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INDUSTRY NEWS: PRODUCTS, TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION

International EcoVadis sustainability rating for Endress+ Hauser

ndress+Hauser has achieved 76 out of 100 points in the international The annual EcoVadis audit serves as a key strategic indicator for the
EEcoVadis sustainability rating, four more than in the previous year. The sustainability of Endress+Hauser’s development. The goal is continuous
Group achieved a ranking in the top group for the fifth year in a row in 2021 improvement in this area as well. “We support our customers in
and is now among the top one percent of the companies compared. producing sustainably. That’s why we also want to be a leader in terms
Endress+Hauser achieved further improvements in the areas of of the sustainability of our business and production processes,” said CFO
environment and sustainable procurement. In terms of ethics, labour and Dr Luc Schultheiss.
human rights, the Group was able to maintain its very good position in
the benchmark comparison. As a result, Endress+Hauser entered the top Continuous improvement
group in terms of results and now achieves a platinum medal after the gold Endress+Hauser’s products, solutions and services help customers
standard – the highest performance level of the EcoVadis audit. in the process industry to use resources efficiently, reduce pollutant
emissions, avoid waste and protect the environment. But the company
EcoVadis is the world’s most trusted provider of business sustainability is also continuously improving its own ecological footprint. For example,
ratings, intelligence and collaborative performance improvement tools for Endress+Hauser increasingly supplies buildings and infrastructure with
global supply chains. Backed by a powerful technology platform and a global sustainably generated energy, and video conferencing reduces travel.
team of domain experts, EcoVadis’ easy-to-use and actionable sustainability
scorecards provide detailed insight into environmental, social and ethical Endress+Hauser publishes detailed information on the EcoVadis sustainability
risks across 200 purchasing categories and 160 countries. audit at www.endress.com/ecovadis

EcoVadis uses 21 criteria from the environmental, social and ethical fields to
evaluate companies worldwide in terms of their sustainability. In addition to
a sector comparison, companies receive suggestions for improvement. They
can also rate their own suppliers accordingly on an internet platform. To
date, around 75,000 companies worldwide have been certified by EcoVadis.

Sustainable corporate culture
The idea of sustainability is deeply rooted at Endress+Hauser.
“Comprehensive responsibility is a core value of our corporate culture. As a
family business, we want to combine economic success with ecological and
social progress,” emphasized CEO Matthias Altendorf. Since 2014, therefore,
Endress+Hauser has been producing a sustainability report together with its
annual report, which relates ecological, social and economic factors.

TV White Space technology rolled out in rural KZN

housands of community members in and around Ray Nkonyeni said chief executive officer of AdNotes TVWS network Mr Nathi Mbele.
TMunicipality in the Ugu District of KwaZulu-Natal (KZN), will now “The programme has made its TVWS technologies available to support
have access to low-cost internet connection like their counterparts in the small, medium and micro enterprises (SMMEs), mostly owned by women,
cities following a successful launch of the Television White Space (TVWS) the youth and persons with disabilities, in townships and rural areas,” said
technology in the area. The project was funded by the United Nations CSIR principal researcher Dr Luzango Mfupe at the launch of the project.
Development Programme (UNDP) through the Government of Japan and The Covid-19 pandemic has caused an exponential demand for
implemented by the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), remote working arrangements among individuals, companies, businesses,
with the aim of providing low-cost internet connection to the neediest schools and universities. The beneficiary SMMEs under this programme
communities around the country. are expected to enable a range of digital services in their respective
TVWS technology uses the gaps, known as “white spaces”, between communities, such as e-education, telemedicine, Internet of Things, smart
terrestrial television broadcasts to deliver affordable broadband networks. agriculture, smart villages and e-financial services.
AdNotes is the company that championed the use of the network as “Our objective as UNDP is to turn COVID-19 into economic
a viable alternative for the people of KwaXolo to provide the cheapest opportunities in South Africa. Without ICT access, even more people would
internet connection at R5 unlimited data per day. fall into poverty because of being unable to access the new way of work,
Several other partners who came on board to support this initiative missing employment and educational opportunities,” said UNDP resident
with funds and resources include the Office of the Premier of KZN, representative Dr Ayodele Odusola.
Ray Nkonyeni Municipality, One Mobile, Old Mutual Foundation, Black The project is currently being implemented in stages. The first phase
Umbrella, Inyosi Emporwement and SmartXchange. involved capacity-building webinars and technical training on the use of the
“In partnership with the CSIR and with the support from the UNDP, Old CSIR spectrum innovation and network technology rollout with SMMEs in
Mutual Foundation, and the SmartXchange, we have managed to the build KZN, the Free State, the Eastern Cape and the Western Cape. The project
TVWS network as a viable alternative solution to bring affordable internet to was first launched in Mdantsane, Eastern Cape, with Mdantsane Mobile.
thousands of families within the Ugu District and eThekwini Municipality,” The most recent launch was held in KZN with Adnotes TVWS network.

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