This year's award for the best integrated report in Germany, which combines sustainability and financial information, goes to Deutsche Bahn. Other winners from Germany include EnBW (category "Leader in Transformation"), BASF and SAP (both category "Continuity in Integrated Reporting").

Swiss companies analyzed for the first time - SGS wins

This year, for the first time, the jury, made up of representatives from business, academia, investors, supervisory boards and a rating agency, also analyzed integrated reports from Switzerland and Austria.

From Switzerland, SGS, a company specializing in inspection, testing, verification and certification services, won the award for the best integrated report nationwide. The company impressed the jury in particular with "its structured and quantitative approach to measuring social value contributions along its capitals," according to the experts.

"Corporate reporting in which financial and non-financial value drivers are disclosed in a comprehensive and integrated manner is increasingly becoming the standard. As current discussions in society, including in Switzerland, show, stakeholders such as the public, investors and analysts now expect this. It is clearly no longer sufficient to simply provide a picture of the financial position as well as the financial performance with the annual report. In particular, there is a need to know the extent to which companies assume social responsibility, are committed to environmental and employee concerns as well as human rights, and how climate change might affect corporate performance. Ultimately, all core elements of comprehensive and value-based corporate governance as well as proper management of risks," comments Stephan Hirschi, PwC Director and expert in CR and Integrated Reporting.

Climate reporting not yet satisfactory
In addition to this year's award winners, there are numerous other companies that impress with their integrated reporting. However, potential for improvement is seen in the implementation of climate reporting.

In the TCFD ("Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures") category, the jury decided not to select a winner this year because, according to the expert panel, "the current level of reporting across the entire study group has room for improvement and does not yet meet stakeholder expectations."

 www.pwc.ch

www.sgs.ch

What dimension could a so-called power-to-gas conversion bring? Around 110,000 or 2.5 percent of all passenger cars in Switzerland today use alternative drive systems - including 18,000 electric and 11,000 CNG (natural gas and biogas) vehicles. Electromobility has an important role to play on the road to an ecological future. According to its "SwissEnergy Program Strategy 2021 to 2030," the Swiss Federal Office of Energy aims to increase the share of electric vehicles (including plug-in hybrids) in new vehicles to 38 percent by 2030.

Conversely, this means that in eleven years' time, 62 percent of new cars will still be powered by internal combustion engines. They, too, can and must make their contribution to achieving the goals of the Paris climate agreement.

With Power-to-gas (PtG) technology is available that can make a significant contribution to reducing CO₂-emissions in private motorized transport. In Switzerland, there is the potential to run up to one million passenger cars on synthetically produced methane very CO₂-low. This is the conclusion of a new study by the Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Testing and Research (Empa) and the Paul Scherrer Institute (PSI), commissioned by the Swiss Federal Office for the Environment (Bafu). As CNG (Compressed Natural Gas), methane is a proven, safe and clean fuel for internal combustion engines.

The study investigated the potential in Switzerland to use electricity surpluses in the summer months to convert electrical energy into chemical energy carriers such as hydrogen, methane or liquid hydrocarbons.

"Reduction of CO₂-emissions by 70 to 90 percent compared to gasoline."
Christian Bach, Head of Department Vehicle Propulsion Systems at Empa and co-author of the study, presented the results to about 150 participants at the "Symposium for Sustainable Mobility" at the Umwelt Arena Schweiz in Spreitenbach AG. "The CO₂-emissions of this million cars would be reduced by 70 to 90 percent compared to gasoline vehicles."noted Christian Bach. This is because in the power-to-gas process, the same amount of CO₂ as is released again during combustion.

A CNG vehicle running on renewable fuel is on a par with an electric vehicle charged with renewable electricity in terms of its environmental footprint. Under these conditions, Christian Bach concluded that for short distances, the electric vehicle is the ideal solution, while for long distances, vehicles with synthetic fuels such as CNG and biodiesel are the ideal solution.

