SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2024
3 Dear Readers, When I joined OPHARDT in 2016, what stood out to me, immediately, was the clarity of purpose–our commitment to innovation, sustainability, and above all, to breaking the chain of infection. Writing this letter for the first time as CEO, I feel both proud and energized to help lead the company to achieve these goals. In 2024, that mission–to break the chain of infection–is just as urgent as ever. Despite improvements in access to professional hand hygiene tools, compliance remains a global challenge. With interventions like electronic monitoring and feedback, hand hygiene compliance can improve by 30% or more. Without interventions, compliance can hover as low as 35%. The consequences are real and tragic with more than 100,000 preventable deaths, 16 million extra patient days, and up to $40 billion in additional costs per year across the U.S. and Canada alone! That is why we launched our Smart from the Start™ initiative. By making our dispensers internet-connected by default, we make monitoring more affordable and easier to raise compliance rates and ultimately reduce infection. The benefits extend beyond health outcomes too–to longer product life cycles, reduced waste, and smarter, more sustainable systems. The pandemic challenged supply chains globally – and we weren’t spared. But those challenges also highlighted our agility. We adapted quickly by re-engineering platforms, speeding up development, and responding to the market’s demand for shorter lead times and more localized production. Over the past year, we’ve expanded the use of post-consumer recycled plastics, introduced dispensers powered by fuel cells to reduce battery waste, and continued to push the limits of durable, low-impact stainless steel. We're making steady progress toward our goal of carbon neutrality by 2045. At a time when the market is flooded with disposable, short-lived products, we’re staying true to what we know works: smart, reliable, high quality, and sustainable hygiene solutions. Let’s work together to make hygiene smarter, more sustainable, and more accessible. On behalf of the entire OPHARDT team A MESSAGE FROM KEN FRIESEN, CEO Ken Friesen - CEO
COMPANY OVERVIEW
5 OPHARDT AT A GLANCE From the most advanced medical facility to the most demanding public space, we solve the problems of hand hygiene through obsessive engineering, deep research, and manufacturing excellence. Like so many innovative companies, our story starts in a garage. In 1967 Hermann Ophardt, a persistent inventor and designer, prototyped Europe‘s most iconic dispenser, the ingo-man®. It was the first dispenser capable of reliably dispensing alcohol-based sanitizer. Our vision at OPHARDT Hygiene is to provide universal access to life-saving hygiene solutions. Our mission is to Break the Chain of Infection. Luckily, a "perfectionist" works without an abjective. We not only design cuttingedge soap and sanitizer pumps, we manufacture them in-house. When our engineers want to check on our manufacturing process, they do not have to book a flight. They just walk down the Since then, we have never stopped innovating. Over 500 patents and 7 production locations later, we continue to work tirelessly to Break the Chain of Infection. To break the chain of infection, we need to start with our hands. Our hands hold endless potential to heal, help, and create. They can also carry disease and harm. Eighty-percent of all infectious diseases are spread through hands. Hand hygiene affects us all. The power to live longer, healthier lives is in our hands.
6 COMPANY PROFILE Organization Privately-held and family-owned since 1962. Senior Leadership Team The Global Executive Team represents the most senior committee responsible for decision-making on economic, environmental, and social topics. Thirteen members are located around the world and represent our global operations. Our Senior Leadership Team liaise with local management teams who assist in developing and propelling company goals, strategies, and policies. Our local management teams provide the link between senior management and the entire OPHARDT Hygiene team. Manufacturing Locations Beamsville, Canada Ballymote, Ireland Maaseik, Belgium Issum, Germany Niederbipp, Switzerland Yerevan, Armenia Cavite, Philippines Brands ingo-man® SanTRAL® PRAESIDIO® the untouchable™ NEPTUNE KX Series H3 Dispenser RX Series BTF Pump X10 Kanary® Smart from the Start™ By region, in % Belgium 3 Canada 28 Germany 20 Ireland 12 Philippines 34 Switzerland 3 By gender, in % By age, in % Male 63 Female 37 <30 22 30-50 50 >50 28 550 Employees
7 STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT At OPHARDT Hygiene, we appreciate and benefit from the diversity of stakeholders to whom we are accountable. We consider stakeholder engagement an essential aspect of our corporate governance. As stakeholder expectations and the industry itself are constantly evolving, we maintain close ties with key stakeholders at all levels of our company, communicating on a regular basis through both formal and informal channels. These relationships assist us in shaping the way we do business–prioritizing the topics that matter most in our industry. Stakeholder Group Methods of Engagement Customers Understanding the current and future needs of our customers helps us to deliver sustainable value, building on our reputation, and increasing our sales Annual Sustainability Report Conferences and Forums Direct Contact via Sales and Customer Care Hygiene Hub Blog Monthly Newsletter Product Videos Semi-annual Newsletter Social Media Trade Shows Education and Research Organizations Working together with education and research organizations enables us to provide a more scientific approach to