The global tax landscape is in upheaval - with consequences for Switzerland and its resident companies. Switzerland is an attractive location for both companies and private individuals. KPMG's Swiss Tax Report focuses on the following tax issues in 2022: With a view to the introduction of a global minimum tax for large companies, Switzerland must hurry if it does not want to accept any disadvantages. In addition, the topics of environmental taxes and tax transparency are gaining in importance and may become a challenge for some companies.

Profit tax rates in Switzerland down slightly

Ordinary corporate income tax rates in Switzerland fell slightly year-on-year - from 14.9% to 14.7%. This is due in particular to the tax cuts in the cantons of Valais (-1.6 percentage points), Aargau (-1.1 percentage points, subject to referendum on May 15, 2022) and Jura (-1.0 percentage point). The cantons of Central Switzerland and Glarus and Appenzell-Innerrhoden continue to have the lowest ordinary profit tax rates. Canton Zug, for example, leads the ranking of cantons with a rate of 11.9%, followed by the cantons of Nidwalden (12.0%) and Lucerne (12.2%). The canton of Bern brings up the rear with a profit tax rate of 21.0%.

In an international comparison, Switzerland taxes companies at a low rate. Only the classic offshore domiciles, Guernsey, Qatar and some (southern) eastern European states offer lower tax rates than the low-tax cantons. Ireland remains Switzerland's most important competitor in Europe.

Almost half of the cantons provide relief for top earners

Swiss tax rates for top incomes also fell slightly year-on-year - from 33.7 to 33.5%. The reason for this is that twelve cantons have slightly reduced the tax rate for top incomes. The biggest reductions were made by the cantons of Schwyz (-1.5 percentage points), Schaffhausen (-1.0 percentage points), Thurgau and Lucerne (around -0.6 percentage points each). Top incomes are taxed lowest in the cantons of Zug (22.2%), Appenzell Innerrhoden (23.8%) and Obwalden (24.3%). The highest tax rates are applied in the cantons of Geneva (44.8%), Basel-Landschaft (42.2%) and Vaud (41.5%).

Key tax issues in 2022: Environmental taxes

Countries around the world are turning to so-called "green" taxes to increase tax revenues and enforce the polluter-pays principle in the environmental sector. The spectrum ranges from energy taxes and emission-related measures to transport taxes and taxes on pollution, resource management and waste disposal. The share of environmental tax revenues in relation to GDP is still low. According to OECD statistics, it is around 1.5% in OECD member states, around 2.3% in the EU and around 1.4% in Switzerland. "With the expected entry into force of significant environmental policy measures in the area of taxation of CO2 emissions and plastics, the share of environmental taxes in total tax income will increase significantly in the future," predicts Anne Marie Anselmi, tax expert at KPMG.

Although recent statistics indicate a slight decline in environmental tax revenues as a share of GDP from 2019 to 2020, this decline mainly reflects delays in environmental policy implementation and tax compliance during this period. "While countries have been primarily preoccupied with dealing with the Corona pandemic over the past two years, governments need to quickly gear their budgets to the next looming crisis: climate change. Environmental taxes are one way to raise tax revenues while providing targeted incentives for a more sustainable economy," Anselmi said. Because environmental taxes are implemented very differently in different countries, the scope for action on environmental policy is often unclear, especially for companies operating internationally.

Only 19% of companies in Switzerland publish tax transparency reports

At the same time, companies are also increasingly challenged on the topic of tax transparency, as this is emerging as an important metric for assessing the governance concept of companies and is closely linked to other ESG metrics. Many large Swiss companies now publish sustainability reports, but tax aspects are rarely covered in detail in these reports.

A KPMG analysis of the 150 largest companies listed on the SIX Stock Exchange shows that just 19% of the companies publish tax transparency reports. This will change in the future. For example, numerous companies are expected to be subject to the EU's Public CbCR Directive from 2025. This will require new disclosure obligations for multinational companies with a branch in an EU country and annual sales of EUR 750 million or more.

Global minimum taxation: Switzerland must hurry up

The fact that Switzerland cannot escape international tax developments is also shown by a look at the forthcoming introduction of a global minimum tax: 18 cantons have tax rates below the minimum profit tax rate of 15% targeted by the OECD. If these cantons or Switzerland do not raise their profit tax rates for affected companies to this threshold, the difference could be taxed abroad. "According to federal estimates, the Swiss treasury would lose tax revenues of around CHF 1 to 2.5 billion, at least in the short term, which it should not do without in view of the pandemic consequences and the challenges ahead," warns Olivier Eichenberger, a tax expert at KPMG.

In view of the ambitious roadmap of the OECD and the G20 countries - the first elements of the minimum tax are to come into force as early as January 1, 2023 - Switzerland and its policy system are particularly challenged. Thus, the Federal Council has decided to implement the minimum tax with a constitutional amendment and to ensure by means of a temporary ordinance that the minimum tax can be introduced on January 1, 2024. The Swiss electorate is due to vote on this on June 23, 2023. Regardless of the outcome of the vote, the global minimum tax will have far-reaching significance for international location competition. It limits the possibilities of low-tax countries to position themselves by means of competitive tax regimes. "Countries like Switzerland are strongly challenged to specifically cultivate their other location factors, such as access to skilled labor or flexible labor market conditions," says Stefan Kuhn, head of tax and legal advisory at KPMG.

