Our responsibility at Kölln
For us as a family business, sustainability is part of our identity. Our strategic decisions are considered and evaluated across generations. From day one, at Kölln we we have embraced values such as team spirit, environmental awareness and future viability. Because we know: Taking responsibility means thinking about tomorrow today.
Sustainability as innovation
For us, sustainability is not a trend, but a continuous process of innovation – across all areas. Our interdisciplinary sustainability team is constantly developing new, smart solutions together with all employees.
Our values and principles are based on team spirit, sustainability, entrepreneurship and future viability and guide our daily actions and decisions. At Peter Kölln, we view sustainability as innovation and an ongoing, cross-departmental process, continuously driven forward by our interdisciplinary sustainability team together with all employees
Climate protection: Our mission at Kölln
Corporate Carbon Footprint
Since 2018, we have been measuring our entire carbon footprint in order to develop and implement targeted measures to reduce our emissions. This allows us to continuously minimise our impact on the climate.
Systematic energy management
Our energy management system is certified according to ISO 50001 and has been in use since 2014. It enables us to specifically identify and reduce energy consumption, thereby cutting emissions.
100 % Green electricity
We have been relying entirely on electricity from renewable energy sources since 2014. This saves us around 4,000 tons of CO₂ annually and makes an active contribution to climate protection.
Sustainable mobility in our fleet
Our company fleet is gradually being converted to alternative drive systems. We aim to reduce CO₂ emissions in this area by around 90 % by 2027.
Sustainable raw material sourcing
Regional oats from Northern Germany
We source around 50 % of our oats directly from Northern Germany, of which around 25 % come from contract farming partnerships. The remaining oats mainly come from Finland.
Contract farming for greater planning security
Through long-term agreements with our contract farmers, we can guarantee stable quantities and fair prices, which provides planning security for both us and the farmers.
Continuously expanding our organic range
Since 2000, we have been steadily expanding our organic range, using grain from Germany, mainly from the north of the country. This supports short transport distances.
Certified raw materials for a better future
Since 2013, we have been using sustainably certified raw materials, including Rainforest Alliance Certified cocoa and RSPO-certified palm oil.
Our projects for climate and environmental protection
Flower strips
Flower strips for biodiversity protection
Since 2020, we have been working with our contract farmers to plant at least 100,000 m² of flower strips every year. These provide a valuable habitat for insect species.
Reforestation “Gut Panker”
Reforestation "Gut Panker" for more CO₂ sequestration
In collaboration with our partner "Gut Panker," we have so far planted 30,000 trees in Schleswig-Holstein. These trees can sequester approximately 10 to 12 tonnes of CO₂ from the atmosphere annually during their life cycle.
Climate protection projects
Since 2013, we have sourced our cocoa and coffee-based ingredients from Rainforest Alliance Certified farms. This means that the raw materials we use have been produced by farmers and companies working together to create a world where people and nature live in harmony.
In 2013, we also switched our Kölln muesli products to more sustainable, RSPO-certified and 100 percent segregated palm oil.
The same applies to the edible fat brands Biskin® and Palmin®, to the extent that palm oil is used in their product range.
To complement our commitment within our supply chain, we have been a member of the Forum for Sustainable Palm Oil (Forum Nachhaltiges Palmöl e.V. / FONAP) since 2019.
The Forum for Sustainable Palm Oil is a German initiative and an alliance of companies, non-governmental organisations, associations, the Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture (BMEL) and the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ). The goal of FONAP is to significantly increase the share of sustainably produced palm oil on the German, Austrian and Swiss markets as quickly as possible while simultaneously improving existing standards and certifications.
In addition, Peter Kölln has been investing in the MARIPOSA fund since 2020 and uses palm oil for most of its crunchy mueslis from a supplier that supports the MARIPOSA initiative.
In this way, we contribute to promoting palm oil cultivation on small farms in Latin America.
Social responsibility
As one of Schleswig-Holstein's largest employers, we value fair and mutually respectful collaboration. Trust, respect and team spirit are our top priorities.
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Secure jobs
We offer our employees secure jobs with competitive pay and a culture of open communication. Constructive feedback is not only welcome but actively encouraged.
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Promoting young talent
Our training programs in various commercial and industrial areas offer young talents diverse development opportunities. We are currently working on introducing a systematic development program for our employees.
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Health and well-being
Occupational health and safety, ergonomic workplaces and regular fitness programmes ensure that our employees feel good and healthy all round.
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Social commitment
We maintain close educational partnerships with schools, volunteer in various organizations and support charitable institutions with regular donations.
Together for a sustainable future:
Our responsibility doesn't end with our products. We actively shape the future – for our employees, our customers and the environment!