deliver the best possible hand hygiene opportunities. Collaborative Partnerships Conferences and Forums Direct Engagement Sponsorships Tradeshows Employees Engaging regularly strengthens our team and provides an opportunity to listen and provide feedback on individual needs, as well as on the overall direction of the company. Company-wide Intranet Consultations Direct Engagement Employee Engagement Surveys and Forums Info-point Boards Newsletters Training Townhall Meetings Governance and Regulatory Bodies Proactively engaging and consulting with our regulators supports us in preparing in advance for potential changes that will impact our business. Annual Sustainability Report Conferences and Forums Direct Engagement Industry Associations Stakeholder Group Methods of Engagement Healthcare Providers Through engaging and consulting with healthcare providers we can better understand their needs and support them in providing safer patient care through improved opportunities for hand hygiene. Collaborative Partnerships Compliance Campus Visits Conferences and Forums Direct Engagement Hygiene Hub Blog Monthly Newsletter Product Videos Support for Educational Activities Non-governmental Organizations Collaborating with a range of NGOs supports us in gaining a better understanding of the immediate and wider sustainability issues affecting our local communities and beyond. Direct Engagement Donations and Sponsorships In-kind Support and Volunteering Initiatives Joint Fundraising Events Partnerships Local Communities Engaging with our local communities is essential to understanding how we can better support the community and in maintaining our reputation as a safe and responsible neighbour. Collaborative Partnerships Direct Engagement Local Business Forums Volunteering and Fundraising Events Suppliers and Partners Working together with our supply chain partners helps us to identify and mitigate potential supply chain risks, as well as to improve resource efficiencies of our products and services. Annual Sustainability Report Collaborative Partnerships Direct Engagement Hygiene Hub Blog Monthly Newsletter Policy Statements Site Visits Supplier Audits
8 Aktion Saubere Hände (Action Clean Hands) Bundesverband Handschutz e.V. (National Association for Hand Protection) Deutsche Gesellschaft für Krankenhaushygiene e.V. (German Society for Hospital Hygiene) Gesellschaft für Hygiene und Mikrobiologie (Society for Hygiene and Microbiology) ISSA: (International Sanitary Supply Association) United Nations Sustainable Development Goals Verbund für Unternehmen & Familie e.V. (Network for Business & Family) World Health Organization: Private Organizations for Patient Safety (WHO POPS) KEY PARTNERSHIPS We strive to make socially and environmentally responsible contributions to our local communities and across the globe. We support and engage with a diverse group of local and international organizations. These organizations are helping making the world safer, healthier, more equitable, and more sustainable. Some of these organizations include:
OUR SUSTAINABLE VALUES We believe that human and environmental health go hand-in-hand. To Break the Chain of Infection, we must also work toward preserving our natural environment. That’s why we are continually working to improve health and well-being through our product offerings and services, while also making meaningful contributions toward a more sustainable, circular economy, built to benefit all. Our sustainability journey is centered around healthy people and a healthy planet. Healthy People At the very heart of our business is our commitment to improving the health and well-being of people around the world through infection prevention and improved hygiene. Healthy Planet We are committed to being good environmental stewards and responsibly managing the environmental impact of our operations, delivering more with less.
10 IMPROVE HEALTHANDWELLBEING At OPHARDT Hygiene, improving the lives of people around the world has always been at the core of our vision and mission. We remain steadfast in our commitment to make positive impacts on the health and well-being in the communities in which we live and work, and beyond. While the main focus of our organization is on improving hand hygiene, our team partners with local and global organizations to further contribute to the health and well-being of individuals around the world. HEALTHY PEOPLE
11 HEALTHY HANDS Hygiene is an ever-evolving field that has changed dramatically over the past century. Breakthrough advancements have saved countless lives and improved the quality of life for many around the world. While significant strides have been made in improving health and well-being, there exist many persistent and emerging health issues related to hygiene. Continued innovation and collaboration among diverse stakeholder groups can help ensure well-being for everyone, at all ages. Our Approach More than 80% of all communicable diseases spread by hands, making hand hygiene a vital component of infection prevention and control. Raising the standard of hand hygiene can only be sustained when supported by innovative and reliable soap and sanitizer products. AT OPHARDT Hygiene, we specialize in providing hand hygiene equipment for a wide range of environments—from public entrances, to high-traffic public washrooms, to point-of-care solutions in healthcare facilities. We continue to strengthen ties—both within and beyond— the hygiene and healthcare industries through collaborations with our business partners, medical-research institutions, and other key stakeholder groups. By bringing together a variety of groups working toward a common goal, we hope to stimulate discussions and foster new innovations to further elevate public health and well-being.
