The Koehler Group is continuing to steadily pursue its sustainability strategy. In fact, its new sustainability report for the 2024 reporting year clearly shows this – numerous projects in areas such as climate action, resource efficiency, and social responsibility have been successfully kicked off, are in progress, or have already been completed. Not only that, but the family business has also used its sustainability report to disclose the current implementation status of 38 sustainability objectives that are to be met by 2030.
“We have a clear roadmap, regular status checks, and a comprehensive overview of all our sustainability actions – all of which is enabling us to maximize transparency and measurability,” says Koehler Group CEO Kai Furler, who then goes on to add: “Sustainability is not just a buzzword for us, and certainly not a ‘necessary evil.’ It is part of our DNA, and has been for generations.”
Sustainably successful projects
Converting the company’s cogeneration plant at its headquarters in Oberkirch, Germany, from black coal to biomass was a key project during the aforementioned reporting period. This measure will reduce direct fossil CO₂ emissions by around 150,000 metric tons every year – an important milestone on the way to delivering on the Koehler promise of generating more energy from renewable sources than required for its paper production operations by 2030. Moreover, the company was already able to cover approximately 75% of its heating needs and 85% of its electricity needs for paper production with renewable energy in 2024.
There has also been significant progress in other areas of action, including Resource Efficiency, for example. A new shoe press at paper machine 4 means that more water is being mechanically squeezed out of the corresponding paper web now. The result is a reduction of around 15% in the use of steam for drying, which translates into valuable energy savings.
The current report also focuses on the Koehler Group’s environmentally friendly logistics. For instance, the company’s preferred method of transporting pulp is on riverboats, which results in lower CO₂ emissions when compared to trucks. In addition, the company consistently uses virgin fibers from sustainable forestry and controlled sources. Finally, the report not only shows that the company expanded its flexible packaging paper portfolio in 2024, but also provides insights into its recyclability and into the use of innovative Blue4est® thermal paper in corrugated cardboard paper
Impactful social responsibility
For the Koehler Group, sustainability also means a commitment to having a positive impact on society. A perfect example is the company’s 2024 training rate, which at 4.8% already exceeded the target set for 2030. Another is the company’s very own Gretel-Furler daycare center, which is being built in Oberkirch, Germany, and will help provide people with an improved work–life balance.
All these accomplishments have been recognized by third parties as well: With a score of 90 out of 100, the Koehler Group received a platinum medal from sustainability rating platform EcoVadis in 2024. The score not only places Koehler among the “best one percent” of companies rated in its industry worldwide, but also confirms that it is making the right decisions – while of course also serving as an incentive to continue to pursue its ambitious sustainability objectives systematically.
