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22 Sustainability – assuming responsibility At the heart of everything we do Responsibility for generations – there is no better way of expressing how Miele defines sustainability. For more than 118 years we have been developing and producing high-performance and convenient domestic appliances which are peerless in terms of durability and dependability, resource-saving production and energy-efficiency. They are made by dedicated employees, who are respected and valued. In our supply chain, we take care to comply with social and environmental standards. We maintain a cooperative dialogue with the people and institutions that participate in the activities of Miele. This stance is reaffirmed by the company’s membership in the UN Global Compact sustainability initiative, the certification based on the international social standard SA8000 and the signing of the “Diversity Charter” for equal opportunity in the workforce. Certification according to ISO standards for quality, environment and energy management as well as standards for health and occupational safety offers a systematic framework for further optimisations: in terms of the environmental protection credentials of our production facilities and products and in terms of the protection of our employees. This corresponds to the guiding principle "Immer Besser" - a slogan printed on the very first appliances developed by our founding fathers. Miele holds sustainability in the same esteem as integrity, respect and responsibility for people and our natural environment, continuity and quality awareness. As a result of all this, our company was awarded the German Sustainability Prize 2014 and the B.A.U.M. environmental awareness prize 2014. Find out more about our commitment to sustainability at www.miele.com/sustainability.