23 January 2023 – The ACE SWISS Group is charting a clear course in the area of sustainability and renewable energy. Thanks to the installation of photovoltaic systems, Casino ADMIRAL in Mendrisio will be able to cover most of its electricity needs with solar energy and reduce CO2 emissions by around 1,100 tonnes per year. Casino subsidiary ADMIRAL SA is investing more than CHF 3.5 million to install solar panels with a capacity of almost 1,400,000 kWh per year on an area of about 8,000 m2 in the Mendrisio area. As a further contribution to eco-sustainability, Casino ADMIRAL in Mendrisio is planning measures and investments totalling some CHF 2.2 million, just for the year 2023, to steadily reduce electricity consumption

At the ADMIRAL Casino in Mendrisio, the ACE SWISS Group demonstrates in an exemplary manner how sustainability, social responsibility and value creation can be brought into harmony in a future-oriented corporate concept. Chairman of the Board of Directors Birgit Wimmer says: “We are very sensitive to the preservation of natural resources and are constantly modernising our Group to create sustainable added value for the national economy. For the Casino Mendrisio, we have set ourselves the goal of securing as much of our electricity requirements as possible by using solar energy generated by photovoltaic systems, while at the same time reducing electricity consumption. I am very pleased that by the end of March 2023 we will already be able to achieve these goals. We do this with the knowledge that natural resources and our employees are our most important assets.

Solar energy and energy saving

As far as the environment is concerned, the Casino ADMIRAL Mendrisio is focusing above all on renewable energy: in the coming months, solar panels covering a total area of about 8,000 m2 will be installed on the roofs of two properties owned by ACE Invest AG (a subsidiary of ACE SWISS Holding AG) in Mendrisio. This will allow not only the casino, but also other neighbouring consumers, to be supplied with solar energy. At the same time, the heating, ventilation and air-conditioning systems will be brought up to modern standards. The investment of around 2.2 million Swiss francs was preceded by in-depth sustainability analyses prepared with the support of external experts, which will lead to a reduction in CO2 emissions of at least 80 per cent. The Casino ADMIRAL in Mendrisio has already managed to drastically reduce its daily energy consumption by about 50 per cent during closing times. In addition, the Casino is heated to a reduced degree during the winter by exploiting the temperature increase generated by the slot machines. The commissioning of an environmentally friendly woodchip heating system in the nearby FoxTown, scheduled for April 2023, will completely cover the future heating needs of the Casino.

Parsimonious use of existing resources

The measures applicable to the energy sector are only one part of the overall modernisation. Sustainable management necessarily encompasses other areas as well: as early as the first quarter of 2023, the use of plastic containers will be completely eliminated in the ADMIRAL Casino in Mendrisio. In future, only reusable glass crockery will be used. In the cafés and restaurants, almost exclusively local products will be used, 90% of which already come from the Mendrisiotto region. In order to reduce paper consumption as much as possible, the casino will use a digital invoice approval system from 1 January 2023. The Mendrisio Casino is also involved in two important environmental projects, “Swisstainable” and “Zero Waste”. As part of the ‘Swisstainable’ programme, the sustainability strategy of Switzerland Tourism and the tourism industry stipulates that operators in the domestic sector must be certified according to three levels and can thus demonstrate their commitment to sustainable business by means of a recognised label. The ADMIRAL Casino is also a partner in the public initiative “Zero Waste”, promoted by the city of Mendrisio with the aim of reducing waste and waste as much as possible.

Social responsibility and working conditions

The ACE SWISS Group offers the employees of the Casino ADMIRAL in Mendrisio attractive and modern working conditions. It is considered a very important aspect to avoid wage inequalities. The proportion of women among the employees is steadily increasing and currently stands at around 40 per cent. If necessary, part-time employment models and flexible working hours are available to facilitate compatibility between family and career. The casino is also committed to playing a pioneering role with regard to maternity leave and other related issues, while always fulfilling its responsibility as a major regional employer. Finally, as part of an international holding company, the ACE SWISS Group offers its employees interesting opportunities for growth and training.