Climate and Energy
Climate change is one of the defining challenges of our time, and at Prinzhorn Group, we see it as a call to act. Decarbonising our business is not only essential for the planet – it also opens new opportunities for innovation, efficiency, and long-term value creation.
Our approach is built on three pillars: reducing energy consumption, improving efficiency, and increasing renewable energy use. These go hand in hand with engaging our suppliers and making better use of materials. Over the past two years, we have invested €250 million in projects that drive measurable CO₂ reductions. In 2024, we strengthened this commitment by joining the Science Based Targets initiative, aiming to cut Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 5.7% each year, and Scope 3 emissions by 3.4% until 2035.
Across our operations, renewable energy is becoming the norm. Solar panels now power many of our sites, and by 2025, Hamburger Recycling alone will generate more than 1,300 MWh of solar electricity annually – enough to cover over 20% of its needs. In Hungary, a planned hybrid energy park combining 50 MW of wind with 50 MW of solar will produce around 239 GWh of green electricity per year.
We are also expanding alternative energy sources such as biomass, biogas, and refuse-derived fuel (RDF). In Pitten, a new combined heat and power turbine will cut emissions by up to 15,000 tonnes annually while supplying heat to the local community. In Spremberg, biogas production is already feeding energy into the public grid, and a second RDF line is on the way.
Efficiency improvements are everywhere – from switching to LED lighting and optimising compressed air systems to upgrading machinery and insulation. In our recycling facilities, new sorting technologies have increased throughput by 35% with minimal extra energy use.
Transport and logistics are another focus. We are introducing electric vehicles, piloting synthetic diesel from waste, and rethinking delivery routes to cut emissions. Meanwhile, close collaboration with our suppliers ensures that sustainability extends beyond our own operations. By gathering precise emissions data and working on shared solutions, we are reducing impacts across the entire value chain.
Circularity ties it all together. In 2024, we collected 1.8 million tonnes of secondary raw materials – keeping them out of landfills, protecting forests, and reducing the carbon footprint of the products our customers use.
Looking ahead, every site will set annual energy-saving targets, aiming to reduce heat use by 1% and electricity use by 0.9% per year. With a clear plan, strong partnerships, and the determination to deliver, we are turning climate ambition into measurable, lasting change.