SIG secures real-time renewable energy from wind turbines to power production in Germany

SIG leads the industry as the only beverage carton producer to make its packs with 100% renewable energy. A new contract securing real-time wind power for SIG’s production in Germany underlines the company’s commitment to go further by directly investing in renewable energy capacity.

Under the power purchase agreement, the electricity from two wind turbines located in Beppen, near Hanover, will deliver power in real time – as it is generated – to SIG’s German production sites. The turbines have a total capacity of 2.6 MWp and generate around 2,800 MWh annually, enough to supply 1,000 four-person households for a year.

Investing in renewable power capacity

SIG has achieved carbon neutral production since 2018 by using 100% renewable energy (electricity and gas) to make its packs.

Initially, most of the renewable electricity was sourced indirectly either through guarantees of origin or GoldPower®-certified international renewable energy certificates. SIG is now focusing on ways to secure more of its renewable electricity directly.

Central to this approach is the company’s investment in on-site solar arrays at its production plants around the world. SIG already has 7.2 MWp of installed solar capacity at its production plants in China and Thailand. Further on-site installations are under construction in Brazil, China and Germany. Additional projects in Austria, Saudi Arabia and Mexico are in the planning phase.

The Beppen wind power purchase agreement is SIG’s first direct investment in off-site renewable capacity. Such off-site power purchase agreements enable SIG to directly invest in further renewable capacity outside its own sites.

“Through this power purchase agreement for wind turbines, we are securing real-time renewable power for our production in Germany,” said Arnold Schuhwerk, Head of Category Polymers & Energy Global at SIG. “Alongside our growing global portfolio of on-site solar installations, we see such agreements as the most sustainable way to directly invest in renewable energy capacity.”

Going beyond

SIG is now exploring opportunities to invest in further on- and off-site renewable capacity as part of its commitment to go Way Beyond Good for society and the environment.

The company’s investment in renewable energy for production has avoided over half a million tonnes of CO2-equivalent to date, contributing to a lower-carbon supply chain for customers.

SIG is also going further by encouraging suppliers to use renewable energy and cut climate impacts to support decarbonisation of supply chains in its industry and beyond.