Cut emissions, use resources efficiently

The responsible use of resources and the reduction of environmental impact form part of Ensinger’s sustainability work. The management and the consulting board regularly address key sustainability issues, set targets and monitor the implementation of measures. The focus is on continuously reducing the CO2eq footprint at our sites in Europe, Asia and the USA. Key requirements for this include sophisticated management of energy consumption and the procurement of electricity from renewable sources. For processes that use fossil fuels, we are examining options for conversion as part of thermal studies. For the current status and timeframe, see the reduction targets in the Sustainability Report.

A company's activities also lead to further environmental impacts, which are recorded in the life cycle assessment. 

Energy management Reduction of climate-damaging emissions Product Carbon Footprint
Life cycle assessment Products & Solutions

Energy management 

We strive to reduce the energy consumption of all locations in the long term. Energy management at the GmbH’s German sites is certified to ISO 50001. Consumption is recorded on this basis and priorities for savings measures are derived. So-called "energy teams" work continuously on improvements. As a result, 1,64 GWh of energy was saved in the 2025/26 financial year, which corresponds to around 3,5 per cent of the consumption at the sites and in the areas under review. The measures are very diverse and range from the use of new consumption-saving technologies and the monitoring of compressed air leaks to the precise regulation of consumers depending on the load level.
solar panels in front of Ensinger building

Reduction of climate-damaging emissions

The reduction of direct and indirect greenhouse gas emissions is at the centre of the company's climate targets. The Paris climate goals are the benchmark. We aim to reduce Scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions by 45 per cent (in absolute terms) by 2031 compared with the base year of 2022. By the 2041 financial year, Ensinger is committed to reducing absolute greenhouse gas emissions from Scope 1 and Scope 2 by 90 per cent compared with the base year, the 2022 financial year. By the 2046 financial year, absolute Scope 3 emissions from the categories covered by the SBTi targets are also set to fall by 90 per cent compared with the base year, the 2022 financial year. Ensinger is also committed to achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions across the value chain by the 2046 financial year.

  • The company's greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions have been systematically recorded and analysed for the German plants since 2021 and for all locations worldwide since 2022. The balance is based on the Greenhouse Gas Protocol (GHG) standard. Emissions are reported according to their origin, the so-called scopes, 1-3. 

    Scope 1 includes emissions from the operation of the company's facilities, which require fossil fuels. Scope 2 includes emissions that arise from the generation of electricity purchased by the company. Scope 3 includes emissions that arise as a result of the company's activities with external parties, in particular from the extraction, production and delivery of raw materials and supplies as well as from the transport of the products sold. 

    Figure: The majority of the company's greenhouse gas emissions are generated during the production and transport of the raw materials that are purchased (main component Scope 3). This is followed by emissions from the generation of purchased electricity (Scope 2) and from combustion processes in the company's facilities and vehicles (Scope 1).

    In the base year (financial year 2022, FY22), the GHG emissions of the entire Ensinger Group were around 330,000 tonnes of CO2eq. More than 90 per cent of emissions occur along the value chain (Scope 3), primarily in the production of raw materials and merchandise.

    The following chart shows the emissions categories from Scope 3 excluding raw materials and merchandise as well as Scopes 1 and 2.  

    Figure: Emissions of the group excluding raw materials and merchandise by main polluters

    The largest share of emissions comes from the generation of purchased electricity, in particular from fossil-fueled power plants (Scope 2), the transport of goods, the infrastructure for generating energy, employee commuting, the landfilling of waste (all part of Scope 3) and the combustion of fossil fuels in the company for process heat, heating and the operation of vehicles (Scope 1). 

  • Ensinger has set itself greenhouse gas reduction targets, which were validated by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) on 12 December 2023 in accordance with the SBTi criteria (Version 5.0). Both the short-term targets and the net-zero target have been validated. Both the targets and the means chosen should be targeted and trustworthy. The plan is to reduce emissions by 45 % for Scope 1 - 3 by 2031 (base year 2022). By 2041, emissions for scopes 1 and 2 are to be reduced by over 90 %. Emissions for Scope 3 are to be reduced by 90 % by 2046. 

    Figure: Planned reduction in greenhouse gas emissions for Scope 1 to 3, actual emissions for comparison.
    Near-Term Targets
    Ensinger is committed to reducing absolute Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions by 45 per cent by the 2031 financial year, compared with the baseline year of the 2022 financial year. Ensinger also commits to reducing absolute Scope 3 emissions from purchased goods and services, fuel- and energy-related activities, upstream transport and distribution, operational waste, business travel and employee commuting by 45 per cent over the same period.

    Long-term targets
    Ensinger is committed to reducing absolute Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions by 90 per cent by the 2041 financial year, compared with the base year of the 2022 financial year. Ensinger also commits to reducing absolute Scope 3 emissions from the categories listed above by 90 per cent by the 2046 financial year, compared with the base year of the 2022 financial year.

    Net-Zero Target
    Ensinger is committed to achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions across the value chain by the 2046 financial year.
    Priority is given to direct emissions reductions within the company itself and across the value chain.

