“Paris Climate Accords” in Stolberg

July 20, 2022

Our family-owned company, based in Stolberg since 1876, is setting course for the future and has committed to significantly reducing its CO₂ emissions by 2030!

Our family-owned company, based in Stolberg since 1876, is setting course for the future and has committed to significantly reducing its CO₂ emissions by 2030!

“We don’t just want to be successful as an international materials specialist; we also feel a responsibility to future generations. That is why we have committed to supporting the targets of the Paris Climate Accords. We will implement concrete measures to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions and contribute to the goal of limiting global warming to well below 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels“, said Felix Herbort, Managing Director of Kerschgens.

A comprehensive action program will help the company achieve this ambitious goal. One of the biggest projects, the installation of photovoltaic systems on the roofs of our buildings, has got off to a successful start. In the first phase, 1,500 sqm of roof surface area were equipped with PV technology. This shift to solar power is already saving 137 tons of CO₂ and generating 17,6% of our annual electricity consumption. With additional systems, we will eventually be able to cover up to 60% of our power demand with solar electricity! We also plan to green additional roof areas to save more energy.

Another milestone on the way to more sustainability is our electric mobility concept. By switching our car fleet to battery-powered vehicles, installing charging stations in the parking areas of our Stolberg site and offering e-bike leasing, we want to give our staff greener options for traveling from A to B, whether for work-related or private reasons.

To document and track our emission reduction target, Kerschgens has decided to join the renowned Science Based Targets Initiative (SBTi). SBTi, an initiative that brings together more than 3,300 businesses in over 70 countries (as on July 20, 2022) has validated and published our plans.

In addition to our internal efforts to reduce emissions, Kerschgens is also promoting a sustainable future for the “Copper Town” of Stolberg in partnering with the Grüne Talachse project, which aims to use the waste heat produced by the region’s industry as a source of green energy.

All Kerschgens activities for more sustainability are continuously monitored and published in an annual report at www.kerschgens.de.