Source: KPMG

In 2022, the CFO will step out of the famous ivory tower: the finance department will be more closely networked with the entire company to provide even better support for operational decisions as a strategic partner. Until now, one of the CFO's main tasks has been to present past figures in the company's annual report. But for a long time now, his position in the company has not just been about a status quo - today, it's about supporting future decisions - which sums up his new role. Today, a CFO must be able to provide management with the information needed to make directional decisions. In concrete terms, this means that the CFO of the future will become a strategic advisor and will influence the future development of the business. Information forms the basis for this - and not just from the financial area, but from other departments such as human resources or sales. Added to this is the issue of sustainability. Companies must position themselves accordingly in order to meet ESG (environmental, social, governance) criteria. In the future, this corresponding information will be included in the annual report and will be relevant for the CFO so that he can fulfill his new strategic role.

Data understanding is essential

What can be expected from the data and what analyses can be implemented with it? To answer these questions, the CFO will become even more involved with data. Thus, analytical thinking and a basic technical understanding will become essential. A CFO will need significantly more data understanding than before. In this context, the term "data steward" comes into play. This refers to someone who has an overview of all relevant information, is responsible for its quality and brings it together. The CFO is thus entering an area of work that has been dominated by the CIO to date. Both functions will cooperate more closely in the future. Practical experience shows that the most successful companies are those in which this cooperation works particularly well. In these companies, the CFO has understood how important good data management is.

In the best case, IT supports the finance department by providing systems that are easy to use and administer. This lowers the hurdles for business users to be able to perform data analyses themselves, for example. This setting speaks for the use of solutions from the cloud. They are preconfigured, do not require their own infrastructure in the data center, and are relatively easy for the business department to support and maintain. The issue of sustainability is also driving further interest in the cloud. It can be assumed that in the near future, companies will not only have to carry out ESG reporting, but also corresponding accounting.

Reaching the next level with Machine Learning

But the cloud has even more advantages: it provides the necessary computing power for solutions that work with artificial intelligence. Because these will also play a greater role in the work of CFOs in the future. They provide valuable support for maintaining an overview in the flood of data. After all, the more data that is available, the more difficult it becomes for individuals to identify patterns or trends. Machine learning (ML), on the other hand, can be used to automate the analysis of data. One example: when dealing with customer payment behavior, ML can be used to provide appropriate analyses, suggest actions, and even write to customers on its own. But here again, everything depends on the quality of the data. The algorithm only works as well as the data with which it has been trained allows. In other words, without data of sufficient quantity and quality, the smartest technology is useless.

CFO of the future works from person to person

The CFO of the future is a people manager who does not just rely on technology. It requires employees who are able to deal with the flood of data in order to derive insights from it quickly and in real time and, for example, to create forecasts based on it. It is a matter of selecting employees with the appropriate skills and competencies to match new job profiles such as that of a data scientist. For example, there are already companies that have assigned their Data Scientists to the finance department, but send them throughout the organization. As a CFO, who previously dealt primarily with accountants, the task now is to motivate and train team members. This would allow data experts to acquire the knowledge they need for their job. After all, it is crucial for them to understand the processes in the operational units in order to be able to develop a reasonable algorithm. In addition, the form of collaboration is becoming more important. Those who work in a home office are partially cut off from the flow of information from other departments. It is therefore crucial to be able to provide the team with comprehensive and continuous data.

Authors:
Frank Mens is Director for Financial Management DACH and Continental Europe at Workday, Alexander Rauchstaedt is Senior Manager Enterprise Performance at Deloitte Consulting.

The Geneva Forum for Sustainable Investment and the Zurich Forum for Sustainable Investment are organizing the Swiss Sustainable Funds Awards (SSFA) for the fourth year in a row. They are supported by the most important umbrella organizations: the Swiss Financial Analysts Association (SFAA), the Swiss Training Centre for Investment Professionals (AZEK), the Swiss Pension Fund Association (ASIP), the Asset Management Association Switzerland (AMA) and Swiss Sustainable Finance (SSF).

Eight asset classes

This year, the SSFA are to be awarded to the winners of eight investment categories. In addition, two special awards will be presented to the best Swiss and international companies for sustainable asset management. The jury based its deliberations in particular on the proprietary ESG analysis of Conser, an independent sustainability fund auditor and selector, which assessed the underlying assets of all eligible funds, as well as on the analysis of quantitative performance and risk data by the consulting firm Anglo-Swiss Advisors. The jury, chaired by René Sieber, asset management specialist and professor at the Geneva Finance Research Institute (GFRI) of the University of Geneva, is composed of Suzanna Gobet (Bedrock Group), Jörg Grossmann (Allfunds), Frank Juliano (Compenswiss), Stéphanie de Mestral (De Pury Pictet Turrettini & Cie), Stefano Battiston (University of Zurich) and Beatrix Wullschleger (Basel-Stadt Pension Fund). "The Swiss Sustainable Funds Awards aim to support the development of socially responsible investing and increase the visibility of the actors that contribute to it. Our aim is to serve the financial community by creating, for the fourth consecutive year, a framework of reference recognized by the financial community as a label of industry best practices and know-how," commented Professor René Sieber.

