Sustainability at DMG: promoting biodiversity

We can all do something to help create habitats for plants and animals, and promote biodiversity. Here are a few examples and ideas from within DMG and our local environment.

1,000 square metres of green roofing
Our new warehouse and production building is currently nearing completion. It will feature both a photovoltaic system as well as a “green roof”. Just under 50% of the rooftop area is earmarked for green roofing (roof area stands at 2,500 m2 in total, with approx. 1,000 m2 for green roofing and 1,000 m2 for the photovoltaic system). An assessment is currently underway for greening DMG’s main building, and another building is set to follow.

Green roofs support the better functioning of buildings and climate protection in multiple ways. DMG’s home city of Hamburg has responded by becoming the first major German city to develop a comprehensive green roof strategy. The goal is to green 100 hectares of rooftop space in the city.

From chard to mint …
Our apprentices have recently launched a project as part of DMG’s anniversary celebrations. This involves the building, planting, and maintenance of raised beds made from discarded DMG pallets and topsoil from Elbgaustraße. These beds are centrally located on our DMG premises and are being used to grow oregano, basil, onions, tomatoes, parsley, lovage, Japanese and garden mint, strawberries, rosemary, courgettes, rocket, romaine and butterhead lettuce, radishes, lady's mantle, spinach, chives, and chard. The project is a small but valuable further step in encouraging sustainable engagement, environmental awareness, and a sense of community within the company.

Neighbourhood diversity
Biodiversity is also being cultivated in the area surrounding DMG’s premises in Hamburg's Lurup district. Two particularly noteworthy projects:
The “100,000 Butterflies for Lurup” initiative is dedicated to making gardens nature, insect, and wildlife friendly, and to helping others do the same in their own gardens or on their doorsteps.
The Flaßbargmoor is a last remnant of the extensive Osdorf and Lurup moors. The environment organisation NABU Hamburg has been taking care of the area since 2016, leasing the land from the City of Hamburg. The aim is to continue restoring the small bodies of water, wet meadows, forest, and moorland to their natural state.

What else can we do?
There are so many ways each one of us can do something to support biodiversity. This includes setting up insect hotels, avoiding patio plants that aren’t helpful to bees, and not cutting back our gardens completely in autumn. Because shrubs, faded bushes, and perennials make perfect shelters for wild bees in winter. Wildflower areas are also invaluable for insects, and therefore for biodiversity, plus they help create healthier soil as well. Here at DMG, we are currently working on plans for a wildflower meadow on our premises.

We’ll keep you updated.