The circular economy is the biggest lever we have to protect the climate. Why? Around 90% of our corporate carbon footprint is attributable to Scope 3 – i.e. emissions that occur before and after our production. If you want to make an effective change here, you have to use recyclates and create products that are as efficient and fully recyclable as possible.
This is why we have committed ourselves to the Ellen MacArthur Foundation's New Plastics Economy Global Commitment to promote the economic model of the circular economy through the use of recycled plastic waste and the recyclability of manufactured products. We pursue this goal throughout the company as part of our strategic initiative for resource conservation and climate protection PÖPPELMANN blue®.
This initiative has proven itself in practice, as every second kilogram of plastic we process is made from recycled material. We are setting new standards in markets where the circular economy of plastics was initially considered impossible. We are particularly active as a pioneer in strictly regulated sectors such as the automotive industry and can draw on decades of experience with recyclates in horticulture. Our aim is to build on these successes. That is why we work closely with our partners along the entire value creation cycle.
According to the circular economy model, products or their materials are reused or recycled again and again - ideally at the same quality level. The concept aims to decouple economic activities from the consumption of finite resources.
Through circular design and the recycling of used plastics, we aim to extend the life cycle of our material, reduce environmental impact and minimize waste.
In order to achieve these goals, the processing of post-consumer recyclates (PCR) is crucial in our industry. Another success factor is reducing the variety of materials, for example by using packaging made from monomaterials, which makes recycling much easier.
The circular economy plays a key role in climate protection. It offers considerable potential for reducing greenhouse gas emissions along the entire supply chain - from suppliers and manufacturers to customers and consumers.
In industry, many emissions are generated in the area of indirect emissions, which fall under Scope 3. These include emissions from the purchase of goods and from the disposal and recycling of products.
The more materials and products are recycled, the fewer resources are consumed – and the lower the emissions. Promoting the circular economy is a key lever for reducing Scope 3 emissions and sustainably improving the carbon footprint of all stakeholders along the supply chain.
The goal of a circular economy cannot be achieved alone, but only together with all stakeholders. This is why Pöppelmann joined the Ellen MacArthur Foundation's New Plastics Economy Global Commitment in 2019.
The Ellen MacArthur Foundation is a non-profit organization that has created a global network for companies, associations and institutions to advance the circular economy since its founding in 2010.
Pöppelmann is one of the seven companies in Germany that have reported to the foundation for 2023, compared to 124 worldwide. We have committed to significantly increasing the average proportion of recycled used plastics in production.
With success: half of our production material already comes from recyclates (including post-industrial recyclates). 83% of the packaging we produce is recyclable (as of 2024), and we cover 43% of our material requirements with post-consumer recyclates (2024).
Recyclate is not just recyclate
To understand the background to the circular economy, a distinction must be made between post-industrial recyclate and post-consumer recyclate:
Post-consumer recyclate (PCR), on the other hand, is obtained by recycling the material of a used product after it has been used and disposed of, for example in the yellow bag.
A true cycle can only be created with recyclates made from post-consumer waste, because only the use of PCR reduces the amount of fossil raw materials that need to be extracted.
Since the Pöppelmann blue® initiative was launched in 2018, each division has brought at least one product into series production that is made from post-consumer recyclate (PCR) from used packaging (= yellow bag or yellow garbage can).
Every second kilogram of plastic we process is already made from recyclate.
2018
CO2 footprint: -25%
(compared with the product from virgin material in the "Cradle to Pöppelmann Gate" approach)
2018
CO2 footprint: -42%
(compared with the product from virgin material in the "Cradle to Pöppelmann Gate" approach)
2019
CO2 footprint: -46%
(compared to the product from the requested new product in the „Craddle to Pöppelmann Gate“ approach)
2020
CO2 footprint: -77%
(compared with the product from the requested new product in the "Craddle to Pöppelmann Gate" approach)
2021
CO2 footprint: -49%
(compared with the product from virgin material in the "Cradle to Pöppelmann Gate" approach)
2022
CO2 footprint: -49%
(compared with the product from virgin material in the "Cradle to Pöppelmann Gate" approach)
2023
CO2 footprint: -62%
(compared with the product from virgin material in the "Cradle to Pöppelmann Gate" approach)
2023
CO2 footprint: -26%
(compared to the product from virgin material in the approach "Cradle to Pöppelmann Gate")
2024
CO2 footprint: -71%
(compared with the product from the requested new product in the "Craddle to Pöppelmann Gate" approach)
Sustainability has been a central component of Pöppelmann's corporate philosophy for decades. In 2018, the strategic initiative PÖPPELMANN blue® and the training initiative Zukunftsmobil were launched to raise awareness of the circular economy and pool resources across the company - with great success. Seven years later, Pöppelmann is one of the pioneers of the circular economy and trainees educate schoolchildren about plastics, recycling and sustainability in a well-established workshop concept.
The story behind PÖPPELMANN blue® is an exciting one: Sustainability expert Benjamin Kampmann explains how Pöppelmann became a pioneer of the circular economy.
Our “Zukunftsmobil” apprentice initiative gives schoolchildren and other interested parties the opportunity to experience the circular economy of plastics hands-on at interactive stations.
Sustainability through #recycle: Switching from black to recyclable containers reduces waste, promotes climate protection and sets a completely new standard in horticulture.
Sustainability through #rethink: innovative redesign of an airway filter from round to square saves 32% of greenhouse gas emissions during transport.
Sustainability through #recycle: As pioneers, we offer production-ready vehicle parts made from 100% recycled plastic from end-of-life vehicles, which promote a genuine circular economy in vehicle construction.
Sustainability through #reduce: Conversion of our standard range to over 2,000 temporary plastic protection solutions made from recycled plastic sets new standards for resource conservation.
2024
awarded by the German Packaging Institute, Berlin
2023
2023
awarded as part of the Consortial Benchmarking Circular Economy of RWTH Aachen University
2022
awarded by the industry association SPE Central Europe, Wolfsburg
FUTURE
Climate change is a reality - and we are taking action. We are shaping the future with clear climate targets, a circular economy and innovation.
MAKING POSSIBLE
At Pöppelmann, sustainable solutions are created through partnership-based cooperation - climate-friendly and economically viable.
Career
Do you want more than just a job? With us, you can help shape things - responsibly, in a team and with prospects.
