Sustainability Report 2023

ENGEL
Sustainability Report 2023
Sustainable Focus Areas / 05/ Environment
Circular economy of plastics
Impact
The discussion about plastics is a highly
emotional discourse. Plastics are currently in
the spotlight of public criticism. The main reason
is the environmental pollution caused by
the material. But there are ways to prevent this
pollution from happening in the first place.
ENGEL has charted a course towards this goal.
The recycling of plastics is far more effective
in preserving resources than the production of
new plastics. The use of recycled plastics can
significantly reduce energy consumption and
greenhouse gas emissions. On the one hand,
this is relevant for the machine production at
ENGEL, but it first and foremost concerns the
material’s use by customers and consumers.
ENGEL builds machines that can process
higher contents of recycled material, which in
turn enables our customers:
• to reduce their energy consumption and
greenhouse gas emissions
• to reduce the use of primary materials
An objectivised criticism of plastics
In the following section, we would like to explain
the reasons why we work with plastic and
why we are in favour of its continued use.
• Plastic is far more resilient than other materials,
and products made from plastic do not
have to be replaced as frequently as others.
The longevity of plastic can become an environmental
problem when the material is improperly
disposed of, as can be seen at the
example of islands made from plastic waste
drifting around the world’s oceans.
• In comparison with products made from alternative
materials, the CO 2
emissions from the
production of plastic products are significantly
lower.
• Plastic parts have a much lower weight than
products from alternative materials, e.g. steel
or glass. Half of ENGEL’s customers are from
the automotive industry, another third from
the logistics sector. The lower weight of the
cars and transport crates that results from
the use of plastics and plastic parts is directly
reflected in the lower energy consumption on
the road.
KEY FIGURES Location Unit FY 2022/23
Total patents Global Quantity 567
Total patents related to sustainability* Global Quantity 130
%-share patents related to sustainability Global % 23
* Patents related to sustainability are defined as patents that fulfil one of the following criteria: conserves resources (e.g. reduced material input);
saves energy; reduces cycle time; optimises processes; reduces machine footprint; increases service life
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