SHERIDAN, WYOMING – August 27, 2025 – KHS GmbH has reached a new milestone in its sustainability journey, earning a platinum medal from EcoVadis for the first time in its history. The recognition places the Dortmund-based engineering group among the top 1% of more than 150,000 companies assessed globally, underscoring its strong environmental, social, and governance (ESG) performance and strategic alignment with global reporting standards.
Elevating ESG Standards Beyond Industry Norms
KHS advanced from last year’s gold level by improving its score from 75 to 86 out of 100, with notable progress in labor and human rights, ethics, and sustainable procurement. The rating framework assessed up to 21 criteria across ESG categories, reflecting how packaging and beverage equipment manufacturers are increasingly benchmarked against transparent, comparable metrics.
- Environment: Maintaining high scores in energy and resource efficiency.
- Labor & Human Rights: Strengthened through guideline and certification management.
- Ethics: Improved compliance and governance structures.
- Sustainable Procurement: Advanced supplier engagement and traceability initiatives.
Aligning with European Regulatory Shifts
KHS has proactively aligned its voluntary sustainability reporting with the EU’s Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD). By cross-referencing Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) standards with the European Sustainability Reporting Standards (ESRS), KHS is preparing for the transition from voluntary to mandatory reporting. This approach not only enhances stakeholder transparency but also positions the company for continued high ratings under stricter regulatory oversight.
Commitment to Decarbonization
In parallel with the EcoVadis assessment, KHS was rated a “leader” in carbon management using the EcoVadis carbon scorecard. Although not yet part of the overall ranking, the achievement reflects significant progress in decarbonization strategy. The company’s executive board is steering toward net-zero operations by 2050, with carbon performance metrics already embedded across its value chain.
Customer Confidence and Industry Validation
Executives emphasized the broader industry and customer impact of the recognition. “Our platinum medal sends both an important message to our customers and acts as confirmation for the KHS Group that we’re taking our responsibility to sustainable business seriously and are on the right track here,” says Kai Acker, CEO of KHS GmbH.
This validation provides KHS’ customers—particularly multinational beverage and liquid food producers—with a reliable, independent benchmark to evaluate the sustainability of their supply chains, a factor increasingly tied to procurement decisions and brand equity.
Future Outlook: From Voluntary to Mandatory Reporting
KHS has been issuing voluntary sustainability reports since 2013/2014, but its latest edition represents a pivotal step toward CSRD compliance. “With this, we want to provide our stakeholders with a detailed insight into our system of sustainability management,“ says Nicole Pohl, senior ESG manager at KHS.
By progressively aligning with ESRS criteria, KHS is setting a pathway toward seamless compliance once CSRD becomes mandatory, mitigating regulatory risk while strengthening investor and partner confidence.
Strategic Implications for the Sector
The platinum medal underscores a broader shift across the packaging and industrial machinery sectors, where sustainability is moving from compliance-driven to value-creating. As beverage and food producers face mounting pressure to disclose Scope 3 emissions and meet consumer expectations, suppliers like KHS that can demonstrate measurable ESG leadership are gaining a competitive advantage.
For hospitals, retailers, and food and beverage brands evaluating long-term vendor partnerships, third-party verified ESG performance is becoming as critical as technical capability.
Learn More
Further details on KHS’ sustainability initiatives and reporting can be accessed at KHS official website.