Strengthening Sustainability & Social Responsibility
In 2023, K+S and the AfB Group ("Work for people with disabilities") refurbished and remarketed hardware no longer required by the Company as part of the agreed cooperation. This will have a positive impact by creating inclusive jobs and improving our environmental footprint.
Before handing over redundant hardware to the AfB Group, the K+S Second Life unit checks whether the hardware can be reused internally or if it would make sense to transfer it between the K+S sites. The sale of hardware that is no longer required has positive effects for the sites, such as minimizing disposal or separation costs.
Between January 1 and December 31, 2023, the AfB Group processed around 4,600 IT and mobile devices handed over by K+S IT Kassel. During processing, the hardware, most of which is still in working order, is erased in a certified manner, refurbished, equipped with the latest operating system, and sold. In 2023 alone, the AfB Group remarketed 98% of the notebooks no longer needed through ReUse. By avoiding new production, not only emissions are reduced, but devices that cannot be remarketed are also professionally dismantled.
![Classification in reuse (remarketing) and recycling of the equipment K+S submitted Classification of the equipment in reuse (remarketing) and recycling](/.images/sustainability/classification-reuse-recycling-16-9.png?__scale=w:1404,h:790,c:transparent,q:80)
Furthermore, used hardware at AfB is not only "green", but also "social", as 5 integrative jobs were created with the exchanged IT hardware.
![K+S Certification from our cooperation partner AfB Group 2023 K+S Certification from our Cooperation partner AfB Group 2023](/.images/sustainability/certification-afb-group-2023-16-9.png?__scale=w:1176,h:720,c:transparent,q:80)
The AfB Group is an inclusive company. Around 49% of its 650 employees are severely disabled. That's where the name "AfB" comes from: Work for people with disabilities. The AfB Group has received numerous awards for this exceptional business model, which successfully combines ecological and social sustainability.