12 Smart from the Start This year, we brought to market three Smart from the Start dispenser lines, including the KX, X10, and RX dispenser. Our Smart from the Start dispenser line takes a revolutionary approach that upends the existing model for creating internet-connected dispensers. Typically, smart solutions are pricey add-ons or retrofits. Some of these solutions rely on bulky additions to the outside of the dispenser or additional chips placed inside the dispenser. Both solutions add cost and treat internet connectivity as a premium upgrade. Our Smart from the Start approach began from a simple question, “what if the board that enabled touch-free activations could also transmit data?” This question led to a revolutionary new design. By building around this principle, we reduced the number of motherboards in our X10 dispenser from four boards to one. Combining all necessary functionality into one board is a solution that not only reduces excess costs but delivers incredible battery performance—often equal to our non-smart dispensers. We believe that Smart from the Start dispensers can break down long-standing barriers to mass adoption in ways that have never been possible before. 100 million hygiene activations registered from Kanary In 2024, Kanary® reached the milestone of recording over 100 million dispenser activations through our smart dispenser and cloud services. As a pioneering electronic hand hygiene monitoring solution, Kanary has been helping healthcare professionals track and improve compliance for over a decade. This past year, we have seen a marked increase in interest in electronic hand hygiene monitoring, as a slew of studies helped bolster Kanary's reputation as a cost-effective and accurate solution. With its beginnings firmly rooted in Germany, our Kanary® solution is now being adopted across Europe, North America, and Asia. We anticipate the next milestone of 200 million activations to be reached in a fraction of the time. This is thanks to our Smart from the Start strategy that significantly reduces the cost of smart devices.
13 Groundbreaking PRAESIDIO® Fuel Cell OPHARDT Hygiene has been awarded the Hygiene Solution Innovation of the Year at the prestigious ISSA North America trade show for its groundbreaking PRAESIDIO® Fuel Cell dispenser. This cutting-edge device transforms the way we think about powering critical hygiene infrastructure. The PRAESIDIO® Fuel Cell began with a provocative question. “Several years ago,” recalls Albrecht Lang, who led the dispenser’s development, “Heiner Ophardt asked me, ‘Is there no possibility to get energy out of the alcohol of hand sanitizer. It has so much chemical energy inside, is there no way to convert it to electrical energy?'” This seemingly simple question sparked an ambitious multi-year research and development initiative that would push the boundaries of what’s possible in hygiene technology. The result is a dispenser that doesn’t just distribute hand sanitizer—it generates its own electricity from the very liquid it dispenses. The ISSA North American Innovation Award is more than just recognition. It is a validation of OPHARDT’s commitment to pushing technological boundaries towards breaking the chain of infection.
14 ingo-man® honoured again as brand of the century For the second time in a row, OPHARDT has received the prestigious Brand of the Century award by the ‘German Standards’ of the ZEIT Verlagsgruppe. With this award, the ingo-man® brand has again been recognized as a standardbearer in our industry, putting the ingo-man® brand in an elite circle of top brands in Germany. OPHARDT has been shaping the hygiene industry for over six decades with its pioneering spirit, innovative strength and lasting influence. The ingo-man® is one of OPHARDT’s flagship brands, OPHARDT Hosts 9th Annual BRAIN Forum On June 13, we hosted our 9th annual BRAIN Forum, bringing together nearly one hundred experts, decision makers and visionaries in the field of hand hygiene and beyond. Heiner Ophardt began the evening with a speech that took the audience on a technological journey through time. Mr. Ophardt then illustrated the importance of vision and expressed the increasing importance of artificial intelligence and digitization for the hygiene and cleaning industry. In the second lecture, Prof. Dr. Mutters, who heads the Institute for Hygiene and Public Health at the University Hospital in Bonn, shared about how AI has the potential to automate or support daily clinical tasks. The keynote address was given by extreme athlete and adventurer Anja Blacha. Blacha set the world record for the longest solo polar expedition by a woman in 2020 and has already climbed some of the highest mountains in the world. Her presentation reminded the audience of the vastness of the earth and the difference a determined mindset can make. The event also involved a showcase of OPHARDT innovations, including the PRAESIDIO Fuel Cell, the first touchless hand santizer dispenser powered by a fuel cell, as well as intensive networking and good conversations among peers. Expanding Smart From the Start with SanTRAL® Plus UDU OPHARDT’s Smart from the Start technology has undergone the latest expansion to include the SanTRAL® Plus brand. From now on, all touchless universal dispensers in the series will be equipped by default with a chip that combines touch-free operation with smart functions. Users can activate the smart features at any time unlocking usage tracking, fill level monitoring and connectivity.
