The companies of the Schwarz Group want to develop their REset Plastic strategy into the holistic circular economy strategy REset Resources. For the first time, the packaging strategy refers not only to plastic, but to all types of packaging and materials.
According to the sustainability report for the 2024 financial year, the Group aims to minimise the packaging of the Design own brands for maximum recyclability by 2030 and reduce the use of new material in disposable packaging by 15 per cent. Of the Group's total waste, 88.6 per cent is already recycled.
REset Resources applies to the use of resources within the Schwarz Group along the five fields of action REdesign, REduce, REuse, REcollect and REcycle across all divisions and countries. For the first time, the packaging targets include all packaging types and materials.
The new Group-wide packaging targets at a glance:
- REdesign: By 2030, all own-brand packaging is to be designed for maximum recyclability.
- REduceReduction of virgin material in single-use packaging for own brands by 15 per cent (absolute) by 2030.
- REuseAlmost 100 per cent of internal order picking will be carried out using reusable pallets by 2027.
- REcollectBy 2030, as much recyclable material is to be collected and recycled as is put into circulation via private label packaging and flyers.
- REcycleThe aim is to use 65 per cent recycled material in own-brand packaging and 30 per cent recycled material in primary plastic packaging - in each case by 2030.
„In these complex and challenging times, we are not only consistently pursuing our joint commitment to sustainability, but also expanding it in a targeted manner. One example of this is our holistic circular economy strategy REset Resources. We are utilising our ecosystem along the value chain to keep urgently needed raw materials in circulation, make ourselves less dependent on global supply bottlenecks and thus promote European resource sovereignty.“
Gerd Chrzanowski, general partner of the Schwarz Group
In addition to the circular economy, the report also marks progress in terms of climate protection. For example, the short-term climate targets were validated by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi). All greenhouse gases emitted along the value chain are to be reduced to net zero by 2050 at the latest. By 2024, companies were already generating around 370,000 MWh of electricity from photovoltaics - an increase of nine per cent compared to the previous year.
The full sustainability report covers the financial year from 1 March 2024 to 28 February 2025 and is available on the company websites.
Source: Schwarz Group
