Economy for the Common Good Certified: We Work Sustainably, Transparently, and Fairly

Blackbit has been rooted as an employer and service provider in the southern Lower Saxony region for over 30 years and now operates internationally with locations in Hamburg, Berlin, and Kyiv. Sustainability, transparency, and fairness characterize our daily actions. Instead of focusing on maximizing profits, we want to set a good example and assume responsibility for society as a whole. We are firmly convinced that a responsible way of working not only benefits our company, but also society and the environment.

Since 2024, we have been awarded the Economy for the Common Good (ECG) certificate for our active focus on the common good following a voluntary value-based audit. 

The Economy for the Common Good is an innovative, alternative economic model that replaces traditional goals such as turnover and profit with a focus on the common good. It is based on the fundamental values of:

• Human dignity
• Solidarity and social justice
• Ecological sustainability
• Transparency and co-determination

This model sees the promotion of a sustainably good life for all as the key to overcoming global challenges such as the climate crisis, resource scarcity, and social inequality. Instead of focusing solely on economic growth, the ECG calls for a holistic system change that focuses on the well-being of people and the environment.

The concept of the Economy for the Common Good emerged in Vienna in 2010 and spread from there all over the world. Today, it has 11,000 international supporters, around 4,500 members and more than 1,000 companies, communities and other organizations in 35 countries that are working together to implement and further develop the vision of the Economy for the Common Good.

What do we do specifically to act ethically and sustainably as a company? Below are a few examples that reflect our dealings within the team and with our customers, as well as our contributions to society and environmental protection:

In our agile organization, leadership is a task that we share – each of us can co-decide and lead others. To guide each other, we have jointly formulated 11 Leadership Principles that set out the typical Blackbit way of working and our values. Among other things, they emphasize the importance of customer focus, diversity, communication, and team spirit in our daily work.

What else makes Blackbit a fair and attractive employer? We have:

• Regular feedback meetings and individually supported training courses
• Participatory decision-making processes and a supportive corporate culture
• Workplace health promotion and occupational safety: regular inspections and assessments by our company doctor and our safety officer; all newly purchased desks are electrically height-adjustable
• Fair pay, only permanent employees with open-ended employment contracts, 13 different working time models (from 10 to 40 hours a week)

We prefer sustainable solutions to short-term effects. Our business model is therefore not based on a one-off assignment, but rather on continuous support for our customers and their projects.

We share our knowledge with our customers and train them in how to use the software. The customer's benefit is always our priority. Our services are invoiced on a monthly basis with time sheets so that clients have maximum transparency about their projects. Our customers appreciate this trusting and cooperative approach and the majority of them have been “on board” for many years.

Wherever possible, we use particularly sustainable products in our day-to-day work. For example, we only use electricity generated from renewable sources in our offices. To support the most climate-friendly transport to work, we offer our employees the opportunity to lease company bikes and park their bikes on the company premises. We prefer to use the train for business trips. We also take part in the Energy Efficiency Network of the Energieagentur Region Göttingen e.V. to keep an eye on further potential for ecological sustainability and gradually become even more environmentally friendly.

One of the ways in which we make a positive contribution to society is by supporting charitable projects free of charge. Here are two examples:

• Rückenwind (www.rueckenwind-goettingen.de): A project of the Rotary Club Göttingen-Süd, through which pupils from educationally disadvantaged families can receive free tutoring from students.
• Litfin Stiftung (www.litfin-stiftung.de): It primarily supports innovative and sustainable ideas and projects with start-up funding. In particular, it supports projects that cannot be realized with normal financial resources and that go beyond standard tasks.

At Blackbit, we think long-term – also when it comes to the future of our company. As part of the succession planning for our managing directors Stefano Viani and Daniel Gerlach, we are looking closely at sustainable and innovative solutions. A simple sale of the company is not an option for us. Instead, we are enthusiastic about the Employer Owned Company model or the concept of responsible ownership.

Why? Because we firmly believe that genuine participation by our employees not only strengthens their commitment, but also ensures Blackbit's long-term success. When colleagues become co-owners, a strong connection is created: They think and act like owners, have a direct incentive to get involved in the company, and benefit directly from its success. This not only creates trust, but also stability.

We have already held discussions on the topic within the team, undergone further training at workshops, and redistributed initial responsibilities. We are motivated to explore this path and show that success is strongest when it is achieved together.