EMAS - Success Story "Bergzeit"

Founded in 1999, Bergzeit is a leading European outdoor and mountain sports retailer, deeply rooted in a genuine love of the outdoors. The company combines commerce with a passion for responsible outdoor experiences and sustainable action. Bergzeit management and employees are driven by the belief that time spent outdoors makes life richer.

Why did you join EMAS?

The transition to EMAS was built on the experience gained through ÖKOPROFIT.

For Bergzeit, EMAS represented the next logical step in further developing systematic, structured, and long-term environmental management. EMAS provides clear guidance, priorities, and responsibilities. As a result, sustainability is not only documented but actively managed and continuously improved with objective assessments of environmental performance. This has a positive impact on the company, particularly in terms of responsibility, professionalism, and future viability. 

With EMAS, Bergzeit is able to tackle the major environmental challenges facing e-commerce:

• High energy consumption from site operations, infrastructure, and other logistics
• Material and size of primary and secondary packaging

• Energy-intensive digital operations and IT infrastructure

   

How do you incorporate environmental responsibility into the company's mission and operations?

For Bergzeit, sustainability is not an add-on; it is a fundamental component of business activities, decision-making, and processes. Sustainability and the circular economy are firmly embedded in the company’s philosophy and strategic direction, serving as a key guiding principle for long-term development and investment decisions.

A company-wide Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) team, with representatives from all departments, ensures operational implementation. Members actively promote sustainability and CSR topics within their respective departments. They ensure alignment between overarching sustainability objectives and concrete tasks and processes at the departmental level. 

Sustainability targets are defined and operationalised both at the company-wide and departmental levels. Specifically, there are specific reduction targets for key emissions and environmental aspects (e.g. type and volume of waste, energy consumption). The company also sets targeted and strategic investments in circular economy measures such as sustainable procurement, a ‘RE-USE’ business unit, and further sustainable process optimisation.

Routine training and awareness-raising of employees on CSR, sustainability, and corporate digital responsibility ensure that environmental and climate protection are firmly embedded in day-to-day operations.

 

“EMAS helps us view sustainability not as an additional task, but as an integral part of our business activities. In e-commerce in particular, creating transparency is essential in order to systematically combine growth with environmental responsibility.”

Holger Cecco-Stark, Head of Facility & ECO Management (Environmental Management Representative)

What is the EMAS added value?

Bergzeit has incorporated environmental responsibility into its mission and operations. The following list includes a selection of actions or results related to EMAS membership:

• Structured, science-based environmental and climate monitoring within the EMAS framework, starting with initial CO₂ tracking and reporting across a major part of the value chain (validated by the Science Based Targets initiative)
• Installing efficient and renewable energy systems, including a photovoltaic system with a capacity of 513 kWp, generating over 500 000 kWh annually, and replacing gas heating with electric heat pumps in the administrative building
• EMAS requirements meet the legal standards for sustainable energy consumption, so the company does not need to conduct a separate energy audit
• Operating RE-USE, its own second-hand shop where customers can buy and sell products, extending product lifecycles and ensuring products are reintegrated into the value chain
• Consistent use of recycled materials (100% recycled paper; 87% recycled content in polybag) for shipping and mailing products, which also helps to reduce shipping volume
• High waste separation rates and recovery across operations, supported by clear guidelines, appropriate infrastructure, and regular employee awareness-raising
• A more sustainable work routine for employees; for instance, an organic canteen, a carpooling app, and electric vehicles with free on-site charging
• Transport and logistics vehicles (including Sprinter vans) are 100% electric

What are your sustainability plans for the future?

So far, Bergzeit’s experience with EMAS has been very positive. The system supports the consistent integration of environmental and sustainability aspects into management, decision-making processes, and day-to-day operations, while enabling continuous improvement.

Building on experience gained with EMAS, existing measures are being systematically further developed and complemented by new, more ambitious targets. The focus is on key environmental aspects and the continuous improvement of processes and performance indicators. 

A critical objective is to operate the main site entirely without fossil combustion in the future. Planned measures include replacing the remaining gas-powered heating system in the logistics area with a climate-friendly alternative, with the exception of the diesel pump for the sprinkler system, which remains necessary for safety and regulatory reasons. 

When it comes to waste reduction and prevention, additional measures are planned to optimise packaging and shipping processes, reinforce reuse and circular economy practices, and improve waste separation and recycling rates in day-to-day operations. 

To reduce emissions from daily commuting, the existing carpooling scheme will be further developed and expanded. In addition, further measures will be assessed and implemented to promote sustainable mobility and embed it in everyday working practices over the long term.

Tips for other companies considering EMAS

• Define clear and measurable sustainability targets at an early stage
• Consider the scalability of your business model, processes, and targets (e.g. increased shipping volumes, new locations)
• Treat EMAS as a management system, not a documentation exercise
• Involve your employees at an early stage