Wittur

Background and context to Wittur's sustainability journey

When the European Union introduced the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD), it triggered a wave of activity—and uncertainty—across industries. Many companies hit pause in 2024, reassessing timelines and scaling back efforts following the EU’s “stop-the-clock” Omnibus Simplification Package.

But Wittur, a global leader in elevator components, made a different call.

From the very start, the company viewed CSRD not just as a regulatory hurdle, but as an opportunity to build something lasting—real value, deeper stakeholder trust, and a more resilient business. Led by Ayperi Sevincli, Global Head of Sustainability, Wittur decided to keep going, undeterred by shifting deadlines. The mission was clear: prepare thoroughly, act early, and embed sustainability into the core of the business.

Building the Foundation

Wittur knew this journey wouldn’t be about ticking boxes. To lay the groundwork for meaningful and audit-ready sustainability reporting, the company focused on getting its systems and people ready—starting with the right tools and partnerships.

1. Smart Systems for Smarter Reporting

To manage data collection across a wide global footprint, Wittur partnered with KEY ESG, a software platform purpose-built for sustainability. The goal was simple: automate, streamline, and make reporting repeatable—so they could focus on impact, not spreadsheets.

Ayperi Sevincli explains why they chose KEY ESG as their software partner:

"KEY ESG's intuitive platform aided us in our journey to streamline workflows around data aggregation so that we could more easily and quickly move to action plans and improvement. The platform and the customer support team have enabled us to tackle CSRD processes with confidence and look beyond compliance to achieving our sustainability goals."

2. Expertise Where It Counts

Drawing on third-party expertise when needed, Wittur began with a rigorous Double Materiality Assessment—mapping what matters most to both the business and its stakeholders. That analysis is now digitized within the KEY ESG platform, making it easier to track, update, and assure over time.

3. Embedding Governance & Ownership

Recognizing that sustainability is everyone’s business, Wittur integrated its global sustainability function directly into the CFO’s office. On the ground, local sites appointed “Sustainability Champions”—giving ESG efforts both a central strategy and local heartbeat.

4. Aligning Values with Business Goals

With CSRD as a catalyst, Wittur has taken steps to deeply align its sustainability ambitions with long-term business plans. It’s no longer a parallel initiative—it’s part of how the company thinks, operates, and grows.

Looking Ahead

Even with the CSRD clock paused, Wittur isn’t slowing down. The world’s expectations are changing fast—and not just from regulators. Today, stakeholders like lenders are embedding sustainability KPIs directly into financing agreements. Wittur’s early efforts are already paying off.

Ayperi Sevincli describes KEY ESG’s contribution to their sustainability strategy going forward:

“Thanks to the flexibility of KEY ESG’s platform, the company continues progressing toward full CSRD compliance, while also using the same system to manage broader ESG reporting needs. The infrastructure is in place. The processes are repeatable. The culture is shifting.”

And for Wittur, that’s the real success of this journey—not just checking the compliance box, but building a more transparent, accountable, and sustainable future.