The carbon footprint forms the basis for transformation and decarbonisation. At Der Grüne Punkt, we see change as an opportunity and consider decarbonisation to be an integral part of our corporate strategy for the future.

 

For years, we have been preparing annual environmental balance for  

 

The independent ifeu Institute for Energy and Environmental Research in Heidelberg prepares the assessments based on the DIN EN ISO 14040 and 14044 standards. This enables our customers to obtain individual certificates that document the CO₂ emissions saved through our EPR service or the purchase of recycled materials compared to virgin materials. 

 

  • Where along the value chain does the Der Grüne Punkt group generate the most emissions?
  • How reliable is our data basis and in which areas can we improve? 

We have faced these questions in 2025 and, with the support of Sphera[1], conducted a comprehensive Corporate Carbon Footprint Study (CCF). For the year 2024, emissions were calculated and analysed in accordance with Scope 1, Scope 2 and, for the first time, initial Scope 3.

(1) Sphera Solutions is a leading provider of sustainability services, including software for corporate sustainability management, data and consulting services with a focus on the environment, health, safety and sustainability, and supply chain transparency.

Below you will find explanations of the scopes and details of our considerations. 

 

General: The initial challenge was to comprehensively consider and record our various services and production processes. 

 

Scope 1:
Direct emissions from stationary or mobile installations within the organisational scope, i.e. emissions from sources owned or controlled by Der Grüne Punkt Holding GmbH & Co. KG[2], e.g. stationary and mobile combustion and emissions from coolants.

[2] Der Grüne Punkt Holding GmbH & Co KG, Der Grüne Punkt – Duales System Deutschland GmbH, Systec Plastics Eisfeld, Systec Plastics Hörstel
 

Scope 2:
Indirect emissions associated with the generation of electricity, heat or steam imported for the operation of Der Grüne Punkt Holding GmbH & Co. KG.

 

Both market-based and location-based emissions were reported separately to ensure transparency between the two approaches. The market-based approach, which takes into account the actual electricity mix, is presented here. 
 

Initial Scope 3:
Indirect emissions from upstream and downstream activities within the value chain. Based on the 15 Scope 3 categories of the Greenhouse Gas Protocol. This initial assessment of Scope 3 impacts is a preliminary analysis aimed in particular at collecting the data required for analysis and identifying the greatest levers for reduction. Initially, only 12 of the 15 categories were considered. 

 

For downstream activities, i.e. Scope 3, we created our three main use cases, on the basis of which the data was determined

Identifying specific potential for reducing emissions and optimising data quality will be a key task in the coming years. Here is a summary of the results of our 2024 study:

  CCF 2024 (t CO₂e*)
Scope 1 552
Scope 2 (market based) 6,356
Scope 3 Cat 1 - Purchased goods & Services 240,764
Scope 3 Cat 2 - Capital goods 1,332
Scope 3 Cat 3 - Fuel- and energy related 2,633
Scope 3 Cat 4 - Upstream transportation 91,862
Scope 3 Cat 5 - Waste disposal 1,667
Scope 3 Cat 6 - Business travel 33
Scope 3 Cat 7 - Employee commmuting 376
Scope 3 Cat 8 - Upstream leased Assets 232
Scope 3 Cat 10 - Processing of sold products 18,607
Scope 3 Cat 12 - End-of-Life treatment of sold products 429,909
Scope 3 Cat 13 - Downstream leased Assets 19
Scope 3 Cat 15 - Investments 13,887
Summe Scope 3 801,321

*CO2e=CO2 equivalents

 

As expected, the largest and therefore most effective area for savings is Scope 3. This is where we will need to apply the greatest leverage in the coming years in order to reduce emissions. The first step will be to focus on potential improvements in data quality and on establishing specific targets and measures for CO2 reduction. Initial ideas have already been initiated for Scope 3 Cat 1, Cat 4 and Cat 12. 

 

Concrete and, above all, quantitative potential for improvement and targets will be presented in the next sustainability report.