Certifications and awards
"We are on the right track"
Finalist of the German Sustainability Award 2023
In 2023, we were among the 3 finalists for the German Sustainability Award in the "Toys and Leisure Articles" category. The jury, consisting of experts from the industry, civil society, consulting and research, sees Schleich as a holistic pioneer for sustainably produced toys. The German Sustainability Award honors companies from 100 sectors in cooperation with the German Chamber of Industry and Commerce, the Federal Ministry for the Environment and other partners. Since 2008, it has honored particularly promising solutions, important players, innovative contributions and exemplary developments in the field of sustainability.
Silver medal from EcoVadis
We are very happy to be awarded the EcoVadis Silver Medal 2023, which recognizes our sustainability standards and our commitment to the planet. This puts Schleich among the top 25% of the more than 100,000 companies evaluated worldwide and even among the top 19% of toy manufacturers.
"The silver certification by EcoVadis makes us very proud. EcoVadis is our first international certification in the area of sustainability and I am pleased that we have done so well. It shows that we are on the right track and our commitment is paying off. The independent external assessment underlines that we are a credible and reliable partner. Now we are continuing to work full steam ahead on our sustainability strategy, with the clear goal of obtaining EcoVadis Gold certification in the future,", explains Dr. Philipp Hummel (Head of Sustainability at Schleich).
EcoVadis evaluated Schleich in four categories, which include a total of 21 indicators:
Environment
Labor and human rights
Ethics
Sustainable procurement
Thanks to this detailed breakdown, we can understand exactly where we have achieved strong results, and where we still have room for optimization.
We want to keep improving and ensure high sustainability standards.
EcoVadis certification helps us to do so. For our next steps, we now also use the expertise and independent view of the experts from EcoVadis.
What strengths does EcoVadis see at Schleich?
EcoVadis particularly praises our comprehensive and company-wide sustainability guidelines to which we commit ourselves and also our suppliers. Our goal to have the majority of our play figurines certified according to the Cradle to Cradle® principles by the end of 2027 and the activities and measures we have initiated to achieve this have also contributed to the very good rating. Our internal ESG reporting, which we have voluntarily reviewed to the greatest possible extent by an independent third party, was rated as very transparent and detailed. Last but not least, our global HR programs for our own employees, for example in the area of flexible working, and our efforts to promote good working conditions throughout the supply chain also stood out positively.
Who is EcoVadis?
Since its foundation in 2007, the French company EcoVadis has become the world's largest and most trusted service provider in the field of sustainability ratings for companies. EcoVadis assesses how well a company has integrated the principles of sustainability/CSR into its business and management system. EcoVadis has now rated more than 100,000 companies worldwide. The methodology is based on international standards for sustainability, including the Global Reporting Initiative, the United Nations Global Compact and ISO 26000.
Schleich wins "German Award for Sustainability Projects 2023" in the product recycling category
We are very happy to be among the winners of the "German Award for Sustainability Projects 2023". In the product recycling category, we received the award for our activities and ambitions to make Schleich more sustainable according to the holistic Cradle to Cradle® principles and to produce only recyclable toy figurines that are Cradle to Cradle® in the future.
The durable and timeless Schleich figurines have been passed down from generation to generation for decades and have a significantly smaller environmental footprint compared to many other toys. "Schleich is going even one step further in the future," , says Dr. Philipp Hummel, Head of Sustainability at Schleich.
"By the end of 2027, we want to consistently develop the majority ofof our play figurines according to Cradle to Cradle® design principles, making it possible for an old Schleich dinosaur to become a new Schleich dinosaur again - or a lion, a horse, or a unicorn."
Since 2021, the award has honored pioneering projects with which companies or organizations contribute to the protection of resources and the environment or achieve economic added value through sustainability. The winners range from world-renowned companies to start-ups.
In addition to Germany, we were also able to convince in Italy, where Schleich received the"Gioco X Sempre"Award in 2023 for its sustainability strategy.