What do a rooftop photovoltaic system at our production facility in Achim (northern Germany), CHP plants that run without coal or nuclear power, and electric engine construction machinery that operates emissions-free have in common? They are all expressions of sustainability in practice at Zeppelin!
Doing business sustainably and making a responsible, long-term contribution towards protecting the environment and our society comes naturally to people at Zeppelin. We do not see being socially and environmentally engaged as merely an obligation, but rather as an essential foundation for our sustainability, our attractiveness as an employer, and not least, the groundwork for our economic success. We live our values; values which are shaped by our identity as a foundation-owned company and by our history.
We use resources responsibly in our daily work environment and – together with our manufacturer partner Caterpillar – contribute to the development of new and improved energy-saving and climate-friendly products and services.
Solar cells on the plant roof
For example, we have been able to meet most of the energy requirements at our Achim site with our own emissions-free supply from the photovoltaic system in place there. The pilot project is blazing a trail for the commissioning of further PV systems, and represents a milestone on our path to becoming a CO2-neutral company by 2030 at the latest. Comprehensive energy, environmental and occupational health and safety management systems that are certified to DIN EN ISO standards have already been rolled out in many group companies and are being gradually extended to others.
“Blauer Strom” certified energy from CHP plants
Do you know what the term “Blauer Strom” means? It refers to a certificate awarded under the initiative of the same name, by the German CHP association Bundesverband Kraft-Wärme-Koppelung e.V.
In 2017, Zeppelin Power Systems became one of the first companies to receive the certificate, which is only awarded to high-efficiency systems that do not use coal or nuclear energy to produce electricity. The company was awarded the certificate for its combined heat and power plants (CHP plants).
Alternative drives and environmentally friendly machinery and equipment
Alternative drives are increasingly being sought by customers; Zeppelin and Caterpillar offer a wide range of solutions to meet this demand, such as electric excavators for material handling that are supplied via power cable, or mini-excavators as diesel-electric hybrid solutions. The MH22 and MH24 cable-supplied, emissions-free electric material handling excavators, which were developed exclusively for the German market in a close collaboration between Zeppelin and Caterpillar, are a particularly good example of innovation in this area. In addition to the environmental benefits of using these machines, operating costs can also be significantly reduced thanks to the elimination of a combustion engine, fuel consumption and the resultant reduction in maintenance and repair outlay.
Zeppelin offers many different models that comply with EU emissions Stage V as alternative options for areas in which conventional combustion engines are used. For example, Zeppelin Rental offers a wide range of solutions for work in environmentally sensitive zones, such as water conservation areas, through its ecoRent rental program.
UN Global Compact membership as an indicator of corporate responsibility
Zeppelin lives its values and recognizes the ten principles of the UN Global Compact, which covers the issues of human rights, labor standards, environmental protection and combating corruption. The Zeppelin Group has demonstrated its commitment to corporate responsibility by joining the UN Global Compact in December 2016.
In order to be able to continuously improve, and to measure and illustrate our commitment and development in these areas, we have defined Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) that have been recorded since 2016. New goals are regularly set so that we can continuously improve and take appropriate measures to achieve targets, and these targets are also regularly reviewed. We detail our development in the annual UN Global Compact progress report.
Would you like to find out more about Zeppelin’s activities in the area of sustainability? Then check out the relevant pages on our website or have a look at the UN Global Compact progress report!
Further information
Sustainability in the Zeppelin Group (includes Zeppelin Group UN Global Compact progress report)
General information on the UN Global Compact
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