The nominees for the Swiss Sustainable Funds Awards 2022

The nominees in the "Shares" category are:

1. Global equities: Aegon Global Sustainable Equity C Acc GBP Baillie Gifford Wldwd Positive Change B AUD Acc Janus Henderson Global Sustainable Equity G Inc Swisscanto (CH) EF Sustainable GT CHF Vontobel Fd (CH) Sust GI Eq ex CHF Conc S
2. Shares USA Amundi Funds US Pioneer Fund - I2 EUR C BA US Sust Growth C USD Acc BNPP Sustainable US Value Multi-Factor Eq I Cap Fisher Investments Inst US SC Core Equity ESG USD Nordea 1 - North American Stars Equity BI EUR
3. Equities Europe Baillie Gifford Wldwd Pan-European B EUR Acc DNCA Invest SRI Europe Growth - Class F - EUR DWS Invest ESG European Small/Mid Cap XC Ecofi Trajectoires Durables C NN (L) European Sustainable Equity I Cap EUR
4. Emerging Markets Equities Candriam Sustainable Equity Emerging Mkt V EUR C Carmignac PfI Emergents FW GBP Acc Driehaus Emerging Mkts Sustainable Eq CE EUR Acc Goldman Sachs Em Mkts Eq ESG Pf I Qdis USD Nordea 1 - Emerging Stars Equity BI EUR
5. Equities Switzerland BKB Sustainable - Equities Switzerland I1 Cadmos - Swiss Engagement A GAM Swiss Sustainable Companies D JSS Sustainable Equity Switzerland M CHF Dis Swisscanto (CH) EF Resp CH High Quality DT CHF
6. Shares Thematic DWS Invest ESG Climate Tech XC Green benefit - Global Impact Fund - P Luxembourg Selection Fd - Active Solar C USD NSF SICAV Climate Change + S EUR Swisscanto (LU) EF Sustainable Global Climate GT

The nominees in the "Bonds" category are:

1. Global Bonds AXA WF ACT Green Bonds I USD Hedged Cap Franklin European Total Return I (acc) EUR JSS Sustainable Bond - Euro Broad C EUR acc Mirova Euro Green and Sustainable Bond Fund MDE ODDO BHF Green Bond CR - EUR
2. Corporate Bonds Allianz Euro Credit SRI W EUR DWS Invest ESG USD Corporate Bonds USD XC JSS Sustainable Bond - EUR Corporates M EUR acc PGIM Euro Corporate ESG Bond EUR I Acc Swisscanto (LU) BF Sustainable Global Credit DT

To be admitted, an asset management company must have assets under management (AuM) of at least CHF 100 million (or equivalent) and meet certain non-financial requirements. To be considered in a particular fund category, the investment fund must systematically incorporate these non-financial criteria, have a 3-year performance history with the current investment process, have minimum assets of CHF 30 million (15 million for a thematic fund) and be authorized by Finma for distribution in Switzerland. Be authorized for distribution in Switzerland by Finma. Source and further information The post Swiss Sustainable Funds Awards 2022: Nominees have been determined appeared first on Organizer.

Würth AG has been supplying craftsmen in all sectors with quality products and coordinated system solutions for the workshop, the warehouse and on the road for 60 years now. Reinhold Würth, a trained wholesaler and retailer, took over the management of the Adolf Würth screw wholesaler based in Künzelsau, Germany, after the unexpected death of his father in 1954 at the age of just 19. Today, the international Würth Group claims to be the world market leader in the development, manufacture and sale of assembly and fastening materials. In addition, trading and production companies, the Allied Companies, are active in related business fields. These include, for example, electrical wholesale or the electronics sector through to financial services. The Group employs more than 83,000 people in over 400 companies with over 2,400 branches in more than 80 countries worldwide.

Würth AG in Switzerland

Even as a child, Reinhold Würth had been able to accompany his father on sales trips to Austria and Switzerland. This paved the way for the expansion of the business field. In an interview in January 2022, Prof. Dr. h. c. mult. Reinhold Würth, Chairman of the Supervisory Board of the Würth Group's Family Trusts, what his fondest memory of the founding period is: "Those were my own trips to the Swiss Confederation to help set up the sales force organization and canvass customers." But he also has fond memories of private matters: "As a passionate skier, I was in Davos almost every winter season for 40 years. Today, at the age of 86, I treasure the memories of the descents from the Weissfluh summit to Küblis with a difference in altitude of 2,000 meters."

