EISLINGEN, Germany—Zeller + Gmelin is officially a climate neutral location.
Certified climate experts Fokus Zukunft GmbH certified Zeller + Gmelin as a “Climate Neutral Company 2020” after determining its carbon footprint. The organization, located in the Stuttgart Chamber of Commerce and Industry, identified additional potential for cutting emissions with the respected and value-generating KEFF-Check.
“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 minimize our CO2 values,” explained graduate engineer Gülen Ak, who as head of quality, environmental and energy management is also responsible for sustainability and climate neutrality. Zeller + Gmelin, which specializes 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 C02 values were offset by climate certificates, with Zeller + Gmelin supporting sustainable climate protection projects in developing and emerging countries.
“We have always been careful to use resources sparingly in all business areas,” emphasized Thomas Alpers, managing director for technology at Zeller + Gmelin. In addition, 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.”
The year 2019 at Zeller + Gmelin was all about climate protection and climate neutrality, according to the company. Numerous energy saving projects were implemented; whether it’s the use of photovoltaic systems, more energy-efficient transformers or targeted heat recovery, we looked closely at practically every area where savings could still be achieved. As a result, Zeller + Gmelin was certified according to energy management standard DIN EN ISO 50001:2018. “We have incorporated the standard into our existing integrated quality and environmental management system,” explained Gülen Ak.
By determining its annual carbon footprint, the lubricant expert undertakes not only to comply with climate targets but also to improve them sustainably. For example, consideration is being given to purchasing more green electricity in the future. “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,” explained Thomas Alpers. Even this is nothing new for Zeller + Gmelin, which already has a solar-powered passenger lift in use that even feeds electricity back into the power grid during descent.
And its carbon footprint is improving. At present, CO2 emissions at the Eislingen site amount to 4,763 tons per year. “That’s about 8.68 tonnes per employee, which means that we are very well placed,” said Gülen Ak.
As the 500th company to successfully complete the KEFF Check, Zeller + Gmelin received an award from the Baden-Württemberg Ministry of the Environment. The official award ceremony took place on Feb. 4 at a ceremony attended by a representative of the Ministry of the Environment, the Baden-Württemberg State Agency for Environmental Technology and Resource Efficiency, the president of the Chamber of Industry and Commerce of Baden-Württemberg and the Chamber of Industry and Commerce of Göppingen.
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