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.
"As a strategic motion partner, we want to offer our customers certainty on their journey to a more sustainable way of doing business – using technology-independent consulting to achieve efficient solutions for their motion requirements.
Our scientifically based climate targets enable us to contribute to the strategic goals of our customers."
Marcus Stemler, Head of Corporate Sustainability at Festo
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.
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.
Our Sustainability Report 2024
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 2024, we document our global responsibility using examples from 2024.