Sustainability at Planol

Sustainability is an important part of our business operations. In addition to our social commitment, we place particular emphasis on the responsible use of resources. This includes an efficiently designed production process, energy-efficient operations, and the continuous optimization of workflows and processes. To this end, we implement various measures:
 

As a manufacturer of cleaning products, we are mindful of our responsibility toward the environment and society. That is why we are constantly working to conduct our business responsibly. Our various energy-optimization measures, which we are implementing at the Planol plant in Hanau, Hesse, also contribute to this effort. For example, we use LED lighting throughout the company, which is largely controlled based on demand. In addition, Planol has its own photovoltaic system. The 748 modules produce a total output of 254 kWp. In early 2023, the company also completed a comprehensive modernization of its main power supply.

In addition to environmental considerations, we also take social responsibility seriously, and social engagement is an important part of what we do. Together with our partner, Plan International Deutschland e.V., we have sponsored a child from Laos and support local projects focused on education, hygiene, sanitation, and drinking water.

All of our production takes place in mixing tanks, which are highly efficient and thus help conserve energy. Additional heating of the mixing tanks is used only in special cases—this allows us to ensure the responsible use of our energy resources.

Efficient flow conditions in our batch reactors, combined with formulations tailored to our production processes, ensure rapid reaction and thorough mixing of the added components. This is achieved without the use of additional thermal energy, thereby minimizing electricity consumption. Formulations have been modified and developed for the production of high-viscosity products, reducing production time to a minimum while maintaining product properties.

The compressor system, which went into operation in July 2022, also contributes to this. It received funding from the Federal Office for Economic Affairs and Export Control (BAFA) due to its energy-saving potential and its highly efficient cross-sectional technology. According to our calculations, the system can save approximately 56,000 kWh of energy per year.

In 2021, we also commissioned a fully automated multifunctional filling system for containers ranging from 500 ml to 10,000 ml. This system stands out for its high-quality standardisation, performance (volume/speed), and modularly controllable component selection of different closure types.

To ensure efficient dosing of our cleaning agents, we rely on dosing systems from Brightwell. These systems allow for precise dosing of the products.

Another important aspect of production is waste management: Cleaning cloths are used regularly for the daily cleaning of the filling lines. Since the summer of 2022, we have been using an exchange system for this purpose and have switched from disposable cloths to reusable ones.

To dispose of packaging waste, operational oils, old raw materials, or rinsing water, we rely on professional partner companies. However, Planol’s production processes are fundamentally designed to generate as little waste and rinsing water as possible.

We also take environmental and resource considerations into account in our primary and secondary packaging. Since 2009, we have participated in the Dual System for retail packaging. All of our retail packaging is licensed under the Dual System and—when disposed of properly—can be collected through the appropriate collection systems and sent for recovery or recycling.

By making adjustments to our standard primary packaging, we are improving its recyclability, which has been tested and evaluated by the Eko-Punkt packaging laboratory.
We also take care to select materials responsibly for our cardboard packaging. That is why we use only cardboard packaging bearing the FSC Mix label. FSC (“Forest Stewardship Council”) is an independent organization; the label signifies that materials come from responsibly managed sources and/or recycled materials in accordance with FSC standards.

What does this certification mean? At least 70 percent of the materials used in our cardboard packaging come from FSC-certified forests or recycled materials. The forestry operations in these forests are committed to protecting biodiversity, existing water resources, and soil. They also comply with applicable labor and land-use rights.

In addition, they take specific national requirements into account. The remaining processed materials come from controlled sources—so-called “Controlled Woods.” In these sources, wood is neither harvested illegally nor subject to overexploitation.

To guarantee our on-time delivery performance, we have been producing based on inventory levels since 2016. In addition, we increase our raw material and packaging supplies during times of crisis. This ensures that we can meet agreed-upon delivery dates even when materials are in short supply.

We have made a conscious decision not to operate our own fleet of vehicles for transporting our products; instead, we handle this through a freight forwarding partner that uses low-emission Euro 6 vehicles.

Do you have a concern about sustainability? Please feel free to contact us at [email protected].