Right on track for climate neutrality

Defining ambitious targets

The reason prompting Krones to take this step was the expiry of its previous climate-protection target, which had specified a reduction in energy-related  CO2-emissions by 30 to 40 per cent, linked to each years revenue. This goal had already been reached in late 2017, and  CO2-emissions have been kept at that level ever since then. So the company once again stepped up its ambitions in regard to its own sustainability performance substantially – in two respects.

Firstly by regionally extending the range of application: whereas previously it was primarily the emissions of Krones facilities in Germany that were scrutinised, the new climate strategy now covers all production locations throughout the group. Secondly, the new key figures specified are much more demanding than the previous ones.

Scopes 1 and 2 include all emissions produced at the company’s own facilities, for example by the engines of vehicles, by operating production lines or by using outsourced energy. Scope 3 subsumes all other emissions from the upstream and downstream parts of our company’s value added chain. As far as the latter are concerned, this focuses especially on the emissions caused by the use of Krones’ products. By further upgrading its energy-efficient technologies, the Krones Group intends not only to support its clients in reaching their respective climate targets but also to improve sustainability levels in the beverage and food industries across the board. The reduction target for Scope 3 emissions is lower than that for Scopes 1 and 2, which reflects the successes that Krones has already achieved there: our enviro program has for some years now been systematically boosting energy-efficiency levels of Krones’ products – thus leaving a substantially lower savings potential for future activities.

Effectiveness scientifically validated

So as to obtain objective proof both for itself and its stakeholders, Krones had its climate strategy checked by the independent Science Based Targets Initiative (SBTi). The result confirms that the group has embarked on the right path from a scientific viewpoint as well. According to the SBTi, the climate targets Krones has set itself make a contribution towards limiting global warming caused by the greenhouse effect to 1.5 degrees Celsius. Thus, Krones’ climate targets were rated as ambitious and effective – and officially declared to be science-based targets.