From a two-man business to a wholesale company

The first employees of Schrauben Würth GmbH were true pioneers. Virtually from nowhere, they conquered new territories with their pointing book and order pad - with success. Schrauben Würth GmbH grew rapidly and as early as 1966, sales exceeded 1 million Swiss francs. In 1979, the 10 million franc sales mark was cracked. Anno 1983 the transformation from Würth GmbH to Würth AG took place. Würth AG moved into its current headquarters in Arlesheim in 1985. In 2003, the administration and sales center was expanded by two large warehouses, an office wing and the architecturally sophisticated Forum Würth, where art and culture moved in. In 2021, Würth AG generated annual sales of around CHF 183.5 million. Among other things, Würth AG attributes this to its successful multi-channel strategy, through which customers are reached via all customer contact points.

Proximity to customers as a success factor

According to Würth AG, it is optimism, dynamism, appreciation of employees and commitment to customers that have shaped and continue to shape the corporate culture in Switzerland. The ability to constantly reinvent the business, the products and Würth itself are the factors behind the outstanding success story that Würth AG has been writing for 60 years now.

Würth also began to develop its own products in 1975. ORSY®, ASSY®, ZEBRA® and M-CUBE® today stand for functionality, durability and high quality. More than 400 sales staff, 43 tradesmen stores, the online store and the Würth App with the Click&Collect function ensure great proximity to customers. For the past year, Würth AG customers have also been able to collect points with every purchase and redeem them for attractive rewards. E-business as part of the multi-channel strategy will continue to grow in importance in the future. And company patron Prof. Dr. h. c. mult. Reinhold Würth promises: "You can be sure that the employees of Würth AG will continue to go to great lengths in the future to fulfill the wishes of our customers and to provide service in the true sense of the word, namely to serve and to perform."

More information: www.wuerth-ag.ch

The Event Trend Study Switzerland 2022 paints the first comprehensive mood picture of the event and live communications industry after the pandemic. "Our industry has changed significantly over the past two years as a result of the crisis. The effects are still great, but the majority of our members are meanwhile looking ahead with confidence for the live format," sums up Daniel Wyss, board member of Expo Event Swiss LiveCom Association. Expressed in figures, the consequences of the pandemic are as follows: In 2020, the revenues of the companies surveyed plummeted by more than half. A large number of orders were not carried out during the past two years - for projects under 50,000 Swiss francs, there were an average of 50 projects per company, and for projects over 200,000 Swiss francs, four.

Live remains the favorite - hybrid formats catch up

Hybrid formats in particular have gained strongly in importance according to the survey. At 47% of the companies surveyed, this form of event showed the strongest growth rate in the last two years. Many companies have added various online technologies to their business model: live streaming was the most popular. Other technologies included audio and video production, and image and video portals. Although the share of digital and hybrid events increased sharply, offline events still generated 56% of revenue. Virtual, hybrid and other event formats, such as pop-up events or Corona-compliant micro events with certificate requirements, accounted for between 13 and 16%. Regardless of execution mode, public and employee events generated the majority of revenue. To a lesser extent, special trade fairs or specialist congresses as well as public trade fairs or general meetings were to be found in the sales portfolio of the last two years. For the next few years, however, companies are again counting on the live format: 61% predict that the immediate encounter will see the greatest growth. Again, the live experience is closely followed by hybrid solutions with 55%.

Training and recruitment get a boost

For half of the respondents, the number of employees has decreased by an average of three people over the last two years. Only 12% recorded an increase in employees. However, most are now expecting growth again. In addition, apprenticeships and internships are an integral part of the HR strategy of the companies surveyed. Thus, 88% stated that they generally have offers for interns or apprentices. Around one-third are currently training apprentices. The shortage of labor was identified as the greatest challenge in the coming years. To actively counteract the brain drain, most respondents are focusing on their attractiveness as an employer and investing in training and work culture.

Success through diversification and partnership

Numerous survey participants - 43 % - have used the last two years to open up new business areas. The spectrum of diversification is wide: among other things, there has been an increased focus on streaming and consulting. It has also become apparent that challenges can be better overcome together - which is why two-thirds of respondents were working with a partner or actively seeking cooperation. Overall, nearly half of the companies were also actively engaged in promoting sustainable events. In this regard, 46% made their clients aware of sustainable events and offered the corresponding services. In addition, there were a number of other measures to improve sustainability such as internal projects, use of sustainable materials or investment in sustainable infrastructure.

Good report for the associations

The Event Trend Study Switzerland was conducted as a member survey by Expo Event Swiss LiveCom Association, by the Swiss Association of Technical Stage and Event Professionals svtb and by the Association of Swiss Stadium and Arena Operators VSSA. A total of 179 companies took part in the survey period from January 17 to February 11, 2022. The work of the associations themselves was also well received by members, with 84% of all companies expressing satisfaction to very satisfaction with the work of Expo Event, svtb and VSSA. Crisis management during the pandemic also came off well: 91 % of respondents said the association had done a good to very good job.

