Reinhard Schneider wins EY Entrepreneur of the Year and Audience Award

“Shape the Future with Confidence” was the motto for the 29^th EY Entrepreneur of the Year awards ceremony at which Werner & Mertz owner Reinhard Schneider was named winner in the Sustainability category. The owner-managed, visionary company was honored for forging new ways and actively shaping the future. The award was conferred by an independent jury of experts in the categories Family Company, Innovation, Sustainability and Young Companies. Twenty companies were nominated for the finale in the 2025 competition. 

This year for the fifth time, the EY Entrepreneur Of The Year Audience Award was granted by the readers of manager magazine and others who cast their votes online. Here, too, the Mainz eco pioneer won the award with the most votes by far.

“For our employees and for me this is an impressive confirmation that we are headed in the right direction. The Audience Award in particular shows the broad, positive feedback of the general public,“ said Schneider after the ceremony on Thursday evening in Munich. The presenter Christina Diem-Puello, President of the Verband der Unternehmerinnen in Germany, praised the award winner’s performance on behalf of his company.

Werner & Mertz impressed the jury in all four criteria

The four key criteria award were: Entrepreneurship (corporate thinking and action); Purpose (corporate purpose and vision); Growth (growth and future potential); and Impact (positive impact and corporate social responsibility). Werner & Mertz showed extraordinary performance in all four categories.

Entrepreneurship

The company’s most convincing move was making sustainability a priority in all corporate decisions – consciously contrary to the then predominant trend of imitation by large corporations in the industry. Since that time, the company has pursued the goal of staying at least one development generation ahead of the previous ecological benchmark in its formulations, packaging and production conditions – with no loss of performance.The most prominent example of this attitude is the extensive achievement of several world records in high-quality recycling of plastic packaging for the mass market.  

Impact

The exceptionally high level of conscientiousness in the company shows up in two ways. First, the benefit to society is realized by the company’s exemplary contribution to preserving natural resources, and second by its Open Innovation approach in which the company shares its know-how with others. Still another is the benefit to the working world in that Werner & Mertz achieves exemplary employee empowerment, motivation and retention. The medium-sized enterprise is regularly named among the Top Employers in Mainz and southern Germany.

Purpose

The employees’ personal development and loyalty to the company arises from characteristics of a value-creation culture. Employees find meaning in their work through their direct participation in a variety of beacon projects aimed at increasing sustainability.

Growth

The world’s brand leader in ecological cleaning products and family company in the fifth generation strives toward a broader international rollout of European market penetration. To that end, the company continues to focus on organic growth in its trusted brands.

Platinum medal for Tana-Chemie GmbH! The company has done it again, receiving the highest award in this year’s 2025 sustainability rating from the international rating agency EcoVadis. As part of the Professional division of Werner & Mertz, Tana-Chemie is one of the world’s leading companies in terms of sustainability, as the platinum medal is only awarded to the top percentage of all companies.

EcoVadis is one of the leading providers of sustainability assessments and has a global network of more than 150,000 companies from over 250 industries. The provider’s goal is to make reliable and internationally recognized assessments available that help companies minimize risks, drive improvements and achieve positive environmental and social impacts. The assessment evaluates the extent to which companies integrate the principles of sustainability and corporate social responsibility into their business processes, including all policies and measures along the entire supply chain.

“We are delighted to receive this award once again. It is a tremendous honor and confirms once more that our consistent commitment to integral sustainability and our continuous pursuit of optimization in line with the circular economy are having an impact,” says Yannic von Raesfeld, Head of Sustainability Management at Werner & Mertz. “It is particularly gratifying that we were able to improve in all evaluation categories compared to last year.”

EcoVadis evaluates companies based on over 20 criteria in four key areas: environment, labor and human rights, ethics, and sustainable procurement. Tana-Chemie GmbH once again performed especially well in the “environment” category this year. EcoVadis particularly commends the company’s consistent implementation of the circular economy, with a special focus on the use of recycled materials and packaging.

As a sustainability pioneer and socially responsible company, sustainability has been an integral part of Werner & Mertz Professional’s corporate culture for years. Proof of the holistic understanding of sustainability in the Professional Division has come in the form of certifications and awards over the past several years. Honors include certification by EMAS, the world’s most demanding environmental management system, and the sustainable building standard LEED Platinum for the Mainz headquarters. In addition, the family-owned company was recently one of the first industrial companies ever to undergo the We Impact Standard audit. This audit focuses primarily on social and governance aspects in operational processes. As a result, Tana-Chemie GmbH already voluntarily meets many of the requirements of the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) and the Supply Chain Due Diligence Act (LkSG). In 2013, the products from the Green Care Professional brand became the first worldwide professional cleaning agents to receive the Gold designation from the renowned Cradle to Cradle Cradle® Certification.

