Sustainability report and SDG
Note: This is a machine-translated version of the original German text. The translation was generated with AI assistance. In case of any discrepancy, the German original shall prevail.
Sustainability at PNZ
Sustainability is not an add-on to PNZ's core business. It is part of our product development, our production processes and our corporate governance. As a manufacturer of wood care and coating systems, we bear responsibility for materials, energy use, supply chains and the long-term impact of our products. For us, sustainability therefore means above all one thing: making decisions in a way that ensures ecological, technical and economic considerations fit together over the long term.
Where we stand in brief:
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CO₂ reduction of over 55 % compared to the base year 2019
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Recertification as a B Corporation with one of the highest scores worldwide for Industrial Manufacturing
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German Sustainability Prize 2024
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Rated as a climate-conscious company in the highest category
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Numerous innovations in product development
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Research partnerships with renowned institutions such as the Charité and the Max Planck Institute
Contents
- Products & Lifecycle
- Energy, Emissions & Production
- Packaging & Circular Economy
- People & Corporate Culture
- Society, Supply Chain & Responsibility
- Transparency and Standards
- Outlook
1. Products & Lifecycle
1. Our commitment
Sustainable products are not created by individual ingredients alone, but through the entire lifecycle of a product. For PNZ, sustainable product development therefore means considering raw materials, production, application, durability and disposal together.
Our goal is to develop coating systems that are as resource-efficient as possible while at the same time meeting the highest technical requirements. Our Technology Roadmap 2030 describes how we intend to implement this commitment concretely in the coming years.
2. What we have done
- Formulation of recipes with maximum use of renewable raw materials
- Research projects on new binders and coating systems with improved environmental profiles
- Complete elimination of critical ingredients such as butanone oxime, strontium and others
- Development of long-lasting coating systems with greater protective effect
- Close collaboration with raw material suppliers to develop sustainable alternatives
3. What has improved as a result
- Several product lines are now completely cobalt-free and oxime-free
- Greater use of renewable raw materials in selected formulations
- Longer service life of many coatings reduces material consumption across the product lifecycle
- Improved health assessment of individual formulations
- Integration of sustainability criteria into the product development process
4. Where trade-offs still exist
Not every renewable raw material is automatically the most sustainable solution. Some materials must be transported over long distances or do not fully meet technical requirements. High-performance coatings may also contain individual ingredients that are not fully bio-based, but enable significantly longer durability. The challenge is to assess these trade-offs transparently and in each case choose the most sustainable overall solution. Our Principles for Marketing and Communication Claims set out how we communicate honestly and verifiably in this context.
5. Next steps
- Expansion of research into bio-based binders
- Greater regional sourcing of suitable raw materials
- Systematic lifecycle assessment of new products
- Further reduction of critical ingredients
- Expansion of collaboration with research institutions – see PNZ in Action
2. Energy, Emissions & Production
1. Our commitment
As a manufacturing company, energy use is a central factor in our environmental impact. Our approach follows a clear order of priority: avoid emissions, reduce emissions, and compensate for unavoidable emissions. We consider not only production itself, but also transport, energy supply and operational infrastructure. The complete Climate Action Plan with targets, measures and milestones can be found here.
2. What we have done
- Switched electricity supply to 100 % renewable energy sources
- Modernisation of production facilities to increase energy efficiency
- Complete closure of all material cycles
- Introduction of new, innovative cleaning technologies for production containers
- Optimisation of exhaust air and wastewater systems in production and laboratory
- Introduction of sensor-based 24/7 production monitoring for critical environmental factors
- Systematic recording of our CO₂ emissions along the Scope 1, Scope 2 and Scope 3 framework
3. What has improved as a result
- Significant reduction in electricity consumption per unit produced
- Considerable reduction in the use of cleaning agents
- Improved control of emissions from production and laboratory
- Full transparency over direct and indirect emission sources
CO₂ balance
PNZ records its CO₂ emissions along the international Scope 1, Scope 2 and Scope 3 framework. We take into account, among other things:
- Energy consumption in production
- Transport routes for raw materials
- Logistics to customers
- Commuting by our employees
- Disposal of waste
We have improved our CO₂ intensity per kg of product produced to approximately 300g/kg today, a value approximately 95 % better than the chemical industry average. Our goal is to continuously reduce the CO₂ intensity of our production and to develop climate-neutral or even CO₂-negative solutions in the long term. The complete Climate Action Plan with all targets and measures has been published separately.
