For our company and our impact on the environment and people, it is crucial where we source our raw materials and what specific material properties they have. In 2025, Festo purchased a total of 26,672 tons of raw materials. Plastics, aluminum, and (stainless) steel are among the most important materials used in our production. Since resources are finite and their extraction has a negative impact on the environment, it is important to develop comprehensive strategies to reduce material consumption. To this end, we rely on circular economy approaches, for example.
One area of focus here is aluminum. This is because bauxite, the raw material used in aluminum production, is a critical resource with significant impacts on the environmental. One approach is to increasingly replace primary aluminum with secondary aluminum. In 2025, Festo achieved a secondary aluminum content of 78.1 percent.
In Hungary, we have taken it a step further. There, aluminum waste is melted down directly into the raw materials needed, eliminating a range ofintermediate steps. We are currently testing the expansion of this technology to our German locations.
Festo's direct and indirect purchasing volume (production and non-production materials) amounts to 1.536 billion euros (2024) to 1.519 billion euros (2025). This is dueto a number of factors such asthe economic situation.
Non-production materials apply to all production facilities (Festo Global Production Centers, or GPCs for short) as well as the sales subsidiaries. The production materials include all production facilities. Festo is continuously expanding its global supplier network, which consists of both local and non-local suppliers. By “local,” we mean sourcing from within the region of the respective subsidiary.
Compared to the previous year, the number of local suppliers in 2025 decreased slightly.
The “Local for Local” strategy also continued in 2025, with aims such as shortening delivery times and increasing flexibility throughout the supply chain and along transport routes. The goal is to increasingly source goods in the countries and regions where they are produced.
The diagrams below show the regional distribution of the Festo Group’s direct and indirect purchasing volume, as well as the proportion of local and non-local suppliers.
Our customers learn how to use a newly purchased product safely and professionally through a variety of instruction manuals and descriptions. Notes on possible misuse as well as information on maintenance, cleaning, care, and disposal help the user avoid expensive and climate-damaging costs. This also extends the service life of the products. Various tutorials clearly explain how users can, for example, replace spare parts kits on their own.
The processes involved in product approvals are described in internal guidelines. Festo must comply with applicable law so that the products are considered safe. There are different regulations and laws on product safety around the world to allow products to be placed on the market. This requires the respective approvals in the different regions.
In our Application Note (available in English only), you will find an overview of these questions and further information on material compliance issues that may affect Festo products.
We firmly believe that technological progress and sustainability have to go hand in hand. As a family-run company, we are pursuing a sustainability strategy that combines ecological, social and corporate responsibility and that guides our actions.
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