Together with its parent company Werner & Mertz, Tana-Chemie GmbH works within the Recyclate Initiative founded in 2012 to practice and promote effective recycling of plastic from post-consumer collections for the good of the circular economy. A new milestone was recently achieved when the share of recycled PET (rPET) from the Yellow Bag was increased to 75 % for the PET bottles of the Green Care Professional brand. In addition, Werner & Mertz, in cooperation with the global packaging and paper company Mondi, developed a fully recyclable, patented stand-up pouch made of mono-material (polyethylene) with a removable banderole according to the Cradle to Cradle® principles, which was awarded the prestigious WorldStar Packaging Award in 2020.

Innovationen at the forefront

• Care without layer build-up – and sustainable too: TAWIP neo, the first wipe care product based on innovative, water-soluble biopolymers of plant origin from Europe, attracted keen interest among visitors.
• BIOBACT power: This microbiological cleaner with 100% natural microorganisms removes dirt and unpleasant odours deep down and permanently. A real help for hygienic freshness.
• zero%-Sortiment: Under the slogan ‘What we leave out makes the difference’, Green Care Professional presented its new product line without fragrances or dye – particularly suitable for allergy sufferers and anyone who values maximum compatibility.

Networking, new contacts, interested guests in high spirits

“CMS 2025 was a complete success for us,” sums up Markus Häfner, Managing Director of Tana-Chemie, “and once again proved to be a platform for presenting comprehensive insights into future-oriented products. The exchange of ideas and the international presence not only demonstrated how important the trade fair is for the industry, but also that sustainability is full of opportunities.”

Switch’s innovative and unique combination of bottle and dosing cap with the corresponding refill pouch represents a comprehensive and revolutionary solution for the entire professional cleaning industry. All components contribute effectively to the circular economy and set new standards in terms of 100 % recyclability and waste minimization. The integrated dosing cap eliminates the intermediate step of manual measuring and the potential direct contact of cleaning staff with the cleaning agents. Users benefit from the minimization of the risk of overdosing. Additional costs for separate dosing accessories are eliminated.

Added value for sensitive areas

The name and logo of the new product series reveal what’s important – the products contain zero percent dyes and fragrances. “Our years of experience show us that customers are increasingly asking for fragrance- and dye-free products,“ says Bianca Nerowski, Head of Product Management at Werner & Mertz Professional. “Especially where no odors and the lowest possible indoor air pollution are demanded, our products deliver true added value.” She explains: “Because the cleaning agents emit no fragrance in the indoor air, they lower the  risk of allergic reactions among cleaning personnel and everyone else present in the cleaned rooms. At the same time, the formulations prove their strong cleaning performance.“

Moreover, the formulations for the Zero cleaning products have been rigorously optimized for environmental compatibility. By doing without these additives, product developers have made further improvements to the biodegradability of the cleaning solutions. All ingredients have been tested thoroughly for their ecological harmlessness.  

Therefore, almost all products in the new Zero range bear the respected EU-Ecolabel which guarantees the highest standards for environmentally friendly formulations. In addition, nearly the entire range has been certified by the Cradle-to-Cradle Products Innovation Institute. This distinction proves that the Zero products satisfy the highest requirements for ingredients, resource conservation and packaging.

All products are in the same price segment as the other products under the Green Care Professional brand, making them an attractive alternative at no additional cost for people with allergies.

Since the formula is completely free of microplastics, it already meets the EU Regulation 2023/2055 on the restriction of microplastics, making TAWIP neo the future-proof choice for wipe care.

“TAWIP neo was developed as a sustainable answer to conventional, petroleum-based wipe cares and combines ecological responsibility with economic efficiency,” explains Thomas Ulbricht, Head of Werner & Mertz Professional. “The power of plants replaces petroleum without compromising on cleaning performance. In this way, we offer professional users a real alternative that is future-proof, microplastic-free and at the same time highly effective in use.”

Versatile application and economic advantages

TAWIP neo is EU-Ecolabel certified and is suitable for all floor coverings such as linoleum, PVC, flexibvle tiles, especially rubber, natural and artificial stone as well as sealed wood and parquet floors. The product is particularly suitable for the spray cleaner method. As a 2-in-1 solution, the wipe care combines cleaning and care in a single operation and can be used without special training.

The extremely low-foaming, label-free formula ensures an even, silky gloss finish with outstanding coverage and a pleasant room fragrance – without any waxes, layer build-up or smear marks. In addition, slip-resistance is guaranteed in accordance with DIN 18032-2 with a dulling effect. Easy and safe to use, TAWIP neo reduces re-soiling thanks to its soil release effect and, when used regularly, eliminates the need for time-consuming and costly deep cleaning and subsequent maintenance.