Source and further information: Expo Event

Just in time for the 50th anniversary of the Sursee Campus, the new event hall was opened on May 5, 2022. Gian-Luca Lardi, President of the Swiss Association of Master Builders (SBC) and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Sursee Campus, was visibly proud: "We see great potential in the new event hall to achieve national charisma. The hall is versatile, equipped with state-of-the-art technology and meets the highest ecological requirements." During the construction work, great importance was attached to high-quality craftsmanship. This can be seen, for example, in the parapet in the foyer of the event hall or in the exposed concrete surfaces, which also form the foundation for art on the building in the foyer. Most of the beech wood used for the supporting structure comes from regional and sustainable forestry.

New event hall with small ecological footprint

The building is divided into two parts: On the one hand, into the event hall itself, which offers space for up to 1000 people. It is therefore well suited for congresses, banquets or even car presentations. On the other hand, there is the spacious and modern entrance area with hotel reception. According to Andrea Ming, building owner and director of Campus Sursee, the new building should be perceived as a beacon in the construction industry, especially since the purpose of the foundation is the promotion of professional education and training of professionals in the construction industry. Accordingly, the Sursee campus sees itself as a role model - also in terms of ecology. Thus, with the new building, the CO2-neutral path is being further pursued. The yield from the photovoltaic system on the roof, for example, could supply 20 single-family homes with electricity. Campus Sursee uses rainwater for watering toilets and gardens. The total costs of 15 million Swiss francs are borne by the Campus Sursee Foundation of the Swiss Master Builders' Association.

A look behind the scenes at the open days

The opening of the event hall marked the start of the anniversary celebrations, which will continue until May 10, 2022. The celebrations will be held together with the founder, the Swiss Association of Master Builders, which itself can look back on a 125-year history. The program includes meetings, the Construction Industry Day or the Education Days. On May 7 and 8, the Sursee campus opens its doors and invites all interested parties to take a look behind the scenes. Variety is provided: from culinary to hotel rooms, from large excavators to digital construction, from Olympic pool to wheelchair basketball, from crane and construction machine operator cup to rock concert.

More information: Campus Sursee

Thanks to new customers, projects and products, the technology company Noventa continues to grow as a development and manufacturing partner of established OEMs and innovative young companies. "After challenging times, we are looking forward to a promising year with new customers and pioneering products. In the process, we could achieve sales of over CHF 100 million for the first time," says Patrick Besserer, CEO of Noventa AG. Projects for existing customers such as CWS, LaPreva, Laufen, V-Zug, Kärcher and Winterhalter will also contribute to this.

Noventa's growth offers opportunities for new employees

With its growth, the company is also opening up career opportunities for new employees. "Thanks to full order books, new customers and new projects, we are clearly on course for growth. In almost all areas, we are opening up opportunities for new talent to actively shape the future of our company," says Chief Business Administration Philippe Bürki. In the coming months, the company will advertise numerous vacancies, according to the statement. The Diepoldsau site is already looking for personnel reinforcement for business administration tasks, but also for project management, development, procurement and finance.

Modernization and expansion plans for all sites

The industrial products and sanitary and hygiene products segments in particular are developing positively, but growth is also picking up significantly in the consumer goods, automotive and coffee machine segments. As a result, all sites are operating at full capacity and Noventa AG is pressing ahead with its further development, the statement to the media continued. The site in Romania is being modernized and expanded with new office and production space as well as additional injection molding machines. An expansion of production space is also planned at the Thailand production site. At its Swiss headquarters, the company is continuing to invest in its innovation center to create even more space for creativity and development.

Noventa develops and produces trend-setting products for customers

With around 700 employees and production sites in Switzerland, Thailand and Romania, the technology company supports the development and manufacture of products for the future. "We are proud to work with our customers to develop and manufacture innovative products to market readiness," says product developer Christian Frei. "This also particularly benefits companies that want to work with a specialist for sophisticated product systems."

One recent example is the Dokoki "Sandy" baby monitor, which is equipped with cameras, a sleep aid, integrated media player and two-way communication, and can be conveniently controlled via a smartphone. Noventa also illustrates its enthusiasm for new ideas with a world first: The hygienic and waterless toilet system Clesana for motorhomes and boats is to be launched as early as the second quarter of 2022. For Laufen, Noventa manufactures the high-quality shower toilet Aqiva especially for the Chinese market, and for CWS the visually appealing, modern hygiene systems of the CWS PureLine product line.

From plastics specialist to innovation and manufacturing center

Noventa's roots go back to 1958. In the meantime, the company has developed into a high-performance innovation and manufacturing center for sophisticated product systems that are realized and produced on behalf of customers. With around 700 employees at three locations (headquarters in Switzerland, Thailand and Romania), the Noventa Group achieved annual sales of around CHF 82 million in 2021. It is led by a three-person management team, which also holds a majority stake in the company. Its customers include Bernina, Compleo, CWS, Laufen, LaPreva, Ivoclar, Kärcher, Siemens, SKROSS, V-Zug and Winterhalter. Since 2004, Noventa has acted as a showcase company for lean management. Following the introduction of lean production, the company has significantly increased its sales on the same floor space. The company's customers also benefit from this know-how. The Noventa Group includes the subsidiaries Noventa (Thailand) Co., Ltd., Noventa Romania S.R.L. (Romania), Noventa Tooling AG (Widnau), Noventa Consulting AG (Diepoldsau), and LaPreva AG (Diepoldsau).

