SÜDPACK is actively driving the decarbonization of the corporate group.

The SÜDPACK Group has significantly improved its own operational CO₂ footprint (Scope 1 & 2) – and continues to work intensively on implementing its ambitious goals in Scope 3 as well. Consistent, value-oriented action, technical innovations, collaboration along the value chain, and embedding the sustainability strategy throughout the organization are important pillars of success.

As a manufacturer of plastic films and packaging concepts for food, non-food, pharmaceuticals, medical devices, and technical applications, SÜDPACK is aware of its responsibility for climate protection. With the commitment to the SBTi – and thus to the 1.5-degree target of the Paris Agreement – as well as validated Near-Term Targets for Scope 1, 2, and 3.1, the family-owned company has set defined goals within its 2030 sustainability strategy. The Corporate Carbon Footprint (CCF) provides reliable emission data as a key figure and management tool, showing the current status of target achievement and systematically identifying further reduction potentials.

Significant progress compared to the base year 2021

The current CCF confirms that SÜDPACK is on a good path in implementing its climate protection strategy. Compared to the base year 2021, CO₂e emissions could be reduced by a total of 21% by 2025. Specifically, in Scope 1 & 2, which includes direct emissions and purchased energy, a significant reduction of 73% was achieved. The target for 2030 is 76.3%.

In Scope 3.1 (purchased goods and services), emissions were reduced by 16%. The target for 2030 is 25%. This area accounts for around two-thirds of SÜDPACK's total emissions, so even small improvements have a positive impact. Therefore, consistent action here is particularly important.

Compared to 2024, the CCF of the SÜDPACK Group has increased slightly by 3.91%. However, the annual target derived from the SBTi goals was still met. The slight increase was primarily due to a fortunately larger sales volume, which directly impacts the product-related high CCF in Scope 3 – both in purchased goods and at end-of-life. Another reason: the expansion of the plants in Erolzheim and Coulmer, France, in 2025. Thanks to extensive investments, SÜDPACK has significantly expanded its capacity for the production of lightweight packaging materials designed according to Recycling by Design guidelines – an important building block for sustainability and future viability – and for future CCF reductions.

Focus on product design, circularity & material efficiency

To achieve the reduction targets despite continued planned increases in sales, SÜDPACK primarily focuses on manufacturing PP- and PE-based packaging concepts that can be fed into existing recycling loops. A second approach involves reducing the weight of high-performance materials, as lower material usage per m² of film conserves resources, reduces emissions along the entire logistics chain, and also has a positive impact at end-of-life. In packaging printing, SÜDPACK increasingly convinces customers with the SPQ technology. It enables a particularly efficient printing process and contributed to reducing emissions from solvent use by around 9.5 percent compared to 2024.

Whether and to what extent the new products ultimately contribute to active climate protection depends primarily on when customers are willing to switch to alternative packaging concepts.

Renewable energy & energy efficiency

SÜDPACK also consistently advances in energy management. Since early 2025, green electricity with guarantees of origin has been supplied to the Coulmer site; thus, all EU production sites operate with 100 percent green electricity. Currently, the group relies on 57% renewable energy across its entire energy management scope, which includes not only electricity but also other energy sources. By 2030, this share is to increase to 88%. Effective measures include the use of sustainable energy sources and the ongoing electrification (e.g., green electricity instead of gas).

It is also encouraging that total energy consumption has been reduced by 19% since 2021 through efficiency measures. Despite increased procurement and sales volumes, transportation emissions have also been optimized through continuous efforts.

Digital climate management for greater transparency

The implementation of a new software solution supports the organization in better managing and controlling the increasing complexity of sustainability topics in the international environment. The platform consolidates emission data, targets, and progress in a dashboard, enabling targeted identification of decarbonization potentials, more efficient fulfillment of reporting obligations, and further standardization of digital processes in data collection and analysis.