With data, dialogue and green energy

“We at the Uhlmann Group have set ourselves very ambitious goals,” Leung explains right at the beginning. The exact target values of the Uhlmann Group's decarbonization strategy did not emerge from an internal process but are based on scientifically sound specifications from the Science Based Targets Initiative (SBTI). For Scope 1 and 2 emissions, a reduction of 42.3% is to be achieved by 2030, and for Scope 3, a reduction of 27.5% - based on the values from the 2019/2020 fiscal year. “That may sound like a very odd number at first, but there is a good reason for it: The SBTI calculates exactly how much a company needs to reduce on a scientific basis to stay below the 1.5-degree warming threshold.”

All managing directors of the Uhlmann Group - including those from companies outside the EU - have committed to these goals. “This actually means that even companies not directly affected by the regulations of the European Green Deal still commit to these goals.”

Successes and measures

Today, the company is already at a 36% reduction in Scope 1 and 2 - with a target of 42.3% by 2030. “So we are almost at the goals we set for ourselves in just five years,” Leung is pleased to say. A significant contribution to this has been the switch to green electricity. “With this relatively simple measure, we were able to make a leap forward - even before we had to adjust our own processes.”

Other measures include, among other things, the conversion of the fleet, which, however, depends heavily on regional charging infrastructure. "It is also important to know what kind of electricity I am using to charge my vehicle, as this is crucial for the CO₂ emissions of electromobility," says Leung. The area of "procured heating and cooling" was even more challenging, as the SBTI does not accept a purely contractual change through the purchase of certificates, but demands physical changes towards green heating. "Here we had to completely change the way we heat and maintain our buildings."

The group is increasingly examining the increased use of its own PV systems. "We definitely want to increase the share," comments Leung. However, becoming completely self-sufficient is not currently planned. It is also being examined to what extent the roofs of existing buildings are suitable for PV systems. "PV systems are currently still very heavy and not all roofs can bear the load."

Sustainability in the supply chain

To reduce upstream scope 3 emissions, the Uhlmann Group launched a group-wide sustainability program for suppliers. "We approached our suppliers, who account for over 80% of upstream emissions, and collected data on their own emissions." The goal is to create transparency and jointly identify reduction potentials. There are currently no specific reduction targets or exclusion criteria: "It was important for us to first create transparency here. And it can be positively noted that many are already working on the topic. And where there were no own decarbonization projects yet, we want to enter into dialogue in the next step and also enable these companies to calculate their emissions and then optimize them if possible. It is important for me to emphasize once again: This process is about enabling our partners and not about setting them goals that they ultimately cannot meet. But it is also clear: suppliers who work with us to become more sustainable are definitely at an advantage," comments Leung.

Packaging, circular economy, and scope 3

Logistics naturally include shipping packaging, which is also being optimized. The goal is to use packaging made from recycled or recyclable material. For the large wooden crates used to ship the finished machines, Leung expresses a wish: "In the long term, I want us to move much more towards reusing the packaging."

To also leave the smallest possible CO₂ footprint during transport itself, Uhlmann primarily relies on ship and rail. Weight also plays a role: for example, developers at Koch Pac-Systeme were able to save about 19% of the weight by switching the protective housing of a packaging machine from an aluminum frame to a mix of wood and plastic - thereby reducing both the emissions of the product itself and the emissions during transport.

In the area of scope 3, the Uhlmann Group wants to work even more closely with customers in the future. "Due to the long service life of our products, which can certainly last several decades, most emissions do not occur with us, but with the customer, where the machine is running." Through consultations on packaging design and regular maintenance, they want to provide assistance here to reduce resource consumption. Additionally, a sustainability program is planned together with our customers. "We want to know specifically what energy mix our machines are operated with."

A central element here is energy monitoring, which is used at Koch Pac-Systeme and Uhlmann Pac-Systeme. It enables granular data collection down to the individual blister. Leung emphasizes: "We want to offer the customer the opportunity to identify peaks or deviations and then work together to reduce power consumption."

CSRD: Data is important, but not everything

In the context of the CSRD (Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive), Leung emphasizes that not only a consolidated key figure counts: "What interests us is the detailed composition of the key figures - for example, how fluctuations occurred between individual fiscal years that led to a reduction or increase in emissions. In short: we want to understand the nuances because that's the only way we can manage."

Potential through AI

Currently, the Uhlmann Group is working with universities on initial use cases for the application of artificial intelligence, including the analysis of supply chain reports. "We also want to have consumption values analyzed by AI - and then receive suggestions on how we can reduce further." Much is still in the testing phase, but Leung is convinced: "This presents a very good opportunity because it provides new approaches - different from those previously known."