Sustainability statement

votesUP originated from voluntary engagement. For us, sustainability is a self-evident goal that we always take into account in our actions. “Sustainability” encompasses ecological, economic, social, and societal dimensions.

Similar to privacy and data protection, we understand the effort to achieve sustainability as a continuous task: accordingly, we continuously review our measures and strategies for possible improvements. We are guided by the criteria of the „German Sustainability Code (DNK)“.

In the following, we explain how sustainability is considered and implemented at votesUP.

1. Strategy

Sustainability can best be achieved by focusing on essential resources and factors. Detailed analysis and gradual improvements pay off in the long term.

The votesUP team is constantly striving to develop further, taking up user feedback and learning together. Both our communication and the online platform provided should set an example for sustainable and discrimination-free procedures.

2. Environmental Protection

Environmental sustainability is possible if regenerative sources are used and if these are used in a resource-saving manner.

As a digital platform for voting, elections, and speaker lists, votesUP significantly reduces the paper and printing needs required for analogue processes.

Processing requests, communicating with users, and invoicing are done digitally. In the printed version of votesUP, planar elements are largely removed so that printing ink is saved.

QR tokens for participants can be scanned directly from the screen, without the intermediate step of printing them on paper.

votesUP is hosted in data centres that are powered by renewable energy sources. Currently, green electricity from carbon dioxide-free and environmentally friendly hydropower is used there. Server and other hardware components are tested for power consumption and energy efficiency internally by the provider and selected accordingly [see hetzner.com/unternehmen/umweltschutz/?country=de].

Das votesUP-System ist so aufgebaut, dass es keine hohe Anforderung an Ausstattung und Infrastruktur der Nutzenden stellt. Older and technically weaker devices can be used as long as their software is at a up-to-date security level.

votesUP saves internet bandwidth and load on user devices and servers: our focus is on functionality and design clarity; the use of merely decorative, multimedial elements will be avoided.

Other power-saving mechanisms, such as an optional “dark mode” (display colours are inverted with a dark background and bright text) are planned.

3. Society

votesUP as a tool for democratic decision-making is open to all groups and organisations that share the ideas of sustainability.

The best possible data protection, absolute confidentiality and a secure technical basis are prerequisites for democratic processes to be carried out with votesUP.

We provide support materials such as the online manual and tips for digital procedures beyond the votesUP system publicly and free of charge. It is important to us that users not only use digital tools and procedures but also critically evaluate their effects.

votesUP bemüht sich um eine bewusst inklusive Sprache, soweit es die Anforderung an Rechtssicherheit möglich macht. Funktionalität wird so entwickelt, dass sie eine diskriminierungsfreie Durchführung und Teilhabe ermöglicht (Sprachwahl, Barrierefreiheit, gender-getrennte und gender-übergreifende Verfahren).

In order to make it easier for smaller organisations to take their step into the digital world, votesUP offers free-of-charge usage options that nevertheless provide the essential functions without restrictions.

The service providers commissioned by votesUP, primarily server providers, are selected according to sustainability criteria on the basis of available and publicly accessible information.

4. Social Sustainability

Even as a relatively young online platform, we take social responsibility.

Von uns beauftragte Dienstleister:innen werden fair bezahlt. Für freiwillige Zuarbeit (z.B. bei Übersetzungen) bedanken wir uns durch Vorteilsgewährung bei der Nutzung von votesUP.

Wir arbeiten nur mit Auftragnehmer:innen und IT-Dienstleister:innen zusammen, die sich selbst nachhaltig aufgestellt haben. Dazu gehört u.a., dass junge Mitarbeitende auch selbst ausgebildet und nach der Ausbildung übernommen werden [see career.hetzner.com].

5. Economic Sustainability and Efficiency

votesUP reduces time-consuming tasks by largely automating procedures. This includes, for example, invitation mailings to participants, automatic gender recognition, calculation of results and the possibility to duplicate and re-use events.

votesUP can be used free of charge for small events and test runs. This reduces administrative overhead and makes it easier for smaller organisations to go digital.

votesUP only offers services that can be provided in a permanent manner. Automatisiert zur Verfügung gestellte Ressourcen werden so günstig wie möglich angeboten, betreuungsintensive Aufgaben müssen entsprechend höher bepreist werden. Es wird kein Preisdumping betrieben.

Last update: 2 June 2023