Society

Think globally, act locally

As a family-owned business, a commitment to society is deeply rooted in our corporate values. We stand by our responsibility to the communities where we operate. Through a wide range of alliances, partnerships, and donations, STIHL makes a contribution to positive social development – both globally and locally.

Our commitment focuses primarily on education, health, and society. Numerous STIHL companies around the world cooperate with local educational institutions such as schools and universities and are dedicated to promoting good vocational training and better educational opportunities. We act as a partner toward the communities in which we maintain a presence and support local projects within our means. In and around Waiblingen, Germany, where our founding company is based, we are involved in a variety of regional organizations and associations. For many years, we have worked closely with SOS-Kinderdorf Württemberg, our local SOS Children’s Villages facility. Alongside regular monetary and equipment donations, our employees help out by providing volunteer gardening and landscaping services at the children’s village. STIHL Tirol has also been supporting its local SOS Children’s Village since 2004.

The following examples offer a glimpse into our commitment to society and our many activities around the world:

Demonstrating solidarity

Since 2020, the coronavirus has been a challenge for the entire world. STIHL has also done its part to protect the health of its employees – and society at large. Starting in the first wave, several STIHL companies donated protective equipment such as safety glasses and face shields to local hospitals, nursing homes, and facilities for people with disabilities. What is more, nearly all STIHL production companies participated in offers to provide STIHL staff with vaccination options. The founding company also allowed the Rems-Murr administrative district’s public health doctors to use its company health center to vaccinate people from the region. Our production company in Brazil, for example, found a creative solution to vaccinate employees and their family members against Covid-19 by setting up a drive-through vaccination clinic.

Ready to help

In mid-2021, several regions of Germany were hit by historic floods. The Weinsheim region, along with our local magnesium diecasting plant and its workforce, was heavily impacted. With a donation of 500,000 euros – the largest in our history – STIHL provided equal financial support to both the Bitburg-Prüm district’s local German Red Cross chapter and the German civil protection organization Technisches Hilfswerk. A drive within the founding company was also started to collect money for employees affected by the flooding. The company matched the total of 126,000 euros donated entirely by STIHL staff.

Real-life inclusion

In 2021, STIHL Qingdao (China) partnered with Ru Chang, an educational and vocational institution that brings businesses and people with disabilities together. STIHL China supported ten people with disabilities by providing wages and benefits, opening the doors to vocational training and health services for the recipients. The Chinese company also donated computers and furniture for the Ru Chang training and vocational center.

For people and the environment

In Brazil, STIHL supports Pró Florescer, a project that offers young people from financially disadvantaged backgrounds an opportunity to undergo prevocational training with a focus on landscape maintenance. STIHL Brazil has been supporting the project since 2015 and donated the equivalent of over 20,000 euros in 2021 alone. Since the partnership started, more than 3,000 young people have received training in gardening. In addition, STIHL has made regular donations of equipment to help ensure the maintenance of Rio de Janeiro’s Jardim Botânico since 2008.

For the common good

STIHL Inc. in the U.S. supports local associations and individuals who are committed to charitable causes with annual donations through its Charitable Donations Committee. In 2021, the company provided the equivalent of roughly 93,000 euros in funding to community service organizations in the Hampton Roads area of southeast Virginia and northeast North Carolina. The funding is used for a wide range of purposes, especially food banks and stable housing. The latter includes donations to charities that provide resources and shelter for homeless families and individuals.

talent development

In China, ZAMA has been working with Dongguan Technician College and Huizhou Engineering Vocational College for several years. A dual training program has been initiated at local colleges and universities in southern China in cooperation with the German Chamber of Commerce. Ninety students have already benefitted from the project since its launch in 2015. In 2021, ZAMA also donated the equivalent of roughly 12,000 euros to a local school to improve classroom equipment and support the building of athletic facilities, including a soccer field.

Aid through experience

Our Swiss chain plant is committed to a variety of causes, including assistance for disadvantaged children. Since 2016, the plant has been partners with LIFT, an organization dedicated to helping young people with learning disabilities enter the working world by gaining practical work experience at businesses.

Focus on education

STIHL Tirol maintains partnerships with various educational institutions in the region. Since 2015, the company has worked closely with the University of Innsbruck on multiple research projects and as a sponsor. STIHL Tirol also helps support regional schools through joint projects.