Responsibility for our environment

“We are part of ARA’s campaign ‘We want your packing resources back’, as it is our aim to recycle packaging.” Mag. Florian Ölz, Managing Director and Co-owner

We are making an active contribution to protecting the environment. In 2021, the collection and recycling of our packaging through the ARA system allowed valuable primary resources and energy carriers to be replaced, thus saving the equivalent of 2,277 tons of CO2. This is roughly the same as the greenhouse gas emissions from more than 29 million kilometres of car travel. Ölz customers and consumers also benefit from the close cooperation between ARA and Ölz:  They can rely on the collection, sorting and recycling of packaging by ARA.

Ensuring the protection and hygiene of baked products is only possible with the right packaging. At Ölz, we completely avoid the use of composite materials, using exclusively monofilms in order to made an important contribution to the recyclability of packaging materials. The top priority for us at Ölz with regards to the packaging materials we use: As little as possible, but as much as necessary.

The ARA in Austria is responsible for the efficient and cost-effective collection, reuse and disposal or all packaging materials. Every year, ARA and all its partners in Austria are able to save 530,000 tonnes of CO2 – a great success, but one that can still be optimised if we all work together.

In this way, we are continuing and building upon the successful activities in the field of energy efficiency from the klimaaktiv Pakt2020. Since 2005, for example, we have already been able to reduce the energy requirements for our bakery by a third per kilogram of baked goods. Only if we all work together will we achieve the climate goals set by Austria itself and the EU.

What is the klimaaktiv Pact 2030? 
The klimaaktiv pact is the Climate Protection Alliance of the Federal Ministry for Climate Protection, Environment, Energy, Mobility, Innovation and Technology (BMK). As a participant of the klimaaktiv Pakt2030, we are making a greater contribution to the climate goals of the EU and Austria. The BMK, with Federal Minister Leonore Gewessler, hosted the official signing of the klimaaktiv Pakt2030 on 18 October 2021. Managing Director and Co-owner Florian Ölz was there in person. 

The shared goal of the klimaaktiv Pakt: CO2 reduction of at least 50% by 2030*. Together with 10 other pact partners, we have one goal in mind: Better climate protection! The shared goal of all 11 klimaaktiv pact partners is to reduce CO2 emissions by at least 50%* by 2030. We commit ourselves to this voluntarily and bindingly. The measures that go hand in hand with this effort are quite ambitious. An important part of the klimaaktiv pact is external monitoring to monitor progress and a review of our targets that we undergo  annually . 

The Ölz master bakers take responsibility for these important challenges because our future, and that of future generations, is at stake. 

Already successfully implemented: the klimaaktiv pakt2020 initiative - for better climate protection

By joining the klimaaktiv pakt2020 we committed ourselves to, and achieved, improvements in energy efficiency, renewable energy sources, buildings and mobility by 2020. Klimaaktiv Pakt2020 was an initiative of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, Environment and Water Management and a total of 12 companies. The declared goal: emitting 1.39 million tonnes less CO2 over the period. We are proud to have reached this goal together with the other 11 Pakt2020 partners. It motivates us to continue on the path of sustainable practice.

^{*(based on 2005 figures)}

We received the award for our sustainability concept, in which the resulting heat from the baking process is used twice – firstly for baking and secondly as an energy source for our company.

Climate protection award klimaaktiv 2017

In 2017 we received the klimaaktiv climate protection award from the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, Environment and Water Management for the fourth time. We successfully implemented the following measures in 2017:

• Installation of a new ventilation unit for the cooling tower
• Use of central cooling towers
• Implementation of a new lighting concept for the work preparation areas & workshop

Climate protection award klimaaktiv 2016

Ölz Meisterbäcker received the klimaaktiv climate protection award from the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, Environment and Water Management for the third time!
We are pleased with the successful implementation of the following proactive measures:

• Optimisation of the ventilation systems
• Conversion of lighting to LED lights
• Implementation of burner air preheating
• Installation of a plate heat exchanger

Energie Award 2015

Once again, Ölz can celebrate receiving the klimaaktiv climate protection award from the Federal Ministry. With measures such as:

• Energy savings in refrigeration using recoolers
• Replacement of lights with energy-saving lights incl. LED
• Energy savings in heating, ventilation & air conditioning through efficient energy distribution
• Use of efficient cooling units in the IT server room

Energie Award 2011

The master bakers at Ölz are pleased to receive the coveted klimaaktiv climate protection award. The energy-saving concept for the bakery at the “Wallenmahd” location was awarded a prize:

• Expansion and optimisation of heat recovery
• Increasing the storage volume
• Optimisation of the hydraulics and improvement of the control system
• Efficient use of temperature levels

In order to be able to sustainably reduce energy consumption, a cross-departmental Ölz Energy Management Team consisting of committed individuals is working to coordinate and implement targeted energy-saving measures in a wide range of corporate areas.  

We want to protect our resources and treat our environment responsibly. Through continuous monitoring, we ensure the progress and success of the measures we take.

We are all responsible for the future of our Earth. That is why we have decided to buy green electricity. At Ölz Meisterbäcker, we always opt for regional supply whenever possible. Vorarlberg green electricity is 100% renewable energy, most of which is generated from hydropower. This means that there are no CO2 emissions. In addition, the origin and production of the green electricity is certified by TÜV Austria.

Electric lighting – a given in our every day lives. This is also an area in which nature supports us and in return we should show respect and responsible behaviour. Ölz therefore supports the WWF EARTH HOUR. Turning off the lights for 1 hour as a sign of our commitment to climate protection.

Ölz der Meisterbäcker’s sustainability project includes the installation of four smooth tube heat exchangers with an output of 30 kW each in the chimneys of the baking ovens for the Ölz Toast and Ölz Sandwich bakery lines.
The recovered heat is connectedto the company’s existing heat network and thus used twice – first for baking and second as an energy source for the company.

By implementing this measure, around 245 tonnes of CO2 can be saved annually. This corresponds to the gas consumption of 141 households.

This project is co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF). You can find more information on IWB/ERDF at: www.efre.gv.at