KHS releases sustainability report

KHS GmbH, a manufacturer of filling and packaging systems for the beverage, food and non-food industries, has released its sustainability report highlighting ecological measures, attainments, and targets.

"Sustainability is the constant driving force behind over 145 years of innovative strength at KHS and thus deeply rooted in our day-to-day activities," says Prof. Dr.-Ing. Matthias Niemeyer, CEO of KHS GmbH.

The company said its energy consumption dropped considerably in 2014 as a result of continuous improvement in its plant engineering.  Within two years its electricity consumption dropped by 4.5% and the amount of diesel used by its vehicle fleet sank by 9.3%.

By 2020, KHS aims to save a total of 9.7% in electricity and 25% in diesel. It is already using 17.7% less gas. The original plan was to cut its gas consumption by 7.6% by the year 2020.

Manufacturing filling and packaging systems while saving resources is just one of KHS' important concerns, however. Innovation also makes a significant contribution to sustainability. "Durable, energy-saving filling and packaging systems also help our customers to produce much more sustainably," says Mr Niemeyer. 

KHS helps many companies worldwide to improve their eco balance with its ideas. At the product development stage KHS implements measures to improve ergonomics, cut noise emissions and reduce the amount of chemicals, water, compressed air, heat and electricity consumed during operation. The focus is on simpler functions and material savings, this greater clarity resulting in a reduction in the assembly and cleaning effort.

Intelligent recycling processes such as those used in the PET stretch blow molding allow KHS equipment to operate more efficiently while saving more resources. One of the very special innovations in 2014 was the 0.5-liter PET bottle with a screw cap for highly carbonated beverages, which weighs just 10.9 grams and is setting new standards within the industry.

Everyone is involved

To ensure company-wide participation, KHS also provided training courses and sustainability days to employees.

Employees learn how they can personally contribute to the cause through training courses and the publication of an energy and environment guide.

To this end, KHS staged a number of sustainability days in 2014 which took place for the first time at its factories in Bad Kreuznach and Worms, in Germany. These stressed the value and importance sustainability holds outside the office.