More information

The Trisa Group - which includes Trisa Holding AG, Trisa AG, Trisa Electronics AG, Trisa Accessoires AG, Ebnat AG and Trisa Bulgaria GmbH - says it has responded quickly and well to volatile market dynamics and changing conditions. Restrictions and bottlenecks in the supply chains with huge traffic jams outside the world's major container ports as well as sharply rising raw material prices were just some of them. In order to cope with the significantly longer lead times, high flexibility and meticulous planning were necessary, the company says. The situation in exports was mixed, it adds. Uncertainties in the markets led to subdued demand in the first few months, while the second half of the year saw encouraging additional orders in all business areas. "We countered the continuing overvaluation of the Swiss franc and the unabated cost pressure with differentiating innovations on the market, active cost management across the entire value chain and further rationalization," Trisa writes in a statement to the media.

Innovations as a success factor

The need-oriented innovations appear to be very popular with customers. This is reflected in the 27 percent share of sales accounted for by products less than three years old. A strong market performance was achieved by innovations in the area of electromouth care with the latest generation of appliances and attachment brushes. Significant gains were also made in the household segment, both in the electrical and mechanical segments. Other sustainable product and packaging concepts in the areas of manual toothbrushes, interdental care, hair care and accessories also performed convincingly, according to Trisa.

Investing in the future

With investments amounting to 12.7 million Swiss francs, the Trisa Group has once again invested heavily with the aim of remaining internationally efficient and competitive. The funds flowed primarily into new products and machines as well as into digitization and automation projects. A great deal continues to be achieved and invested as part of the company's own digitization strategy. The introduction of a new ERP system, including a warehouse management system, and a high-performance smart factory system for optimum planning and control of production processes are cited as core elements.

Overcoming challenges together

The company is facing up to the current challenges and is relying on the great commitment of its teams. "We have approached the new year confidently with the Trisa Spirit annual motto 'Resilience - mastering challenges together'. This strengthens our resilience and deepens our ability to successfully face demanding situations. Qualities that will also stand us in good stead in the post-pandemic period. Leading in innovation, technology and quality, we want to continue to deliver top performance and create added value in the future," says Trisa.

Source and further information

Sustainability starts on a small scale, i.e. in our own household. Returning recyclables to the cycle is important in order to combat the ever-growing mountains of waste. The recyclables collector Mr. Green has been making a notable contribution to this since 2009: the Zurich-based company collects 14 different recyclables from more than 10,000 customers in the cantons of Zurich, Bern and Basel - in green bags that have become part of everyday life in the city on the Limmat. Conventional recyclables such as glass, aluminum, batteries, pans and paper, but also plastic packaging, Tetrapaks and cork cones all end up in these green sacks - and are collected from the doorstep, professionally sorted and recycled. "With Mr. Green, recycling is not only easier, but also better and more efficient," says co-founder and CEO Valentin Fisler.

Intermediate step for future-proof logistics

Mr. Green's recyclables collectors in Zurich have now teamed up with YEPP Logistics Ltd. for this purpose - and can thus keep their ecological promise even better. The logistics and fulfillment professionals from Schlieren are now collecting the bags with a fleet of brand new electric sprinters from Mercedes-Benz. Initial experience was gained from August last year. This marks the beginning of a new chapter not only in the history of Mr. Green, but also in that of YEPP Logistics, according to the company. "We want to become the most sustainable partner for individual logistics and fulfillment solutions," holds Tullio Bucher, managing director and partner of YEPP Logistics. The electric Sprinter fleet, he says, is an intermediate step toward sustainable logistics. "And it must and should be as sustainable as possible." In line with technical developments, the larger vehicles will also be replaced over time.

Recyclables collector with further ambitions

Under the name Green Bird, the company is also currently building other projects and customers in the circular economy and, together with partners such as Mr. Green, is dedicated to optimizing current tours. "We want to promote the circular economy by offering circular logistics," Bucher explains, elaborating on how the green commitment will help the
Logistics expert inspired: "Why shouldn't Mr. Green customers, for example, also have the option of receiving products from the web store or returning parcels when they regularly pick up their recyclables directly from their front door? Green Bird is not just an offer of environmentally friendly logistics solutions, but rather offers a connection to a network of like-minded partners who can benefit from each other and use synergies.

Sources and further information: mr-green.ch; yepp.ch

International interest in the world's leading trade fair for water, sewage, waste and raw materials management continues unabated. "Preparations for IFAT Munich are in full swing, all 18 exhibition halls and a large part of the outdoor area are occupied. This is a very strong development, even compared to the record-breaking trade fair in 2018," explains Stefan Rummel, Managing Director of Messe München. Around 2,500 exhibitors from more than 50 countries had registered by February, and a few more are likely to have joined in the meantime.

