Environment
Miele supports the goal of the Paris Climate Agreement to limit global warming by 2100 compared to pre-industrial levels. Our reduction targets follow the guidelines of the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi), which confirmed our climate strategy as scientifically sound in summer 2021. We have already achieved our previous targets ahead of schedule and are now developing new ones to further strengthen climate protection. To this end, we are preparing a transition plan aligned with the SBTi Net-Zero Standard by 2026, with the aim of achieving GHG neutrality across the entire value chain. At the same time, we are working on long-term climate targets for Miele.
By 2030, we aim to reduce our absolute Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions by 50 percent compared with the 2019 baseline. Since 2019, we have already reduced our emissions by 54 percent - achieving our climate target ahead of schedule.
We aim to reduce emissions from the use of our products (Scope 3.11) by 15 percent by 2030 compared with 2019. By 2024, we had already exceeded this target significantly, achieving a 31 percent reduction - and thus reaching our goal earlier than planned.
Through energy efficiency measures, we aim to save 30 gigawatt hours per year compared with the 2019 baseline. Since then, we have already reduced the energy consumption of our sites by around 21 gigawatt hours.
We aim to reduce the GHG emissions associated with our fleet by at least 30 percent by 2030 compared with 2019. By the end of 2024, we had already achieved an 8 percent reduction.
We aim to increase the energy we produce from renewable sources - specifically photovoltaics and geothermal energy - to 35 gigawatt hours per year by 2030. In 2024, our sites already generated more than 13 gigawatt hours of renewable energy in-house.
We are currently developing new targets to further strengthen our climate action efforts and preparing a transition plan based on the SBTi Net-Zero Standard to achieve GHG neutrality across the entire value chain.
We bring together our approach and measures for climate action in our company-wide climate strategy, which is embedded in our overarching sustainability strategy. At the heart of this climate strategy is the principle of avoiding and reducing GHG emissions and offsetting them only where this is (still) not possible. Key instruments for achieving this include investments in energy efficiency measures, expanding our own renewable energy generation, and systematically reducing GHG emissions along the upstream and downstream value chain.
At our 19 production sites, we already use our own electricity from renewable energy sources or assess whether this is feasible — for example at the sites in Bielefeld, Bünde and Oelde. In addition, three of our sites (Gütersloh, Euskirchen and Ksawerów) are currently equipped with geothermal systems providing a total heat output of 3,000 kilowatts, with further installations planned.
Most CO2 emissions occur during the use of our household and commercial appliances: according to our calculations, this accounts for around 84 percent. To reduce these so-called Scope 3.11 emissions, we continuously improve the energy efficiency of our appliances and develop programs that help save energy during use. Detailed information on these solutions can be found in the Sustainability Report under Products and Social – Customers.
When purchasing raw materials and pre-products, we already take their CO2 footprint into account. Goods and services purchased (Scope 3.1) account for 14 percent of our total greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. In the long term, we aim to develop products that are GHG-neutral in manufacturing. Our ambition is therefore to work exclusively with suppliers who themselves commit to integrating climate protection into their business practices. We set out our requirements in our Supplier Code of Conduct. Suppliers must implement effective measures in line with the Paris Climate Agreement to reduce their direct and indirect GHG emissions.
Steel accounts for the largest share of our Scope 3.1 emissions. Since 2021, we have therefore been using steel in our cookers and ovens that generates 66 percent fewer greenhouse gas emissions during production compared with conventionally produced steel. We have also signed declarations of intent with strategic partners to increasingly source this type of steel in the future.
Produced using hydropower: Since 2023, we have been processing aluminium that is manufactured entirely with electricity from hydropower. As part of a pilot project, it is used in our ovens.
By sourcing close to our production sites, we shorten transport routes and thus reduce environmental impacts. At the same time, we strengthen regional economies. The manufacturing processes of our predominantly European suppliers also result in a lower CO2 footprint compared to the global average.
Each year, we prepare a comprehensive greenhouse gas (GHG) inventory to systematically capture our emissions and measure our progress toward achieving our climate targets. This annual assessment is crucial for understanding the impact of our business activities on the climate and for developing effective measures to reduce our emissions. Our GHG accounting is based on the international Greenhouse Gas Protocol and follows the market-based approach. It includes direct emissions from the consumption of oil and gas as well as the Miele vehicle fleet (Scope 1), indirect emissions from purchased electricity and district heating (Scope 2) and indirect Scope 3 emissions, including those from purchased goods and services (Scope 3.1), the use of sold products (Scope 3.11), their end-of-life treatment, and transportation and logistics. To improve the accuracy of our Scope 3.1 accounting, we are progressively incorporating more primary data.
Miele applies an internal carbon price as a shadow price in investment decisions and, in some cases, in procurement processes. This price represents the hypothetical environmental cost of CO2 emissions and serves as an important tool for integrating climate-related externalities into our decision-making. To determine our internal carbon price, we draw on external sources such as the price level of the EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS) and publications from reputable research institutes. We also consider internal insights gained from projects and discussions with suppliers. At present, we are working on establishing a more structured calculation methodology to ensure greater consistency and transparency in the future.
Using a dedicated carbon accounting tool and close collaboration across departments, we have created CO2 footprints for selected reference appliances. These Product Carbon Footprints (PCFs) help us identify reduction opportunities and provide a clear direction for achieving our climate targets. Step by step, we aim to calculate PCFs for all product categories.
Our energy management system is an integral part of our integrated management framework and is certified to ISO 50001 at all European production sites. At our site in Dongguan, China, we also follow the ISO 50001 principles to ensure transparency in energy flows and to identify opportunities for improving energy efficiency. International energy teams develop concepts for even more energy-efficient production processes, for example in the operation of compressed-air and cooling systems. Across all locations, we implement energy-saving measures or assess their feasibility, such as heat recovery solutions.
