Sustainability

Acting sustainably and responsibly is one of the key principles by which the KION Group operates. The Group’s focus on sustainability is reflected in its safe and clean products, in its environmentally friendly manufacturing processes, and in the safe and non-discriminatory working environment it provides. The KION Group and its Operating Units strive for a balance between environmental, economic, and social considerations in their activities. This is the basis upon which sustainability is enshrined in the KION 2027 strategy. The KION Group’s values also have a clear link to sustainability.

As part of the continual evaluation of its sustainability performance by external independent auditors and rating agencies, the KION Group notched up some significant improvements in 2020. For example, its rating from ISS rose from C+ to B–, which equates to prime status. CDP again recognized the KION Group’s commitment to combating climate change. The Group received an A– rating, considerably improving on its B rating of the past two years. The rating reflects the KION Group’s progress from a coordinated approach to climate change mitigation (management level) to the implementation of the latest best practice (leadership level). In the FTSE Russell ESG rating, the KION Group scored 4.0 out of a maximum of 5.0 points, another significant improvement compared with the previous score of 3.4. The rating from SAM CSA also went up sharply, by twelve points, to reach 53 points.

The groupwide sustainability report for 2020, which will be published in April 2021, contains information on strategy, the management approach, and structures for sustainability as well as data on relevant key performance indicators. It also contains the KION Group’s non-financial declaration as required under German law. For this reason, the KION Group has not provided detailed information in the 2020 combined management report.