How is the implementation of the company-wide sustainability strategy progressing? Detailed information on this is provided in the Non-Financial Statement, which was published on 20 March as part of the Krones Annual Report.

There is particularly good news regarding the implementation of the climate strategy: Compared to the base year 2019, we have reduced our operational greenhouse gas emissions (Scope 1 and 2) by 51.7 percent. Emissions from sold products (Scope 3 downstream) decreased by 18.1 percent over the same period. Thus, our company has already achieved nearly two-thirds of its medium-term target in both categories. These targets are, specifically, to reduce Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 80 percent by 2030 and Scope 3 downstream emissions by 30 percent in the same time frame. By 2040, the entire value chain should reach net-zero according to the guidelines of the Science Based Targets initiative.

By 2030, the water footprint of our sold products should also be reduced by 20 percent. With a reduction of ten percent, half of this target has already been achieved.

“Social” metrics exceeded

The greatest success among the non-financial figures is recorded in the “Social” factors: Workplace accidents relative to hours worked have declined by 37.2 percent since 2022. The goal set for 2030 of minus 30 percent has thus already been exceeded. We are also on track with diversity and compliance: The proportion of women in leadership positions has increased to 16.5 percent compared to 2020. By 2030, it should reach 20 percent.

However, there are also some metrics that are still falling short of expectations, as sustainability manager Peter Steger explains: “In light of our increasing production output, reducing our own water consumption and hazardous waste in our plants is proving increasingly challenging. For that reason, our analyses and efforts to derive optimised measures will focus on these two metrics.”

Emission-reduced procurement

Similarly, greenhouse gas emissions from upstream processes (Scope 3 upstream) have increased by 17.5 percent compared to 2019. “In order to achieve our medium and long-term goals in this regard, we are revising our strategy for sustainable procurement,” says Martina Birk. “When it comes to our most important materials – stainless steel and steel – the market for low-emissions products still needs to develop more. So, we are scaling up our efforts to use less material and increase recycling.”

You can read more about this in our press release or directly in the Non-Financial Statement.

A special week of action for health and safety at work: India celebrated the „National Safety Week“ from 4 to 10 March. The 54th edition of this annual campaign week was organised under the motto “Safety & Well-being: Crucial for Viksit Bharat”. “Viksit Bharat” translates as “developed India” and refers to an initiative of the Indian government that is pursuing far-reaching plans in terms of infrastructure, technology, education and healthcare.

Our subsidiary Krones Processing India Private Limited, which is based in Hyderabad, took the campaign week as an opportunity to sensitise and inspire its employees to the important issue of occupational safety. Among other things, an internal competition was organised for this purpose. In this competition, the employees artistically explored the topic of occupational safety and designed their own safety posters. The best results were awarded a prize.