    Compared with the base year 2022, the Ensinger Group’s emissions in the 2025/26 financial year were 18 per cent (Scope 1+2) and 20 per cent (Scope 3) lower. Part of this reduction is due to volume-related factors.

Product carbon footprint

The Product Carbon Footprint quantifies greenhouse gas emissions from raw material extraction to the factory gate (cradle-to-gate). The unit of measurement is kg CO2eq per kg of product.
Figure: The diagram shows the greenhouse gas emissions over the entire product life cycle from the "cradle" (crave), the synthesis of the polymer, to disposal (grave) using the example of one kilogramme of semi-finished PET material. The proportion of emissions caused by Ensinger's molding of the raw material is around 15 %. By far the largest proportion of emissions comes from the synthesis (polymerisation) of the material. The individual use of the material by the consumer is excluded from the analysis.

EPSM-Committment – a standardised framework for life cycle assessments

An industry-wide standard for calculating the product carbon footprint (PCF) for semi-finished products was developed in 2025

The members of the EPSM (Engineering Polymer Shapes for Machining Association, a sector group of EuPC) – Ensinger, Gehr, Licharz, Röchling and Zell Materials – have come together to establish a uniform framework for calculating the Product Carbon Footprint (PCF) of technical plastic stock shapes. This collective commitment represents a major step forward in promoting environmental measures for greater transparency, comparability and commitment throughout the semi-finished product industry. Ensinger provides product-specific PCF statements for its range of semi-finished plastic products. These are calculated in accordance with a common industry standard set by the Engineering Polymer Shapes for Machining Association (EPSM), using primary data from production, quality-assured background data and in accordance with DIN EN ISO 14040 et seq. The PCF statements are available on the respective product pages, expressed in kg CO2eq per kilogramme of semi-finished product.
A common calculation method improves the comparability of CO2eq figures between EPSM members with regard to their impact on climate change.
This initiative aims to help strengthen the credibility of engineering plastics in a world increasingly concerned with assessing and reducing emissions.

In summary, the members within the EPSM initiative have agreed to consider the following four categories in the PCF calculation: Raw Materials, Transport, Production and Packaging. The following agreements, were reached:
  • Criteria have been defined according to which the LCAs of raw materials (provided by suppliers) are to be checked. The criteria to be checked include: 
    • Standard after which the PCF was calculated. e.g. ISO 14040/14044/14967
    • Methods that are accepted e.g. EF3.0 or newer
    • Data source: Primary data e.g. site-specific and secondary data according to recognised databases e.g. Ecoinvent v 3.9 or newer
    • Accounting period: e.g. not older than 5 years for primary data
    • System boundaries: cradle-to-gate – no significant cut-offs (<5%)
    • Functional unit: 1 kg
    Only if all criteria are met, the value may be used. If not all criteria are met or known, the members agree not to use the value. Instead, secondary data from established databases (Ecoinvent, GaBi, PlasticsEurope) should be used.
    • Best case scenario: primary data from logistic partners
    • First more precise estimate using recognized transport route tools
    • Worst case estimation – if no primary data is available – default distances provided by Joint Research Centre of the European Commission
     
  • Individual location data must be used 
  • For the accounting of packaging, we agree on the application of a standard procedure. But any other more specific accounting method can also be applied and is considered to be the preferred option.
  • Recycling material is calculated using the cut-off allocation approach, which ensures compliance with ISO 14040/14044. The cut-off method assigns environmental impacts only to the processes occurring within the respective life cycle of a product. This approach does not account for any impacts or avoided impacts beyond the defined product life cycle boundary. The boundary between life cycles is established based on the lowest market value of the material, as per the international Environmental Product Declarations (EPD) system. This boundary is typically the point before waste material is collected for recycling. Consequently, transportation and reprocessing operations related to recycling are attributed to the product system utilizing the recycled material, while burdens from the previous product system and burdens associated with the treatment of the product at the end of its life are cut off here.
  • Members commit to review the Agreement and the relevant criteria on a regular basis to reflect the dynamic nature of life cycle assessments. Reviews will be conducted every three years, starting from the date of the official adoption of this procedure by the Executive Committee (ExCom), or earlier if a member identifies significant updates that require immediate action.
    Note: The criteria listed for conducting Life Cycle Assessments (LCAs) are freely accessible to all non-members and third-party entities without charge. EPSM members have developed and agreed upon the criteria for conducting LCAs without imposing any restrictions that would prevent non-members from adhering to the same criteria.
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Life cycle assessment

Ensinger was one of the first plastics processors to carry out a comprehensive assessment of all the environmental impacts of its activities. Environmental impacts are quantified according to their type and severity and weighted comparatively with so-called environmental impact points. The results help to analyse environmental effects beyond global warming - exploitation of resources, pollution of soil and air, production of hazardous substances – and to take measures where possible.  

Life cycle assessment, years 2022 and 2023

*Others include all categories with less than 1 % share of the total result.

Environmental Aspects, years 2022 and 2023

*Others include all categories with less than 1% share of the total result. Source: Ecoinvent v391

The first improvements concern the reduced environmental impact through the purchase of electricity from renewable energies and the planned replacement of auxiliary materials containing scarce rare earths.