"Power-to-gas can become a key technology for mobility"
Professor Dr. Markus Friedl from the University of Applied Sciences Rapperswil (HSR) addressed the challenges facing the Swiss energy system in a future without fossil fuels and without nuclear power in his presentation, calling power-to-gas "a key technology of tomorrow." Friedl said, "It is possible to supply Switzerland with renewable energy at a reasonable cost." PtG from renewable electricity not only reduces CO₂-emissions, but also dependence on energy imports from abroad.

Technology-neutral and fair framework conditions are crucial, he said. In June, Federal Councillor Simonetta Sommaruga visited the HSR's power-to-gas plant and confirmed her interest in the technology (see report in the August issue of Environmental Perspectives, No. 5).

Coca-Cola Switzerland already relies on natural gas and biogas as fuel. The beverage manufacturer will commission the largest CNG corporate fleet in Switzerland by November. A total of 180 Audi, Skoda and VW commercial vehicles will be made available to employees at all job levels. Coca-Cola will put the first 70 cars into operation at the end of August, with a further 110 vehicles in November of this year. "It's not enough just to sell beverages," said Patrick Wittweiler, who is responsible for sustainability as Country Sustainability Manager at Coca-Cola Switzerland.

Various drive technologies and energy sources with CO₂- and climate effect
In addition to Christian Bach, Prof. Dr. Markus Friedl, Walter Schmid and Patrick Wittweiler, exponents such as FDP National Councilor Thierry Burkart, Andreas Burgener (Director of Auto-Schweiz) and Christoph Schreyer (Head of Mobility at the Swiss Federal Office of Energy) attended the symposium in the Umwelt Arena. They all agreed: It is not a question of whether electric, gas or hydrogen is better for the environment, but rather how the combined use of different technologies and energy sources helps to reduce CO₂- and climate targets in Switzerland. (Source: www.cng-mobility.ch)

The aim of the HR survey was to provide an up-to-date inventory of the use and application of HR analytics and software solutions in HR in the umbrella region, which lags behind other European markets. The survey analyzes the goals and challenges of companies in the context of digitalization up to the year 2025.

In addition, the study maps the current use of HR analytics in corporate practice. For this purpose, 133 top managers and HR decision-makers in companies, primarily from the DACH region, were surveyed as part of the study. In-depth interviews with HR decision-makers from five selected large companies round off the study.

Key findings:

• HR-adequate IT solutions are still a rarity in talent management.
• The majority of the companies surveyed have set themselves the goal of increasing the efficiency of their own HR administration by 2025. In general, process optimization is an important topic that is already having an impact on many HR functions. Digitization is clearly seen as a lever in this context.
• Among the software solutions, learning software is currently the most popular: every second company wants to use it to strengthen in-house training. This is followed by reporting functions and self-service apps.
• The majority of the companies surveyed believe that HR analytics has great potential for the future: in two-thirds of the companies, HR analytics tools will play a significant role as an HR instrument by 2025.

Like the previous study from 2018, the current survey also shows that only a minority of companies use special IT solutions for HR work in talent management. One in four companies admits that they do not use any IT solution at all for their own talent management. Four out of ten companies manage their own talent using standard software such as Excel.

A good one in four companies uses an in-house installation of an HR management system or an on-premise solution. Only one in five companies uses software as a service (SaaS). This raises the question of how highly qualified specialists can be efficiently addressed, retained and promoted without an adequate IT solution.

Challenges for personnel development and career paths

In addition to these technological aspects, the decision-makers surveyed also name challenges directly related to human resources development. For around a third of the companies, it is a challenge to support their own workforce in the digital transformation. The further development of employees is also a core issue for 29 percent. Another 23 percent see it as an important task to initiate the cultural changes necessary in the course of the digital transformation. Furthermore, a completely new mindset is to be anchored in the organizations.

Michael Grotherr, Area VP DACH & East Europe at Cornerstone OnDemand, on the results: "The study shows that digital transformation has still not penetrated many HR departments. At the same time, HR analytics are an elementary component for the talent experience of the future. But if the basic digital prerequisites are already lacking, strategic data analysis will not be able to be implemented either. Digital technologies are not a blanket that can be pulled up as and when required, just where and when the HR department is shivering. A holistic approach must be found to meet the challenges of the 21st century."

