25 projects, eleven locations, an investment sum of around 650,000 euros - the RKW Group is continuing its commitment to greater energy efficiency and sustainability in 2021. The measures this year focus on optimising or retrofitting existing facilities, new lighting systems and improved processes. This is associated with a reduction in CO2 emissions of 1400 tonnes per year.
13 of the company's sites applied with 35 projects, the majority of which are now being implemented. This procedure has a long tradition at RKW: efficiency potentials have already been identified in this way in previous years and raised through suitable measures. Further important projects will be added in 2021 - the largest single item is the use of particularly energy-saving, speed-controlled motors at the Michelstadt site.
The use of LED lighting can also reduce energy requirements in production. RKW is investing in this at the German sites in Michaelstadt, Echte and Wasserburg as well as at the plants in Saultain and Chamboeuf (France), Hoogstraten (Belgium) and Helsingborg (Sweden). In addition, further measures are planned in Ho Chi Minh City (Vietnam) and Guangzhou (China).
"As the RKW Group, we are committed to our responsibility for resource efficiency and sustainability," says Alexander Wansel, Executive Vice President Operations. He adds that the production of films is an energy-intensive process, especially since the plants produce around the clock and throughout the year. "This means that our annual measures to increase energy efficiency are not only an important contribution to reducing costs and thus securing the future of the sites - they are also, above all, an important lever for continuously improving our environmental performance."
In addition to increasing energy efficiency, the RKW Group switched its German sites to green electricity last year. This was associated with a reduction of CO2 emissions by a further 80,000 tonnes in relation to the electricity consumption of the plants (Scope 2), which corresponds to a decrease of around 80 per cent.