Zeller + Gmelin is officially a climate neutral location after climate experts Fokus Zukunft certified it as a ‘Climate Neutral Company 2020’.
Zeller + Gmelin, which specialises in lubricants, printing inks and chemicals, has been officially climate neutral since January. This includes its entire office, production and storage facilities, as well as all 549 employees at the Eislingen headquarters, plus the Südöl companies Mineralöl Raffinerie and Südöl-Umwelt-Recycling, and ZG Fluidmanagement. The remaining carbon dioxide values are offset by climate certificates, with Zeller + Gmelin supporting sustainable climate protection projects in developing and emerging countries.
The company, located in the Stuttgart Chamber of Commerce and Industry, identified additional potential for cutting emissions through a KEFF check. Keff is an initiative of the Ministry for the Environment, Climate and Energy Economics Baden-Württemberg (UM), and is committed to increasing energy efficiency in companies. Zeller + Gmelin was the 500th company to successfully complete a KEFF check.
Gülen Ak, head of quality, environmental and energy management at the consumables specialist, as well as being responsible for sustainability and climate neutrality, commented, ‘After a very intensive process, we’ve determined the carbon footprint of the Eislingen site and all other subsidiaries at the site. Thanks to various energy-saving projects, we’ve already been able to significantly minimise our carbon dioxide values.’
Thomas Alpers, managing director for technology at Zeller + Gmelin, added, ‘We have always been careful to use resources sparingly in all business areas.’
Zeller + Gmelin has always focused on people and the environment, with numerous new environmentally friendly bio-lubricant products such as concrete release agents, chainsaw oils and lawnmower oils. ‘So it was a logical next step to extend this environmental awareness to climate neutrality,’ added Mr Alpers.
By determining its annual carbon footprint, the company has undertaken to not only comply with climate targets but also to improve them sustainably. For example, consideration is being given to purchasing more green electricity in the future.Mr Alpers continued, ‘We go into great detail in our climate considerations. Even in new buildings such as our new laboratory rooms for quality assurance we consider the environmental impact and will use solar systems for elevator operation.’
