As a family-run fragrance company, we think and act in terms of generations. Our sustainability strategy is therefore geared towards meeting the current needs of our consumers in such a way that the opportunities of future generations are preserved.
#futurevalues
For us as one of the largest fragrance manufacturers in Germany, #futurevalues means treating both the Earth’s finite resources as well as all the people who work with us responsibly. We have already made considerable progress. But we are only just getting started. We are working passionately every day to improve ourselves and make our actions and products even more sustainable.
Our areas of responsibility
#people
Encountering people with appreciation for who they are
We value the people who make up our company and do everything we can to be a reliable employer.
Social commitment
We care deeply about our social responsibility and the needs of our consumers. We employ various measures to support society and people in challenging situations.
Wish tree
Since 2021, we have been dedicating our annual Wishing Tree campaign to organisations in the region to provide a peaceful and happy Christmas for people in need. Together with the Sozialdienst katholischer Frauen e.V. shelter for children and women in Aachen and the Tierheim & Tierschutzverein für die Städteregion Aachen e.V. animal shelter and animal welfare association, we help to make various Christmas wishes come true.
Blood donation bus
In cooperation with the German Red Cross, we organise blood donation campaigns at our location. The on-site blood donation bus gives everyone the opportunity to donate blood and do a good deed!
Deposit bins
Our sustainability team has developed a great solution to combat the accumulation of deposit bottles while committing to a good cause. Deposit bins at various locations at our site make it easy to dispose of empty deposit bottles and donate the collected amount to WABe e.V. in Stolberg at the same time.
Scholarship awards
Each scholarship year, we support committed and determined students as part of the ‘Deutschlandstipendium’ grant scheme. We have a long-standing cooperation with Aachen University of Applied Sciences and actively participate in promoting and supporting emerging talents.
Promoting culture and values
As a family company, reliability, diversity and transparency are our life. Our values –
Work-life balance
With our high degree of flexibility provided by part-time work, working from home, remote work and job sharing along with other options, we create a positive work-life balance and have received several awards in this area. The proportion of women in our company is 72.5 percent and a total of 47.8 percent of our management personnel are women.
Occupational health & safety
Our occupational health management protects every individual and promotes the health of our employees. Our health centre and our company doctor offer, for example, vision tests, flu vaccinations, preventive examinations and various consulting services.
Personnel development and talent development
We support our employees in their individual development through promotion and development programmes. That is why we have also set ourselves the goal of filling positions internally where possible.
#planet
Preserving the environment for future generations
Our goal is to use resources responsibly and consistently minimize our environmental footprint
Sustainable packaging solutions
Packaging has a significant impact on resource consumption and environmental performance — particularly CO₂ emissions. That is why, for every new product we develop, we systematically assess its recyclability and the use of recycled materials.
Replacement of fossil fuels
We are increasingly replacing oil-based plastics with renewable fibers, for example in the inner components of our gift sets.
Renewable materials
The cardboard used for our packaging comes from European forests that are certified to be managed in accordance with environmental and social standards.
Use of recycled materials
We use recycled aluminum for our deodorant spray cans. Recycled plastics are also used in perfume closures.
Material savings
We are constantly reviewing whether additional packaging materials, how protective folding boxes, plastic wrap, or slipcases can be reduced or eliminated entirely during transport.
Efficient logistics and short transport routes
The core range of our products is produced in Germany. The supply of our major customers is between 50 km and a maximum of 530 km. Around 95% of the truck movements to these customers are within this distance range. We are designing our new freestanding racks to be foldable and capable of loading more items per pallet.
electricity from renewable energy sources
We have been using electricity from renewable energy sources since 2022. and thus offset the CO₂ emissions that would be generated by conventional power generation.
#product
Value-based product development
We produce high-quality and safe products with added value
Value-based product development
At Mäurer & Wirtz, the ability to rely on our partners is crucial. From trusting cooperation with major fragrance houses through to agencies, service providers and suppliers of packaging materials – dependability, quality and trust form the basis of successful collaboration. That is why, when selecting suppliers, we take special care to ensure they are suitable for us as a medium-sized, family company. After all, efficiency and premium quality can only be achieved when we work together as a team.
Vegan & environment-friendly formulations
For us, responsibility for the environment and animal welfare is not merely a legal obligation, but an integral part of our corporate philosophy. The fragrance industry has traditionally used many animal-derived raw materials. However, Mäurer & Wirtz decided back in 2020 to completely eliminate these ingredients from all new products. New formulations and revised existing products are therefore free of animal-derived ingredients and meet the standards of the Vegan Society. In addition, we are gradually replacing ingredients that, while legally permitted, are subject to criticism from an ethical standpoint. At the same time, we ensure that our fragrance oils are as harmless as possible to bodies of water and the environment.
Product quality and consumer safety
As a traditional company with a clear commitment to quality and sustainability, we do everything we can to offer first-class products that are safe for both people and the environment. That is why we continuously incorporate the latest scientific findings and regularly update our products to meet current standards, so that we can consistently offer our customers the highest quality.
We take a forward-looking approach and address regulatory developments at an early stage. Critical ingredients are removed from our formulations, in some cases even before they are officially banned. Another key component of our quality assurance system is our adherence to ISO 22716, the international standard for the manufacture of cosmetic products. We also adhere to the strictest industry standards to ensure compliance with Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP). Our production processes are regularly inspected by independent auditors to ensure that we consistently meet our high quality standards.
To provide our customers with the greatest possible transparency, we list all product ingredients on our product packaging in accordance with EU guidelines. This information is provided in the INCI list (International Nomenclature of Cosmetic Ingredients), which ensures clear and consistent information about the ingredients used.
Made in Germany
At Mäurer & Wirtz, we are particularly proud to develop and produce our products in Germany. This decision underlines our commitment to the highest quality, as production in Germany meets some of the highest standards for cosmetic products in the world. Our company strictly adheres to the applicable Cosmetics Regulation (EC) No. 1223/2009 and meets all relevant EU requirements in order to offer our consumers not only high-quality, but also safe products.
Quality is synonymous with more than just a lack of defects – it can be experienced with all our senses. We have therefore made it our mission to redefine quality time and again – and to consciously distinguish between good and bad quality. Our experience, which goes back more than 180 years, forms a reliable basis for this and is evident in every one of our creations. The production sites of our entire core product range are all located in Germany. Our fragrances and products are produced there in accordance with the highest ‘Made in Germany’ production and quality standards.
Team Sustainability: Nadine Knapp, Christiane Edelhoff, Stephan Kemen (CEO), Julia Dohmen
