Maag GmbH - Sustainability

We accept Responsibility

Sustainability as a responsibility
Resource efficiency and the continuous reduction of our environmental impact are an integral part of our corporate strategy.

We take a holistic approach that takes environmental responsibility, economic performance and technological innovation into account as a whole.

We therefore align ourselves with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and take into account the guidelines of the European Green Deal as well as the requirements of a modern circular economy.
Our focus is on systematically reducing environmental impacts, using resources efficiently and strengthening material cycles in the long term.

Our approach

Prevention
Right from the development stage of our products and processes, we prioritise resource efficiency and the prevention of waste. Lean management, digitalisation, optimised production processes and the reduction of material losses make a significant contribution to this.

Reduce
We continuously invest in modern and energy-efficient technologies. These include, amongst others, photovoltaics, the use of renewable energy, heat recovery systems and the continuous optimisation of our production and administrative processes.

Strengthen cycles
With our ‘Design for Recycling’ approach and the Maag I pro-tect packaging concept, we develop packaging solutions designed to enable high-quality material recovery and the long-term retention of materials within the circular economy.

Our commitment
We view sustainability as a process of continuous improvement. That is why we systematically record relevant environmental indicators, regularly review our progress and consistently refine our products, processes and business models. In this way, we aim to contribute to a resource-efficient and circular packaging industry.
We are convinced that long-term corporate success is only possible in harmony with environmental and social responsibility.
We do not view sustainability as an additional task, but as an integral part of our business activities. We regard economic, environmental and social aspects as equally important components of long-term successful corporate development.

Our Measures for sustainability:

Resource Conservation

WE WORK ACCORDING TO THE GUIDING PRINCIPLE: “THE BEST PACKAGING IS ONE THAT IS NOT PRODUCED AT ALL!”

With the introduction of the LEAN management philosophy in the process and production, we are continuously optimising:
Production based on your requirements in small batches (our “SuperMaagT”) avoids surplus quantities and the destruction rate is reduced. In printing pre-stages ad the production process, automation and robotic systems ensure efficient procedures.

At the product level, with Maag I pro-tect, we reduce packaging material and conserve resources through circularity. The Pius Check (production-integrated environmental protection) for resource efficiency attests to our very good results.

Circular economy

Resources – whether fossil or biogenic – have a very high value for us.
Our goal is to keep valuable materials in the cycle. We have the solution for closing the flow of materials.
With Maag I pro-tect, we analyse the product lifecycle of packaging from the end perspective and include the reuse in our packaging development.

We thereby fulfil all of our preconditions for circularity, as a wide range of reuse occurs for our PP solutions in numerous downstream markets.

Environment

Our path to genuine climate action

The exploitation of finite resources is reaching ecological limits. That is why we have realigned our climate action strategy: away from offsetting – towards genuine, verifiable emissions avoidance and reduction.

We consistently follow the approach: Avoid – Reduce.

What this means for us:

We used to offset our unavoidable emissions through external climate protection projects. Due to the public debate surrounding greenwashing and our own conviction that we must make a difference locally, we are now taking a different approach:

We no longer offset emissions. Instead, we are systematically and permanently reducing them.

An overview of our steps

1. Calculating emissions

We record all relevant sources of emissions – from energy supply and heating, through production processes, to transport and internal consumption.

The annual update clearly shows us where we can take further action.

2. Avoiding and reducing emissions

Based on the CCF, we implement effective measures that reduce emissions at source. These include:

* Switching to green electricity

* Installation of a photovoltaic system

* Utilisation of waste heat

* LED technology across all lighting

* Efficient systems for refrigeration and compressed air generation

* Modern building insulation

* Promotion of e-mobility

* Internal process optimisations to reduce solvent-based emissions

These steps have been shown to lead to a continuous reduction in our carbon footprint – in a sustainable and transparent manner.

Why we no longer offset

Offsetting can be a complementary tool, but it is no substitute for genuine transformation. We aim higher:

We want to reduce emissions where they arise – within our own company.

That is why, as part of our environmental strategy, we are focusing on consistently improving efficiency and conserving resources throughout our value chain. A key driver in this regard is the digitalisation and automation of processes, which enables us to systematically reduce material usage, energy consumption and emissions.

Social

In addition to economic and ecological sustainability, social sustainability is also a part of sustainable development. We take our social responsibility very seriously and make our
contribution to further increase the development of our company in UN Sustainable Development Goals.

Fair business practices, employee-oriented human resources policy and responsibility locally, as well as along our supply chain, are the basis for our social sustainability.
We create a positive working environment for our employees and do a great deal for their further development:

Own vocational training in three training professions
Project cooperation with local higher education institutions
Support programme for highly motivated employees
Commitment to the environment, education, health, sport, art
Extensive social activities

In 2017, we had ourselves certified for the first time as a “Family-Friendly Company” and the certificate was extended for another three years in 2019. The reconcilability of family and profession is anchored in our corporate mission statement. This creates trust and motivation for employees in all areas of the company

A trusting, transparent and long-term partnership with our business partners is our aspiration.
We have ourselves certified on a regular basis in the areas of production, sustainability and social responsibility. This way, we can continue working on ourselves! We are proud of our good results.

Our certifications are available for you to download!

