As a global supplier of chemical specialities and auxiliaries, Zschimmer & Schwarz is aware of its social responsibility. The company, which is headquartered in Lahnstein, Germany, and has been 100% family-owned since it was founded in 1894, has always placed great importance on people and solidarity. Chief Executive Officer Dr Christoph Riemer emphasises the importance of social commitment: "As a successful company, it is a matter of course for us to give back to society and also get involved in charitable causes."

In 2019, a charitable programme was launched on the initiative of the shareholder families to mark the 125th anniversary of the Zschimmer & Schwarz Group: all employees worldwide were called upon to propose regional projects in the areas of social welfare, education, research and science as well as the environment and nature conservation for financial support in the form of a donation from the company. This year, the successful programme, which now takes place every two years, entered its third round just in time for the company's 130th anniversary. More than 1,500 employees at all national and international locations were asked to once again suggest projects in their communities which are close to their hearts. From the submitted projects, 18 were selected this year, which Zschimmer & Schwarz will support with a total sum of around 100,000 euros.

Helping locally

Once again, the range of projects is broad: by providing medical equipment, educational initiatives as well as child and youth aid, different areas of life are supported – all around the world.

• Thanks to Yvonne Akkermans, employee at the Lahnstein site, the outpatient children’s and youth hospice in Koblenz, Germany, receives support for its valuable work.
• Thanks to Dr Eva Olmo Gil, who is also a member of staff at the Lahnstein site, the Department of Mathematics/Natural Sciences at the University of Koblenz is delighted about the support for two projects at once. Firstly, six so-called genetics toolboxes are being purchased to help pupils learn how to handle laboratory materials at an early age. Secondly, the STEM hackathon "Hack the environment – on land, in the air, on the ground" is being supported. This project aims to inspire pupils to take up scientific professions. In interdisciplinary tandems, they work together cooperatively on real environmental problems, develop solutions and build prototypes.
• The Barefoot College in Singla, India, which provides children from disadvantaged population groups in particular with a school-leaving certificate and vocational training, will receive financial support thanks to the suggestion of Dr Christoph Riemer, CEO of the Zschimmer & Schwarz Group.
• On the initiative of Martin Paasch, who works at the Lahnstein site, the kids' and youth cellar in nearby Osterspai receives new equipment and can therefore be used again in the future.
• As part of the "Retten macht Schule" (A lesson in first aid) project, pupils in Rhineland-Palatinate from the 7th grade onwards are to be trained in first aid and thus become potential lifesavers. The project was proposed by Svenja Engler, employee at the Lahnstein site.
• Olaf Melzer, who works at the Mohsdorf site, has campaigned for support for the Friedrich August III Secondary School in Chemnitz, which specialises in school education that focuses on skilled crafts and trades. .
• Thanks to Jana Schinke, another employee at the Mohsdorf site, the Evangelische Oberschule in Lunzenau, Germany, can now look forward to a new wall chart of the periodic table.
• René Hauer, who works at the French subsidiary in Wissembourg, has proposed the donation to the "Tennis for disabled people" section of the Altenstadt tennis club.
• The "Love the hungry – Meal preparation" initiative ensures that children around the world suffering from hunger have access to nutritious meals and thus alleviates the effects of possible malnutrition. This proposal was submitted by Tony Turoso, an employee at the Louisville (KY) site in the USA.
• Thanks to Aline da Silva, Managing Director of Zschimmer & Schwarz do Brasil Ltda., the SL Child and Adolescent Assistance Foundation in São Leopoldo, Brazil, is being supported. The foundation cares for children and young people who are victims of mistreatment, abuse and various types of family neglect.
• Carlos Vivas, General Manager of Zschimmer & Schwarz España, S.L.U., proposed the "Resuena" project. It aims to convert a house in Kharkiv, Ukraine, into a therapy centre for children affected by the war.
• "The chemistry of words", a competition for children and adolescents, aims to raise young people's awareness of science and break down prejudices about chemistry by having them write a short story inspired by the word "chemistry". The project was submitted by Lluïsa Lladó, who also works at Zschimmer & Schwarz in Spain.
• Thanks to Dr Giorgio Mosso, Managing Director of Zschimmer & Schwarz Italiana S.p.A. in Tricerro, the association P.A.T. will be supported: the aid organisation in Trino, Italy, receives the remaining amount to finance an urgently needed ambulance.
• "SOS Homeworks" is a project that gives pupils with a migrant background the opportunity to receive extracurricular help with homework and other school-related matters. Sandro Martinotti, an employee at the Italian subsidiary in Tricerro, has proposed in this project.
• A publicly accessible defibrillator can finally be installed in the village square of the small community of Moransengo, Italy. Ilaria Sesia, also an employee at the site in Tricerro, Italy, campaigned for this as part of the "A Beat ... for the Principality" project.
• Adriano Poletto, employee of the Italian subsidiary Samia, has proposed the purchase of uniform sportswear for the youth volleyball club in Arzignano, Italy.
• Thanks to the project submission of Tetiana Sylenko, an employee of the Ukrainian subsidiary, learning at School No. 16 in Poltava, Ukraine, becomes more modern and interesting for the pupils: five interactive whiteboards can be purchased for the classrooms.

More detailed information on all projects will soon be published on the company's website under the heading Community and Solidarity.

Dr Monika Börner, shareholder of the Zschimmer & Schwarz Group, is delighted with what has been achieved so far and looks forward to implementing the newly selected proposals: "To date, we have supported over 20 projects and institutions in Europe in the fields of education, youth work, aid for the elderly, the environment, sport and integration with a total of around 250,000 euros. Due to the great response, the fundraising campaign is now a permanent institution and is held every two years – also in 2024, just in time for our 130th company anniversary. A big thank you to all employees for the great suggestions."

For Thomas Schwarz, shareholder of the Zschimmer & Schwarz Group, social commitment is also a matter of course: "In our 130-year history, we have always focused on people. We are a family business through and through and see our employees, their families and the neighbourhoods at our international locations as part of this family. The values of company founders Otto Zschimmer and Max Schwarz are still actively lived in the company today and will continue to be upheld in the future."

Responsibility by tradition

Sustainable action and social commitment have been deeply rooted in the family business Zschimmer & Schwarz since its foundation. In addition to the donation initiative, which supports projects that are dear to its employees’ hearts, Zschimmer & Schwarz and the shareholder families also regularly show social commitment in other ways. For example, donations are made every year to the Stifterverband für die Deutsche Wissenschaft, the German University Foundation, the local and international cultural scene and various regional institutions around the main site in Lahnstein.