Koehler Group Publishes Second Sustainability Report with Focus on Future Generations
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- Koehler releases 2030 sustainability strategy for the very first time
- Group committed to playing its part in meeting the UN Sustainable Development Goals
- Report sets out clear targets and transparent information about the group’s progress towards achieving its goals
The Koehler Group, a leading supplier of premium specialty paper and pioneering planner and operator of renewable energy generation plants, has released its second sustainability report. As a family business, the Koehler Group focuses not on its quarterly results, but rather on the long-term future and generations to come. In this second sustainability report, the company therefore provides the first details of its 2030 sustainability strategy and the ambitious targets that it has set itself as a business.
Koehler’s Contribution to the UN Sustainable Development Goals
The United Nations (UN) has set out sustainable development targets in its 2030 Agenda. All members of the UN – 193 countries worldwide – have committed to implement these targets, known as SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals). Although the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are first and foremost intended for nation-states, the Koehler group, as a family business, firmly believes that it too has a role to play in meeting these targets. To this end, it has now published its 2030 sustainability strategy for the very first time, setting out the company’s roadmap to sustainable growth.
Kai Furler, CEO of the Koehler Group, emphasized: “Sustainability is the key to ensuring that future generations will be able to live a fulfilled life on this planet. Against this backdrop, I believe it is my responsibility as part of the eighth generation at Koehler to manage the Koehler Group in such a way that we can be sustainably successful.”
The 2030 sustainability strategy sets out the Koehler plan to ensure all the financial, social, and environmental aspects of the Koehler Group come together to create a more sustainable future.
Six Areas of Action with Ambitious Targets
The Koehler Group has defined six areas where it intends to take action to promote sustainable development. These are: “Successful and future-proof products,” “Renewable raw materials and responsible sources,” “Resource efficiency,” “A visionary approach to climate action,” “People as the key to success,” and “Growing the company's value.” By dividing its sustainability strategy into these six areas and setting corresponding targets, the group has given itself a framework within which to structure its sustainability activities. Any actions taken and progress made can therefore be reported clearly and transparently.
Koehler Group’s Action on Sustainability Benefits Customers Worldwide
A key focus of the Koehler Group’s second sustainability report are the challenges that the company has set itself and the progress that it has already made on its sustainability journey. Included in the report are interviews with representatives from business partners such as PreZero International and the Schades Group, who talk about their collaboration with Koehler and how their individual sustainability goals have brought them into closer partnership with one another. The report also demonstrates how customers benefit directly from the Koehler Group’s sustainability efforts, using specific examples such as the new flexible packaging paper from Koehler Paper. Switching from plastic to paper packaging helps food manufacturers to reduce their packaging license fee, since Germany operates a dual system covering both the collection and recycling of packaging materials. Paper packaging usually also have a much smaller carbon footprint than plastic packaging, meaning it often has a significant impact in terms of reducing a business’ overall carbon footprint.
Transparent Reporting on Progress towards Sustainability Targets
The transparency of the information provided in the Koehler Group’s sustainability report makes it easy to understand the progress the business has made in meeting its sustainability targets. For instance, significant progress has already been made towards “A visionary approach to climate protection” thanks to some foresighted strategic decision-making by the group over 10 years ago. In the reporting period 2021/2022, around 60% of the Koehler Group’s heating and 70% of its electricity were provided by sustainable sources. By 2030, the Group wants its renewable energy generation to match (or hopefully better) the amount of energy used in its production processes.
Unlike listed companies, the Koehler Group is not yet required to publish a sustainability report; however the family company has chosen to do so, since sustainability has been a central component of Koehler’s culture ever since the company was first founded back in 1807.
Best regards
Alexander M. Stöckle Corporate Director Marketing & Communications Press Spokesperson
Koehler Holding SE & Co. KG
Tel: +49 7802 81-4749 Fax: +49 7802 81-5749 mailto:alexander.stoeckle@koehler.com