15 OPHARDT Hygiene announces partnership with SVEMA This year, OPHARDT Hygiene was pleased to announce a strategic partnership with the former GOJO Central Europe GmbH, renamed Svema Hygiene GmbH. SVEMA is an independent brand that combines the expertise and commitment of GOJO managers to continue and further develop the mission of providing first-class hand hygiene solutions throughout Europe. With seven global production facilities—including local manufacturing in Europe—OPHARDT is well-positioned to deliver advanced hygiene solutions that meet the evolving needs of healthcare, hospitality, and other sectors. This partnership underscores OPHARDT’s commitment to strengthening hygiene standards and ensuring Svema’s network remains well-served for years to come. Smart collaboration dispenser-service.nl OPHARDT Hygiene has entered into a strategic collaboration with the Dutch start-up dispenserservice.nl to advance the vision of a fully connected, data-driven hygiene ecosystem. This partnership combines OPHARDT’s decades of experience in intelligent dispensing technology with dispenser-service.nl’s innovative approach to automated hygiene management. The joint initiative focuses on creating a smart hygiene model that uses OPHARDT’s intelligent dispensers and the SanTRAL® Plus brand to continuously monitor and record consumption of hygiene products such as soap, paper towels, and toilet paper. By automating this process, the system ensures that the right products are available at the right time, reducing waste and improving efficiency for customers. Best Paper award for OPHARDT research team At this year’s 31st International Conference on Mixed Design of Integrated Circuits and Systems (MIXDES), a group of nine researchers received the Best Paper Award for the best scientific paper. Three scientists from OPHARDT Hygiene are part of this multinational team, including Dr Siegfried Steltenkamp, Dr Julie Claudinon and Sofia Disegna. Their research focuses on real-time detection of pathogens during hand disinfection, allowing users to interrupt chains of infection at an early stage. This research will provide much needed support in improving infection prevention through hand hygiene. OPHARDT Shines at German Hygiene Congress For the fifth time, OPHARDT Hygiene supported the renowned Freiburg Infectiology and Hygiene Congress as a gold sponsor. The annual event is organized by the German Consulting Center for Hygiene (BZH). At the event, our team offered the OPHARDT Lunch Symposium, under the motto “Focus on Hand Hygiene.” More than 80 visitors listened to two presentations, given by Prof. Dr. Frank Gunther and Dr. Andreas Glockner on improving hand hygiene compliance. Highlights included the recyclable DHP pump for Euro dispensers and discussions on pump reprocessing, critical for hospital hygiene. OPHARDT also showcased innovative smart dispensers and our Kanary® software.
16 HEALTHY COMMUNITIES The need for businesses tomake a positive impact in society has become increasingly important in recent years. In our global, interconnected world, companies are expected to not only create and sustain economic growth and development, but also to make worthwhile contributions in the communities in which they operate and beyond. The impact businesses have on their local communities is often much greater than the economic benefits they appear to provide on the surface. Through close partnerships and collaboration with local organizations, businesses can help cultivate stronger, more vibrant communities. Our Approach We believe that when companies and communities collaborate and engage with one another, they become stronger, more productive, and more resilient. Collaborating with organizations focused on improving health and well-being within the community motivates us as a company and as individuals. It helps us to engage and retain people who value making a positive impact for our business. Being part of a team that cares means that we can improve people's lives where we live and around the world.