Jacqueline Preußer, head of the study at FRANKFURT BUSINESS MEDIA - der F.A.Z.-Fachverlag: "The study clearly shows that when it comes to the use of digital technologies, large companies are the pioneers. They have the necessary human and financial resources to build up digital know-how and translate this into daily practice. Now it's a matter of linking the years of experience of internal HR experts with the possibilities of digital solutions."

The results of the study you can here download

Start-ups need a suitable and reliable infrastructure for their foundation, growth and internationalization. Funding, a so-called "pre-seed". The two Zurich startups FenX AG and Polariton Technologies AG are developing research results from ETH Zurich and recently received pre-seed funding in the amount of CHF 150,000.

Fiber optic modulators and building insulation, although multi-billion dollar markets, are "hidden" issues until devastating building fires or frustration from slow communications bring these critical infrastructures to the public's attention.

FenX AG: Fully recyclable insulation that maximizes fire protection and minimizes CO2

The modern construction industry faces the challenge of reducing its energy consumption and carbon footprint: residential and commercial buildings account for about 40 percent of global energy consumption and 36 percent of global greenhouse gases. Better and greener insulation can reduce total greenhouse gas emissions from buildings by one-fifth. Unfortunately, today's insulation either has a relatively high carbon footprint or is highly flammable.

FenX, a spin-off of ETH Zurich, is addressing this problem by converting industrial mineral waste into sustainable and high-performance insulating foam boards that also ensure safe fire protection in buildings. The market is large: Worldwide, the construction industry spends around 22.4 billion Swiss francs on thermal insulation.

"Our fully recyclable product minimizes CO2 emissions and maximizes fire protection. This combination is new to the market and is made from waste," says co-founder Etienne Jeoffroy, whose product produces three to 10 times less CO2 over its lifetime than current technologies.

FenX is focused on completing European certification for its insulation panels before developing pilot projects. The startup was recently accepted into the Business Develoment Accelerator of Swiss Prime Site, the largest listed real estate company in Switzerland. Jeoffroy and co-founders Michele Zanini, Enrico Scoccimarro, Alessandro Dutto, André Studart and Elena Tervoort plan to close a seed funding round of around CHF 1.5 million by 2020.
The CEO expresses his gratitude for Venture Kick's support and entrepreneurial education during the startup phase: "Venture Kick helped us a lot to focus and refine our business model. In particular, the Kickers Camp showed us how to improve our go-to-market path."

Polariton Technologies AG: the world's fastest and smallest electro-optical modulators

Our world is filling up with digital devices that need to communicate with each other, and modern lifestyles mean that people want higher volumes of data available quickly. Modulators, which convert electrical signals into light signals required for global transmission over fiber optic cables, are an essential part of our modern communications infrastructure.

ETH Pioneer Fellow Claudia Hoessbacher and co-founders Wolfgang Heni and Benedikt Bäuerle use shorter-wavelength plasmonics instead of normal light to shrink these components to the nanoscale. Polariton's modulators transmit at up to 500 GHz, ten times faster than the prevailing photon modulator technology.

Polariton used Venture Kick pre-seed funding to validate business assumptions and meet potential customers and suppliers worldwide. The team recently presented its nanotechnology - the culmination of six years of research - to international experts and hired its fourth team member. The Zurich-based startup has contacted initial investors as a seed round of CHF 1-2 million is planned for early next year. The capital will help the startup hire an experienced business development staff and refine its modulators for launch customers in the test and measurement space.

The startup also received financial support from Innobooster and was pleased to receive entrepreneurial training from Venture Kick: "The very concrete feedback helped us enormously. It's also valuable to be able to exchange ideas with founders at similar stages," says Hoessbacher, who is excited about her transformation from researcher to entrepreneur. "It's all about taking research to market. This is our baby - I'd love to see it out there."

The Forest Act prohibits the use of pesticides, but allows exceptions. These became the rule: around 700 kilograms of highly toxic insecticides were sprayed on spruce logs stored in the forest in 2018, reports a media release from Doctors for Environmental Protection (AefU). This is because felled tree trunks with bark, for example, attract the bark beetle. As a precaution, they are treated with insecticides. Now the use of poisons is likely to increase: Recently, the parliament approved larger wood storage facilities in the forest. This means even more insecticide. If, on the other hand, the felled wood were debarked or stacked outside the forests, there would be no need for the poison at all.

