Recently, ebm‑papst Group published its first Sustainability Report. Under the motto of ‘Clear Vision, Sustainable Mission’, the report discloses the Group's sustainability initiatives and achievements for the FY 2023/24 in four areas: climate and environment, systems and solutions, employees and corporate culture, collaboration and responsibility.
Precise Emissions Reduction: Remarkable Results
Over the past three fiscal years, ebm‑papst has systematically measured Scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions and achieved significant reductions. After reducing Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 11.4% in the 2022/23 FY, ebm‑papst achieved a further 43.1% reduction in the 2023/24 FY. By purchasing green electricity, approximately 49.6% of Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions were avoided in 2023. For Scope 3 emissions, more than 98% occurred during the product usage phase. To reduce these emissions, ebm‑papst will continue to work closely with its customers and implement smart solutions.
(Definitions: Scope 1 refers to direct GHG emissions from company-owned or controlled sources; Scope 2 covers indirect GHG emissions from purchased energy; Scope 3 includes all other emissions across the company’s value chain, i.e. upstream and downstream involved in the actual production process, including the procurement of raw materials and auxiliary materials as well as its logistic and transport processes.)
Optimizing Own Energy Mix
One of the keys to achieving our sustainability goals is the strong development of renewable energies, says Klaus Wittmann: ‘To this end, we invest over €3 million annually in producing our own renewable energy, such as expanding photovoltaic systems and electrifying fossil fuel sources globally.’
In addition, ebm‑papst is also utilizing self-generated energy efficiently. At the Hollenbach site, two photovoltaic power systems and two CHP units generate approximately 3.5 million kWh annually. By Q3 2024, a third photovoltaic system will be connected to the grid, with an expected annual output of 2.2 million kWh. By then, around 5.7 million kWh of the plant’s annual electricity demand of 10 million kWh will be met by self-generated energy, significantly increasing the share of self-supply.
The Xi’an plant in China has been equipped with a photovoltaic system since January 2024, which can generate 1.45 million kWh annually and cover over 25% of the facility's energy needs. Within the next year, ebm‑papst plans to install a second, higher-capacity photovoltaic system to further increase its renewable energy ratio. Moreover, geothermal heat pumps provide cooling (2,792 kW) in summer and heating (2,876 kW) in winter, further supplementing internal energy production. LED lighting installed during the construction of the plant also contributes to enhancing energy efficiency.
Legal Framework of the Report
The Sustainability Report of ebm‑papst is based on the international standards of the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI), with information and insights meticulously classified under this framework. As a global company, ebm‑papst is not only committed to the realization of the UN Sustainable Development Goal (SDG), but also actively contributes to 10 of the 17 SDGs. From 2026, the Group will comply with the new EU directive on sustainability reporting (CSRD, or Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive). Consequently, ebm‑papst will publish its sustainability activities in a standardized format for the first time in the 2025/26 FY.
Moving forward, ebm‑papst will continue to fulfill its mission of sustainable development with green as the base color, leveraging internal efforts and close collaboration with partners to drive significant positive changes for the environment, stakeholders, and the society.
To learn more about our sustainability initiatives and achievemeonts: Clear vision, sustainable mission.