Messer publishes Corporate Sustainability Report

Messer, the world’s largest privately held specialist for industrial, medical, and specialty gases, published its 2023 Corporate Sustainability Report and non-financial key performance indicators.

· reduced the emissions intensity of its plants and logistics by about 23 percent compared with the previous year.

· developed innovative technology solutions to help its customers use resources more efficiently and reduce their carbon footprint.

· further increased the share of women in management.

Helping protect the planet and valuing people

Sustainability has been at the core of Messer’s strategy for more than 125 years. Today Messer continues to take concrete actions in its day-to-day operations to make progress and create value across its value chain in Asia, Europe, and the Americas.

“Messer’s long-term growth is rooted in the expertise, diversity, and unwavering commitment of our employees around the world. They are the driving force behind Messer’s innovative solutions. Every day, their entrepreneurial spirit, skills, and energy drive us forward. Hand in hand with our customers, partners, and suppliers, we overcome the challenges of today’s society, make a meaningful change, and shape a future for all,” said Bernd Eulitz, CEO of Messer.

In 2023, Messer reduced the emissions intensity of its plants and logistics by 23.4 percent compared with 2022, reaching 3.7 kilograms of CO₂e per euro of EBITDA, using the market-based method. The improvement was driven by absolute emissions reductions and revenue growth. Overall, since 2019, Messer has managed to cut its emissions intensity by 36.2 percent. Messer is therefore moving one step closer to its goal of a 40 percent reduction by 2030 compared with a 2019 baseline. In 2023, Messer’s absolute carbon emissions followed a similar trend, decreasing by 15.7 percent due to reduced electricity consumption and improved emission factors.

Besides being as essential as water and electricity in most industrial processes, gases can play a significant role in their decarbonization. Messer also develops innovative, cutting-edge gas applications designed to improve safety, increase efficiency, and protect the environment. In 2023, Messer launched ZeCarb (“Zero Carbon”), its new “Carbon Capture as a Service” offer to help decarbonize industries with high CO₂ emissions. As a key player in the hydrogen ecosystem, Messer remains focused on selected segments and relies on strong partnerships to accelerate the energy transition in both the mobility and industrial sectors. Messer continues to provide innovative technology solutions that help customers reduce their carbon footprint and boost productivity, such as oxyfuel combustion.

For Messer, diversity is the basis for innovation and sustainable corporate success. Mutual trust and respect are part of the corporate values that form the basis of its corporate culture. In line with Messer’s commitment to establishing mixed-gender management teams with 30 percent of women by 2030, the proportion of women in the first and second levels of management increased from 24.7 percent in 2022 to 27 percent in 2023.

Safety is at the core of everything Messer does. In 2023, the company implemented complementary measures to keep cultivating its safety culture, while fostering a safety mindset throughout its value chain.

Further embedding sustainability in Messer’s business strategy

In April 2024, Messer appointed Patricia Hargil as the company’s first Chief Sustainability Officer. Building on Messer’s achievements, she works closely with regional and corporate functions to advance the company’s Environment, Social, and Governance (ESG) as well as Diversity & Inclusion (D&I) agendas. Together with her team, she develops Messer’s sustainability strategy, prepares ESG disclosures, and establishes programs to further drive the company’s commitment to operating responsibly and sustainably. “I am honored to lead Messer’s global sustainability and D&I efforts. Messer’s sustainability reporting journey started on a voluntary basis 10 years ago. The implementation of the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) introduced new standards, thereby enhancing transparency. I am proud to actively work with Messer teams in Asia, Europe, and the Americas to navigate the ESG environment and ensure a smooth transition toward a new way of reporting,” explained Patricia Hargil.

The 2023 Corporate Sustainability Report with the current projects, key ESG indicators and defined goals is available online here.