4. Where trade-offs still exist
Some of our emissions arise outside our direct sphere of influence, particularly in the supply chain and in transport. Existing infrastructure – such as heating systems or buildings – cannot always be fully modernised in the short term. In addition, precise emissions data from many suppliers is not yet available, which makes a complete assessment of our Scope 3 emissions more difficult.
5. Next steps
- Further reduction of Scope 1 emissions through modernisation of infrastructure
- Expansion of energy-efficient production processes
- Closer collaboration with logistics partners to reduce transport emissions
- Improvement of the data basis for Scope 3 emissions
- Long-term development of CO₂-negative technologies – see Technology Roadmap 2030
3. Packaging & Circular Economy
1. Our commitment
Packaging is an essential part of the product lifecycle. The goal is to reduce packaging materials, increase recyclability and minimise transport losses. At the same time, packaging must reliably protect the products. How we actively manage water, energy and waste in production is described in detail on our Environmental Stewardship and Circular Economy page.
2. What we have done
- Development of new packaging systems without plastic components
- Reduction of additional outer cartons through more stable containers
- Introduction of an internal packaging index for assessing different packaging materials
- Use of recycled materials in cardboard packaging
- Reuse of paper waste as packaging material
3. What has improved as a result
- Reduction of packaging material consumption by 50 %
- Lower damage rates during shipping
- Higher proportion of recyclable materials
- Systematic assessment of packaging solutions with regard to CO₂ impact
4. Where trade-offs still exist
Packaging must simultaneously be stable, lightweight, recyclable and resource-efficient. These requirements cannot always be fully reconciled with one another. Transport routes and storage conditions also influence which packaging solution is actually the most sustainable.
5. Next steps
- Further reduction of material use
- Expansion of recyclable packaging systems
- Integration of packaging data into the CO₂ balance
- Closer collaboration with packaging partners to develop new solutions
4. People & Corporate Culture
1. Our commitment
For us, sustainability encompasses not only environmental issues, but also responsible working conditions and a long-term viable corporate culture. As a medium-sized company, we rely on trust, personal responsibility and short decision-making paths. Our principles for dialogue, participation and diversity are set out in our JEDI Policy.
2. What we have done
- Continuous further training of our employees
- Training of young professionals in technical and commercial occupations
- Flexible working time models and home office options
- Flat hierarchies and team-oriented decision-making processes
- Regular training on occupational safety and health protection
3. What has improved as a result
- High employee retention and long-term collaboration
- Continuous development of professional competencies
- Fast decision-making processes within the company
- High motivation and personal initiative within the team
4. Where trade-offs still exist
Growth and increasing demands on organisation and processes can create tensions with flat hierarchies and informal decision-making structures. At the same time, flexible working models must remain compatible with the requirements of a production company.
5. Next steps
- Expansion of internal further training programmes
- Further development of flexible working models
- Long-term securing of skilled workers through apprenticeships
- Continuous improvement of occupational safety and health protection
5. Society, Supply Chain & Responsibility
1. Our commitment
As a company, we see ourselves as part of a larger social network. Our decisions affect not only customers and employees, but also suppliers, neighbours, partner organisations and the environment. Corporate responsibility therefore does not end at our factory gate. Supply chains, partner companies and societal frameworks also influence the sustainability of our products. An overview of our concrete social engagement can be found on the PNZ in Action page.
