And not just for fun – they communicate through the language of dance! About 5% of flying bees are scout bees, whose task is to search for new food sources. They then share what they've found either through the round dance or the waggle dance. The round dance is the simpler but also less precise form. The gatherer bees only learn that the source is somewhere nearby and have to search for it themselves based on the scent they've been given. The waggle dance is quite different: here, the food source is further away from the hive, sometimes even several kilometres! That's why the dancer has to communicate both the distance and the direction to the source as seen from the hive. The further away it is, the more energetic and extensive the dance. The scout indicates the direction relative to the position of the sun. That's how clever our honeybees are!
The honeybee is threatened with extinction. It is essential not only for nature but also for humans. Almost 80% of our native crop and wild plants are pollinated by honeybees. If there were no more bees, this would have a major impact on our food supply: harvests would decline sharply and crops such as fruit and vegetables would become scarce. The honeybee pollinates countless wild and cultivated plants and provides wonderful natural products such as honey, wax, propolis and royal jelly.
Diseases introduced from overseas, monocultures and the increased use of insecticides are the main reasons for the growing decline in bee populations. All the more reason for each of us to help support the honeybee! WENKO launched the bee project and has since been home to a total of three beehives with around 60,000 bees on our company premises in Hilden. We are trained and supported by a professional beekeeper, and we distribute our own regional honey to our employees and their families!
Would you also like to do something for our honeybees? Here are a few simple measures that can make a real difference:
We look forward to your support!
WENKO has been FSC® (Forest Stewardship Council®) certified since 2017! The FSC® label on our wood or paper products is a clear indicator that the product originates from responsible forest management. Products bearing the FSC® label ensure that forests are used in line with the social, economic and ecological needs of present and future generations. WENKO Wenselaar GmbH & Co. KG has been FSC®-certified across all its processes (Chain of Custody). This certification enables us to sell products made from FSC®-certified wood and binds us to strict regulations. In this way, WENKO supports forest management that is ecologically and socially sound. For more information on FSC® Germany, please visit www.fsc-deutschland.de. Please look out for FSC®-certified products in our online shop.
As a company we are committed to comply with social responsibility, not only by creating jobs. With our voluntary accession to the BSCI (Business Social Compliance Initiative), we undertake to comply with the code of conduct for social and environmental standards. We face up to this commitment with conviction and support several projects and organizations over many years. As a family-owned company with deep local roots, we are engaged also in local projects, particularly in the context of education and supporting young professionals.
We are committed to offering our customers nothing but first-class quality. That's why we have worked closely with the testing organisation Hermes Hansecontrol for many years. Whether it's chemical testing, consultancy or training: as a Preferred Partner, we benefit from Hermes Hansecontrol's extensive expertise. This ensures that our products always comply with current legal quality requirements. Our quality processes begin at our head office in Hilden, where our quality assurance team thoroughly tests every item for fitness for use before it goes to market. In addition, we have our own staff who inspect the goods directly at the production sites to ensure a consistent quality standard.
WENKO has already been successful on the market for over 65 years and wants to continue strengthening the trust that customers place in the company. That's why factors such as value-driven action, working conditions and environmental protection are becoming increasingly important. WENKO requires that its products are manufactured under fair conditions and using responsibly sourced raw materials. This is why WENKO participates in various certifications: WENKO has been a member of amfori BSCI (Business Social Compliance Initiative) since October 2010 and commits its suppliers and sub-suppliers to complying with the code of conduct for social and environmental standards, such as the prevention of child labour, appropriate working conditions and safe waste management. TÜV Rheinland has also audited WENKO as a supplier and awarded it the top rating of green.
WENKO gets seal of approval "by Innovative Research"
In Germany there are 3.5 million businesses, less than one percent of them research - an extremely important group that promotes innovation, discovers new things and creates growth. Also WENKO is one of them and was now given by the Donors' Association for German Science the seal of approval "Innovative through research". It honors particularly dedicated companies, committed to research and development. Innovations, creative and useful ideas which make your life easier and more convenient, are the core idea of the company philosophy at WENKO.
Always on the lookout for "better ideas" with 300+ product ideas per year, Wenko develops to be one of the most prestigious and innovative providers of household accessories. 300 patents and intellectual property rights in the last two years are directly related to the high innovation power, which affect many product areas and mark trends world-wide. The Donors' Association for German Science is one of the largest private supporter of sciences in Germany. In addition to its commitment to academic talent, excellent universities and centers of excellence, evaluated and analyzed the Donors' Association, the German research and innovation system on behalf of the Federal Ministry of Education and Research. More information can be found under the seal of approval www.stifterverband.org
![[Translate to Englisch:] Ein Baum auf einer Wiese als Symbol für Nachhaltigkeit](/fileadmin/user_upload/Unternehmen/WENKO_Unternehmen_Nachhaltigkeit_Qualitaet.jpg "[Translate to Englisch:] WENKO Verantwortung Nachhaltigkeit")
![[Translate to Englisch:] Das FSC Siegel als Zeichen für Verantwortung](/fileadmin/user_upload/FSC_C135059_Promotional_with_text_Landscape_GreenOnWhite_r_ic93Du.jpeg "[Translate to Englisch:] WENKO Verantwortung Nachhaltigkeit FSC")
![[Translate to Englisch:] Das Gütesiegel des Stifterverbands für 2020 und 2021](/fileadmin/_processed_/3/7/csm_Forschung_und_Entwicklung_2020_print_63688a6313.png "[Translate to Englisch:] WENKO Innovativ durch Forschung Gütesiegel")