Sostenibilidad en números

En Kärcher, vemos el panorama más amplio. Confiamos en los objetivos estratégicos de varios años para todo el grupo empresarial, con el fin de hacer realidad nuestra visión de sostenibilidad. Monitoreamos y medimos constantemente el logro de estos objetivos.

Informes de acuerdo con las pautas GRI

La responsabilidad es una parte esencial de la cultura corporativa en Kärcher desde el principio, con un desarrollo empresarial sostenible centrado en las personas y el medio ambiente. Nuestro éxito económico se basa en estrategias a largo plazo. Este también es el caso en lo que respecta a la sostenibilidad.

Observamos el logro de nuestros objetivos, con los datos relacionados con todo el Grupo Kärcher con sus sitios de producción y logística globales. No se consideran en los datos las empresas comercializadoras (a excepción de los empleados). La elaboración de informes sigue las directrices de la Global Reporting Initiative (GRI).

HITOS DE LA ESTRATEGIA 2025

Cero emisiones

22 lugares en 8 países utilizan energía verde que ha sido generada internamente o adquirida de forma externa.

Las emisiones de carbono se redujeron en 16,660 toneladas comparado con el año 2020 en simultáneo con el crecimiento de la compañía.

En 2023 se analizaron por primera vez en su totalidad las emisiones de alcance 3, incluidas las emisiones de CO₂ de los productos en fase de uso.

Reduce, reusa y recicla

All paper-based packaging materials are made from at least 80% recycled paper.

68.8 tonnes of plastic in packaging was saved in 2023 through reduction and by switching from plastic to paper (e.g. polystyrene and bubble wrap).

1,986 tonnes of recycled materials were used in products with a recycled material content of up to 60% in 2023.

Social Hero

82% of all projects are focused on value preservation.

10.23 tonnes of waste were collected during Kärcher Cleanup Day in 19 subsidiaries in 2023.

16 monuments and buildings were cleaned as part of our cultural sponsorship in 2023.

MÁS INFORMACIÓN SOBRE METAS DE SOSTENIBILIDAD AL 2025

PROTECCIÓN DEL CLIMA Y RECURSOS

Nuestras máquinas de limpieza son el resultado de un cuidadoso uso de recursos, como los materiales, energía y agua. Establecemos las bases para un proceso de producción que se encuentra alineado con con la protección del clima y el medioambiente. Nuestro foco se encuentra en reducir el uso de plásticos vírgenes, con un empaque más amigable con el medioambiente, promoviendo el uso de energías renovables y reduciendo las emisiones de carbono.

Intensidad energética en TJ por millón de euros de facturación

Intensidad de gases de efecto invernadero en t CO₂ por millón de euros de facturación

Intensidad hídrica en m3 por millón de € de facturación

Proporción de residuos reciclados en %

Tipos de residuos

80 %

proporción de papel reciclado en envases de venta a base de papel.

50.000 cajas

procedente de regranulado en la planta de Rumanía desde 2022

> 40 productos

en el sector de los detergentes con certificación ecológica

26 toneladas

Menos plástico en el empaque en el Centro de servicios Ahorn

11%

de los vehículos de la compañía son eléctricos.

> 1.900 toneladas

plástico reciclado usado en productos.

Eficiencia energética

Nuestro nuevo centro de servicios en Ahorn (Alemania) ha mejorado el aislamiento y está equipado con paneles de techo radiantes eficientes para calefacción y cuenta con un concepto de iluminación inteligente. El calor se produce mediante pellets de madera eficientes y respetuosos con el medio ambiente, mientras que el sistema de ventilación está equipado con un sistema de recuperación de calor.

En la fábrica de Bühlertal (Alemania), los empleados han optimizado el control de los compresores. Mientras que antes varios compresores todavía se controlaban manualmente, ahora se utiliza software para controlar de forma eficiente toda la red de compresores, lo que ahorra 110.000 kWh de electricidad al año.

Eficiencia energética

Saving water

In the Vinhedo factory (Brazil), employees have found new ways to reduce fresh water consumption: new machines are now tested with rainwater or recycled water. In 2023, it was possible to cover 80% of the entire plant’s water requirement without the use of fresh water.