Cypermethrin: Approval without testing in the forest

Today, the highly toxic insecticide cypermethrin is primarily used in timber stockpiles in Swiss forests. It was approved for use in the forest without the approval authority having clarified how the poison acts in the sensitive forest ecosystem. The responsible Federal Office for Agriculture FOAG confirmed this to the AefU: "Forest organisms, i.e. forest-typical species" were "not specifically tested". In other words, the FOAG granted the approval "blindly". The effects of cypermethrin on forest organisms are still largely unknown.

A few nanograms do harm

The toxin can be detected for a long time on the bark of treated logs. This is shown by an analysis commissioned by the AefU. 20 micrograms of cypermethrin per kilogram of outer bark layer were still detected by the Cantonal Laboratory of Zurich around four months after the poison was applied to a wood store in the Sernftal (GL). However, because hand spraying is not carried out uniformly, the concentration of poison on the bark can fluctuate massively.

Bees, bumblebees and earthworms in danger

As a broad-spectrum insecticide, cypermethrin not only acts against the bark beetle: bees, bumblebees and earthworms that come into contact with the sprayed bark surface are potentially at risk. Heinz Köhler, professor at the Institute of Ecology and Evolution at the University of Tübingen, says: "Even an intake of a few nanograms per animal leads to neuronal damage and behavioral deficits in bees and bumblebees." Heinz Köhler even considers the risk to earthworms to be unacceptable. There are no studies on millipedes. And the forest ants? Some ant species would even be "actively combated" with cypermethrin, so it massively harms them. The Swiss Bee Health Service writes: "Ants as well as bees are hymenopterans: What kills ants is also deadly for bees", which is of course equally true the other way round.

Parliament provokes insecticide use

Despite this, the parliament recently approved larger roundwood stores in the forest - without the requirement that the logs be debarked beforehand. Parliament is thus provoking the use of even more insecticides in the forest and thus in one of our most important drinking water resources.

This is the wrong way to go. The AefU demands the consistent enforcement of the pesticide ban in the forest. Fallen logs should be immediately removed from the forest or consistently debarked, which is necessary anyway before processing. The timber industry must make this contribution to the protection of forests and drinking water.

www.aefu.ch

The brochure, published by Switzerland for Sustainable Fianance and other partners, provides a comprehensive overview of Switzerland's strengths in sustainable finance. It also shows how Switzerland is positioned to continue paving the way for innovative products and solutions in the local financial center.

"Switzerland for Sustainable Finance - Transforming Finance for a better world". shows Switzerland's strong track record in sustainable finance. The publication not only offers insights into "global firsts" initiated by Swiss pioneers, but also provides concrete knowledge about specific strengths of the sustainable investment and insurance business.

"As a leading financial center, Switzerland does indeed have a long tradition in sustainable finance - this began 36 years ago with the establishment of the first independent pension fund focused exclusively on sustainable investments," explains Sabine Döbeli, CEO of SSF.

Bwide range of tools and good framework conditions
Concrete examples from the sustainable investment and insurance industry and Switzerland's important role in impact investing testify to the strong innovative capacity of the Swiss financial sector. The high level of academic offerings in Switzerland, which are widely accessible, and the favorable environment for the Swiss economy also promote the further development of the industry.

Switzerland's key political institutions are also ready to support the trend toward a more sustainable financial system, as is made clear in the message from Federal President Ueli Maurer in the brochure: "Sustainability as a strategic goal creates incredible opportunities for the Swiss financial center. Especially in combination with digital technology, sustainability drives innovation and makes the financial industry more competitive."

The four organizations that initiated the preparation of this publication are all also in close dialogue with the State Secretariat for International Finance (SIF) regarding the promotion of optimal framework conditions for sustainable finance. In order to promote Swiss strengths in the field of sustainable finance, the contents of the brochure were developed in close cooperation with SIF.

