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56 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 make sure that we comply with social and environmental standards. We maintain a cooperative dialogue with the people and institutions that participate in the activities of Miele. This position is reaffirmed by the company's membership of the UN Global Compact sustainability initiative, certification based on the international social standard SA8000, and signing the "Diversity Charter" for equal opportunities in the workforce. Certification according to ISO standards for quality, the environment, and energy management as well as to standards for health and occupational safety offers a systematic framework for further optimisations both in terms of environmental protection in production and products and where the protection of our employees is concerned. This is all in keeping with the guiding principle "Immer Besser" (Forever Better) - a motto 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 consciousness. For this commitment, Miele was awarded the German Sustainability Prize 2014 and the B.A.U.M. environmental awareness prize 2014. You can read more about our efforts in terms of sustainability online at: www.miele.com/sustainability.