Waste reduction

In the KTC factory (China), the canteen now offers employees the option to choose between a standard portion or a smaller portion, in order to reduce food waste. The “Empty Plate” project resulted in up to 5 tonnes less food waste in 2023.

Saving water

Waste reduction

Empaquetados que protegen al producto y al planeta

El empaquetado de alta calidad garantiza que nuestros productos lleguen a los clientes de forma segura. En Kärcher, sin embargo, no basta con que nuestros envases sean resistentes: creemos que también deben ahorrar recursos y ser sostenibles. Y estamos trabajando duro para garantizar que así sea.

Saber más

Illustration of sustainable packaging at Kärcher

PRODUCTOS

Environmental aspects in product design

In our product design, we consistently take environmental aspects, such as resource efficiency and recyclability, into account.

The strategic sustainability aspectsfor each product category are embedded in our product development specifications – including the use of natural substances from food and agricultural waste, the use of recycled plastic, taking reparability and durability into account in the product design, and energy, water and chemical resource efficiency.

The product life cycle is divided into four main areas of focus: material, resources, waste and emissions.

What makes our products sustainable

Produced with low emissions, ecologically conscious material selection, energy-saving and water-saving usage – products for cleaning and care should be sustainable in many ways. Therefore, responsible behaviour at Kärcher includes machine development and the production and supply chain right up to correct disposal – and so does not end at our factory gates.

Read on

Icons for sustainability aspects of Kärcher products

CADENA DE SUMINISTRO

Nuestra estrecha colaboración con los proveedores es decisiva para el éxito de Kärcher. Por eso queremos ser un socio digno de confianza para nuestros proveedores y sus empleados. Esto también incluye asumir la responsabilidad de la protección de las personas y el medio ambiente en nuestra cadena de suministro. Por este motivo, seguimos desarrollando continuamente nuestra debida diligencia corporativa en la cadena de suministro.

Regional for regional

75 %

of the purchasing volume of our factories comes from regional suppliers located less than 1,000 km from the production site

Regional for regional

75 %

of the purchasing volume of our factories comes from regional suppliers located less than 1,000 km from the production site

Übersichtliche Lieferanten

40 %

less material suppliers compared to 2020

Übersichtliche Lieferanten

40 %

less material suppliers compared to 2020

Our path to a sustainable supply chain

Sustainability plays a hugely important role at Kärcher – and not just within our own company. We also value environmentally friendly activities, long-term relationships, strict welfare standards and high levels of transparency throughout our supply chain.

Read on

Illustration of sustainable supply chain at Kärcher

PRODUCCIÓN

Kärcher sites worldwide

Rooted in Germany – active all over the world: Kärcher produces and sells its products around the globe. The map provides an overview of our worldwide production and logistics sites as well as the approximately 80 countries with sales and service sites.

Countries with Kärcher sales and service sites are highlighted yellow. Countries with Kärcher production and logistics sites as well as sales and service sites are marked turquoise. Countries with Kärcher sales and service sites that are not part of this report are dark grey.

Production and logistics sites	9001:2015 (Quality)	14001:2015 (Environment)	5001:2018 (Energy)	45001:2018 (Occupational safety)
Germany
Winnenden (Headquarters)	•	•	•
Winnenden (Factory)	•	•	•
Servicecenter Ahorn	•	•	•
Obersontheim (Factory)	•	•	•
Obersontheim (Logistic Centre)	•	•	•
Bühlertal	•	•	•
Illingen	•	•	•
Schwaikheim	•	•	•
Waldstetten	•	•	•
Duisburg	•	•	•
Reutlingen	•
Italy
Correggio / Reggio Emilia	•	•	•	•
Quistello	•	•	•	•
Reggio Emilia	•	•	•	•
Romania
Cuerta de Arges	•	•	•	•
USA
Aurora	•	•
Blackwood (Logistic Centre)
Fayetteville (Logistic Centre)
Mexico
Monterrey	•	•
Brazil
Vinhedo	•	•
China
Changshu	•	•	•	•
Latvia
Jelgavas Novads	•	•	•

COLABORADORES

Número de empleados (plantilla)

Sustainable HR management

Kärcher pursues a globally valid human resources strategy. This is the responsibility of the central HR Management team in the head office at the Winnenden site and is implemented in collaboration with the HR departments of the subsidiaries. With this strategy, we are pursuing the goal of at tract ing new talented employees, retaining employees in the long term and developing them in a targeted manner. In this context, we take the employee ex perience of our workforce seriously. With our sustainable HR strategy, we want to meet the challenges of a shortage of specialists and demographic change while also ensuring our competitiveness. In doing so, we are working to establish global standards and promote cooperation be tween the individual sites.

