Climate protection
Taking new paths, leaving fewer traces
Vonmählen pursues a holistic climate strategy. As part of a comprehensive Climate Stewardship Program, we not only consistently reduce our greenhouse gas emissions but also take financial responsibility for the emissions that still occur and commit ourselves to the consistent transformation of the economy and society.
Reduce emissions
Our goal is to become net-zero by 2045, which means reducing 90% of our emitted emissions and permanently storing the remaining ones.
Where we stand
The gross CO₂ footprint within the system boundary in 2023 was a total of 671.40 tons of CO₂e.
With this, we saved 31.66% compared to the previous year!
Our reduction targets according to SBTi
Our goal is to become net-zero by 2045, meaning reducing 90% of our emissions and permanently storing the rest.
We have aligned our reduction targets with the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) to anchor the current scientific guidelines into our strategy. The SBTi was established in 2015 and is a collaboration between the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP), the United Nations Global Compact (UNGC), the World Resources Institute (WRI), and the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF). The SBTi reviews and validates companies' internal climate targets to ensure they are scientifically grounded and consistent with current climate science findings.
You can also find us here:
Companies taking action - Science Based Targets ↗
Investing in climate protection
Investing in Climate Protection
We are exploring new paths in climate finance. Our main focus is on achieving our reduction targets. At the same time, through substantial additional investments, we make a significant contribution to global climate protection. In doing so, we pave the way for a paradigm shift that directs urgently needed funds to global climate protection—without suggesting climate neutrality before we have actually achieved it ourselves through consistent emission reductions.
Investments in mitigation measures or carbon sinks outside our own value chain are necessary to adequately protect the climate. However, accounting for external reductions via CO₂ credits against one’s own greenhouse gas balance is not compatible with achieving science-based greenhouse gas reduction targets. For this reason, the term “compensation” is rejected by science.¹,²
¹ p. 13 WWF Germany (2020) Fit for Paris: A guide on how corporate climate strategies can align with the Paris Agreement (Link ↗)
² p. 9 Science Based Targets initiative (2023) SBTi Corporate Net-Zero Standard (Link ↗)
We have a fixed CO₂ price
Additionally, we take extra responsibility for emissions generated by defining a fixed CO₂ price of €75 per ton of CO₂e in 2023. We invest this amount 100% in global climate protection. We increase this amount annually until we reach the recommended value set by the German Environment Agency. According to calculations by the Environment Agency, society incurs costs of €254 per ton of CO₂e emitted.³
For comparison: On the voluntary market, CO₂ certificates cost on average between €5 and €20 per ton of CO₂e.⁴
For determining our investment amount, we consider our net CO₂ footprint.⁵ In 2023, this was 735.76 tons of CO₂e.
For 2023, Vonmählen is investing a total of €55,182. It is particularly important to us that the funds flow 100% into the project. WWF provides us with annual reports on the use of the funds and their effectiveness.
³ German Environment Agency (2023) Social Costs of Environmental Pollution (Link ↗)
⁴ p. 12 Sylvera (2023) The State of Carbon Credits in 2023 (Link ↗)
⁵ The net CO₂e footprint includes all emissions except those already compensated or reduced. Scope 2 is calculated based on market data. Due to the purchase of green electricity, emissions that would be included in location-based calculations are excluded. In Scope 3, 117.62 t CO₂e have already been compensated in transport via freight companies.
We close the resource loop
Recycled Materials
A large part of our emissions is caused by the materials used in our products. By using recycled materials, a significant portion of the emissions normally generated by conventional materials can be avoided. The extraction of these materials causes up to 80% fewer emissions in some cases! Additionally, recycling greatly reduces the demand for fossil raw materials and minerals. At the same time, it significantly reduces the amount of waste.
We communicate the proportion of recycled materials in our products through the Global Recycled Standard (GRS). The strict requirements of the GRS apply throughout our entire supply chain. The standard covers all stages of the production chain—from processing scrap materials in recycling facilities to storing finished products in distribution centers. To receive certification, strict environmental and social standards must be met by both our suppliers and ourselves. Since July 2023, we have been a GRS-certified company.
Find us in the official GRS directory ↗
Product Labeling
To be as transparent as possible, we will always indicate the percentage of recycled materials used on our products. However, products will only be labeled with the GRS logo if they consist of more than 50% recycled materials overall.
Our packaging is on the right track with wood
FSC-Certified Packaging
We do not use plastic in our packaging. This reduces the potential environmental impact of improperly disposed waste. Additionally, paper is easier to recycle, which also decreases the downstream demand for new raw materials.
99% of the paper in our packaging is FSC-certified.
Our goal is to produce 100% of our packaging from paper in the future, thereby switching from composite packaging to mono-material packaging. Goodbye plastic, glue, and magnets.
↘ Mono-material paper packaging is easier to recycle
↘ Lower environmental impact from plastic waste
No room for waste
We want to promote sustainable consumption not only through innovative products but also through sustainable packaging solutions.
Optimized Packaging
We aim to encourage sustainable consumption not just with innovative products but also with sustainable packaging solutions. By eliminating unnecessary accessories, we are able to switch to smaller packaging.
In addition, we precisely adjust the sizes of our product packaging to fit the outer cartons. This maximizes space usage and minimizes the use of filler material.
Benefits of Smaller Packaging Sizes
↘ Lower material footprint
↘ Reduced CO₂ emissions during transport
↘ Lower transport costs per product
Furthermore, 99% of the paper in our packaging is FSC-certified, meaning it comes from verifiably responsible forestry.
On the way to saving CO₂e
Climate- and Cost-Efficient Logistics
The further development of our logistical strategies is another key element in achieving our reduction targets. Air freight may be fast and enable dynamic order processing, but it causes high greenhouse gas emissions and is expensive. Our goal is to increasingly rely on sea freight. This approach not only offers cost savings but also significantly reduces environmental impact.
At the same time, this goal requires forward-looking planning. Our service partners share our commitment to sustainability and pursue transparent strategies in this regard. This transparency ensures that our collaboration aligns with our sustainability goals not only in the short term but also in the medium and long term. Thanks to their detailed sustainability reporting, we can precisely track the real impact our transport activities have on the environment.
Additionally, we are currently reviewing the use of Sustainable Aviation Fuels for air transport. This is another step in our efforts to implement more environmentally friendly and sustainable practices throughout our entire logistics chain.
Contact
We are always open to feedback and suggestions.
If you have questions, criticism, or simply want to learn more about our efforts, feel free to get in touch with us!
