On 6 October 2021, A&E Gütermann received an award from the state of Baden-Württemberg for successful energy saving. The company has been striving to reduce the energy consumption and environmental impact of its manufacturing processes for many years. An important element for this was the implementation of an energy-saving analysis as part of the “Efficiency campaign in the Emmendingen district”.

Over the past few months, the entire district of Emmendingen has been the focus for the largest efficiency campaign to date by KEFF SO (Southern Upper Rhine regional competence centre for energy efficiency), which was carried out together with the district’s climate protection management. The aim of the campaign: Climate protection! In concrete terms, the district wants to support companies in making themselves fit for the future, saving energy and at the same time reducing operating costs.

At the heart of this is the KEFF check: The KEFF experts help companies to uncover energy-saving potential and provide energy-saving tips that can be implemented right away. Buildings and technical systems as well as production processes are scrutinised using modern measuring equipment.

The Competence Centres are a project of the state of Baden-Württemberg designed to identify potential for operational energy savings and thus make a free and important contribution to achieving the country’s climate protection goals. Many companies took advantage of this offer: Almost 50 companies from the district of Emmendingen underwent a KEFF check. The analysis at Gütermann was number 650 in the region, counting the KEFF checks on the Southern Upper Rhine funded by the state since 2016. To mark the occasion, Ministerial Director Helmfried Meinl presented Managing Director Jürgen Drescher with the certificate from the Baden-Württemberg Environment Minister.

At the beginning of november major fashion brands that have signed up to the United Nations Fashion Industry Charter for Climate Action (UNFCCC) met at the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Glasgow 2021. Prior to the conference the objective was to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 30 percent by 2030. In line with the climate objectives of the Paris Agreement on Climate Change, the Charter now pursues the declared objective of reducing emissions along the entire value chain and achieving climate neutrality by 2050.

Elevate Textiles already joined the United Nations Fashion Industry Charter for Climate Action in 2019. We are proud to be the only yarn manufacturer participating in the Charter. With the signing, Elevate Textiles wants to demonstrate its commitment to a low-carbon future for the textile industry.

The Allianz Faserbasierte Werkstoffe Baden-Württemberg e.V. (AFBW) is a cross-industry technology network, that covers the entire value chain of fiber-based materials – from manufacturers to users and research institutions.

The AFBW provides a platform for knowledge exchange and dialogue. In the E-Letter SpotON, innovations of the member companies are presented. In the current SpotON, A&E Gütermann and its commitment to sustainability are presented.

Read the spot of A&E Gütermann here: https://www.afbw.eu/aktuelles/spot-on/spoton/spoton-auf-a-e-guetermann/

It is not only private households in Germany who are suffering from the massive increase in electricity prices. German industry has the highest prices by international standards and the ever increasing energy costs are putting pressure on the economy – small and medium-sized enterprises and energy-intensive industrial companies in particular are increasingly under pressure.

A&E Gütermann with its German production site in Gutach im Breisgau is also affected. Managing Director Jürgen Drescher spoke about the topic in an interview with the Südwestrundfunk (SWR). According to Drescher, the increase in prices is expected to result in additional costs of around 900,000 to one million euros. The reasons for the high electricity prices include the massive rise in CO2 prices, the lack of network expansion and the energy revolution. The ever-increasing energy costs are having a negative effect on the economic efficiency of energy-intensive production in Germany. This is putting competitiveness at risk and is increasingly threatening Germany’s position as a production site, Jürgen Drescher explains further, addressing a core problem of the German energy policy.

Watch the interview with SWR here: https://www.swr.de/swraktuell/baden-wuerttemberg/stromknappheit-100.html

A&E Gütermann is delighted to welcome 8 new trainees to the Gutach site

The new A&E Gütermann training year began on 1 September 2021 with a total of 8 new highly motivated and curious trainees at the Gutach site.

The day began with a warm welcome by HR Manager Martina Kaltenbach, Training Manager Verena Schwär, Works Council Chairman Dieter Ohnemus, Youth Training Representative Nina Maier and then by Managing Director Jürgen Drescher. The new trainees received a warm welcome to A&E Gütermann

In the first five days, the new trainees received a comprehensive introduction programme, which took place under strict hygiene regulations.  The programme included getting to know each other, training in everyday tools and initial seminars for a successful start to the career. Despite the past year being marked by uncertainty due to the coronavirus pandemic, A&E Gütermann is enabling young people to complete training courses safely and with plenty of opportunities.

The new training year includes dual students for the business management industry course as well as the IHK training occupations of industrial clerks, warehouse clerk and textile laboratory assistant.

A&E Gütermann wishes all new trainees a good start and every success in their training.

Which colors will essentially dominate the spring | summer fashion 2022?

The temperatures are rising and the days are gradually getting longer – time to take a look at the spring summer 2022 color trends. The new color shade card from A&E Gütermann sets out the overriding color moods for spring and summer 2022 for those who need early color information.

The trend colors are dominated by natural colors such as bright browns and reds, warm shades of gold and yellow, and cool shades of blue and gray. The palette ranges from bright and bold colors to soft and restrained pastels – the new trend colors are versatile and create a positive mood.

Living Responsibility. Driving Change

Our parent group Elevate Textiles is excited to announce the release of its 2020 Sustainability Report. This is the first corporate report of its kind for Elevate and all textile brands associated.

Within the report, Elevate outlines progress towards its 2025 Sustainability Goals, focused on sustainably sourced fibers, reduced water consumption and reduction in greenhouse gases. As Elevate’s first annual Communication on Progress for the UN Global Compact and CEO Water Mandate, 2020’s report shares the company’s performance against goals outlined within its environmental program, the Ten Threads of Sustainability.

“Our brands share a long-standing commitment to sustainability and a drive to accelerate our efforts to new heights,” said Sim Skinner, President and Chief Executive Officer of Elevate Textiles. “Elevate teams around the globe work every day to create and distribute premium, ethically and sustainably sourced products through excellence in innovation and responsible manufacturing practices. We are pleased to present Elevate’s first Sustainability Report and look forward to sharing our continued progress in our journey to lead meaningful change.”

Six new trainees start their professional career at A&E Gütermann

“A sound professional training is the optimal basis for the future professional career. For this reason, the professional development of young people is a very high priority at A&E Gütermann – training is an investment in the future of young people and the company”. With these words, six young job aspirants began their first day of training at A&E Gütermann in Gutach im Breisgau on Tuesday, September 1.

The warm welcome by Managing Director Jürgen Drescher and Head of Human Resources Martina Kaltenbach proved that all doors will be open to the trainees in the future should they have any questions or problems. Also the chairman of the works council Dieter Ohnemus as well as Gina Reichenbach from the youth and trainee representation cordially welcomed the newcomers.

Within one day, the junior staff was prepared for a wide range of everyday situations in the company by means of lectures, workshops and role-plays. A joint lunch and a small welcome gift rounded off the successful introduction day. The first week also included a series of internal introductory seminars to ensure that the newcomers were optimally integrated into the processes and everyday working life at A&E Gütermann.

During their 3-year apprenticeship, the young trainees will expect theoretical training at the vocational school or the Cooperative State University as well as a practice-oriented and diversified apprenticeship at the headquarters in Gutach. In addition to exciting projects and activities, there will also be a trainee excursion in the form of a teambuilding day.