Our “transparent and sustainable value chain” key issue means we also want to have a positive impact on our upstream and downstream value chains and promote the protection of the climate and environment there. To do this, we establish fair, trust-based, and constructive business relationships with our suppliers and customers.

Supplier Management

To ensure a comprehensive evaluation of our business relationships, we conduct an annual supplier evaluation at several companies within the Uzin Utz Group. These include Uzin Utz SE, codex GmbH & Co. KG, Sifloor AG, Uzin Utz Schweiz AG, Uzin Utz Nederland B.V., and INTR. B.V.

For example, as part of the evaluations at Uzin Utz SE and codex GmbH & Co. KG, we award points for criteria such as adherence to delivery schedules and quantities, product quality, pricing, and reliability. The individual criteria are weighted and combined into an overall score. If a supplier falls below the established minimum score, we work together with the affected supplier to develop strategies for meeting the targets. This approach enables us to maintain the quality of our supplier relationships at a consistently high level while simultaneously monitoring costs. In recent years, we have also integrated environmental and social aspects into our evaluation criteria. A particular focus is placed on suppliers’ innovative capabilities regarding green technologies and the reduction of the carbon footprint, thereby promoting sustainable values in our supply chains.

The central purchasing department at Uzin Utz SE also qualifies as many raw materials as possible from different suppliers. Through this multi-supplier strategy, the Group reduces its vulnerability to locally limited disruptions and extreme weather events. In addition to Uzin Utz SE, other subsidiaries also pursue a multi-supplier strategy for selected raw materials to deliberately avoid dependence on individual suppliers: These include, among others, Uzin Utz Nederland B.V., Uzin Utz North America, Inc., Uzin Utz Schweiz AG, and Uzin Polska Produkty Budowlane Sp. z o.o.

Resource-efficient packaging

To improve resource efficiency and protect the climate, we rely on alternative packaging and packaging materials, which helps us reduce packaging waste both at our plant and on construction sites.

Since 2014, we have offered “Cube-It-Simple” packaging in our range of liquid products. This eco-friendly solution consists of a recycled outer carton containing a plastic bag. Compared to conventional canisters, this bag-in-box packaging reduces plastic use by up to 85% and can be disposed of separately. Since this type of packaging is not suitable for all applications on construction sites, we are continuously working on new solutions to replace standard plastic canisters with more environmentally friendly materials.

Two years ago, we successfully switched the material of our shrink wrap, which is used to secure our products on pallets. The new film contains 30% recycled material. Additionally, for some of our powder products, we use a film with a 50% thinner inner lining in paper bags, which allows us to cut plastic consumption in half without compromising the products’ storage stability. The switch to a thinner film for additional product bags is still under consideration.

Use of recycled plastic

Since 2016, we have been consistently committed to more sustainable packaging solutions and are increasingly using post-consumer recycled materials (PCR) and post-industrial recycled materials (PIR) for our containers. In 2021, we successfully switched many of our canister packaging items from virgin plastic to PCR. 

Starting in mid-2022, there were isolated instances of leakage in some plastic canisters, which is why we had to temporarily switch back to virgin material in certain cases. Before proceeding with another comprehensive switch to PCR, all affected canisters will be thoroughly inspected and put back into use only after successful testing. Our long-term goal remains unchanged: the complete transition of all canister packaging to PCR material. Lids made from PCR material are still in use.