17 OPHARDT is Family Friendly We are pleased to announce that our German location has been designated a Family Friendly Company for the second year in a row. This certification is awarded by the German Institute for Quality Standards and Testing (DIQP) to companies that support employees in successfully balancing family and careers. The Managing Director of SQC-QualityCert expressed his congratulations on the top score and the award: “The evaluation of the representative employee survey and the interview with the HR managers led to the excellent rating and well-deserved award. We congratulate the entire team on their excellent rating as a family-friendly company.” OPHARDT Supports Food4Kids Over the course of the year, our Canadian team holds various raffles, contests, and other fundraising activities, including our Annual Golf Tournament. Through the generosity and teamwork of our colleagues, in 2024 we raised more than $4,600 CAD in support of the Niagara branch of Food4Kids. Food4Kids is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing packages of healthy food for elementary school students with little or no access to food during the weekend and summer months. Community Care Fundraiser This year, our Canadian team proudly supported Community Care of St. Catharines and Thorold with our annual “Fill the Transit” food drive. Employees collected and donated a wide range of non-perishable food items and filled our transit van, to restock the local food bank during a period of high need within the community. This contribution reflects our continued commitment to supporting local families, reducing food insecurity, and engaging in meaningful community partnerships.
18 At OPHARDT Hygiene, we recognize that to have healthy people, we must have a healthy planet, as human and environmental health go hand-in-hand. To achieve our company mission to Break the Chain of Infection and improve health and well-being around the world, we must also be good environmental stewards. We are working to improve our environmental performance by responsibly managing the impacts of our operations, and designing our products with sustainability in mind. To do this, we actively support and promote programs that lead to greater resource efficiency and contribute to a more sustainable, circular economy. HEALTHY PLANET
19 Transitioning toward a more sustainable, circular economy is a critical shift we must make for future generations. It involves building an economy that is both restorative and regenerative, where all waste is minimized. This transition will impact not only the way products are designed and used but also the way they are processed at end-of-life. In a circular economy, product life spans are extended with reuse, repair, redistribution, remanufacture, and refurbishment playing a key role. Designing products in such a way that they can more easily contribute to closed material loops can enable us to reduce the generation of waste, while at the same time reducing dependence on primary resource extraction and imports of raw materials. Our Approach We are committed to using the resources we consume responsibly and are working toward making meaningful contributions toward a circular economy. For us, this begins with sustainable product design. Since the founding of our company, our reputation has been built on innovative, high quality, and long-lasting products. We use robust materials with classic designs to give our products a timeless appeal. Integrating recycled materials into our products helps us to keep valuable resources in the economy longer. Recyclable means that the materials we use can be incorporated once again into new products. As we move toward a more sustainable future, we are working to include further tenants of circular design into our product development process. SUSTAINABLE PRODUCT DESIGN
20 OPHARDT launches Euro bottles made of PET Our team produces more than half a million Euro bottles at our Issum location in Germany each year. In December we announced our plan to introduce Euro bottles made from PET. Compared to our previous HDPE material, PET has a number of environmental benefits, including improved ease of recyclability, reduced materia usage, and reduced transportation emissions. For instance, a 500 mL PET Euro bottle weighs 23 g, which is 28 percent lighter than its HDPE counterpart at 32 g. Transitioning from HDPE to PET for our 1 L Euro bottles enables us to reduce product weight by 40 percent, from 56 to 32 g. In addition to environmental benefits, using PET can support improved infection prevention. Using PET provides a clear, transprent design that improves visibility of product fill level, making it easier to assess when refilling is needed. This change aligns with recommendations from the German Commission for Hospital Hygiene and Infection Prevention (KRINKO), as the improved clarity makes day-to-day monitoring easier and helps ensure dispensers are refilled on time. OPHARDT’s X10 achieves major milestone for product longevity At OPHARDT, we believe product reliability is not just a feature, but a necessity in our mission to break the chain of infection. Recently we reached a major milestone: the X10 dispenser system has been tested for one million activations. To put this into perspective, an average dispenser might be activated between 10,000-20,000 times a year. Even at 35,000 activations annually, it would still take up to 28 years to reach one million activations. The X10’s industry leading performance, from extended battery life to the air-to-liquid ratio of its foam pumps, ensures consistent, high-quality operations. The X10 system also incorporates post-consumer recycled plastic in its pumps, reflecting a commitment to sustainability alongside durability.
