Sustainability in numbers

At Kärcher, we see the bigger picture. We rely on the strategic aims of several years for the entire corporate group, in order to realise our sustainability vision. We document the achievement of these goals in our sustainability report.

Kärcher Group Sustainability Report

Responsibility is an essential part of the corporate culture at Kärcher from the beginning – with sustainable company development focused on people and the environment. Our economic success is based on long-term strategies. This is also the case when it comes to sustainability.

This sustainability report contains Kärcher’s key figures, targets and activities.

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STRATEGY 2025 MILESTONES

Zero Emissions

Twenty facilities in nine countries use electricity from renewable sources, generated both on- and off-site.

CO₂e were reduced by 22,154 tonnes compared to 2020 with simultaneous company growth.

Scope 3 emissions were fully analysed for the first time in 2023.

CO₂e of selected products were made transparent over the entire product life cycle in 2024, and further reduced through energy efficiency measures (e.g. eco!Mode, efficient motor and nozzle technology) in the use phase.

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

All paper-based packaging materials are made from at least 80% recycled paper.

Plastic in packaging cut by 727 tonnes in total compared with 2020.

More than 2,200 tonnes of recycled plastic used in products in 2024.

Rental business models are being offered for many product groups, from scrubber dryers and cleaning
robots to manual cleaning equipment, and models for sharing and refurbishment schemes are being piloted.

Social Hero

92% of all projects are focused on value preservation.

6.5 tonnes of waste were collected during Kärcher Cleanup Day in 32 subsidiaries in 2024.

20 monuments and buildings were cleaned as part of our cultural sponsorship in 2024.

Proactive supplier risk management established, which also includes sustainability criteria.

MORE ABOUT THE SUSTAINABILITY GOALS 2025

CLIMATE PROTECTION & RESOURCES

Our cleaning machines are the result of a careful use of resources, such as raw materials, energy and water. We establish the basis for this with a production process that fully supports environmental and climate protection. Our specific focus is on reducing the use of virgin plastics, making packaging more environmentally friendly, promoting the use of renewable energies and reducing the carbon emissions we generate.

Greenhouse gas emissions in t CO₂e

Greenhouse gas intensity in t CO₂e per million € of turnover

Water intensity in m³ per million € of turnover

Use of recycled plastic

80 %

proportion of recycled paper in paper-based sales packaging

50,000 boxes

from regranulate at the plant in Romania since 2022

100% recycled plastic

used for the 1.0-litre containers of cleaning agents (excluding lids and labels)

727 tonnes

of plastic in packaging reduced in total compared to 2020

> 2,200 tonnes

of recycled plastic used in products

Packaging that protects the product and the planet

High-quality packaging ensures our products reach customers safely. Here at Kärcher, however, it's not enough that our packaging just be strong – we believe it should also save resources and be sustainable. And we are working hard to ensure this is the case.

Read on

Illustration of sustainable packaging at Kärcher

PRODUCTS

Long life for Kärcher appliances

We consistently take environmental aspects such as resource efficiency and recyclability into account right from the product design stage. But even during the usage phase, it is important to us that Kärcher appliances have a long service life and do not create unnecessary waste.
Kärcher therefore makes repairability a consistent principle. While new EU regulations set standards, the company demonstrates how durable products and innovative business models complement each other.

Repairing instead of throwing away: how Kärcher appliances get a second life

‘It's as easy as ordering a pizza,’ says Sarah Lang, Senior Business Consultant Aftermarket & Services at Kärcher, explaining the digital repair process for home and garden appliances. The well-designed system guides customers through the entire repair process. It all starts on the Kärcher website: after logging into the “my Kärcher” customer portal, users enter their appliance details and select from a list of typical fault descriptions. They receive practical tips for troubleshooting – sometimes a supposed defect can be fixed with a few simple steps.

SUPPLY CHAIN

Our close cooperation with suppliers is crucial for Kärcher’s success. That’s why we want to be a trustworthy and reliable partner to our suppliers and their employees. This also includes taking responsibility for the protection of people and the environment in our supply chain. In light of this, we are continuously further developing our corporate due diligence in the supply chain

Regional for regional

75 %

of the purchasing volume of our factories comes from regional suppliers located less than 1,000 km from the production site

Regional for regional

75 %

of the purchasing volume of our factories comes from regional suppliers located less than 1,000 km from the production site

Reliable supply chain

125

audits were conducted at suppliers in 2024.

Reliable supply chain

125

audits were conducted at suppliers in 2024.

Our path to a sustainable supply chain

Sustainability plays a hugely important role at Kärcher – and not just within our own company. We also value environmentally friendly activities, long-term relationships, strict welfare standards and high levels of transparency throughout our supply chain.

Read on

Illustration of sustainable supply chain at Kärcher

PRODUCTION

Kärcher sites worldwide

Rooted in Germany – active all over the world: Kärcher produces and sells its products around the globe. The map provides an overview of our worldwide production and logistics sites as well as the 85 countries with sales and service sites.

