VELUX Group wins 2021 IMD-Pictet Sustainability in Family Business Award
The VELUX Group has won the 2021 IMD-Pictet Sustainability in Family Business Award, with the award jury praising its approach to climate and nature action and its commitment to becoming ‘Lifetime Carbon Neutral’.
The IMD-Pictet Sustainability in Family Business Award recognises excellence in sustainability in the sphere of family-owned enterprises, helping to inspire positive impact in areas such as climate change, decarbonisation and circularity, stewardship, positive impact, innovation, and diversity and inclusion.
The independent jury panel, featuring past award winners and sustainability experts, was impressed by the forward-looking ambition, demonstrable achievements and cohesion of the VELUX Group’s 2030 sustainability strategy, which includes the bold target to reach carbon neutrality over the lifetime of the company by the time of its centenary in 2041. The company’s efforts to move to circularity targets also stood out.
Sustainability has become critical for all companies today, but the VELUX Group and its owning family have been blazing a trail for others to follow for decades, with a responsible and caring approach to business. Our award jury of independent experts was deeply impressed by the scale of the VELUX Group’s ambition and actions, but also with the innovative, tangible and holistic way sustainability is embedded across its operations, values and strategy,
It’s a great honour to receive this award. It recognises the transformational work that we are doing to make our own business more sustainable and to reduce the impact of our operations on the planet, both in the future and the past. Being family and foundation owned, we are in a privileged position to do more than most companies. It’s highly important for us and our owners that we not only do what’s good for business but also what’s good for the planet and in the process I really hope that we inspire other companies to also do the same,
The VELUX Group is at the forefront of corporate sustainability and responsible leadership. We are delighted that the 2021 award recognizes this long-term role model for other family businesses, and we hope its example will inspire further positive change and spark innovative ideas across the entire family business spectrum,
The award was presented to VELUX Group at a ceremony at IMD in Lausanne, Switzerland. The trophy is made from recycled materials in the shape of a tree leaf and symbolizes the extension of the totem pole linking heaven and earth. It was created by Chopard, a family-run luxury watch and jewellery maker founded in 1860.
About the VELUX Group
For more than 80 years, the VELUX Group has created better living environments for people around the world; making the most of daylight and fresh air through the roof. Our product programme includes roof windows and modular skylights, decorative blinds, sun screening products and roller shutters, as well as installation and smart home solutions. These products help to ensure a healthy and sustainable indoor climate, for work and learning, for play and pleasure. We work globally – with sales and manufacturing operations in more than 36 countries and around 11,000 employees worldwide. The VELUX Group is owned by VKR Holding A/S, a limited company wholly owned by non-profit, charitable foundations (THE VELUX FOUNDATIONS) and family. In 2022, the VELUX Group had total revenue of EUR 2.99 billion, VKR Holding had total revenue of EUR 4.29 billion, and THE VELUX FOUNDATIONS donated EUR 181 million in charitable grants.
For more information about VELUX Group, visit velux.com.