Responsibility
Through our business activities, we assume a responsibility that we face anew every day. A responsibility towards our customers, who place their trust in us and demand high quality from our products and services. A responsibility towards the environment, to which we, as a paper-processing company, must remain sustainably committed. A responsibility towards our employees, to whom we aim to provide a healthy and safe work environment as well as long-term job security. And a responsibility towards society – which unites us and where we strive to make a positive impact.
To meet this responsibility, Kern has voluntarily committed to implementing a wide range of social, ecological, and economic measures and programs, as well as complying with recognized norms and standards that are regularly audited and evaluated by independent bodies. Here, we provide an insight into our efforts and the certificates and campaigns that document them.
100% electricity from renewable energy sources
- Details
- Category: Responsibility
Kern sources 100% of its power from a green electricity mix, including wind, hydro, and solar power. Part of this is generated directly on-site via photovoltaic systems installed on our production halls. The systems originally installed in 2021 on Halls 1 to 3 have now been expanded with solar modules on Halls 4 and 5. As a result, nearly all available roof space is now utilized to generate climate-friendly electricity. In total, these solar modules produce up to 553.5 MWh of green electricity per year.
Process-free printing plates
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- Category: Responsibility
At Kern, we utilize process-free printing plates. This means that plate imaging in prepress is carried out without the use of drinking water or chemicals such as developers, replenishers, gumming, or finisher gums. By eliminating the washing of exposed plates, we save time, energy, and thousands of liters of fresh water compared to previous methods. Consequently, no wastewater or chemical waste is produced that would require costly disposal.
The entire imaging process is less maintenance-intensive, and the overall offset workflow is more streamlined. By eliminating plate washing and fixing, a potential source of error is removed. This results in higher print quality and reduced paper waste due to superior dot stability and lower variability. The higher costs of these process-free plates are almost entirely offset by the operational savings.
Downloads
- Details
- Category: Responsibility
- Regulation (EC) No. 122/2009
- DIN EN ISO 14001:2015
- Implemented since: 2014
- Reg. No.: DE-170-00090
- Valid until: 18.03.2029
- Details
- Category: Responsibility
- DDIN EN ISO 14001:2015
- Implemented since: 2014
- Reg. No.: 2/2023040408
- Valid until: 15.05.2029
- Details
- Category: Responsibility
- DDE-UZ 195
- Resource-efficient and low in emissions
- Mainly made from recycled paper
- Fully recyclable
- Implemented since: 2020
- Reg. No.: LQ6
- Details
- Category: Responsibility
- Forest Stewardship Council®
- Paper from certified responsible forest management
- Implemented since: 2012
- Reg. no.: GFA-COC-002347
- FSC license number: C109320
- Valid until: 06.05.2029
- Details
- Category: Responsibility
- Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification Schemes
- Paper from certified responsible forestry
- Implemented since: 2014
- Reg.-No.: GFA-PEFC-COC-500214
- Valid until: 06.05.2029
- Details
- Category: Responsibility
- Implemented since: 2014
- Creation of the company's CO₂ balance
- Identification of reduction potentials
- Calculation of the Carbon Footprint of printed products
- Financial climate contribution upon customer request
- Since 2024, climate contribution applied to all non-product-related processes
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- Category: Responsibility
- Participation in the Dual System
- Recycling of commercial packaging
- Savings 2024: 1,976 kg CO₂ equivalents
- Details
- Category: Responsibility
- Implemented since: April 2024
- Rating: Silver (Top 15%)
- Last assessment: December 2025
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- Category: Responsibility
- Print environmental index
- Member of the printing industry initiative
- UmDEX score: 500
- Details
- Category: Responsibility
- We value a diverse and inclusive working environment
- Free from discrimination and bias
- Regardless of gender, gender identity, nationality, ethnic origin, religion, worldview, disability, sexual orientation and gender identity
- Signed in 2019
- Details
- Category: Responsibility
- 27% of the workforce has a migrant background
- Only together do we reach 100%
- Campaign: since 2024