Koehler Group submits first sustainability report on its own initiative

At the end of February, the Koehler Group submitted its first sustainability report. In contrast to publicly traded companies, the company is not obligated to submit one, but decided to do so anyway on its own initiative. In this first sustainability report, Koehler informs on the way in which it is aligning its services with a financially, environmentally, and socially responsible vision.

Koehler makes a contribution to UN Sustainable Development Goals

Kai M. Furler, CEO of the Koehler Group, highlights: “At the Koehler Group, we firmly believe that it is also our responsibility as a company to help make the SDGs a reality. That’s why we’ve identified eleven of the seventeen UN goals as areas where we think we can make a contribution to sustainable development both today and in the future.”

The concept of sustainability has always been central to the decision-making process in the family-run enterprise. Accordingly, the Koehler Group makes decisions based not on short-term shareholder value, but on sustainability and long-term prospects instead. Over the company’s 210-year history, acting sustainably has always been viewed as a responsibility towards future generations.

For example, the company started investing in renewable energy generation all the way back in 2002. Today, this business area is an essential pillar of the Koehler Group. On top of this, companies are experiencing an enormous challenge in the form of current carbon pricing and high gas and coal prices, and Koehler’s longstanding goal of producing more energy from renewable sources than is required for its paper production operations by 2030 is sure to help overcome that challenge.

A circular economy as the key to greater sustainability

Koehler’s product portfolio is also being continuously realigned towards greater sustainability. Accordingly, the company is strategically channeling its investments into sustainable products and business areas based on a long-term perspective. Wood, which is ultimately the starting point for all our paper production, is a renewable raw material. Koehler Group Sustainability Manager Jens Kriete, says: “Koehler products are eminently reusable, as waste paper is an important and highly sought-after secondary raw material. This is a true circular economy in action and a key to sustainable development.”