IFAT Munich with great international appeal

The lively response is no coincidence. After all, the urgency of environmental, resource and climate protection is more firmly anchored in the consciousness of the global community than ever before. IFAT sees its role as bringing together international decision-makers, experts and market players in one place to tackle the major challenges together. The core themes of IFAT Munich are "Circular Economy and Waste Management," "Water and Wastewater," and "Municipal Technology." Renowned brands will be exhibiting in all these areas. In addition, there will be international joint stands from Belgium, Denmark, France, Great Britain, Italy, Japan, Canada, the Netherlands, Austria, South Korea, Switzerland, the Czech Republic, Turkey, Hungary and the USA. Numerous national and international associations are also actively shaping the trade show program, whether as exhibitors, with special shows, live demonstrations, solution tours and lectures.

Careful use of water

Water treatment and wastewater treatment are among the largest exhibition areas at IFAT Munich. Not only at many company booths, but also in the extensive lecture and discussion program, the recycling of water in industrial production processes - up to and including Zero Liquid Discharge - will be among the core topics. After all, water shortages are also a challenge for companies - even in the supposedly water-rich Alpine region. As a result of increasing periods of drought, the "blue gold" can also become a scarce commodity in this country, as has been shown time and again in the recent past. This is why the business community needs to think more intensively about the proper use of water. According to the German Association for Water, Wastewater and Waste (DWA), companies could, for example, make even more consistent use of water-saving technologies, rainwater or treated wastewater. Technologically, this is quite feasible. For example, an Audi plant in San José Chiapa, Mexico, already went into operation in 2016, where, according to the company, 100 percent of the wastewater produced is treated and then used as process water, in production and for watering the green areas of the plant premises. In addition to many other solutions already implemented in various industries, new fields of application for Zero Liquid Discharge (ZLD) are constantly being developed. For example, a consortium including the Technical University of Dresden is currently working on the "Med-zeroSolvent" project funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research to develop innovative, energy-efficient methods for the wastewater-free production of dialysis membranes. Their production generates heavily polluted process water. Or a manufacturer of solar panels in Qatar is treating saline wastewater in such a way that it can be fed back into the production water cycle.

Plastics: Improving material cycles

Circular design, chemical recycling and political market control are other prominent topics at this year's IFAT. In this context, for example, the trade show will feature a "Process World Plastics Recycling" organized by the VDMA Waste and Recycling Technology Association. A special area will also present best-practice examples of recycling management in action. After all, the current life cycle of plastics is still anything but circular in many places. This is one of the messages of the report "Global Plastics Outlook: Economic Drivers, Environmental Impacts and Policy Options," which the industrialized nations' organization OECD presented at the end of February this year. According to the 200-page work, both the annual production of plastics and the amount of plastic waste have more than doubled worldwide over the past two decades. The latter amounted to 460 million tons in 2019. Only nine percent of this was recycled, while 19 percent was incinerated and nearly 50 percent was sent to landfills. The remaining 22 percent ended up in uncontrolled landfills, was burned in open pits or entered the environment.

In addition to the much-discussed environmental problems with micro- and macroplastics, plastics also have a significant carbon footprint: they contribute to 3.4 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions throughout their life cycle. Closing material loops could significantly reduce this footprint. But this also requires a political roadmap and the necessary regulatory framework. Various industry associations are already in the "starting blocks." They cite recycling-friendly product design, the handling of exports of end-of-life plastics, an EU-wide end to the landfilling of plastic waste, and the expansion of disposal and recycling structures as target-oriented starting points. In addition, the market conditions for the use of recyclates must be further improved.

Necessary innovative spirit

But it also takes a lot of innovative spirit to be able to solve global environmental problems. Intensive research is being carried out around the globe. From the findings obtained at universities and research institutions, numerous committed young entrepreneurs are developing innovative business models with which they are seeking their place in the market. That's why IFAT offers such newcomers a forum to present their solutions. At the so-called Start-up Area, almost 50 up-and-coming companies from 16 nations will be presenting themselves in a separate area in Hall B4 at the Munich exhibition center. Their products and solutions cover key IFAT Munich topics: water and wastewater treatment, waste and secondary raw materials, and air pollution control and soil protection. On show, for example, will be sustainable asphalt additives made from recycled plastic, separators for microplastics from wastewater streams, a nanotechnology-based water treatment process and a biotechnological method for binding dust. More information: www.ifat.de The post IFAT Munich 2022: Drivers of environmental and climate protection appeared first on Organizer.

