Unternehmensgruppe Freudenberg

Social Responsibility

Social responsibility is an important and notable tradition in the family and stems from the realization that prosperity, education and standing are not due to personal and family efforts alone but also to the cooperation and hard work of the company’s entire workforce. The company founder Carl Johann and his wife Sophie Freudenberg already gave this thinking tangible expression when they set up an assistance fund on their golden wedding anniversary in recognition of the combined efforts of the employees.

In this sense, successive generations of the family have not only handed down responsibility for the factory but also for all who work in it. The sons have tried to live up to this tradition by establishing diverse social funds and services and making these facilities available to those in need. In the last few decades, the particular focus has been on promoting home ownership for the workforce, youth training and the integration of disadvantaged groups. In future, support will continue to focus on young people in particular, together with assistance for present and former employees who are experiencing severe financial hardship through no fault of their own.

Overview of voluntary social and welfare services

Even before the introduction of health insurance legislation in 1884, a company health insurance fund was already in existence. Up to 1874, the fund was financed by financial penalties levied for infringements of the Factory Act. From 1874-1884, the health insurance association was voluntary. As from 1884, the laws of the Reich applied. Until 1920, all penalties continued to be forfeited to the health insurance fund.

  • 1889
    Johanna Freudenberg founded a church-run nursing station in Schönau.
  • 1893
    Construction of a kindergarten in Schönau, donated to the Schönau church community by Friedrich Carl Freudenberg.
  • 1894
    On the occasion of their golden wedding anniversary, Carl and Sophie Freudenberg set up an assistance fund for employees and their families in financial hardship, with a capital of 100,000 Gold Marks and income of 6,500 Gold Marks per year.
  • 1902
    Donation of municipal public baths to Schönau city
  • 1903
    Friedrich Carl Freudenberg set up an improvement fund with a capital of 100,000 Gold Marks and income of 4,000 Gold Marks per year. This fund guaranteed a small company pension to invalids from occupational diseases and accidents at work.
  • 1904
    To mark their silver wedding anniversary, Hermann Ernst and Helene Freudenberg set up a widows and orphans fund with a capital of 150,000 Gold Marks. Widows received 200 Marks per annum and orphans 50 Marks p.a.
  • 1905
    The company, as sole contributor, established a complementary benefit fund for employees.
  • 1914
    On the day of mobilization for the First World War, Hermann Ernst Freudenberg set up a support fund for the families of the men called up to war. The company paid in 1 Gold Mark per man per day. Employees joined in with voluntary contributions.
  • 1918
    Richard Freudenberg drew up the "service premium contract", an interest-bearing share of the workers in the company capital. Workers were allowed to enter the scheme up to 1929. After that date, no further contracts were concluded, but interest was paid out for many years until the death of the last contract partner in 1992.
  • 1924
    After the end of inflation and the currency reform, the remains of the foundations were consolidated and handed over to the company's health insurance fund for administration.
  • 1938
    To mark the 90th birthday of Friedrich Carl Freudenberg, the partners in Weinheim set up the Carl Freudenberg Foundation to support young people. Further funds were bestowed on the foundation in 1940 from the will of Helene Freudenberg.
  • 1942
    To mark his 50th birthday, Richard Freudenberg donated 100,000 Reichsmark to the city of Weinheim for the construction of an indoor swimming pool. Walter and Annie Freudenberg donated the same sum in 1948 for the same purpose to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Walter Freudenberg's joining the company.
  • 1949
    On the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the company, the partners set up the home construction fund. At the same time, two foundations with a 10-year term were donated to the cities of Weinheim and Schönau for the support of citizens in need.
  • 1957
    To mark the 100th birthday of master craftsman Georg Böhler, a prize was established for the graduates of vocational training schools. This prize was awarded every year up to 1970.
  • 1958
    To commemorate his 70th birthday, Hans Freudenberg set up the Heiner and Walter Freudenberg Foundation for to support gifted young people. This foundation operated from 1960 to 1978.
  • 1962
    To celebrate his 70th birthday, the partners gave Richard Freudenberg the sum of 500,000 DM with a term of 10 years for projects of his choice.
  • 1985
    The new pension scheme for the administration of company pensions entered into force.

    The partners set up the Freudenberg Stiftung ("Freudenberg Foundation") with a capital of 3 million DM. This foundation is a limited partner of the company. Its aim is to support the integration and promotion of disadvantaged groups and encourage cultural projects.
  • 1990
    The partners set up the Carl Freudenberg support fund with a capital of 10 million DM for employees suffering severe financial hardship and for the payment of death benefits.
  • 1999
    To celebrate its 150th anniversary, the company set up the TANNER Youth Program, which enables the children and grandchildren of employees all over the world to travel to other Freudenberg locations and stay as guests of the families of company employees. The company also donates a sum to the city of Weinheim covering two-thirds of the cost of restoring the city hall.
Last international aid projects:
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