SHERIDAN, WYOMING – August 27, 2025 – KHS GmbH, a global systems provider in the beverage and liquid food packaging sector, has achieved the EcoVadis Platinum Medal, positioning itself in the top 1% of over 150,000 companies evaluated worldwide. With an improved score of 86 out of 100 points, the recognition underscores the company’s advances in environmental, social, and governance (ESG) performance and provides customers with an independently validated benchmark of its sustainability commitment.
Platinum recognition marks strategic ESG milestone
EcoVadis ratings evaluate up to 21 sustainability criteria across environment, labor and human rights, ethics, and sustainable procurement. Moving from last year’s Gold (75 points) to this year’s Platinum, KHS demonstrated measurable improvement in ESG governance, certifications, and ethical practices. The company’s strengthened policies in labor rights and human rights played a critical role in raising its score.
For industry stakeholders, EcoVadis serves as a trusted third-party assessment, enabling procurement leaders, food and beverage manufacturers, and supply chain partners to evaluate ESG compliance and sustainability risks with greater confidence.
Sustainability enhancements driving operational value
KHS has embedded sustainability improvements across multiple areas of its business:
- Ethics & labor rights: Expanded compliance guidelines and reporting mechanisms.
- Sustainable procurement: Continued progress in supplier ESG assessments.
- Environmental performance: Strong carbon management practices and emissions monitoring.
- Transparency & reporting: Enhanced disclosures aligned with global frameworks.
These improvements align with broader trends in the packaging equipment market, where multinational buyers are increasingly requiring audited sustainability standards for supplier selection.
Executive perspective on ESG accountability
“Since 2012 we have subjected ourselves to the strict requirements of EcoVadis and allowed our sustainability performance to be evaluated. The platinum medal is both important proof for our customers and confirmation for the KHS Group that we take our responsibility in the field of corporate sustainability seriously and that we are on the right track,” said Kai Acker, CEO of KHS GmbH.
Acker emphasized that KHS is advancing decisively toward climate neutrality by 2050, supported by independent assessments such as the Carbon Scorecard, which evaluates the company’s decarbonization strategies and value-chain emissions.
Aligning reporting with EU CSRD standards
KHS has also taken proactive steps to align with the EU Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD). In its latest voluntary sustainability report, the company conducted a comparative analysis between Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) standards and the European Sustainability Reporting Standards (ESRS). This alignment ensures greater transparency and comparability while preparing the business for the mandatory CSRD requirements set to impact EU-based companies.
“As a subsidiary of Salzgitter AG, we have long published our own voluntary sustainability progress to provide stakeholders with a full picture of our responsibility management,” noted Nicole Pohl, Senior ESG Manager at KHS. “By gradually adapting our reports to CSRD requirements, we will remain well positioned for future evaluations and strengthen our standing.”
Strategic implications for industry partners
For global beverage and food producers, KHS’s Platinum status offers a tangible indicator of supply chain reliability and ESG alignment. As sustainability audits become more rigorous under EU and global regulations, equipment partners that meet recognized standards will likely gain procurement preference.
The recognition also reflects broader industry momentum: packaging system providers are under pressure to innovate not only in efficiency and performance but also in compliance with ESG frameworks demanded by investors, regulators, and brand owners.
Learn more at khs.com