On the path to low-carbon production

Self-generated solar power plays a key role on the path to low-carbon manufacturing. By using roof space for photovoltaics, we are creating sustainable energy sources – decentralized and close to our locations. The first large photovoltaic system went into operation at the ZWILLING logistics site in Pleasantville (USA) back in 2015. With a peak output of 845 kilowatt peak (kWp), it generates around 870 megawatt hours (MWh) of electricity per year on 10,000 square meters – covering over 80 percent of the site's energy requirements.

A model that is setting a precedent: in 2020, a high-performance photovoltaic system was also installed at the BALLARINI production site in Rivarolo Mantovano in northern Italy. Covering a total of 8,600 square meters of roof space, it generates around 840 MWh of electricity annually – directly for the manufacturing process.

Other locations are following suit. Since 2024, the ZWILLING plant in Seki, Japan, has been generating solar power with an annual output of around 300 MWh. In Herentals, Belgium, DEMEYERE produces around 125 MWh of clean electricity from its own hall roof.

Further improving energy efficiency while meeting increased regulatory requirements – with this goal in mind, we have introduced an ISO 50001 energy management system at our Solingen site. The internationally recognized standard offers a proven methodology for transparently recording energy flows, identifying potential savings, and permanently embedding improvements. To this end, we first identified the main energy sources using modern measurement technology. On this basis, key figures were defined that can be used to reliably evaluate and specifically improve energy efficiency in operations.

At the same time, we established guidelines for the responsible use of energy, clarified responsibilities, and defined areas of application. In the future, all measures, key figures, and audit results will be documented in a traceable manner via a software platform. Another key to success was raising our employees' awareness of energy efficiency and making them aware of specific savings potential in their everyday work.

On June 13, 2025, the Solingen site was officially certified according to ISO 50001 – an important step toward placing our production on an energy-efficient, climate-conscious, and sustainable footing.

Whether it's heat, light, or plant technology, we implement targeted efficiency measures at our sites that save energy and reduce our environmental impact in everyday operations. At the production plant in Solingen and the STAUB plant in Merville, France, we use waste heat from manufacturing processes to heat water in the washrooms. In the enamelling line at STAUB, the heat generated is also fed directly back into the furnaces – an efficient cycle that significantly reduces the need for external energy.

We also use heat recovery at the BALLARINI production site in northern Italy: the production and storage areas there are heated using waste heat from the production process – an effective contribution to reducing gas consumption, especially in the winter months. In addition, we have gradually converted the lighting at our production and logistics sites to energy-efficient LED technology.

Such concrete measures show that energy efficiency is not a one-off project, but a continuous improvement process – locally adapted, impact-oriented, and firmly anchored in everyday operations.