As a family-owned company with a tradition of over 116 years, we are convinced that a company can only be successful in the long term if it reconciles economic, ecological, social and societal requirements. That is why we strive for future-oriented entrepreneurship that focuses on long-term thinking and sustainable action.
In doing so, we pursue a holistic approach. We want to align all our activities as well as our structures and processes in such a way that they support sustainable development and the future viability of our group of companies and society as a whole.
Because for us it is clear: sustainability means future viability – ecologically, socially, socially and economically.
Our business needs green coffee, pulp and plastics as well as energy and water in processing. These natural resources are finite. That is why an intact environment ensures our future viability as a family business. We think beyond our own generation and therefore take responsibility for the protection of natural resources. Four topics shape our work: climate change, water, biodiversity and circular economy.
People are the driving force behind the long-term success of the Melitta Group. This includes our own employees, suppliers and partners as well as consumers of our products. We take their needs, expectations and rights seriously. For us as a family-owned company, this is part of our corporate self-image. In concrete terms, this is reflected in five topics: employee development, diversity and equal opportunities, occupational safety and health, labour and human rights, and product safety, quality and transparency. These standards apply to our own actions. They also apply to our cooperation with partners in our markets.
The Group-wide Code of Conduct and the Supplier Code of Conduct, together with our canon of values, form the framework for our actions. It is supplemented by other guidelines and guidelines: the Declaration of Principles, the UK Modern Slavery Act and our Deforestation Policy. They apply within the Melitta Group as well as along our entire value chain, thus ensuring responsible, compliant action.
In the coffee value chain, the Melitta Group sources green coffee from almost all growing regions worldwide and processes it in its own roasting facilities in Europe, North America and South America. Coffee cultivation and harvesting in particular present a range of sustainability-related challenges:
Climate change: emissions across the entire value chain, availability of growing areas
Biodiversity: use of fertilisers, monocultures, deforestation, resilience of plants and agricultural systems
Circular economy: recyclability of packaging
Social issues: human rights and working conditions in the supply chain
To effectively address these challenges, the Melitta Group is guided by the following vision and contributes to its realisation through numerous projects and measures: the green coffee comes from cultivation that enables everyone involved on the ground to make a good, lasting living and that preserves or regenerates the ecological systems. Processing, transport and roasting are carried out in as climate- and water-friendly a way as possible. Packaging is recyclable and, where possible, reusable or made from recycled materials. Preparation is energy-efficient, and used coffee grounds are put to meaningful further use.
To turn this vision into reality, the Melitta Group works together with other players to help shape industry standards across the entire value chain. At the same time, it continues to develop its own targets, structures and processes to promote and ensure sustainable practices throughout its coffee business – from sourcing through production, transport and packaging to marketing and recovery.
Plastic
In addition to packaging, the Melitta Group uses plastics mainly to manufacture its household products. These include household and food films, waste and vacuum cleaner bags, as well as other practical helpers for keeping food fresh, storing and disposing of waste in private households and commercial settings. The main sustainability-related challenges in this value chain are:
Climate change: emissions across the entire value chain
Resources and circular economy: consumption of fossil resources, recyclability of plastics
Social issues: human rights and working conditions in the supply chain
The vision is as follows: in future, only plastics will be used and marketed that are produced from recycled or renewable raw materials in a climate- and resource-friendly way and that can be used multiple times. At the end of their use, they are mechanically recycled or, where disposal infrastructure is lacking, break down completely and without residue in nature.
To help achieve this vision, the Melitta Group continuously develops its products and packaging further and increasingly relies on recycled and recyclable materials as well as improved circularity. At the same time, the Group is engaged along the entire value chain – from material selection through production to disposal – and works with partners to develop suitable new materials and improve existing recycling infrastructure.
Pulp
The Melitta Group uses pulp for products related to coffee preparation and the household – in particular for coffee filters, household and specialty papers. In addition, many packaging materials are made of paper or cardboard. The main sustainability-related challenges in this value chain are:
Climate change: emissions across the entire value chain
Biodiversity: deforestation, monocultures, diversity of animal and plant species, resilience of trees and forests
Water: water requirements in paper production
The vision: pulp comes from recycled or sustainably managed sources and is processed in a climate- and water-friendly way. After use, the paper should ideally be mechanically recycled or, where this is not possible, break down completely and without residue in nature.
To help achieve this vision, the Melitta Group relies on certified raw materials. It also continuously optimises its production processes to reduce energy and water consumption when manufacturing filters and papers. At the same time, it is working to further improve packaging – through new materials, adapted packaging systems and the elimination of unnecessary outer packaging.
Appliances
The Melitta Group develops and sells electrical appliances primarily for coffee preparation in private and professional settings. These include filter coffee machines and fully automatic coffee machines, as well as single-serve systems, milk frothers and kettles.
The sustainability-related challenges in this value chain are:
Climate change: emissions across the entire value chain and during the use phase
Resources and circular economy: consumption of fossil resources, repairability and durability of products
Social issues: human rights and working conditions in the supply chain
The vision: the appliance is made of recycled or responsibly sourced materials and is manufactured in compliance with internationally recognised labour and human rights standards. It is durable, energy- and resource-efficient, repairable, and is recycled as completely as possible at the end of its life cycle.
To help achieve this future, the Melitta Group continuously improves the energy efficiency, material use and service life of its appliances. At the same time, supplier requirements are systematically developed further and compliance with corresponding standards is monitored. In addition, the Group is working to improve repair and recycling options and to make its appliances more sustainable throughout their entire life cycle.
We are convinced that companies have the task of making people's lives better – and enabling a future worth living. Find out more about how the Melitta Group is tackling this task.
Our employees – and our jobs – are as diverse as our group of companies. We love brands, appreciate international exchange, are enthusiastic about innovations and have great fun acting like business owners and working in a team. Above all, however, we want one thing: to create impact.