In addition to its ecological advantages, TAWIP neo also offers professional cleaning service providers numerous economic advantages: The efficient dosage from 2.5 ml per 1 litre of water contributes to lower costs per application. At the same time, floors can be cleaned and maintained with significantly fewer personnel, chemicals and machinery.

More flexible planning and reduced resource requirements

Thanks to the continuous cleaning and maintenance with the help of TAWIP neo, deep cleaning and recoating of floors are much less often necessary or even obsolete. The extended maintenance intervals reduce the consumption of cleaning agents and coating agents and reduce the need for cost-intensive machines and special utensils.

It is also possible to compact existing coatings and repair floors without having to completely renew them. This significantly reduces the use of specialist personnel for deep cleaning and coating as a special activity and can be covered during maintenance cleaning. This allows cleaners to be deployed more flexibly and a sustainable reduction in operating costs can be achieved.

“With TAWIP neo, we are providing our customers with a tool that significantly facilitates sustainable business and at the same time reduces the logistical, personnel and financial effort involved in building care,” explains Ulbricht. “We are convinced that this innovation will change professional wipe care.”

Soft, fresh-scented laundry has long been a sign of quality and cleanliness. SOFT fresh CF protect, the new sustainable fabric softener from Green Care Professional, not only guarantees exceptionally long-lasting feel-good freshness and a pleasantly soft feel. Thanks to its special formulation, SOFT fresh CF protect also protects textile fibers, revitalizes colors, and provides exceptional softness.

Thanks to the special anti-pilling effect – also known as the Re-New effect – the use of the new fabric softener preserves the quality of natural textile fibers (e.g., cotton), maintains or restores a clean feel and color intensity, and demonstrably extends the service life of the textiles.

In professional laundry hygiene, users benefit from the advantages of the new fabric softener SOFT fresh CF protect on several levels:

• Cost savings: The extended useful life of fabrics saves money as the purchase of new fabrics can be eliminated or postponed for a long time. Furthermore, because SOFT fresh CF protect is effective at low concentrations, product use is more economical.
• Quality indicators: Laundry quality, a fresh scent, soft feel and color intensity in fabrics are quality indicators that reinforce the image of a business and customers‘ well-being and positive coexistence. These traits are particularly relevant in restaurants, hotels and nursing homes.
• Time savings: Thanks to the use of cationic surfactants, SOFT fresh reduces static, so ironing is faster, easier and time-saving.
• Certifications: The formula is Dermatest-certified. SOFT fresh CF protect is also CLP-free.
• Sustainability: Plant-based surfactants made mostly from European oil-producing plants are used in the formulation for SOFT fresh CF protect. In contrast to many  conventional fabric softeners, SOFT fresh CF protect does not contain surfactants obtained from animal waste material. All ingredients in the formulation are completely biodegradable. With the launch of SOFT fresh CF protect, Green Care Professional again shows that economy and sustainability in professional cleaning are not mutually exclusive. The new SOFT fresh CF protect is now available in the standard five-liter and 15-liter containers. It is compatible with all commercially available laundry detergents.

With the launch of SOFT fresh CF protect, Green Care Professional again shows that economy and sustainability in professional cleaning are not mutually exclusive. The new SOFT fresh CF protect is now available in the standard five-liter and 15-liter containers. It is compatible with all commercially available laundry detergents.

All good things come in threes – this could be the motto of Green Care Professional, the sustainable professional cleaning products from Tana-Chemie, as three new products will be presented at CMS 2025. These include the TAWIP neo wipe care product, which has been nominated for the Purus Innovation Award. The topics of biopolymers, microorganisms and compatibility for allergy sufferers will lead the product innovations at the trade fair.
 

Microorganisms as secret helpers in cleaning

Let others work for you! BIOBACT power removes dirt and odours in a single step. Thanks to the 100 % natural microorganisms, a depot effect is created that produces long-lasting freshness. After mopping, the harmless microorganisms remain on the surface and feed on new organic matter. This actively counteracts the formation of new odours. The CLP-free, fully biodegradable all-purpose cleaner BIOBACT power is versatile in use. Whether for sanitary facilities, fitness areas, kitchens or warehouses – the all-purpose cleaner offers the additional effect of long-term odour elimination in just one work step during daily maintenance cleaning.

Technical centre – at the CMS again in 2025

The Technical Centre was already very popular at the previous CMS in 2023. Daily hourly live demonstrations will once again take place in 2025 at the Technical Centre on stand 214 & 201 in hall 4.2, showing what the sustainable products from Frosch for professionals can do and explaining how sustainable and high-performance products work. 

Tana-Chemie’s comprehensive programme offers tailor-made solutions and is aimed at institutional and industrial users in the areas of commercial cleaning, kitchen and personal hygiene, healthcare, industry and HORECA. The wide range of sustainable, recyclable and high-performance cleaning products is available nationwide through specialised wholesalers.