Production and logistics sites	9001:2015 (Quality)	14001:2015 (Environment)	5001:2018 (Energy)	45001:2018 (Occupational safety)
Germany
Winnenden (Headquarters)	•	•	•
Winnenden (Factory)	•	•	•
Servicecenter Ahorn	•	•	•
Obersontheim (Factory)	•	•	•
Obersontheim (Logistic Centre)	•	•	•
Bühlertal	•	•	•
Illingen	•	•	•
Schwaikheim	•	•	•
Waldstetten	•	•	•
Duisburg	•	•	•
Reutlingen	•	•
Italy
Correggio / Reggio Emilia	•	•	•	•
Quistello	•	•	•	•
Reggio Emilia	•	•	•	•
Romania
Cuerta de Arges	•	•	•	•
USA
Aurora	•	•
Blackwood (Logistic Centre)
Fayetteville (Logistic Centre)
Mexico
Monterrey	•	•
Brazil
Vinhedo	•	•
China
Changshu	•	•	•	•
Latvia
Jelgavas Novads	•	•	•
Vietnam
Quang Nam	•	•	•	•
India (new in 11/2024, therefore not yet part of this report)
Coimbatore	•	•	•	•

• EMPLOYEES

Number of employees (headcount)

Sustainable HR management

Employees are an essential and decisive success factor for Kärcher and therefore a central pillar of the company. The overriding aim of our HR strategy is to ensure a competitive workforce structure with long-term prospects. To achieve this, Kärcher takes measures to create a positive working environment, promote employee development and retention and ensure a high level of employee satisfaction.

In order to evaluate the development of our employees and the impact of our measures on our overriding
aim, we collect meaningful key figures on the number of employees, training, staff turnover and occupational safety. Based on the figures collected for 2024, which are disclosed below, we will also formulate specific medium- to long-term targets for the four individual areas.

85 %

participation in the last global employee survey

46. place

in Forbes' "World's Best Employers" ranking (10th place in Germany)

2,5 days

for training programs at the head office per person

5 %

Training quota at the head office

SOCIAL COMMITMENT

At Kärcher, we are aware of our social responsibility. That’s why we support non-profit initiatives and organisations that make a significant contribution to society and stand for values such as family, education and equal opportunities as well as the protection of the environment and resources. In all three areas – donations and sponsorship, long-term cooperation and employee commitment – we take our role as a social stakeholder seriously and are therefore dedicated to preserving values, whether social or ecological. That’s why value preservation is also the focus of our “Social Hero” initiative – one of the three pillars of our 2025 Sustainability Strategy.

493

donations and sponsorship activities worldwide

20

monuments and buildings cleaned in 13 countries as part of our cultural sponsorship

493

donations and sponsorship activities worldwide

20

monuments and buildings cleaned in 13 countries as part of our cultural sponsorship

92

percent of all projects are focused on value preservation

6.5

tonnes of waste collected in 32 subsidiaries on Kärcher Cleanup Day

92

percent of all projects are focused on value preservation

6.5

tonnes of waste collected in 32 subsidiaries on Kärcher Cleanup Day

Bags of help in the war on plastic waste in the ocean

The littering of the world's oceans is an enormous problem. The non-governmental organisations One Earth-One Ocean and COMPED are actively confronting this problem and ridding Cambodia's waters of waste. And Kärcher is supporting them in their efforts.

Read on

A team loads a tuk tuk with bags of plastic waste

Finally swapping buckets for schoolbooks

Through the "Clean Water for the World" initiative, the Global Nature Fund and Kärcher have pledged their commitment to improving water quality in emerging and developing nations. At a school in Burundi, a Kärcher water treatment product is now being put into action for the first time.

Read on

Two boys fill a glass with water at a tap

Cultural sponsorship

For more than 40 years, we have been committed to the preservation of historical monuments and buildings free of charge as a cleaning specialist. To date, Kärcher has demonstrated its experience and expertise in over 150 restoration projects worldwide.

Read on

Kärcher Cultural Sposorship with reverse grafiti

Sustainability in numbers

Kärcher Group Sustainability Report

STRATEGY 2025 MILESTONES

Zero Emissions

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

Social Hero

CLIMATE PROTECTION & RESOURCES

Greenhouse gas emissions in t CO₂e

Greenhouse gas intensity in t CO₂e per million € of turnover

Water intensity in m3 per million € of turnover

Use of recycled plastic

80 %

50,000 boxes

100% recycled plastic

727 tonnes

> 2,200 tonnes

Packaging that protects the product and the planet

PRODUCTS

Long life for Kärcher appliances

Repairing instead of throwing away: how Kärcher appliances get a second life

SUPPLY CHAIN

Regional for regional

75 %

Regional for regional

75 %

Reliable supply chain

125

Reliable supply chain

125

Our path to a sustainable supply chain

PRODUCTION

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Water intensity in m³ per million € of turnover