21 Increased use of recycled plastics Post-consumer recycled resins (PCR) are materials made from plastic waste that have already been used by consumers and reprocessed into pellets that can be made into new products. By recycling products like bottles and packaging, PCR resins reduce plastic pollution, conserve resources, and support the circular economy. The Ellen MacArthur Foundation highlights that using recycled plastics, including PCR, is vital for lowering dependence on fossil fuels and mitigating environmental impacts. For nearly ten years, our team has been testing recycled materials in our products. We’ve launched flagship products, like the X10 pumps and SanTRAL® Plus, incorporating these materials. In 2024, we purchased more than 28 metric tonnes of PCR resin, an increase of over 42 percent compared to 2023. POST-CONSUMER RECYCLED PLASTICS IN OPERATION
22 OPHARDT’s Environmental Performance Metrics Efficient resource management is central to reducing our environmental impact while maintaining operational resilience and cost-effectiveness. This section outlines our energy consumption, emissions, material use, waste output, water use, across OPHARDT’s global operations. It also highlights recent improvements designed to drive continuous gains in resource productivity and lower our overall carbon and waste footprints. RESOURCE EFFICIENCY IN OPERATIONS Energy Consumption (GJ) Company-wide energy consumption from all sources: 39,670 GJ 1.9% OPHARDT Solar 1.9% Gasoline 19% Natural Gas 5.2% Wood Pellets 1.2% Propane 64% Purchased Electricity 3.9% Diesel Scope 1 627 Scope 2 (Location-Based) 2,329 Scope 2 (Market-Based) 1,407 Emissions (t CO2e)* Company-wide Scope 1 and market-based Scope 2 emissions: Aluminum 88 Stainless Steel 455 Other Metals 4 PE Plastics 288 PP Plastics 642 ABS Plastics 694 Other Plastics 333 Material usage by weight (t) Products Paper 8 Cardboard 436 PE Plastics 23 Other Plastics 6 Packaging Reuse 9 Recycling 333 Composting 5 Recovery (incl. energy recovery) 21 Incineration 2 Landfill 121 Waste output by weight (t) Non-hazardous Recycling 20 Recovery (incl. energy recovery) 24 Incineration 5 Physico-chemical treatment 5 Landfill (Solidification/Stabilization/Encapsulation) 24 Bioremediation <1 Hazardous *IPCC AR5 100‑yr GWP
23 OPHARDT adds 125 kWp solar power capacity In pursuit of our goal to become climate neutral by 2045, we added a 125 kWp photovoltaic system to our German manufacturing location in Issum. Our internal electrical and service teams worked together to complete the installation of 240 modules on two roofs in our production buildings this summer. This latest addition brings our total installed solar capacity to date to 403.5 kWp. This newest installation represents the fifth solar project within the OPHARDT group, bringing our total generating capacity up to approximately 340,000 kWh of solar power each year. Our first solar panels were installed at our Belgian location in Maaseik in 2012, with a peak output of approximately 40,000 kWh per year. Since then, we installed a PV system at our Canadian production site, and two at our Irish production site. Between 2012 and 2024, our generating capacity has grown upwards of 88%. The ongoing growth of our solar capacity continues to drive meaningful progress toward carbon neutrality while strengthening our energy independence. We intend to continue investing in our renewable energy portfolio in 2025 and beyond. RESOURCE EFFICIENCY IN OPERATIONS A green gem in the heart of an industrial zone Nestled in the heart of an industrial zone in the Niederrhein village of Issum, lies a thriving 1,200 m² wild meadow. Until 2020, the space was regularly mown and occasionally used as a space to play sports. Today the area is teeming with rare species of plants and insects and plays an important role in the broader ecosystem. A herd of sheep graze the meadow in summer and autumn to maintain the habitat. This year, the meadow began serving as a living classroom, with students from the local primary school, Brothers Grimm School, venturing into the meadow for a project day. The students were able to connect with nature and learn firsthand about the importance of preserving wild spaces. Together with the support of NABU’s Hermann-Josef Windeln, OPHARDT’s Samuel Houcken has been documenting and managing the site through its transformation. This project reminds us that even in areas shaped by industry, nature can thrive.