2. What we have done
- Introduction and application of a code of conduct for suppliers
- Greater consideration of regional suppliers and services
- Support for social and ecological initiatives
- Participation in international sustainability initiatives such as the UN Global Compact
- Integration of sustainability criteria into supplier relationships and procurement decisions
Responsibility in the supply chain
We work with our suppliers on the basis of a code of conduct that defines requirements in the following areas:
- Working conditions
- Health and safety
- Environmental standards
- Responsible business practices
Our goal is to implement these standards throughout the entire supply chain in the long term.
Regionality
Wherever possible, we source raw materials and services from our region. This strengthens local value creation and reduces transport emissions. Today we source over 80 % of our raw materials from Germany and 95 % from Europe.
Social engagement
PNZ supports various social and ecological initiatives, including educational projects, environmental organisations and regional associations. We see this engagement as part of our social responsibility. These include:
- We have supported the Nepal Medical Careflight association with donations in kind and cash for the construction of two schools in the Humla region
- We have carried out joint actions for cleaner Danube water with Pure Water for Generations e.V. and have supported the association with financial donations
- The Eichstätter Dienste, which carry out employment and qualification projects also in the area of woodworking, with product donations
- We have supported various kindergartens with product donations
- The Fridays for Future movement: we have participated in a number of action days
- We have supported the refugee initiative United4Rescue in joint actions
- We have supported the Kulturraum München association, which promotes free cultural access for people with lower incomes, with financial donations
3. What has improved as a result
- A large proportion of our procurement volume is now linked to clear sustainability requirements
- Greater regional value creation in selected areas
- More transparency towards partners and customers
- Better embedding of social responsibility in entrepreneurial action
4. Where trade-offs still exist
Many international raw material suppliers do not yet have complete CO₂ balances or comparable sustainability data. Economic requirements, availability of raw materials and ecological criteria must also frequently be weighed against one another. Not every regional solution is automatically the best one when technical quality, security of supply or availability argue otherwise.
5. Next steps
- Greater involvement of suppliers in concrete sustainability targets
- Improvement of transparency in the supply chain
- Further integration of sustainability criteria into procurement decisions
- Expansion of regional partnerships where this is technically and economically sensible
6. Transparency and Standards
1. Our commitment
Sustainability requires comprehensible benchmarks. We therefore orient ourselves not only to internal targets, but also to recognised external standards and frameworks. They help us to make progress measurable, to manage development systematically and to communicate our responsibility transparently. How we handle data, AI and communication in this context is set out in two separate policy documents: Our Approach to AI and Principles for Marketing and Communication Claims.
2. What we have done
- Alignment of our sustainability strategy with recognised international standards
- Embedding of quality and environmental management in certified systems
- Use of established frameworks for impact measurement and further development
3. What has improved as a result
Our sustainability strategy is oriented towards international standards. These include, among others:
- ISO 9001 Quality Management
- ISO 14001 Environmental Management
- B Corporation Certification
- UN Global Compact
- Science Based Targets Initiative of the UN
- Sustainable Development Goals (SDG)
These frameworks help us to measure and develop sustainability systematically.
4. Where trade-offs still exist
Standards provide orientation, but do not replace practical implementation in everyday life. Not every relevant advance can be perfectly measured immediately, and not every development can be fully captured in key figures. At the same time, requirements for documentation, verification and comparability are continuously increasing.
5. Next steps
- Further sharpening of internal key figures and measurement methods
- Stronger linkage of standards with operational decisions
- Continuous further development of our transparency towards customers, partners and employees
Outlook
Sustainability is not a state that PNZ reaches once. It is a continuous development process. Our goal is to develop products, processes, supply chains and standards step by step – technically, ecologically and economically. We want to not merely claim progress, but make it comprehensible: through transparency, concrete measures and the willingness to openly name trade-offs as well.
All further documents at a glance: Climate Action Plan · Environmental Stewardship & Circular Economy · JEDI Principles · Technology Roadmap 2030 · PNZ in Action · Our Approach to AI · Communication Principles