Building bridges to finance the SDGs
The first copies of the brochure will be distributed to the participants of the "Building Bridges Summit. (October 10), which will take place during Building Bridges Week in Geneva. The "Building Bridges Week" was presented at the General Assembly of the International Network of Financial Centres for Sustainability. (FC4S) designed. The Summit is expected to be attended by around 800 key representatives from Swiss and international public and private institutions in the field of sustainable finance.

Through the week-long program, Switzerland aims to foster effective collaboration and concrete action among a range of stakeholders including the financial industry, governments, business, the United Nations, academia and civil society. The various events during the week aim to foster new conversations and collaborations to accelerate the financial industry's contribution to achieving the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

www.sustainablefinance.ch

An entrepreneur from Lucerne wants to bring the paper to Switzerland in September by crowdfunding. The first prominent supporter of envoPAP in Switzerland is Damian Müller, a member of the Council of States from Lucerne. Over 40 percent of the world's felled wood is currently processed into paper products. This is because conventionally produced paper is made from virgin wood fibers. Even recycled paper can only be reprocessed seven times before fresh wood is needed again.

Sugar cane, the solution?  

Thanks to a new paper from the British company envoPAP, deforestation by the paper industry could soon be massively curbed: "envoPaper consists of 80 percent agricultural waste from sugar cane, wheat straw and wild grass. That is, discarded stalks and stalks that would normally be burned are mixed and given a second life in the form of envoPap," explains Lucerne-based entrepreneur Yves Beljean, whose startup is the exclusive distributor of envoPAP in Switzerland and Liechtenstein.

"This means that waste products can be efficiently recycled instead of trees having to be cut down. EnvoPAP therefore helps in a very tangible way to protect the world's forests and green reserves. The production of envoPAP is also much more energy-efficient than the production of conventional paper." EnvoPap has received multiple awards and certifications from various independent institutions, including the suportthegoals organization, which awarded it the maximum of 4 stars for achieving 8 of the UN's Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the federal government's Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

To the naked eye, EnvoPap is hardly distinguishable from other commercially available bright white papers. EnvoPap is also in no way inferior to conventional papers in terms of use. "It can be used just as well for packaging of various kinds as it can for office purposes. EnvoPap is already being used successfully in the UK, India and Asia - now I would like to give Switzerland the chance to see the paper for themselves."

Crowdfunding for Switzerland 

Yves Beljean therefore now wants to bring a first load of the paper to Switzerland at the end of September by means of crowdfunding. "The smallest possible order quantity, which also makes ecological sense, is 20 tons. This is associated with costs of 36,000 francs, which we now want to collect via crowdfunding," explains Beljean. Until the beginning of October, everyone has the opportunity to secure a box of EnvoPap (5x 500 sheets) for 61 Swiss francs. These will be conveniently delivered to your home by post in a CO2-neutral manner. If you buy 5 packs at once, you save a young tree.

"With EnvoPap, we are in the same price range as conventional paper. This makes EnvoPap the first real alternative to conventional paper - other alternatives such as bamboo, grass or stone paper are similarly sustainable, but still many times more expensive." The first prominent supporter of EnvoPap in Switzerland is Damian Müller, a member of the Council of States in Lucerne.

Click here to go to the crowdfunding page of envoPAPIER 

The filmmakers Esther Petsche and Samuel Schlaefli will present their documentary "The Peace Chefs on the Rio Napo" on October 13 at the Kulturhaus KOSMOS in Zurich. This in the context of a matinee together with the Swiss NGO "Cuisine sans frontières". After the screening, David Höner, founder of the Zurich-based NGO "Cuisine sans frontières", will read from his new book "Kochen ist Politik" (Westend Verlag, 2019) and discuss with guests about meaningful development cooperation, sustainable tourism and gastronomy as bridge builder and peacemaker.

The Amazon rainforest in Ecuador is under attack: The oil industry, cattle farmers and palm oil producers are encroaching ever deeper into the rainforest. Indigenous groups are increasingly losing habitat and their cultural wealth is threatened with extinction. His cooking ferry along the Rio Napo is a glimmer of hope for a transformation from an economy based on plunder, to a sustainable use of the Amazon rainforest. A transformation also from the systematic oppression of indigenous people to their self-empowerment.