Continuous development

Kärcher’s ambition is to attract new, talented professionals and to fully utilise the potential of existing employees. In doing so, we build on our training pro grammes, which have grown over the years, and on a standardised talent management process in conjunction with targeted further training. In this way, we drive the establishment and development of the necessary future com petencies – based on the Kärcher competency model.

85 %

participation in the last global employee survey

46. place

in Forbes' "World's Best Employers" ranking (10th place in Germany)

2,5 days

for training programs at the head office per person

5 %

Training quota at the head office

> 100 ideas

for more sustainability in Brazil in an ideas campaign

726

sustainable travel days for the Kärcher Industrial Vacuuming sustainability challenge

Equal opportunities and diversity

At Kärcher, everyone should be able to develop their own potential – regardless of gender, age, nationality, physical and mental abilities, social background, sexual orientation or religion and ideology. We are proud of the fact that people from 116 nations work together successfully at Kärcher in more than 80 countries. Diversity strengthens our collaboration, our understanding of our customers’ needs and our innovative strength. In order to underpin our commitment to a diverse workforce, we embedded the issue of diversity and inclusion in our Corporate Guiding Principles (mission statement) in 2021.

Statement by the Board of Management

"At Kärcher, we make an impact through our behaviour, our way of treating others and lived diversity. It is the different perspectives, the expertise, and the skills of our employees in more than 80 countries that make a difference. Because only those who focus on looking at the diverse needs and problems of their customers are going to show them solutions that not only offer the best possible cleanliness but also contribute to the preservation of values. Diversity and inclusion bring our company culture to life. They take our company and especially our community a lot further."

COMPROMISO SOCIAL

At Kärcher, we are aware of our social responsibility. That’s why we support non-profit initiatives and organisations that make a significant contribution to society and stand for values such as family, education and equal opportunities as well as the protection of the environment and resources. In all three areas – donations and sponsorship, long-term cooperation and employee commitment – we take our role as a social stakeholder seriously and are therefore dedicated to preserving values, whether social or ecological. That’s why value preservation is also the focus of our “Social Hero” initiative – one of the three pillars of our 2025 Sustainability Strategy.

473

donations and sponsorship activities worldwide

16

monuments and buildings cleaned in 10 countries as part of our cultural sponsorship

473

donations and sponsorship activities worldwide

16

monuments and buildings cleaned in 10 countries as part of our cultural sponsorship

82

percent of all projects are focused on value preservation

10

tonnes of waste collected in 19 subsidiaries on Kärcher Cleanup Day

82

percent of all projects are focused on value preservation

10

tonnes of waste collected in 19 subsidiaries on Kärcher Cleanup Day

Bags of help in the war on plastic waste in the ocean

The littering of the world's oceans is an enormous problem. The non-governmental organisations One Earth-One Ocean and COMPED are actively confronting this problem and ridding Cambodia's waters of waste. And Kärcher is supporting them in their efforts.

Read on

A team loads a tuk tuk with bags of plastic waste

Finally swapping buckets for schoolbooks

Through the "Clean Water for the World" initiative, the Global Nature Fund and Kärcher have pledged their commitment to improving water quality in emerging and developing nations. At a school in Burundi, a Kärcher water treatment product is now being put into action for the first time.

Read on

Two boys fill a glass with water at a tap

Cultural sponsorship

For more than 40 years, we have been committed to the preservation of historical monuments and buildings free of charge as a cleaning specialist. To date, Kärcher has demonstrated its experience and expertise in over 150 restoration projects worldwide.

Read on

Kärcher Cultural Sposorship with reverse grafiti