Social and ecological commitment forms part of the corporate culture at PAPSTAR. By funding activities in the various regions of Germany and internationally, the company wishes to contribute to a society worth living in. The main areas of funding target people, environmental protection and sustainability through circular economic solutions.
By joining the United Nations Global Compact (UNGC), PAPSTAR has committed to providing ongoing support and continuous improvement to the implementation of the ten universal principles of the Global Compact (GC) with regard to human rights, industrial standards, environmental protection and anti-corruption, and by doing so officially confirms the position it has taken in respect of sustainability. CEO Bert Kantelberg has signed an agreement drawn up by the United Nations Global Compact, which ties PAPSTAR GmbH very closely to the basic tenets of corporate social responsibility (CSR).
Social commitment and the support of charitable (environmental) organisations associated with this is extremely important to PAPSTAR: For example, the most recently made annual Christmas donations supported institutions like Ärzte ohne Grenzen e.V. (Doctors without Borders), Deutscher Kinderschutzbund e.V. (German child protection agency), Rettet den Regenwald e.V. (Rainforest Rescue), Justgiggit.de (Dig holes. Collect rain. Make Africa green.) around ambassador Thomas D, member of "Die Fantastischen Vier" and the Aktion-Mensch-Soziallotterie (lottery draw for social good).
The Kall-based "Hilfsgruppe Eifel - Hilfe für krebskranke Kinder e.V." has always been able to count on PAPSTAR's support. This is also the case when it comes to hosting the "Eifel Oldie Night", which has found a new home since 2023 on the large parking lot in the company's warehouse area.
The commitment - the previous venue had been affected by the flood disaster - also included the implementation of a coherent sustainability concept around the two recycling loops "corn cup recycling" and "Zero Waste" (organic waste of plant origin together with disposable tableware made from renewable raw materials). "We have never experienced such a feeling of cooperation and support in all the years," said Chairman Willi Greuel.
With the kick-off event in August 2024 at the Öschberghof in Donaueschingen, PAPSTAR is officially part of the partner network and supporter of the Serge Gnabry Foundation. This foundation is dedicated to the topics of health and care with the aim of sustainably improving conditions for patients and employees in the healthcare sector.
"The purpose of my foundation will focus on health and the health and care sector," explained Gnabry, 29-year-old winger for German football record champions FC Bayern Munich and 45-time senior international: "We are committed to improving the conditions for those who are dependent on the best possible care due to their medical history or who work in this field." Together with its partners, the foundation aims to implement targeted projects in this area as well as provide direct support to medical facilities.
The staff from PAPSTAR played Santa Clause, up to 20 euros, for up to hundred kids from families who receive support from Caritas, for the fifth year in a row (2019 until 2023). The family care service run by Caritas Association for the Eifel Region helps families and single parents who find themselves in extremely difficult situations; in total, well over one hundred families from difficult social backgrounds and children mostly under 12 years of age receive support in this way. "The workforce welcomed the campaign with open arms from the very start, and the response is unbelievable," says Anne Kurtensiefen, Head of Social Work at Caritas in the Eifel. "We would like to thank you very much for this heart-felt commitment, not least on behalf of the children and their parents!"
Family support provides support, relief, guidance and practical knowledge about child and infant care, education, activities and leisure activities as well as household management and everyday organisation. She also arranges or accompanies contact with schools, authorities, doctors and other institutions. She acts as a role model for the family to follow, compensates for a lack of knowledge in everyday life with children and even takes over areas of responsibility.
In May 2022 PAPSTAR supported the city of Cologne in caring for Ukrainian refugees in their partner cities Katowice (Kattowitz, Poland) and Cluj Napoca (Klausenburg, Romania) with disposable tableware with a total value of 25,000 euros.
The "request for help", sent by the department for special projects in the office of Mayoress Henriette Reker (City of Cologne), was less than 12 hours old when Bert Kantelberg, CEO of PAPSTAR GmbH who was immediately involved, had already personally logged into the merchandise management system to clear paper plates and cups as well as disposable cutlery (knives, forks, spoons) in the said total value.