Shaping the Future
with Paper and Renewable Energy:
Sustainability as a Corporate Strategy

THE KOEHLER GROUP
TAKES RESPONSIBILITY

“We are proud to say that we already cover a significant proportion of our steam and ­electricity needs from renewable sources.”

Kai Furler

CEO Koehler Group

Successful, Future-Proof
Products and Services

One of the most important development goals for us revolves around bio-based recyclable and biodegradable paper. This will not only help us achieve our own goals, but will also provide our customers with a powerful tool that they can leverage to reach their own sustainability objectives.

Renewable Raw Materials and Responsible Sources

As a company with a global reach, we can promote sustainable development along our entire value chain together with all stakeholders. Our suppliers share our high standards in relation to environmental, social, and ethical principles. Moreover, we are continuously improving the transparency of our supply chain.

Resource Efficiency

Material, energy, and resource efficiency are subject to continual improvement. Production waste is always a potential source of secondary raw materials, and we are already using it for this purpose or are developing methods to do so. Our packaging paper is recyclable, providing it with much greater material efficiency than plastic. This way, we make it possible to replace linear value add with circular value add.

A Visionary Approach to Climate Action

Back in 2014, we set an ambitious goal to produce more renewable energy by 2030 than we need for paper production. We are pushing the expansion of renewable energy production forward and further reducing our greenhouse gas emissions through energy efficiency. This way, we are making a positive long-term contribution to climate action and energy security.

People, the Key to Success

The key to our success is the people who work at our company. This is why our employees’ health and safety take topmost priority. We also invest in training and development programs and actively promote diversity. We aim to employ talented individuals who are driven and highly capable.

Growing the Company’s Value

We want to achieve sustainable growth for our company through our sustainability goals and the actions derived from them. Success and profit make it possible for us to make the investments we need for sustainable development. In addition, we arrange independent audits of our sustainability approach, as well as our actions and their results.

Foreword to the sustainability report 2023

OUR SUSTAINABILITY STRATEGY

Our Contribution to the UN Sustainable
Development Goals (SDGs)

We want to implement sustainable, innovative solutions throughout the value chain and achieve our ambitious climate change goals. To this end, we use our resources in a sensible and efficient manner and thereby protect our environment. Occupational health and safety are fundamental principles for us in this regard. This holistic approach allows us to continually improve our ecological and economic impact, as well as our contribution to society. Together with our employees, we develop creative spaces in which we train, learn, and develop ourselves as individuals. We actively demand and encourage diversity and equal treatment. Together, the digital transformation strategy, the innovation strategy, and the start-up strategy will help us to achieve our sustainability objectives. In organizational terms, these areas are all bundled within the Koehler Innovative Solutions business unit.

We are visionary when it comes to climate protection

The Enablers of the ­Sustainability Strategy

Sustainability in Figures

Input 2023

Raw Materials

Pulp,
used
in metric tons
(air-dry weight)

340.529

(2022: 402.325)
(2021: 418.042)

Roundwood,
used
in metric tons
(oven-dry)

25.079

(2022: 29.453)
(2021: 20.193)

Wastepaper,
used
in metric tons

29.977

(2022: 37.450)
(2021: 37.424)

Other
Input Materials
in metric tons
(as purchased)

284.141

(2022: 334.961)
(2021: 349.270)

Energy

Purchased ­Electricity
in MWh

277.047

(2022: 377.915)
(2021: 375.509)

Fuels
in MWh

2.155.638

(2022: 2.351.900)
(2021: 2.226.668)

Water

Well Water
in m3

4.602.100

(2022: 5.085.182)
(2021: 5.027.833)

Surface Water
in m3

589.064

(2022: 652.219)
(2021: 610.741)

Biomass

Biomass to
processing
in t (lutro)

922.214

(2022: 982.872)
(2021: 1.031.761)

Output 2023

Production

Paper and Board
in metric tons, produced

468.751

(2022: 556.711)
(2021: 574.401)

Biomass Traded /Processed for Mechanical Recycling 1
in metric tons

719.206

(2022: 786.447)
(2021: 832.120)

Biomass Traded /Processed for the Production of Energy 1
in metric tons

203.687

(2022: 193.394)
(2021: 201.436)

Renewable energy generation

Electricity
in MWh

267.750

(2022: 298.338)
(2021: 279.520)

Process Steam
in MWh

431.201

(2022: 509.602)
(2021: 476.640)

Hot Water
in MWh

26.113

(2022: 24.497)
(2021: 22.543)

Greenhouse gas emissions

Scope 1
Carbon Emissions
in t

249.610

(2022: 277.219)
(2021: 280.233)

Scope 2
Carbon Emissions
in t

15.550

(2022: 149.468)
(2021: 149.481)

Wastewater

Wastewater
in m3

2.881.614

(2022: 3.115.866)
(2021: 3.269.244)

Waste

Waste
in metric tons, gross

135.731

(2022: 150.813)
(2021: 143.486)

Jens Kriete

Sustainability Manager Koehler Group

Hauptstraße 2
77704 Oberkirch
Germany