24 The OPHARDT Hygiene Group of Companies (OPHARDT Hygiene) is dedicated to conducting business in a responsible and sustainable manner. Being socially responsible is key to our company’s long-term success, and a central value we are committed to providing our customers. As human and environmental health go hand-in-hand, we are also committed to minimizing the environmental impact of our operations. Through our reporting, we aim to keep our stakeholders informed on how we continue to create long-term sustainable value. As in previous years, we have adopted the GRI standards framework in providing an overview of our operations and initiatives. GRI is an internationally recognized, independent organization that helps businesses, governments and other organizations understand and communicate the impact of business on critical sustainability issues. GRI provides the world’s most widely used standards on sustainability reporting and disclosures. For a full list of GRI disclosures and their locations throughout this report, please refer to our GRI Content Index beginning on page 32. This publication is our eighth annual sustainability report. All information contained in this report is based on performance metrics for the 2024 calendar year (January 1 -December 31, 2024), and covers worldwide OPHARDT Hygiene manufacturing locations, including Germany, Canada, Belgium, Ireland, Switzerland and the Philippines, unless otherwise stated. As part of our ongoing commitment to stakeholder engagement, we welcome your feedback. Please share your thoughts by contacting us at sustainability@ophardt.com. ABOUT THIS REPORT
25 GRI CONTENT INDEX This material references Disclosures 102-1 – 102-7, 102-12 – 102-14, 102-16, 102-18, 102-40, 102-42, 102-43, 102-45 – 102-53, and 102-55 – 102-56 from GRI 102: Organizational Profile 2016; Disclosures 301-1 – 301-2 from GRI 301: Materials 2016; Disclosures 302-1 and 302-2 from GRI 302: Energy 2016; Disclosures 303-1 and 303-3 from GRI 303: Water 2016; Disclosures 305-1 and 305-2 from GRI 305 Emissions 2016; Disclosures 306-1 – 306-3 from GRI 306: Effluents and Waste 2016; Disclosure 307-1 from GRI 307: Environmental Compliance 2016; Disclosure 401-1 from GRI 401: Employment 2016; and Disclosure 406-1 from GRI 406: Non-discrimination 2016. For more information on the Global Reporting Initiative, visit www.globalreporting.org/Pages/default.aspx. GRI STANDARD NUMBER GRI STANDARD 2016 TITLE DISCLOSURE NUMBER DISCLOSURE TITLE LOCATION EXPLANATION/ REASON FOR OMISSION Organizational profile GRI 102 General Disclosures 102-1 Name of the organization OPHARDT Hygiene Our manufacturing and administrative facilities are collectively referred to as the OPHARDT Hygiene Group of Companies, or OPHARDT Hygiene for short. GRI 102 General Disclosures 102-2 Activities, brands, products and services GRI 102 General Disclosures 102-3 Location of headquarters Our founding site is in Issum, Germany. GRI 102 General Disclosures 102-4 Location of operations GRI 102 General Disclosures 102-5 Ownership and legal form GRI 102 General Disclosures 102-6 Markets served GRI 102 General Disclosures 102-7 Scale of the organization As a privately-held company, we choose not to publish data on financial performance. GRI 102 General Disclosures 102-12 External initiatives GRI 102 General Disclosures 102-13 Membership associations Cross-industry Collaboration Cross-industry Collaboration Key Partnerships Key Partnerships OPHARDT Hygiene at a Glance Company Profile Company Profile Company Profile Company Profile Company Profile
26 GRI STANDARD NUMBER GRI STANDARD 2016 TITLE DISCLOSURE NUMBER DISCLOSURE TITLE LOCATION EXPLANATION/ REASON FOR OMISSION Strategy GRI 102 General Disclosures 102-14 Statement from senior decision-maker Letter from the CEO Ethics and integrity GRI 102 General Disclosures 102-16 Values, principles, standards, and norms of behaviour A copy of our Code of Ethics and Business Conduct can be found on our website: www.ophardt.com Governance GRI 102 General Disclosures 102-18 Governance structure Stakeholder engagement GRI 102 General Disclosures 102-40 List of stakeholder groups GRI 102 General Disclosures 102-42 Identifying and selecting stakeholders We are accountable to a diversity of stakeholder groups. The groups included in this report represent the range of material topics that inform our business strategies. GRI 102 General Disclosures 102-43 Approach to stakeholder engagement Reporting practice GRI 102 General Disclosures 102-45 Entities included in the consolidated financial statement As a privately-held company, we choose not to publish data on financial performance. GRI 102 General Disclosures 102-46 Defining report content and topic Boundaries See each material topic for details. GRI 102 General Disclosures 102-47 List of material topics Included throughout the report. GRI 102 General Disclosures 102-48 Restatements of information There are no restatements of information for this reporting period. GRI 102 General Disclosures 102-49 Changes in reporting GRI 102 General Disclosures 102-50 Reporting period January 1, 2023 – December 31, 2023 GRI 102 General Disclosures 102-51 Date of most recent report 2022 Sustainability Report GRI 102 General Disclosures 102-52 Reporting cycle Annual GRI 102 General Disclosures 102-53 Contact point for questions regarding the report sustainability@ophardt.com GRI 102 General Disclosures 102-55 GRI content index GRI content index GRI 102 General Disclosures 102-56 External assurance The content of this report has not been externally assured. Stakeholder Engagement Stakeholder Engagement Cross-industry Collaboration OPHARDT Hygiene at a Glance Company Profile