Sunday, October 13
at KOSMOS, Lagerstrasse 104, 8004 Zurich

11.00
Swiss premiere of the film "The Peace Chefs on the Rio Napo"
Cinema ticket: CHF 15.- (orders here)

12.30
Reading from David Höner's book "Cooking is politics" and panel discussion "Development Cooperation - Meaningful or Pointless?"
(free admission)

On the panel:
> Christine Plüss, Managing Director Working Group Tourism & Development
> Jennifer Anthamatten, Senior Researcher Avenir Suisse
> Peter Niggli, former Managing Director of Alliance Sud, now on the Board of Trustees of Fastenopfer and on the Central Board and Advisory Board of Helvetas.
> David Höner, author and founder of Cuisine sans frontières

Moderation: Samuel Schlaefli, freelance journalist and filmmaker

For more information on the matinee on October 13 from 11 a.m. at KOSMOS, Zurich, please visit here

More information about the film:

www.the-amazon-changers.ch

The founding of Hydrogen Production Ostschweiz AG makes it clear: AVIA Osterwalder and SAK are jointly investing in hydrogen as a renewable and clean energy for innovative mobility solutions. The plan is to build a production plant in the middle of the city of St. Gallen at the Kubel site, where SAK operates the hydroelectric and storage power plant of the same name. The site is only a few kilometers from the hydrogen filling station planned by AVIA Osterwalder on Oberstrasse.

Exclusively renewable energy sources

The advantages of hydrogen (H2) as an energy carrier for mobility solutions are pleasing. A vehicle can be refueled in just a few minutes, the only emissions are water vapor, and its range and performance are comparable to vehicles with conventional fuel drives. The H2 produced at the Kubel site is made exclusively from renewable energy sources. For the initiators, it is clear: H2 offers enormous potential in the field of mobility for the implementation of climate targets.

H2 mobility solutions on the verge of a breakthrough

The need for a nationwide supply of H2 filling stations is unbroken. This is evidenced by recently announced initiatives, such as Hyundai's ambitious project. Together with H2- Energy AG, the Koreans are preparing the world's first fleet of over 1600 fuel cell commercial vehicles exclusively for Switzerland. The roll-out has already been initiated and is expected to last until 2025. For the success of a functioning and emission-free market, the establishment of local H2 production facilities and a nationwide network of H2 filling stations is crucial.

Groundbreaking in spring 2020

As with all AVIA Osterwalder and SAK construction projects, sustainability plays a decisive role. The building application will be submitted soon.
If no objections to the project are received, construction work is expected to start in spring 2020 once planning has been completed. AVIA Osterwalder and SAK will provide detailed information on the specific project once approval has been received.

www.osterwalder.ch

90 CNG vehicles of the Leon, Leon Sportourer ST, Ibiza and Arona models leave the plant in Martorell near Barcelona every day. Too few to satisfy the growing demand for CNG models. That's why Seat has increased capacity to up to 250 units per day. The Spanish company has a leading role within the VW Group in the technological development of CNG vehicles. In 2018, Seat tripled its sales of CNG vehicles, and this year sales increased by another 13 percent. Volkswagen's Audi, Skoda and VW brands are also successfully producing vehicles that run on natural gas and biogas. The range extends from small cars to SUVs and upper mid-range vehicles.

"By expanding production, Seat is sending out a strong signal for greater sustainability," says a delighted Pascal Lenzin, national coordinator for CNG mobility in Switzerland. A car powered by fossil natural gas emits around 25 percent less CO₂ than a gasoline-powered car. With biogas, a CNG car drives almost CO₂-neutral and is thus on a par with an electric vehicle - provided it is powered by electricity from renewable sources. Pascal Lenzin: "If Switzerland wants to achieve its climate targets, then all available drive technologies must make their contribution."

In Switzerland, an average of 22.4 percent biogas is blended with fossil natural gas, and at many pumps CNG drivers can increase the biogas content themselves to up to 100 percent.

Further information on sustainable mobility at cng-mobility.ch.