Founded in 1946, Bois Brever is preparing to celebrate its 80th anniversary. Now led by the third generation of the family, the sawmill in northern Luxembourg is planning for the long term. For Corinne Brever, that means looking beyond investment in machinery and securing timber supplies. Since taking part in Banque de Luxembourg’s ESG workshops, she has gradually broadened her understanding of sustainability. “We want to have a vision for the next 10 or 20 years […] and I’m convinced we need to invest in sustainability.”
The five pillars of ESG
Since 2024, Banque de Luxembourg has offered a six-month workshop programme on sustainability for around ten business leaders each year. Participants meet once a month to exchange ideas around five ESG pillars: governance, employees, community, environment and customers, before concluding the programme with a final session dedicated to implementing projects within their companies. The aim is to encourage peer-to-peer exchanges and help identify practical actions adapted to each company’s reality.
When Corinne Brever joined the programme, she still mainly associated ESG with environmental issues. “I was really focused on everything related to the environment,” she says. At the time, the company had already introduced several environmental initiatives, including PEFC certification, wood waste recovery and a photovoltaic installation. The workshops, however, broadened her perspective. “There’s much more to it. There are five pillars to this subject. I was only focused on one or two of them.”
Meeting other business leaders also proved to be a turning point. “The most important thing was talking to other companies, especially businesses our size, and realising we all face similar challenges.”
Investing in staff
One of the biggest changes has been the growing focus on employees. Bois Brever has structured the employee journey more thoroughly, introducing a formal onboarding process in which every new recruit is supported by a mentor. The company has also formalised its offboarding process, expanded one-to-one meetings, strengthened training opportunities, introduced team-building activities and implemented a year-end performance bonus.
For Corinne Brever, this reflects a simple belief: investment is no longer only about equipment. “Yes, we invest in machinery. But now we also have to invest in the people working here, because without them nothing works.”
An environmental approach already well established
We believe it’s important to make use of 100% of the wood. We make use of every part of it.
Environmental responsibility has long been part of Bois Brever’s DNA. Faced with increasingly scarce high-quality timber, the company sources its wood locally, limiting supplies to Luxembourg and the Belgian Ardennes. Every resource is used to its fullest potential. “We believe it’s important to make use of 100% of the wood. We make use of every part of it.” Wood residues are notably used to fuel the company’s boiler.
Bois Brever also generates part of its electricity through solar panels. The company is now looking at how to make better use of surplus electricity, particularly by sharing it with other organisations in the municipality.
The sawmill also plans to obtain the “SuperDrecksKëscht fir Betriber” certification, a Luxembourg label recognising companies that implement sustainable waste and resource management practices. Bois Brever already works with SuperDrecksKëscht for waste collection and now wants its approach to be formally certified.
Small steps, but a long-term vision
For Corinne Brever, the main difference between an SME and a large company lies less in ambition than in the resources available. “Large companies have departments dedicated to all that. We have a business to run.”
SMEs can do things -- in fact, we have to do things -- but we mustn’t put too much pressure on ourselves. We’ll take it step by step.
“SMEs can make a difference. In fact, they have to. But there’s no point putting ourselves under pressure. We do it step by step.” She therefore advocates a gradual approach.
For her, sustainability is no longer just about environmental issues. It develops progressively through a series of decisions affecting employees, the organisation of the business and the way resources are managed.
That philosophy also captures the spirit of this series: ESG is not only about major investments or certifications. It is also built through everyday decisions, adapted to each company’s resources and reality.
