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Business and Biodiversity: Reckhaus

Reckhaus

Why and how we are committed

Insects are completely underestimated by society - they are of high value, for example for food production and biodegradation of organic material. At the same time they sometimes harm people, animals and food or textiles. How can you use an insect repellent and at the same time campaign these animals? As the only company in the biocide sector, Reckhaus has faced this opposition, examined its impact on biodiversity and developed with Insect Respect the world's first quality seal for insect control and repellent with ecological value added.

Given that insects are beneficial for society, the principle is:
1. avoidance and reduction,
2. ecological alternatives,
3. compensation of insect control.
For this, Insect Respect creates (a) public awareness, especially for consumers (publications, videos, events, exhibitions, augmented reality, community building, NGO cooperations) as well as (b) insect-friendly habitats. 

On a basis of a scientific model, the intervention that biocides is calculated, as well as factors and measures to be taken in terms of balancing. Afterwards Insect Respect builds "insect-friendly habitat", compensation areas on flat roofs in residential areas that return space and diversity to the nature. In 2012, Insect Respect created the world’s first insect compensation area in Bielefeld, Germany. In 2015, the first Swiss compensation area was created in Gais (Switzerland). In cooperation with scientists, the areas are monitored. The biotopes increase the local insect biodiversity, amongst others with different substrate types and layer thicknesses.Products with the quality mark set insecticides and water endangering substances asides. Consumers receive information about insects, prevention and the respective compensation area.

Insect Respect as worldwide unique quality mark stands for a holistic rethinking in the biocide sector. The compensation can be applied on all (insecticide free) insect control products. Retail markets and biocide producers can label their products with the quality seal and thus compensate the impact of their offer. Thus, Insect Respect is a sustainable business model, that earns money with environmental services.

In order to make people use less biocides (reduction objective), a change of awareness is needed in the society. Insect Respect actively contributes to this rethinking process: With numerous awareness raising measures like the art action “Saving Flies”, the animation video “Little Giants” about the value of insects, with the book “Why every Fly counts” from Dr. Hans-Dietrich Reckhaus (initiator of Insect Respect), with presentations, keynotes, events, exhibitions with Augmented Reality elements, insect species identification as well as more than 100 fact sheets and information about environmentally friendly prevention actions.

As a lobby for insects, Insect Respect actively creates a network of engaged players. In cooperation with Partners, Insect Respect organized the “Day of Insects” (for the first time on 30. March 2017, next on 22 March 2018) as well as with the Bertelsmann Foundation the conference “The value of insects” (9 November 2017). In close collaboration with the Natural History Museum Bielefeld, Insect Respect publishes since beginning of 2017 the article series “Insect of the Month” in the Newspaper “Westfalenblatt”.

Insect Respect advocates for the promotion of insects and biodiversity – particularly because the company Reckhaus originates from a sector, that has so far not dealt with the ecological impact of its business model. In the Biodiversity in Good Company Initiative, Insect Respect can exchange experiences with like-minded people, learn from the pioneers of other sectors and jointly create awareness for this commitment. www.insect-respect.org 

FactBox Reckhaus GmbH & Co. KG

Headquarters
Bielefeld, Germany

Major products
Biocides

Global turnover 2016
25 Mio. Euro

Global employees
60

Progress Reports to Biodiversity in Good Company's Leadership Declaration

Further information & good practice