For 17 percent of SME decision-makers surveyed by Visable, war is the biggest threat to their company's business, and even more, 28 percent, see themselves threatened by an economic crisis. Seventy-one percent of participating SME decision makers fear that crises of the current magnitude will occur more frequently (47%) or much more frequently (24%) in the next three years. Strikingly, Corona is still perceived as a threat, with 16 percent of mentions, roughly similar to war. Cyberattacks and hacker attacks are mentioned by 12 percent. "SMEs are really struggling right now. One crisis is followed by another," says Peter F. Schmid, CEO of Visable. "The central issue for the next few years will be to make companies crisis-proof. Otherwise, prosperity in Switzerland and Europe will be threatened," Schmid said. In Switzerland and Austria, 217 people with decision-making authority in small and medium-sized enterprises took part in the aforementioned survey. Elsewhere, we have already reported on further results of the survey.

SMEs complain of sales losses

The threat posed by the crisis scenarios mentioned in the survey is real for SMEs in Switzerland and can be quantified in terms of lost sales: 37 percent of the SMEs surveyed say that their company has lost up to a quarter of its sales since the beginning of 2021 as a result of the major crises. One in five companies (20%) has suffered even higher sales losses.

In concrete terms, the companies are particularly affected by the massive rise in costs: Rising raw material and energy prices account for 34 and 29 percent respectively. And 30 percent complain about supply chain problems. HR departments are also still struggling with absenteeism due to illness and quarantine (28%) and shortages of skilled workers and labor (29%). Rising inflation is an acute concern for one-fifth of respondents (21%).

"Energy costs in particular will become the bread prices of the 21st century," says Peter F. Schmid. "The problem affects the entire population directly (in the case of gasoline or heating) but especially indirectly (through rising production costs in industry). We must quickly and massively reduce our one-sided dependencies on energy and also raw materials. This is the only way to achieve resilience against crises," says the Visable CEO.

Short-time working and staff reductions are also among the measures

The measures companies are using to prevent the crises are not very pronounced and are quite diverse. Specifically, the most significant measure is staff reductions or wage cuts at 23 percent, followed by short-time working at 18 percent. Other precautionary measures include increased provisions at 13 percent, diversification of sales markets, investment in IT expertise and employee training for risk or crisis scenarios. As many as 16 percent of SMEs have operational emergency plans in the drawer for their own measures.

In addition, the survey shows reasonably clear demands on policymakers to increase resilience to crises. More than a third (34%) of companies would like to see tax cuts and other financial support. Thirty percent call for bureaucracy reduction and greater legal flexibility. Exactly one-quarter cite tougher measures against climate change and investment in environmental protection as demands.

All core markets threatened by economic crisis

The fact that the crisis is not only on the minds of SME decision-makers in Switzerland is shown by parallel YouGov surveys in Germany, Austria and France: everywhere, more than two-thirds of respondents expect more frequent crises in the next three years. The French are just slightly more pessimistic than the Swiss: In France, a total of 72 percent fear more frequent crises. In Germany, the figure of 68 percent is on a par with the Austrian result. Visable CEO Peter F. Schmid comments: "Fortunately, there have not been as many crises in Central Europe as there are at the moment for a very long time. It is worrying that more than two-thirds of all SMEs assume that the situation will get worse in such an acute situation. Those who are afraid invest less in the future."

Companies could solve many challenges by moving business units and processes into the digital space. For example, purchasing could be diversified via digital B2B platforms to address supply chain issues and rising commodity prices, as well as increasing sustainability awareness. According to the survey, 14 percent of Swiss SMEs are already implementing purchasing diversification as a preventive measure against crises.

Source and further information: Visible

Together, Linde Material Handling and Messer Schweiz AG are introducing the first green hydrogen forklifts in national logistics in Switzerland. Electric forklifts have - according to reports - proven to be less efficient in recent years and will be replaced by H2 forklifts in the future.

Refueled in less than 5 minutes

The Linde hydrogen forklifts have a 1.8 kg hydrogen tank, which allows the industrial or logistics company to use these industrial trucks easily throughout the shift. The H2 forklift can be refueled in less than 5 minutes. This takes more than 2 hours for electric forklifts. H2 forklifts emit zero CO2 when in use. There is no need to dispose of the battery after around 6000, as is the case with electric forklifts. The fuel cells of the H2 forklift from Linde MH are supplied by the fuel cell giant Plug Power, which already supplies Amazon and, since 14 days, Walmart with their devices.

Long life

"We are proud to be the first in Switzerland to introduce a hydrogen forklift truck, so that Swiss logistics can work much more ecologically in the future," says Messer Schweiz CEO, Dr. Ing. Hans Michael Kellner. Linde is supplying the H2 forklifts and Messer Schweiz AG, Lenzburg, various types of H2 filling stations, including self-sufficient ones. With the help of, for example, solar cells and an electrolysis system, any logistics company can thus produce its hydrogen green on site, store it and compress it to the desired pressure. There is an economical solution for every operation. "H2 forklifts offer several advantages over other drive systems at once. It brings together the respective advantages of the different systems. You fill up as quickly as with a diesel truck and you're green like an electric truck. The long service life and operational reliability are further arguments. Even if the fuel cell fails, the module can be replaced within a few minutes," explains Kellner.

Source and further information: Knife Switzerland