PHILOSOPHY & VISION

Social design as a driving force
We want to make the world a little more empathetic and sustainable. Our activities are based on the 17 Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations. We consciously put ecology and social issues before the economy. Our motivation is to shape society: to do as much good as possible.
The seal of quality
INSECT-RESPECT is the seal of approval for a new approach to insects. The animals are of great benefit to society. That is why INSECT-RESPECT creates new habitats for insects and promotes products and projects that raise awareness of the value of insects and the threat they pose. The label stands for a triad of principles in insect control and defence: 1. avoidance and reduction, 2. ecologization and 3. compensation of insect control through the creation of insect-friendly areas. In this way, INSECT-RESPECT promotes local biodiversity and a sustainable transformation of the economy.
Vision: Saving instead of killing
By creating awareness of the value and the threat, INSECT-RESPECT actively reduces the demand for biocides. If insects are to be controlled at all, then with insecticide-free products and preferably with the INSECT-RESPECT seal of approval and the associated insect promotion as compensation. Think and act preventively as a matter of priority so that control does not have to occur in the first place.
INSECT-RESPECT actively reduces the biocide market

Our approach
Reduce insect control:
Raise awareness of the value of insects among consumers, and thus change their behavior towards less and exclusively targeted insect control.
Ecologize insect control:
Promote more ecologically aware insect control, and thus shift from environmentally harmful biocides to environmentally friendly measures.
Compensate for insect control:
Create compensation opportunities for the reduced but necessary control of insects.
Our history

The art of change
The story of INSECT-RESPECT begins with a special task. Dr. Hans-Dietrich Reckhaus, the managing partner of the family business of the same name, commissioned the two concept artists Frank and Patrik Riklin from Atelier für Sonderaufgaben to find an idea for the market launch of a new fly trap.
Instead of solving the commission, the two artists confronted the entrepreneur with the question: How much value does a fly have? Your answer: Save instead of kill . Die daraus entstandene Gegenstrategie mündetete in einen Prozess der Entwicklung von INSECT-RESPECT. Den Höhepunkt bildete die gemeinsame Kunstaktion «Fliegen retten in Deppendorf», die am 1. September 2012 ein ganzes Dorf mobilisierte und eine Fliege mit dem weltweit ersten Flugticket für ein Insekt in ein Wellness-Hotel führte. Im Vordergrund stand dabei nicht die Bekämpfung, sondern der Diskurs über das zwiespältige Verhältnis zwischen Mensch und Insekt und die von der Kunst angestossene Transformation eines Unternehmens. Im Hintergrund bewirkte das Konzept der Gegenbewegung bei Dr. Hans-Dietrich Reckhaus ein weitreichendes Umdenken und Umhandeln.
In collaboration with biologists from ARNAL, Büro für Natur und Landschaft AG, detailed calculations were made of how biocides affect the insect population. A model was derived from this to compensate for this impact by creating insect-friendly habitats. This compensation model serves as the basis for INSECT-RESPECT, the world’s first quality label for a new approach to insects. Other companies can also label their products with the quality mark and thus compensate for the negative effects. The story as a movie:
1.9.2012
Art campaign “Saving flies in Deppendorf”
2012
World’s first compensation area for biocidal products created
2014
Global patent filed for the compensation of biocides
2014
First film released:
Little giants
2015
First book published:
Why every fly counts
2015
First live insect trap developed
2016
First Insect Day organized
2017
First INSECT-RESPECT licensee: dm drugstores
2018
European Sustainability Award winner
2018
First insect-friendly partner area created
2019
Warning label introduced for all Reckhaus products
2020
Insectemy – Academy for landscape gardeners: founded inside
2021
Migros: first customer for live insect traps
2024
First ten million products with INSECT-RESPECT
2024
First partner space in Romania with IKEA
AWARDS
INSECT-RESPECT has already received over 35 national and international awards. Here is a selection of the prizes.
PARTNER
INSECT-RESPECT can count on strong partnerships to work together for insects.
SUPPORTERS:INSIDE
INSECT-RESPET has a wide network of supporters.
Our team
INSECT-RESPECT is a broad team of insect enthusiasts.
DR. HANS-DIETRICH RECKHAUS
DR. HANS-DIETRICH RECKHAUS
Founder and transformer
MARIE ANDRÉ
MARIE ANDRÉ
Management Switzerland
HELGE JUNG
HELGE JUNG
Landscape gardener & insect whisperer
TEAM OF THE RECKHAUS GROUP
TEAM OF THE RECKHAUS GROUP
A total of over 20 people are working on INSECT-RESPECT at our Bielefeld and St. Gallen sites