There are many more remarkable feats to the KIEHL Group, especially its commitment to protecting nature and the environment. All products at the KIEHL Group are designed in a way that they have as little impact on the environment and resources as possible throughout their life cycle (including transport, use and disposal). In addition to this, their employees are taught about environmental protection and energy consumption, on a regular basis. These are the environmental principles that underlie their professional behaviour.

Environmental labels

Labels speak louder than claims. A huge range of the KIEHL products have been awarded an environmental label, like European Eco Label, Nordic Swan Ecolabel, Austrian Ecolabel and the German Blauer Engel label.

Innovative technologies

Kiehl offers innovative dosing systems and dosing technology for environmentally friendly consumption. Their extensive range of appropriate dosage technology avoids incorrect dosages that harm the environment. From practical sachets to the legendary bottle with a dosage cap made from lightweight plastic, to the intelligent digital dosage system with online access for customers and service technicians, Kiehl’s technology speaks for itself.

Reducing emissions

The modern KIEHL truck fleet helps to reduce emissions. Foresighted truck vehicle deployment reduces unnecessary journeys and unloaded trips. Wherever possible, Kiehl avoids the use of fossil fuels and relies on using electric forklift trucks and electric vehicles insead. They avoid purchasing cars with large engines and wherever possible, use public transport and car pools.

Training customers

Besides training its workforce, Kiehl also makes a lot of efforts in continuously training its customers, thereby ensuring that their products are used correctly for the appropriate purpose, and that their environmental impact is reduced to a minimum. Customers and business partners are provided with adequate information on how to act in an environmentally friendly way.

Using renewable raw materials

KIEHL uses renewable raw materials such as sugar surfactants from certified, sustainable farming (ingredients of such products as dopomatintenso, Duocit-eco). They make a conscious effort to look for raw materials with a high and fast biodegradability and work closely with renowned raw material producers to develop the best solutions. KIEHL also utilises synergistic effects in raw material selection to minimise wastewater pollution. Highly concentrated products are promoted to reduce packaging waste and to avoid excessive transport. The KIEHL focus is on developing recipes with environmental certifications, like the EU Ecolabel, Blauer Engel and Nordic Swan. They currently offer 32 recipes that have been awarded an environmental label (ARENAS-eco, Kiehl-Legnodur-satina, ECOMAX Polish, and many more).

Reducing use of energy

Despite constantly increasing the level of automation (e.g. through the use of robots), KIEHL will continue to reduce its use of energy. Between 2013 and 2018, they managed to reduce energy consumption by over 20% for each ton produced. The latest plant technology and organisational procedures ensure that their use of process water lies considerably below one thousandth per ton of production. KIEHL ensures that its factories have exemplary and thorough wastewater treatment plants and are reducing waste quantities and increasing recycling quotas in the field of waste.

Recyclable packaging

KIEHL primarily promotes its return and reuse system, but they also attach great importance to the recyclability of their packaging. Their plastic containers, including product labels, are predominantly made from non- mixed materials like PE or PET. These containers can be recycled using the standard disposal systems. Where appropriate, they use plastic packaging with “postconsumer” recycling granulates made from PE or PET from 2019 and will roll this out further in the future. Thus, old plastics are used to create new KIEHL packaging. They have been using cardboard packaging with a very high recycled content for the outer packaging of small containers for many years. These recycled boxes are guaranteed to be recyclable to ensure another “product life”.

KIEHL has been reusing product packaging for years, thanks to the KIEHL return system. With the KIEHL reuse system, they achieve a considerable conservation of resources and a significant reduction of packaging waste. In addition to this, they prefer the reuse of packaging to costly recycling. KIEHL has been working together with its customers to fight against environmental pollution caused by plastic for over 25 years. Thanks to the KIEHL return system for plastic containers, over 2.5 million kilograms of plastic waste has been avoided to date.

The latest innovative techniques are used on new buildings to keep energy consumption and emissions as low as possible. They use geothermal technology, heat pumps, solar technology and photovoltaic energy to provide heat and ventilation for the buildings. Regular renovations within and to the buildings also allow them to improve their environmental indicators and environmental safety year after year.

At KIEHL, a considerate approach towards nature, the gentle treatment of habitats and the needs of humans have been determining professional actions since the beginning.