater ship, golfing with high use of water and pesticides, quad rides into nature, skydiving, etc. Of course, these hobbies are fun, which is why it is rewarded if we actively choose the more environmentally friendly alternatives here and thus achieve a rethink with others.

Not just the EU is looking at ESG criteria - Ecological, Social and Governance (ESG) in companies. The governance covers not just diversity, equality and inclusion (DIE), but also risk management, transparency, and a lot more. We make DIE a part of BoB - the rest is rather a topic of a company's strategy for more sucess. Sometimes companies only have the opportunity to address one of the DEI's topics. If you do address all three you get three points!

Part of the governance criteria are the possibilities of employees to be part of the company and its decisions, to co-own parts of the company and to have transparent strategies.