PLANET GROUP-WIDE GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS SUCCESSFULLY REDUCED BY 25%!
Through responsible stewardship of the environment and efficient use of resources, we aim to contribute to environmental and climate protection and continuously improve our ecological footprint across the Group. As part of our PASSION 2025 strategy, we set ourselves the goal of tracking our greenhouse gas footprint and reducing greenhouse gas emissions (GHG emissions) caused by our business activities in Scope 1 and Scope 2 in core and growth markets by 25% in absolute terms by 2025 compared to the base year 2019.
REDUCTION OF GROUP-WIDE
GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS
by 25%
The goal of reducing our emissions by 25% was deliberately defined as an absolute reduction target - regardless of growth in revenue, production, or headcount. It was crucial for us to reduce actual emissions in tons and not merely improve emissions intensity relative to growing business performance. Since 2019, we have successfully expanded our business, opened new locations, and significantly increased both revenue and production volume - developments that are typically accompanied by a rise in GHG emissions. Despite this positive growth, we have succeeded in reducing absolute Scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions by 24.9%, thereby effectively achieving our reduction target.
The following figure compares Scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions from the base year 2019 with the target year 2025:
In doing so, we are making a measurable contribution to climate protection and permanently improving our environmental footprint. To achieve the PLANET target, we deliberately refrained from using CO₂ credits and instead invested in concrete measures that have led to an actual reduction in Scope 1 and Scope 2 GHG emissions. Key drivers in this effort were the transition of our sites to green electricity and photovoltaics, the electrification of our vehicle fleet, and various energy efficiency measures.
More detailed information on the reduction measures and other activities related to our Corporate Carbon Footprint (CCF) can be found in the 2025 Sustainability Report.
OUR SUCCESS STORIES
VEHICLE FLEET
In addition to optimizing our logistics processes, the gradual electrification of our vehicle fleet is a key component of our climate protection efforts. Wherever operationally feasible, we are replacing vehicles with internal combustion engines with electric and hybrid vehicles. Currently, 36% of our Group-wide vehicle fleet consists of electric and hybrid vehicles. We intend to consistently expand this share in the coming years and increasingly switch to fully electric vehicles. To make efficient use of e-mobility, we are investing in a modern charging infrastructure at our locations. In addition, we are promoting the installation of charging stations at our employees’ homes to make the use of electric vehicles in everyday life even more attractive and practical.
ENERGY
With regard to operational environmental protection, we consistently focus on energy efficiency and the increased use of renewable energies. Across the Group, over 70% of our company locations obtain electricity from renewable sources or have additionally installed photovoltaic systems for self-generation. In total, photovoltaic systems with an installed capacity of over 1,850 kWp are in operation at our locations. In addition, we continuously optimize our building and plant technology, for example through efficient lighting concepts and modern heating and air conditioning systems. In this way, we increase the share of renewable energy in our electricity consumption - which stood at 93% in 2025 - and gradually reduce our greenhouse gas emissions from energy consumption.
SUSTAINABLE AND BIO-BASED RAW MATERIALS
One approach to reducing the environmental impact of our products is the increased use of bio-based raw materials based on the Biomass Balance method, which we have been pursuing since 2021. In this process, fossil raw materials are partially replaced by biomass at the very beginning of the value chain and allocated to the raw materials we procure in the balance sheet. For example, at Uzin Utz, we source so-called biomass balance raw materials, which have a significantly lower carbon footprint compared to conventional fossil raw materials while maintaining identical product properties. In addition, we are increasingly relying on renewable and, where possible, regional raw materials, particularly in the area of oils for parquet surface finishing. This has enabled us to reduce the carbon footprint of our parquet oils by nearly two-thirds compared to previous formulations. We make these improvements transparent with our ECO₂ CHOICE label.
NATURE-Friendly FACTORY
Grounds
To counteract the loss of biodiversity, the company has consistently expanded its nature-friendly grounds design at the Uzin Utz SE facility in Ulm over the past few years. The goal is to gradually transform sealed or species-poor areas into ecologically valuable habitats, thereby creating habitats for insects and plants. The various modules and progress made range from greening measures to structurally rich open spaces and are described in detail on our website. At the Haaksbergen site in the Netherlands, too, the nature-friendly design of outdoor areas plays a central role. In 2026, for example, a new employee parking lot was put into operation, which is landscaped with trees and shrubs and constructed using grass pavers. This preserves infiltration areas and improves the microclimate.