For detailed information on our sustainability strategy and the measures we have taken, please refer to
our current Sustainability Report 2024

Sustainability Report 2024

environmental strategy

We are convinced that sustainable business practices can only be successful if environmental responsibility and economic performance are considered together.

That is why we take a holistic approach that encompasses products, processes and value chains in equal measure. Our aim is to use resources efficiently, strengthen material cycles and continuously reduce the environmental impact of our business activities.

Circular economy as a guiding principle

At the heart of our environmental strategy lies the development of recyclable packaging solutions. Right from the product development stage, we take into account the requirements for high-quality recycling and consistently focus on ‘Design for Recycling’.

With our Maag I Protect packaging concept, we are developing recyclable, monomaterial solutions based on polypropylene, which enable high-quality material recovery and can reduce the use of fossil raw materials in the long term.

Resource efficiency across all processes

For us, sustainability does not end with the product. Through lean management, digitalisation and automation, we continuously optimise our processes, avoid waste and reduce the consumption of materials, energy and resources throughout the entire value chain.

In doing so, we aim to systematically minimise errors, overproduction, unnecessary transport and material losses.

Transparency and measurable improvement

We systematically collect our environmental and energy data and use this as the basis for specific improvement measures. Investments in modern production technologies, energy-efficient plant and renewable energy sources help us to continuously improve our environmental performance.

Closing the loop together

A functioning circular economy can only be achieved through collaboration. That is why we work closely with customers, suppliers, recyclers, trade associations and research institutions.

Through our commitment to Certified Recycled Content (CRC), we also support market-based approaches that promote the use of high-quality recycled materials and create incentives for packaging solutions designed for recycling.

Our mission

We aim to develop packaging that conserves resources and enables high-quality material cycles, whilst meeting the highest standards of product protection, quality and cost-effectiveness.

In this way, we are making our contribution to a sustainable and future-proof packaging industry.

Circular economy

The circular economy at the heart of our environmental strategy

Flexible packaging strikes a balance between optimal product protection and the responsible use of resources. Our aim is to combine these two requirements and develop packaging that not only fulfils its function but also makes a long-term contribution to the circular economy.

Maag I pro-tect – taking ‘Design for Recycling’ to the next level

Resources – whether fossil-based or bio-based raw materials – are of great value to us. That is why we do not view packaging solely in terms of its use, but also consider its entire life cycle.

With Maag I pro-tect, we are pursuing a consistent ‘Design for Recycling’ approach. Right from the development stage, we take into account the subsequent sorting, recycling and reuse of the materials. Our aim is to keep recyclable materials in the cycle for as long as possible and to enable their high-quality reuse.

To this end, we rely on recyclable, monomaterial solutions based on polypropylene (PP-only), which can be reused in numerous applications in the secondary market.

Key elements of our approach are:

Avoiding colours and components that hinder recycling
Standardisation of material structures
Optimisation for high-quality secondary market applications
High technical recyclability and sortability

Our commitment goes beyond mere recyclability. What matters most to us is that materials are actually returned to the economic cycle and can replace new fossil-based materials.

Substitution of fossil-based raw materials

The use of high-quality recycled materials enables significant savings in fossil resources and reduces greenhouse gas emissions throughout the value chain. Depending on the application, using recycled materials instead of virgin materials can save between 1.5 and 2.5 kg of CO₂ per kilogram of material.

However, due to food safety regulations and technical requirements, the direct use of recycled materials in many flexible food packaging applications is currently only possible to a limited extent.

That is why, through our involvement with Certified Recycled Content (CRC) GmbH, we support a market-based approach that promotes the use of high-quality recycled materials wherever it is technically feasible and appropriate. At the same time, with Maag I pro-tect, we are creating the conditions to ensure that our packaging can serve as a high-quality source of raw materials for the secondary market after it has been used.

In this way, we combine recycling-friendly packaging design, resource conservation and the promotion of a functioning circular economy into a holistic environmental approach.

Resource Conservation

WE WORK ACCORDING TO THE GUIDING PRINCIPLE: “THE BEST PACKAGING IS ONE THAT IS NOT PRODUCED AT ALL!”:

At the product level, with Maag I pro-tect, we reduce packaging material and conserve resources through circularity. The Pius Check (production-integrated environmental protection) for resource efficiency attests to our very good results.

Social

Own vocational training in three training professions
Project cooperation with local higher education institutions
Support programme for highly motivated employees
Commitment to the environment, education, health, sport, art
Extensive social activities

We have been recertified as a "Family-friendly company in the district of Soest" for the 4th time in a row in 2023. Since our first certification in 2017, promoting the compatibility of family and career has been an essential part of our corporate mission statement. We firmly believe that a good balance between work and family life not only improves the quality of life of our team members, but also strengthens trust and motivation in all areas of the company.

The certification is a testament to our ongoing support of our employees. It confirms our ongoing commitment to a supportive working environment where the personal circumstances of our employees are respected and supported. Our team is at the centre of our company philosophy. We pride ourselves on creating an environment that not only supports our employees' professional goals, but also provides space for a healthy work-life balance.

Zertifikat Mitglied GKV Verhaltenskodex A trusting, transparent and long-term partnership with our business partners is our aspiration.

We have ourselves certified on a regular basis in the areas of production, sustainability and social responsibility. This way, we can continue working on ourselves! We are proud of our good results. Our certifications are available for you to download !

Sustainability is our success factor