Climate neutrality at German locations in OPTIMA's anniversary year

"We understand sustainability as long-term, partnership-based and resource-conserving management. 100 years of future also stands for this sustainability. We think in generations, in the past and also in the future," explains Hans Bühler, Managing Director/CEO of the Optima Group. Existing and numerous additional activities will now be merged into the existing sustainability strategy, which is called "We care for tomorrow". "Our common goal is to make further contributions to climate protection in the short term and to be holistically excellent in the medium term in the areas of the environment, social affairs and corporate governance," adds Stefan König, Managing Director of the Optima Group. Optima's customers are also increasingly interested in the CO2 footprint, reduction targets and measures. In addition, the implementation of a holistic ESG profile (ESG: Environmental, Social and Governance) for achieving the objectives will be pursued more intensively.

"We understand sustainability as long-term, partnership-based and resource-conserving management. 100 years of future also stands for this sustainability. We think in generations, in the past and also in the future," explains Hans Bühler, Managing Director/CEO of the Optima Group. Existing and numerous additional activities will now be merged into the existing sustainability strategy, which is called "We care for tomorrow". "Our common goal is to make further contributions to climate protection in the short term and to be holistically excellent in the medium term in the areas of the environment, social affairs and corporate governance," adds Stefan König, Managing Director of the Optima Group. Optima's customers are also increasingly interested in the CO₂ footprint, reduction targets and measures. In addition, the implementation of a holistic ESG profile (ESG: Environmental, Social and Governance) for achieving the objectives will be pursued more intensively.

Central sustainability strategy with 3 pillars

Optima's "We care for tomorrow" sustainability strategy consists of three pillars:

German locations have been climate-neutral since 2022

The starting point for climate protection measures is the calculation of the Corporate Carbon Footprint (CCF). The correct accounting of greenhouse gases and the compensation of remaining emissions were verified by TÜV Süd in accordance with the internationally recognized ISO 14064 standard and the GHG Protocol model. In addition, Optima has been using green electricity since 2009 and has been able to reduce the company's operational climate footprint by 40 percent through additional measures. A further package of measures will reduce this by an additional 25 percent by 2030. Increasing energy and resource efficiency at selected locations and expanding sustainable mobility are important cornerstones for this. To compensate for remaining emissions, Optima is investing exclusively in climate protection projects with the highest quality standard (Gold Standard CER) and is therefore as of now working with the Baden-Wuerttemberg Climate Protection Foundation. This foundation was used to obtain the certificates in cooperation with myclimate.

Climate-neutral delivery of machines and systems as of 2023

As of 2023, Optima will be the first mechanical engineering supplier to offer its customers net climate-neutral delivery of machines and systems based on an initially reduced and then compensated, project-specific climate footprint. For this purpose, the product carbon footprint (PCF) of the project will be determined. "The emission of greenhouse gasses for individual machine projects will in the future be an additional criterion in the customer's purchase decision. We will be able to identify which measures – for example, in design and procurement – we can use to further reduce our product-related climate footprint. And thus have a direct and positive impact on our customers' climate footprint," says Dominik Bröllochs, Group Sustainability Manager at Optima.

Award of the "CO2-neutral company" label

Dr. Patrick Rapp, State Secretary in the Ministry of Economics, Labor and Tourism in Baden-Wuerttemberg and member of the Climate Protection Foundation's Board: "I congratulate the Optima Packaging Group on being awarded with the 'CO2-neutral company' label. This award is associated with an in-depth accounting of the company's own emissions and demonstrates the assumption of responsibility and the determined commitment at management level. The emissions are offset with certified, sustainable and climate-protecting measures. I hope that as many companies as possible in Baden-Wuerttemberg will follow Optima's exemplary example and continue to lead the way in sustainability and climate protection."

Holistic consideration of climate and environmental issues

"The 'We care for tomorrow' sustainability strategy will in future be vigorously promoted by the entire management. We are convinced that we can offer our customers real added value to achieve their sustainability goals," says Stefan König.

About the Climate Protection Foundation Baden-Wuerttemberg

The Climate Protection Foundation Baden-Wuerttemberg is a subsidiary of the Baden-Wuerttemberg Foundation. It accompanies people in the state on their way to climate neutrality. We see climate change as a challenge for society as a whole, encompassing all areas of life. We respond to this with effective climate protection projects and compensation offers in Baden-Wuerttemberg, Europe and worldwide. In this way, we are strengthening Baden-Wuerttemberg's pioneering role in climate protection and positively shaping our common future. Further information is available at www.klimaschutzstiftung-bw.de

About OPTIMA

Optima supports companies worldwide with flexible and customized filling and packaging systems for the pharmaceutical, consumer goods, hygiene and medical products market segments. As a solution and system provider, Optima supports them from the product idea to successful production and throughout the entire machine life cycle. More than 2,800 experts around the globe contribute to Optima's success. 20 locations at home and abroad ensure the worldwide availability of services. In 2022, Optima celebrates the company's 100th anniversary.

Picture is available at AP Images (http://www.apimages.com)

If you have any questions on this topic, please contact:

Stefan König
Managing Director
+49 (0)791 506-1108
[email protected]

Dominik Bröllochs
Group Sustainability Manager
+49 (0)791 506-1243
[email protected]