Press releases

Bad Schwartau / Lenzburg, April 9, 2025 - Schwartauer Werke, part of the Hero Group, has been awarded the German government's Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Award. The CSR Award is part of the German government's strategy in this area, which focuses on and promotes corporate social responsibility (CSR).

During the ceremony in Berlin, Julia Schäfer, Sustainability Manager, and Sebastian Portius, VP R&D Hero Group, accepted the top prize in the category ‘Effective protection of the climate and biodiversity’.

“We are delighted to receive this award. It shows us that our bee careful initiative for biodiversity is making a real difference and that our many years of commitment are appreciated,” says Schäfer.

In its assessment, the jury emphasized Schwartauer Werke's role model function for committed sustainability management and its in-depth cooperation with biodiversity experts and farmers in its own supply chain à placeholder.   

Sustainability starts on site
With the bee careful initiative, Schwartauer Werke and the Hero Group has been committed to preserving habitats for pollinators, promoting soil and pollinator health and supporting biodiversity-friendly agriculture since 2014.

“Sustainability starts locally. We work closely with farmers and support them in implementing regenerative practices,” emphasizes Dr Portius. “For example, we have developed a biodiversity catalog and launched a cooperation program with partner farms.”

The catalog identifies measures to promote biodiversity and soil health and supports farmers in their implementation through monetary support.

For a partnership with nature
Schwartauer Werke's sustainability strategy is geared towards the long term and future viability and takes into account ecological, economic and social aspects along the entire value chain. The focus is on the four pillars of Responsible Sourcing, Minimal-impact Production, Better Product Design, and Purposeful People.

“Our goal is to conserve the goodness of nature in our products and at the same time promote resilient agriculture, including biodiversity, healthy soils and the responsible use of water in our supply chain,” says Schäfer.

We are currently expanding the cooperation program with farmers to other regions, have launched projects in areas with an increased water risk and are working with suppliers along the defined priorities of our biodiversity strategy, she adds.

CSR Award: Assuming social responsibility
The German government's CSR Award recognizes measures and projects in the area of corporate due diligence that companies use to promote environmental and social sustainability along their supply chain and that can serve as role models.

The award falls under the patronage of Federal Minister Hubertus Heil and is being awarded for the fifth time this year. This year, almost 150 companies applied in five categories: Good Business Practices, Effective Training, Effective Climate and Biodiversity Protection, Digital Tools for Transparent Supply Chains and Constructive Stakeholder Engagement.

A top-class jury of experts from politics, business, science and civil society nominated 15 outstanding projects, which were then analyzed through extensive background research with companies and relevant stakeholders. The five category winners were selected on this basis.

About Hero Group
The Hero Group is a global food company focused on branded nutritional food products. The company was founded in 1886 in Lenzburg, Switzerland, where its headquarters are still located today. Hero's main product categories of Baby & Toddler Food and Snacks, Natural Spreads, and Healthy Snacks are complemented by its activities in Baby & Toddler Milk and Specialties. The Group, which lives by its mission to delight consumers by conserving the goodness of nature, boasts a global footprint and its portfolio consists of many well-known international and local brands. In 2024, the Group generated revenues of CHF 1.25 billion.

Media contact
Hero Group – Stephen Chetcuti, Corporate Communications Director
stephen.chetcuti@hero.ch

Schwartauer Werke – Vanessa Krabiell – Corporate Communications Lead
v.krabiell@schwartau.de