This year alone, a recent study conducted by the German For Our Planet sustainability platform and Focus news magazine singled Krones out as one of the 216 most environmentally-friendly companies in Germany. The study recognised Krones in the category Machinery and Plant Engineering as one of 11 whose policies demonstrated a ‘top climate commitment’.
In addition, Krones won the 2022 Industry Excellence Award in the field of sustainability at the Gulfood Manufacturing, the biggest trade fair for food and beverage processing in the Middle East, Africa and South-East Asia region. This award honours companies for their innovative vigour and outstanding contributions to the sector, and for helping their customers pave the way for a sustainable future.
“The independent analyses and accolades confirm our sustainability targets and our future-driven corporate strategy,” said Martina Birk, head of Sustainability at Krones.
Krones’ climate strategy, adopted in 2020, was validated by the independent Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) to verify the effectiveness of the projected measures. Its targets included reducing its corporate carbon footprint - scope 1 and scope 2 emissions - by 80% by 2030, taking 2019 as the baseline. In addition, the group aims to cut emissions attributable to the upstream and downstream value chain - so-called scope 3 emissions - by 25 percent, again, taking 2019 as the baseline.
The company is now further advancing and expanding its strategy.
“In mid-October, we entered into a commitment with the Science Based Targets initiative to setting a net zero emission target within the next few months and having it validated by the SBTi,” said Birk. “This target is to be reached by 2050 at the latest and complements the 2030 emission targets we’ve already specified. We’re now busy developing a science-based net zero target.”
The overriding goal driving innovation in all new developments and design enhancements is not only digitalisation but also the requirement for sustainability, she added.