27 GRI STANDARD NUMBER GRI STANDARD 2016 TITLE DISCLOSURE NUMBER DISCLOSURE TITLE LOCATION EXPLANATION/ REASON FOR OMISSION Social Topics GRI 406 Non-discrimination 406-1 Incidents of discrimination and corrective actions taken There are no incidents of discrimination to report in this reporting period. Environmental Topics GRI 307 Environmental Compliance 306-1 Non-compliance with environmental laws and regulations There are no non-compliance with environmental laws and regulations to report in this reporting period. Material Aspect: Product Innovations GRI 103 Management Approach 103-1 Explanation of the material topic and its Boundary Material Aspect: Communication & Collaboration GRI 103 Management Approach 102-1 Explanation of the material topic and its Boundary Material Aspect: Local Communities GRI 103 Management Approach 103-1 Explanation of the material topic and its Boundary Local Communities Material Aspect: Global Community GRI 103 Management Approach 103-1 Explanation of the material topic and its Boundary Material Aspect: Sustainable Product Design GRI 103 Management Approach 103-1 Explanation of the material topic and its Boundary Sustainable Product Design GRI 301 Materials 301-1 Materials used by weight or volume GRI 301 Materials 301-2 Recycled input materials used Sustainable Product Design Product Innovations Communication & Collaboration Global Communities Global Communities Resource Efficiency in Operations
28 GRI STANDARD NUMBER GRI STANDARD 2016 TITLE DISCLOSURE NUMBER DISCLOSURE TITLE LOCATION EXPLANATION/ REASON FOR OMISSION Material Aspect: Resource Efficiency in Operations GRI 103 Management Approach 102-40 Explanation of the material topic and its Boundary Resource Efficiency in Operations GRI 302 Energy 302-1 Energy consumption within the organization GRI 302 Energy 302-2 Energy consumption outside of the organization GRI 305 Emissions 305-1 Direct (Scope 1) GHG emissions GRI 305 Emissions 305-2 Energy indirect (Scope 2) GHG emissions GRI 303 Water and Effluents (2018) 301-1 Water withdrawal GRI 303 Water and Effluents (2018) 303-4a Water discharge GRI 306 Effluents and Waste 306-2 Waste by type and disposal method GRI 306 Effluents and Waste 306-3 Significant spills There are no significant spills to report in this reporting period. Resource Efficiency in Operations Resource Efficiency in Operations Resource Efficiency in Operations Resource Efficiency in Operations Resource Efficiency in Operations Resource Efficiency in Operations Resource Efficiency in Operations Resource Efficiency in Operations
29 Publisher OPHARDT HYGIENE-TECHNIK GmbH Lindenau 27 47661 Issum Germany Sustainability Contact Thank you for your interest in this report. We welcome your feedback, suggestions and inquiries. Tel.: +49 (0) 2835 18-10 Fax.:+49 (0) 2835 18-77 E-mail: sustainability@ophardt.com Editorial work and coordination Jessica Hunt Graphics, design and typesetting Victoria Ludigkeit Image Credits Adobe Stock Samuel Houcken Photography Publication date of this report December 20, 2025 For further information on our social and environmental performance, please visit our website: https://www.ophardt.com/en/sustainability COMPANY INFORMATION OPHARDT Hygiene | LinkedIn https://www.youtube.com/user/OphardtHygieneTech @ophardthygiene Note regarding information and forward-looking statements included in this report This report has been published for information purposes only. The Group may have issued, and may in the future issue, other communications that are inconsistent with, and reach different conclusions from, the information presented herein. Those communications reflect the assumptions, views, and analytical methods of the persons that prepared them, and have been estimated using the best available data at the time the communication was published. This report contains information on the Group’s objectives and trends for growth based on information currently available to the organization. Forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of the future tense, conditional, or of forward-looking terms, such as “anticipate”, “believe”, “estimate”, “will”, “may”, “consider”, “plan”, “intend”, “expect”, “think”, “aim”, “project”, or other variations or terms with similar meaning. This information should not be considered as a guarantee that the prospects and objectives described will be achieved. These statements are based on data, assumptions and estimates considered reasonable by the Group as of the date of this report publication. They may be affected by known or unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which might impact future results, performances and achievements of the Group in a way that is significantly different from the objectives described herein. This information might therefore change due to uncertainties relating notably to the economic, financial, competitive and regulatory environment, or other risks or circumstances. The information contained in this report reflects our beliefs, assumptions, intentions, plans and expectations as of the date of this report. All forwardlooking statements contained in this document are qualified in their entirety by this cautionary note. OPHARDT Hygiene in Social media
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