Our working student Joanna Großmann talks about her experiences as a working student at the COFERMIN Group:
When I started my master’s degree in business chemistry last year, I knew I wanted to make good use of the semester breaks. My father, who has worked closely with the COFERMIN Group for many years, told me a lot about the group of companies in Essen and sparked my interest. I applied for a working student position in the Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) department and, after a straightforward introductory process, quickly became part of the team.
I was warmly welcomed right from the start. Our ESG team currently consists of three people. This allowed me to quickly settle in and contribute my own ideas, which I gained during previous internships in the ESG field. Thanks to my previous experience, I am able to contribute my own perspectives and suggestions, which are taken seriously and valued. The working atmosphere is open and collegial—I particularly like that.
The COFERMIN Group’s first ESG report, published shortly before I joined the company, is certainly a milestone in this regard.
My work for COFERMIN now builds on this report, with me participating in various projects that all aim to promote sustainability and responsible corporate behavior.
An important part of this is determining the “product carbon footprint.”
The goal is to be able to show our customers the carbon footprint of the products they purchase. In addition, I am responsible for the product classification of our entire portfolio in order to determine the proportion of primary, secondary, and by-products.
As a new team member, our after-work event was also a special occasion for me, where we all watched a European Championship preliminary round match of the German national team and ordered pizza. Yes, I feel completely at home, which is also due to the fact that individual needs are taken into account—I am even allowed to bring my dog to the office.
For those of you, dear readers, who would like to apply to COFERMIN: Be authentic, open, and honest. COFERMIN values these qualities. Don’t pretend to be someone you’re not; just be yourself. The company offers an open and welcoming working environment where you can develop both professionally and personally.
Working at COFERMIN has shown me how important it is to work in an environment where you are valued as a person. I am grateful for the support of Konstantin Moog and Martin Polczyk and look forward to continuing to work on exciting projects and contributing to a sustainable future.
In addition to my report, I would like to refer you to the blog post by our Chief Operating Officer (COO) Martin Polczyk. Martin talks about the central importance of sustainability in the raw materials industry and explains how COFERMIN is addressing the challenges and opportunities in the area of ESG. He explains how important it is to promote transparency and responsibility in the supply chain and how our ESG strategy has become an essential part of our identity. Martin’s post shows how we are implementing sustainable practices through innovation and collaboration, thereby offering added value to our customers and providing a necessary service to the environment. I recommend this post to anyone interested in our ESG initiatives.
