Environment, Energy and Social Responsibility

For over 120 years, Harold Scholz & Co. GmbH has been all about colour. On the one hand, this is an achievement in itself, but as a fourth-generation family business, we also see it as an obligation for the future, for our employees, for our shareholders and, of course, for our surroundings: our environment and the community in which we live.

How do we do that? Step by step and as a team. Read more about this in our sustainability report.

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We are working to gradually reduce our greenhouse gas emissions.

To this end, we are implementing measures in the areas of energy efficiency, on-site electricity generation, infrastructure and processes.

Our progress is reviewed regularly. We publish information on our targets, measures and progress on an ongoing basis as part of our sustainability communications.

In order to have our performance in the areas of the environment, labour and human rights, ethics and sustainable procurement regularly assessed, we take part in the independent EcoVadis assessment. This enables us to identify progress and areas for improvement and to take targeted action.

This year, we were once again able to improve our rating and were awarded the silver medal. This result is a great source of motivation for us to continue developing our measures and processes in the assessed areas, working as a team alongside our Scholz employees.

Here you can get an insight into EcoVadis rating.

Since April 2020, we have been part of the NRW Energy Efficiency and Climate Protection Network of the German Chemical Industry Association (VCI) together with other companies from the coatings, paints, and adhesives sectors. Since December 2025, the new network round has been taking place with companies from the paper industry in addition to companies from the chemical industry. The focus is on coming together, exchanging ideas, and learning from each other. The topics covered include energy efficiency measures, joint energy saving targets, and new technical input from external consultants.

At all our sites, we strive to continuously improve energy efficiency. This includes optimising our lighting systems, reducing gas consumption, improving our energy data collection and optimising our processes from an energy efficiency perspective. In 2020, we had our energy management system certified to DIN EN ISO 50001 for the first time and have been continuously developing it ever since.

Through cooperation and membership in the Standards Committee, we have been working on the Pigments and Fillers Working Group (NPF) to develop and maintain standards for pigments in cement-based and lime-based building materials for many years.

Various technical issues are discussed here by representatives and experts from various companies from the pigment and paint industry, insofar as these could be relevant for processors and producers.

When selecting our suppliers, we take into account quality, environmental and social criteria, amongst other things. We are also constantly working to reduce the use of packaging materials and to utilise reusable solutions, for example by using thinner plastic film and our tried-and-tested reusable container system. Treating people with respect and handling equipment and resources with care are integral to our day-to-day working practices.

For several years now, electric vehicles have been taken into consideration when purchasing new cars, which has led to a gradual increase in the number of e-cars in recent years. Seven charging stations with a total of twelve charging points are available at the Recklinghausen plant, which are supplied by the company's own photovoltaic system in good weather.

The purchase of new e-cars was supported by funding from the European Union - NextGenerationEU.

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Since 2017, we have been generating around 15 per cent of our electricity requirements each year via our photovoltaic systems in Partenstein and Recklinghausen. Compared with the average German electricity mix, this corresponds to a calculated reduction of around 142 tonnes of CO₂ per year (calculated on the basis of the electricity mix emission factor provided by the Federal Environment Agency).

A solar thermal system helps to provide hot water in the washrooms at the Recklinghausen production site. The showers are timer-controlled, which reduces water and gas consumption.

As part of the purchase of company expansion areas, a rainwater retention basin and a meadow orchard with 110 trees were created at our company in Recklinghausen. This meadow is maintained by the neighbouring school farm, which grazes its sheep there and uses the meadow for school projects in our region. Many insects feel at home in our wildflower meadow and enjoy sufficient nectar. As nectar and pollen collectors and at the same time as plant pollinators, the numerous insects are very welcome.