We want to contribute to achieving the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the United Nations (UN) by taking the right course of action. These were adopted by the UN General Assembly in autumn 2015 and are the centrepiece of the 2030 Agenda – a global action plan that aims to tackle current challenges as well as protect our planet, while ensuring that economic progress is environmentally sound and socially equitable.
Science-based climate targets
Consistently avoiding or reducing greenhouse gas emissions (GHG emissions) is a top priority of the global sustainability strategy at Festo. We have set ambitious, science-based climate targets to limit global warming to 1.5 °C compared to pre-industrial levels. These targets were officially validated by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) in February 2025. The SBTi is an independent initiative that evaluates the reduction targets based on the findings of climate science.
In line with the overarching "net zero" target, we are committed to absorbing as many greenhouse gases along the value chain (Scopes 1-3) by 2050 as we release.
As short-term targets, we are committed to reducing absolute GHG emissions in Scopes 1 and 2 by 64.3 per cent by 2030 compared to the base year 2022. We want to reduce absolute GHG emissions in Scope 3 by 25 per cent in the same period.
In the long term, we are committed to reducing absolute GHG emissions in Scope 1 and 2 by 90 per cent by 2040 compared to the base year 2022. We want to reduce absolute GHG emissions in Scope 3 by 90 per cent by 2050 compared to the base year 2022.
In order to achieve the targets for Scopes 1 and 2, we are implementing a global infrastructure plan and pursuing a global green electricity strategy. We are also continuing to invest in energy efficiency measures and are expanding our photovoltaic (PV) systems.
To reduce GHG emissions along the value chain (Scope 3), we are focusing on the shortest possible supply chains through increasing regionalisation and the "local for local" concept. When it comes to our products, we take sustainability into account right from the start of the product development process. That enables us to optimise the carbon footprint in production and the energy consumption during operation.
Outstanding sustainability
Festo is one of the winners of the German Sustainability Award (Deutschen Nachhaltigkeitspreises or DNP) in the hydraulics, pumps and compressors category. This is based on the goals of the German government's 2030 Agenda and therefore on key transformation topics such as climate, biodiversity, resources, supply chain and society. The 140 members of the DNP jury chose the companies that they believe are leading the sustainable transformation in their industries this year and gave the following reasons for Festo's award.
"Festo, as a family-owned company, is active in the automation sector and is doing everything it can to help shape the transformation of industrial production. The company aims to be completely CO₂-neutral by 2026 and is continuously optimising energy efficiency and waste recycling. Ethical principles and an inclusive and supportive working environment are fundamental values for Festo."
Our Sustainability Report 2023
Festo is a product of many hands created over generations. Our financial independence as a family-owned company enables us to shape our future. That is our mission. In doing so, we involve all our stakeholders – customers, employees, suppliers and society – in the collective and sustainable creation of value. With our expertise in automation and technical training, we increase our customers’ productivity and also create opportunities for the sustainable development of business, the environment and the community. That is our goal.
In our Sustainability Report 2023, we document our global responsibility using examples from 2023.
The areas of action defined in our sustainability strategy
In March 2020, our Management Board adopted the sustainability strategy, which has been regularly updated ever since. The sustainability strategy is currently being tied in even more closely with the corporate strategy.
In 2023, we made an important decision to combine the topics of energy efficiency and climate protection across the entire supply chain into one area of action that is now managed as a cohesive whole. This has led to the areas of action in the sustainability strategy being consolidated from five to four.
While identifying the key topics and developing relevant areas of action, the results of a stakeholder analysis were used and supplemented with observations of external changes in the fields of legislation, business and politics, technology, energy, the environment and society. We use this as a basis to regularly review our strategic focus as well as our sustainability goals and measures.
Partner of the Blue Competence initiative
We are a partner of the Blue Competence sustainability initiative. Blue Competence is an initiative of the German Mechanical Engineering Industry Association (VDMA) to promote sustainability in the machine and system building sector, and also to foster sustainable solutions throughout industry. Through our partnership, we are committed to complying with the 12 sustainable guidelines for machine and system building.
Sustainability Guidelines of the Mechanical Engineering Industry (PDF)