ege carpets is the first carpet manufacturer in the world to achieve CSR certification

"CSR is not just about things looking good on paper, but also concerns thinking about tomorrow and the Earth's resources. It concerns people and ethics, as well as the big - and the small - questions. When every company starts to think this way, things will really begin to change. We would like to be a pioneer in this field," says ege carpets' CEO, Svend Aage Færch Nielsen.

This certification is part of ege carpets' ambitious objective to become the leading carpet manufacturer within CSR.

Not just empty promises

This is the first time that Bureau Veritas has performed a DS49001 audit. Lead Auditor Stine Josefsen, who handled the audit at ege carpets, emphasises how impressed she is by the company's pragmatic approach to CSR.

"ege carpets has managed to convert the complex substance of DS49001 into actions that match the company and its employees. ege carpets has also undertaken a fantastic implementation process to anchor CSR initiatives in every area of the organisation, and not just in the CSR department," she says, emphasising that the certification is followed up with both internal and external audits. This ensures that the good work will continue.

Documented responsibility

"We wanted to achieve DS49001 certification in order to make sure that we always remain on the right track. The standard ensures that we stay focused on the key areas, and that we continuously strive to become even better. For us, CSR is not a philanthropic exercise, separate from the rest of the company. CSR is part of our core business and our values," says Svend Aage Færch Nielsen.

Working with CSR is by no means a new exercise for ege carpets. Its first environmental activities were registered during the oil crisis in the 1970s.

"At an early stage, ege carpets openly presented its systematic efforts within the areas of quality, the environment and health and safety, by allowing an external certification body to review the company from a to z. At Bureau Veritas, for several years we have been pleased to note the company's dedicated efforts. We are very pleased that, once again, we have found that the company fulfils - and in some areas even exceeds - the requirements in the standard. ege carpets has every reason to be proud of its efforts as a pioneering company. ege carpets stands out as a shining example to other companies - far beyond its own industry," says Country Chief Executive Jacob Færgemand from Bureau Veritas.

ege carpets' objective is to lead the field in the carpet industry. Quite simply because this is worthwhile.

"When we get things right at ege carpets, we are helping to make the world more sustainable and also making it easier for ourselves to attract and retain qualified employees. Both of these are key parameters for our survival in today's market," Svend Aage Færch Nielsen emphasises. "We can also see how customers are increasingly requiring companies to act responsibly - as we do at ege carpets. DS49001 is proof that we have optimised our CSR work. We are very proud of this," says Svend Aage Færch Nielsen.

Fact box:
DS49001 is a Danish version of the international ISO26000 standard, under which certification is not yet available. DS49001 certifies that the company works responsibly with human rights, the environment, working conditions, consumer issues, sound business ethics, and local community involvement and development, as well as organisation management.

If you require further information, please do not hesitate to contact:

Mette Frydensbjerg Jacobsen, PR and Communication Responsible

Phone: (+45) 97 11 74 64

E-mail: mfj@ege.dk