These teams were first created in 2005 as part of the ISO 14001 certification process. Each team consists of cross-departmental representatives from environmental management, occupational health and safety, the staff council, as well as the areas to be audited. They verify whether processes, requirements, and guidelines meet the necessary standards and discuss possible measures toward organizational optimization.

Audit conversations are conducted during on-site inspections and include senior faculty. Annually, up to 40 audits are conducted and up to 20 internal auditors directly contact as many as 100 employees. All of this significantly raises awareness of the topic and ensures that optimization measures are effectively implemented. The Unit for Sustainability and Energy Management is in charge of the audits.

In addition to internal audits by our employees, the integrated occupational health and safety and environmental protection management system (AGUM) is also certified externally by an environmental auditor in accordance with the EMAS standard (Eco-Management and Audit Scheme). Part of this is our environmental statement, in which our efforts, for example in waste avoidance, direct and indirect emissions or resource consumption, are reviewed and recorded regularly. The success of our sustainability efforts crucially depends on the cooperation of all employees within the FU. More information on the EMAS audits as well as the environmental statement can be found here.

In addition, the Sustainability & Energy Office regularly offers employees free seminars on the topics of AGUM and EMAS.