Mannheim, July 6, 2022 – The RKW Group has strengthened its commitment to sustainability and to preserving natural resources last year. The focus was particularly on further reducing greenhouse gas emissions and expanding recycling activities. More information is available in the Sustainability Report 2021 that the leading manufacturer of innovative film solutions published today (https://sustainability.rkw-group.com/home-en.html).
Once again this year, the Sustainability Report is based on the Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations (SDGs). The company’s activities contribute to eleven of the 17 SDGs, focusing on two strategic goals up to 2025: the reduction of CO2 emissions in accordance with GHG Protocol scope 1 and 2 by 50 percent and the gradual increase in the proportion of recycled, renewable and biodegradable materials in production to 15 percent, in each case starting from a 2017 baseline.
Green power and energy efficiency as levers
2021, RKW continued to drive the conversion to “green power” at its locations. Twelve of the Group's sites in Europe now obtain electricity from renewable sources such as solar, wind, and hydropower. In a very energy-intensive industry such as plastics film production, this results in a saving of 100,000 metric tons of CO2 – based on the electricity consumption of all 19 locations worldwide, this corresponds to a reduction of about 60 percent.
Another important approach is the energy efficiency of the production facilities. By investing millions of euros, for example in new extrusion and printing lines as well as in the modernization of measurement and control engineering, RKW is reducing its overall energy demand. "Especially against the backdrop of current events in the world, the responsible, economical use of energy as a resource is particularly important," says Peter Baumgartner, CEO of the RKW Group. The company will systematically continue along the path it has chosen – the conversion of further sites to green electricity is planned, as is the implementation of a decarbonization strategy for the entire company.
More recyclate and fully recyclable films
In developing its own products and solutions, RKW will continue to increase the share of recycled plastics. In some product groups and applications – for example in the agricultural industry – a share of up to 80 percent recycled raw materials is already achieved today. In other product areas such as packaging rkw is also succeeding in further increasing the share of recycled materials through the use of new technologies.
In order to be fully reusable, plastics should only be made from mono-materials – that is, from a single raw material. rkw takes this requirement into account, for example with the purely PE-based packaging solution RKW ProVent for powdery goods.
Summer campaign and fundraiser “Global Team Run”
RKW lives sustainability – every day and at all levels of the company. A visible sign of this commitment is the 2022 Sustainability Summer Campaign, which is taking place for the third time this year. Environmental protection campaigns and sustainability initiatives are planned at all sites until the end of September. In addition, the company is organizing the "Global Team Run" as a charity event for Ukrainian refugees in Europe.
You can find out more about the rkw Group's commitment to sustainability here.