Global logistics provider Rhenus Group has published its Sustainability Report 2025, highlighting significant progress in strengthening sustainability governance, emissions management and operational transparency across its worldwide business.
The report marks 2025 as a pivotal year in the company’s transition towards a more centralised and scalable sustainability strategy, with a stronger focus on measurable performance and accountability.
Science-Based Climate Targets Take Centre Stage
One of the most significant developments outlined in the report is Rhenus Group’s commitment to the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi), a globally recognised framework that helps businesses align emissions reduction goals with climate science.
The company said it has spent the past year developing emissions baselines, refining target-setting methodologies and establishing a more detailed decarbonisation roadmap.
The sustainability report has also undergone independent external verification, a move designed to enhance the credibility and transparency of its environmental reporting.
Rhenus’ progress was further recognised with the award of EcoVadis Platinum status, placing the company among the highest-rated businesses globally for sustainability performance.
Sustainability Becomes Part of Core Operations
According to Rhenus, sustainability has evolved from a collection of individual projects into an integrated business-wide operating model.
The company has continued developing a unified emissions database, expanded reporting structures and tested new sustainability dashboards aimed at improving transparency and supporting decision-making across the organisation.
Dr Joana Baetz, Member of the Board responsible for Human Resources, Sustainability and Compliance, said the company had reached an important milestone.
“2025 marked a decisive step forward in how we manage sustainability at Rhenus,” she said.
“Today, we operate with an integrated and harmonised Group-wide system that enables us to manage performance consistently, transparently and at scale. Our EcoVadis Platinum rating reflects this level of maturity.
“Building on this strong foundation, our focus is now on actively using this system to steer decisions, track progress through clear KPIs and strengthen accountability across the organisation.”
Cleaner Transport Solutions on the Rhine
The report also highlights practical sustainability initiatives already being deployed across the company’s operations.
Among them is the hybrid push barge Mannheim I+II, which operates on key freight routes along the Rhine River.
According to Rhenus, the vessel can reduce carbon dioxide (CO₂) and nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions by up to 72% compared with conventional propulsion systems. When powered using HVO100 renewable fuel, emissions reductions can reach as much as 90%.
The vessel has also been designed to maintain operational reliability during periods of low water levels, a growing challenge for inland shipping operators across Europe.
Improvements in Workplace Safety and Waste Management
Beyond environmental targets, the report points to progress in workplace safety and resource management.
Rhenus recorded zero workplace fatalities during 2025, while key safety indicators showed improvement compared with the previous year.
The company’s lost time injury frequency rate fell to 9.70, down from 13.8 in 2024, while the lost time injury severity rate improved from 20.10 to 18.10.
Waste management performance also improved. The Group generated 106,449 tonnes of waste during the year, with more than 98,000 tonnes diverted from disposal and recycled.
The company said these results demonstrate how sustainability is increasingly linked to operational efficiency, risk management and business resilience.
Strengthening Social and Governance Standards
The report also outlines progress in social responsibility and corporate governance.
Rhenus introduced updated global social policies, expanded the rollout of its Workday platform to improve workforce reporting and continued modernising its Compliance Management System.
The company also updated and formalised Group-wide policies covering areas such as anti-corruption measures, competition law compliance and whistleblowing procedures.
These initiatives are intended to support a more consistent environmental, social and governance (ESG) framework across the business.
Focus Shifts from Planning to Delivery
Juthaporn Srinang, Group Director of Sustainability at Rhenus, said the company now has a stronger foundation from which to drive future progress.
“We now have a much clearer basis to work from, particularly in data quality, governance and in how we connect sustainability to our operations,” she said.
“With our report now also independently assured and aligned with the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) Standards, we have further strengthened transparency and reliability.
“The next step is to translate this into action that can be scaled across the business and applied consistently to how we serve our customers.”
Looking Ahead
As regulators, customers and investors place increasing emphasis on sustainability performance, Rhenus says its focus will be on using improved data, governance systems and emissions reporting to accelerate progress across its global operations.
The company’s latest report suggests that sustainability is becoming increasingly embedded in decision-making, operational management and long-term business strategy as the logistics sector continues its transition towards lower-carbon and more transparent supply chains.