Intro
by Jens Stadter
Dear Readers,
Sustainability has been deeply rooted in Jokey’s corporate philosophy since its beginnings. As a medium-sized family business, Jokey has always been particularly aware of the comprehensive responsibility that arises from this position. With regard to future generations as well as a prudent approach to the environment, nature and people. For many years, the company has always understood how to reconcile ecology, economy and social issues – as evidenced, among other things, by the Jokey Eco Concept.
Mankind is fighting against the already visible consequences of progressive climate change. At the same time, the global political situation is becoming more difficult and is characterised by multiple crises. The effects of this can also be felt at Jokey. In addition, in times of extreme dynamism, new challenges have to be dealt with, such as the EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR), which aims to reduce the environmental impact of packaging. We are already very well positioned in this regard, as our packaging is already technically optimised for high-quality recycling and thus for the circular economy. Nevertheless, the regulation could lead to end consumers preferring products that are offered in supposedly ‘more sustainable’ packaging. The plastics processing industry still has a negative image – wrongly so. Plastic is a highly efficient and environmentally friendly material, provided it is recycled. We continue to take a critical and holistic approach to the issue. In addition to the overall ecological balance of packaging, the consideration of resources and biodiversity also plays a role.
Here we show you the progress we have made so far on our sustainability journey and how we are developing. Our vision and mission remain our clear compass:
We continue to focus on openness, cultural diversity in our daily interactions and internationality. In particular, the strong team spirit that is lived day after day in our plants has made us more resilient in the difficult years that have passed.
The Jokey Group was able to continue its growth course with the opening of a new plant in Great Britain, Jokey UK. In the meantime, we have expanded our portfolio to include the reusable service packaging division, which illustrates our commitment to promoting a circular economy. In 2023, we launched our own brand KeepIn, which stands for food and reusable packaging in the food sector. Reusable solutions are an important lever for resource and climate protection. In 2022, we also initiated a research project. The possibilities of using recycled polypropylene (rPP) in food quality are being explored here – with promising initial results. We have also made further progress in the areas of digitalisation and employee development: with the introduction of a new CRM system, but also with the expansion of the Jokey Academy. In the area of procurement, we have expanded Jokey’s supplier risk management system to achieve even greater transparency and minimise risks in the supply chain.
We have now implemented our sustainability strategy in all areas of the company. All operational activities are aligned with this. Our sustainability activities are also supported by initiatives such as Vision 0-0-0. This includes the goals of zero occupational accidents, zero complaints and zero unscheduled downtime. We will keep you informed about all the projects, measures and activities mentioned on this page.
In WWF Germany, we continue to have a realistic and implementation-oriented NGO that has been accompanying us in a transformative partnership throughout the entire transformation process since 2021, advising us and broadening our horizons as an experienced sparring partner.
As a manufacturer, we are facing up to our responsibility and aiming for economic activity within the planetary boundaries. Together with WWF and all our stakeholders, we are working to reduce our absolute consumption of resources and the amount of waste we produce overall, and to close loops. By signing the Science Based Targets Initiative (SBTi) Commitment Letter in 2022, we committed to science-based climate targets and continuous monitoring by this globally recognised network. In 2023, we submitted our interim targets (near-term targets) to the SBTi for this purpose.
On this page, you will also see that we are guided by the 17 global goals for sustainable development of the 2030 Agenda, the future programme adopted by the United Nations to promote the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in particular, for all sustainability goals that we can influence.
Our Jokey Eco Concept, launched in 2017, remains at the heart of our sustainability strategy until 2030. It contains our entire sustainability programme and describes step by step how we are adapting our products to the requirements of the circular economy through continuous development. Since 2024, it has comprised four pillars and 14 fields of action and is being implemented group-wide in its fourth generation as Jokey Eco Concept 4.0. The new fourth pillar comprises fields of action on the topic of digitalisation and ranges from smart packaging to the digital product passport, the use of artificial intelligence, data protection and data security.
With our commitment and mindful use of resources, we are already making an active contribution to climate protection. You are cordially invited to find out more about our sustainability activities here.
Jens Stadter
CEO Jokey Group
