We want all our production and sales facilities to be operated efficiently and in an environmentally and climate-​friendly manner. This includes saving energy and reducing our direct and energy-related indirect greenhouse gas emissions.

Protecting the environment, resources, and climate

Climate change presents humanity with an enormous global challenge. Entire ecosystems are severely impacted and threatened, extreme weather events are becoming more frequent, and the climate system is at risk of reaching irreversible tipping points. These changes are having an increasing impact on the foundations of our lives and pose an ever-greater risk to economic stability. 

Environmental and climate protection, therefore, also play a key role in our business processes. As part of our environmental data management, dedicated sustainability officers have been appointed at our subsidiaries in core and growth markets. For these locations, we have been recording individual corporate carbon footprints annually since 2019. To assess progress toward our company-wide reduction target of up to 25%, we have prepared an annual projection of our greenhouse gas emissions for the target year, taking into account our business growth and all measures already implemented or planned. As a result, we have been able to identify key levers for reduction in recent years and can continue to implement further necessary reduction measures as needed in the future.

PLANET Goal 2025

As part of the PASSION 2025 strategy, we set a goal to reduce Scope 1 emissions and Scope 2 emissions in our core and growth markets by 25% compared to the base year of 2019 by 2025. Our 25% reduction target was deliberately defined as an absolute target, not linked to sales or production volumes. The GHG reduction was thus pursued independently of our company’s growth: Since 2019, we have successfully expanded our business, commissioned new sites, and significantly increased both revenue and production volumes. This meant that growth-related GHG emissions had to be offset through corresponding measures.

Despite this development and our growth, we have succeeded in reducing absolute Scope 1 and Scope 2 GHG emissions by 24.9%, thereby achieving our target. The following figure illustrates the trend in our Scope 1 emissions and Scope 2 emissions from the base year 2019 through the target year 2025.

To illustrate the reduction measures, a scenario was calculated in an additional chart for the target year 2025 that shows GHG emissions without taking the implemented reduction measures into account. This is shown on the very left. On the very right are the actual GHG emissions calculated for 2025 following the implementation of our measures.

It also shows how the emissions reduction in the target year 2025 is distributed across our most significant levers: the switch to green electricity, the electrification of the vehicle fleet, and other efficiency measures.

The graph shows that in 2025, we were able to reduce GHG emissions by a total of 38.2% compared to the scenario without measures. The difference from the communicated reduction of 24.9% shown in the figure above essentially represents the offset component in the target year that was additionally required to offset our growth.
 

Corporate Carbon Footprint

During the reporting year, we calculated the Group-wide Corporate Carbon Footprint (CCF) for all Group companies in accordance with the Greenhouse Gas Protocol (GHG Protocol). It includes company-wide Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions, which have already served as the basis for our reduction target in our core and growth markets. In addition, the CCF also captures material Scope 3 emissions along the value chain. This creates a new, comprehensive data foundation for our climate management and the further development of our reduction strategy. The transparency gained regarding all GHG emission sources helps us identify where we stand today and which areas of action we must prioritise in the future.

Scope 1 emissions are direct emissions from our own sources, such as the combustion of fuels for heating systems or the fuel consumption of our own or leased vehicle fleet. At UZIN UTZ, there are no direct emissions from chemical or physical processes that exceed the emissions resulting from the direct combustion of fossil fuels. Scope 2 emissions include indirect emissions from purchased electricity and heat. Both location-based and market-based calculation methods are applied here: The location-based methodology is based on the average electricity mix of a specific region, while the market-based methodology also takes into account contractual instruments, such as the purchase of green electricity with guarantees of origin. Scope 3 emissions encompass upstream and downstream GHG emissions along the value chain that are not included in either Scope 1 or Scope 2. For UZIN UTZ, the key Scope 3 categories “Purchased Goods and Services,” “Downstream Transportation,” and “End-​of-Life Treatment of Sold Products” are captured.

The summary table of GHG emissions presented below refers to the reporting year 2025 and covers all significant activities and companies of the Uzin Utz Group in accordance with the operational control approach. The calculation of the CCF is based on the methodology of the Greenhouse Gas Protocol (GHG Protocol) Corporate Standard, which categorises GHG emissions into the three scopes described. All relevant greenhouse gases (CO₂, CH₄, N₂O, HFCs/PFCs, SF₆, NF₃) are converted into CO₂ equivalents (CO₂e) as part of the calculation using the corresponding global warming potentials. The GWP values are based on the latest IPCC publications and refer to a 100 year period. In this case, CO₂ emission factors are used instead of CO₂e emission factors, as the AIB database does not provide CO₂e emission factors.

Life cycle assessment and sustainable raw materials

Life cycle assessment

Internally, we conduct life cycle assessments as a basis for environmental comparisons, decisions, and goal-setting. We use the results, for example, as the basis for our climate protection goals in the areas of raw materials and packaging. Here, life cycle assessment (LCA) serves as a method for quantifying the potential environmental impacts of products and services throughout their entire life cycle. It is based on the general international standards ISO 14040 and ISO 14044 and can be divided into a total of four phases. The first phase of our analysis focuses on defining the objectives and scope. Subsequently, all material and energy inputs and outputs occurring throughout the life cycle of our products are recorded. Inputs include, among other things, the raw materials used, as well as the amounts of energy and water consumed. Outputs include waste and emissions generated both in the upstream value chain and during manufacturing, use, and at the end of the life cycle. Based on this data, the impact analysis is conducted, and metrics such as the Global Warming Potential (GWP), also known as the carbon footprint or CO₂ balance, are calculated. In the final phase, we evaluate the results: We identify opportunities for more efficient use of energy and raw materials and pinpoint environmental impacts such as pollutant emissions and waste generation. These insights enable us to develop measures to minimise environmental impacts.

Use of more sustainable and bio-based raw materials

Since 2021, UZIN UTZ has been sourcing biomass-balance raw materials, which have a significantly lower carbon footprint than fossil-based raw materials, despite being chemically identical. In the 2025 reporting year, a total of 2,918 tonnes of biomass balance raw materials were purchased. In addition, by using renewable and regional raw materials in our oils, we were able to reduce our carbon footprint by nearly two-thirds compared to previous wood oils. With our ECO₂ CHOICE label, we continue to focus on improving our carbon footprint and are constantly optimising the products of our UZIN, PALLMANN, codex, and Arturo brands

Management systems and responsibilities

Our integrated “Management System for Responsible Business Practices” is based on the internationally recognised standards DIN EN ISO 9001 and DIN EN ISO 14001. This system defines responsibilities and operational processes, serving as the foundation for continuous improvement in environmental protection. The Environmental Committee is responsible for all environmental matters at our company. This committee meets regularly to discuss current environmental laws and relevant topics. Its members include experts in the fields of environmental management, hazardous substances, waste management, energy and water management, fire safety, occupational safety, and sustainability. 

Both Uzin Utz SE and Sifloor AG received certifications in accordance with DIN ISO 9001 and DIN ISO 14001 as part of a certification audit. In addition, Uzin Utz Tools GmbH & Co. KG is also certified in accordance with DIN ISO 9001. The goal of this systematic quality management system is the continuous improvement of corporate performance, as attested by the audited companies.