Our PLANET year 2023
Highlights
Our planet year 2023 | "Sustainable building - a vision in action"
Our approach to sustainability manifests itself in our purpose: for us, working environments are living environments in which people can develop further, realize their potential and thus actively write our shared history. Our declared goal is to make even better use of the planet entrusted to us and its resources for future generations.
As part of our sustainability strategy, we have therefore dedicated ourselves to environmental sustainability in Plantet 2023. We are aware of the ecological impact of our business activities and are helping to achieve the climate targets. Our declared goal is to reduce direct and indirect energy-related greenhouse gas emissions (Scope 1 and 2) by 25% across the company by the end of 2025.
At product level, our task is to fulfill all aspects of soil cultivation in a sustainable manner. To this end, we have defined a clear path along which we have reached important milestones along our value chain in recent months.
Executive Board UZIN UTZ
UZIN UTZ, a pioneer in the construction chemicals industry, is determined to revolutionize the way buildings are constructed and renovated. We dive into the world of sustainable construction, where UZIN UTZ is a pioneer and innovator.
Innovation as tradition
UZIN UTZ has been committed to environmentally friendly practices since the 1980s. By phasing out solvent-based adhesives and introducing the Uzin Ökoline and Terra-Line, the company has set new standards for low emissions and sustainable packaging. Today, 98.2% of the portfolio consists of Emicode-EC-1 certified products, underlining the company's commitment to protecting the environment. This has been recognized by numerous awards, including the German Environmental Management Award.
Future-oriented product development
The company underlines the importance of innovations that go beyond legal requirements with new developments. Products such as the Uzin HydroBlock System, Uzin Turbolight System CA, Uzin FusionTec, Pallmann Magic Oil Change and many more show how UZIN UTZ can significantly reduce CO2 emissions through the use of renewable raw materials and innovative formulations. The focus is on developing alternative, more environmentally friendly materials in order to further reduce CO2 emissions.
For example, the new Magic Oil Change from Pallmann, which is available as a solvent-free 1K and 2K parquet oil, consists of over 90% renewable raw materials sourced from farmers in the Würzburg region. And it has the same usage properties as the previous Magic Oil products: quick drying, easy application and a natural wood look. Compared to the previous products, however, it is made from cold-pressed hemp oil and natural waxes. Another decisive factor in the significant reduction in CO2 emissions is the fact that the hemp oil does not undergo any complex chemical processing. As a result, Magic Oil Change reduces CO2 emissions by 60-70% compared to conventional parquet oils.
Transparency and visibility
The company creates transparency with the ECO2 CHOICE label. This label enables users to easily recognize and understand the savings potential of products using QR codes on the packaging. A QR code immediately provides the user and consumer with all relevant information on the GWP value and therefore the CO2 footprint of the product. Only products with sustainable raw materials - such as those produced regionally or using biomass balance raw materials - are eligible for the label. In this way, UZIN UTZ supports the European Green Deal, with which the EU member states aim to become climate-neutral by 2050 and reduce their greenhouse gas emissions by at least 55% by 2030 compared to 1990 levels.
Certifications as signposts
Sustainability certifications such as EMICODE EC1 Plus, Blue Angel and the Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) are key indicators of the ecological and health-related quality of products. These certifications not only confirm the high standard of the products in terms of environmental compatibility and health protection, but also provide detailed information on the environmental impact over the entire life cycle.
Innovations for the future
UZIN UTZ has been demonstrating continuity in the development of new, more sustainable solutions for many years. This includes the use of renewable raw materials, the use of recycled materials and the promotion of recyclable products.
In addition, the integration of digital processes and the optimization of resource use play a decisive role at all locations in order to realize the vision of sustainable construction.
UZIN UTZ is therefore not just a company that manufactures sustainable products, but a role model for the entire construction industry, showing how to tackle the challenges of climate change while creating innovative and environmentally friendly solutions. Read all the details including key figures in the sustainability report.