As a foundation-owned company, sustainability and business success are inextricably linked at ZEISS. Sustainable value creation is an integral part of the company's business activity, which focuses on providing innovative solutions that contribute to positive development in society and enable long-term, profitable growth.
ZEISS' commitment to sustainability is firmly anchored in the corporate strategy, the #agenda25. The strategy aims to improve the social and environmental impact of business operations, view sustainability as a value driver, and leverage sustainability challenges as opportunities.
ZEISS pledges its commitment to the global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) that were adopted by the United Nations in the fall of 2015. The 17 goals indicate what needs to be achieved by 2030 and call on companies, politicians, and society to play their part. In an extensive analysis, six goals were identified where ZEISS can have the greatest impact on people, the environment, and society through its business processes, product portfolio, and services:
SDG 3 – Health and well-being
SDG 4 – Quality education
SDG 8 – Decent work and economic growth
SDG 9 – Industry, innovation, and infrastructure
SDG 12 – Responsible consumption and production
SDG 13 – Climate action
SDG 17 – Partnership
Sustainability aspects are playing an increasingly important role in companies' consumer communication. This information that companies publish influences the purchaser decision process and helps sustainable products to gain acceptance in the market. However, purchaser can only make these decisions if the environmental claims, sustainability seals and service life information that companies provide on their products and their business activities are reliable. In the eyes of the law, the relevant information must therefore be issued in a clear and understandable format. As a consequence, it will be more and more important for companies to be as specific as possible in formulating their environmental and sustainability claims and to provide evidence to substantiate these claims. In addition to products and services, EmpCo requirements also cover claims about the companies' activities in their business communication – regardless of the type of communication (e.g. company website, social media channels, newsletter, print advertising).
All the key information on EmpCo has been compiled in these guidelines.
EmpCo must be implemented nationally from September 27, 2026 – there is no transition period. Any external communication where there is little control over distribution (e.g., brochures, packaging, or posters) should be created in line with the new requirements as soon as possible.
This means environmental claims must meet EmpCo's legal requirements as soon as the law comes into force. Most notably, companies must adapt their website accordingly. When creating advertising materials, product packaging, et cetera, please follow the EmpCo Directive to ensure that all materials are legally compliant when published on or after September 27, 2026. A list of affected channels can be found in the guidelines.
However, any published advertising materials containing environmental claims (e.g., social media posts, email newsletters) do not need to be removed or edited retroactively.
The EmpCo Directive primarily affects communication with consumers. Nevertheless, we also recommend adapting internal communication to the new Directive so that it can also be used externally.
Individual segments and countries are responsible for implementing the Directive. Questions about content can be sent to brand@zeiss.com.
Any employee at ZEISS who is responsible for making claims about the environment and sustainability must follow EmpCo rules. To ensure ZEISS communicates consistently to the outside world (one-voice communication), EmpCo will be applied globally at ZEISS – including in non-EU countries.
Only sustainability targets set by ZEISS can be used for external positioning. Individual SBU-specific (intermediate) targets must not be communicated externally because they are for internal control purposes only. Claims made about "future environmental performance" must be substantiated using detailed and realistic implementation plans. Simply linking to the Sustainability Report as an implementation plan is not sufficient.
The license for photo and video materials for the current main image will expire at the end of 2026. We therefore have a new image pool that supplies motifs for sustainability communication.
There is an AI assistant for the EmpCo Directive to support you in your work. It uses a red-yellow-green system to help you evaluate whether content conforms with EmpCo. It is designed solely as a sparring partner; it does not replace legal advice. It also cannot be used for approval processes.
Discover the sustainability activities of ZEISS by downloading the latest sustainability report as well as previous ones from our sustainability report homepage.
The Sustainability Kit contains images and videos all about the topic of sustainability at ZEISS and is used exclusively to communicate this strategic topic. A selection of various formats allows for an optimal adaptation to all channels. The content is suitable for both internal and external use.
The new Sustainability Icons are available for download here and can be used to communicate our three focus areas: E – Environmental, S – People & Society, and G – Corporate Governance.
The presentation “Sustainability at ZEISS” provides an overview of ZEISS’s strategy, including current key topics (such as EmpCo and SBTi) and SBU examples that offer insight into the wide range of sustainability activities. The presentation can be used for both internal and external purposes and can be customized in modules depending on the intended use. However, the content of the topics presented must not be altered in any way. 🟠
Various materials applicable to the focus topics of Environmental (Climate Action & Circular Economy), Social (People & Society), Governance (Corporate Governance), are also available for communication purpose.
Background & current commitments and goals
ZEISS’ ambition is to drive decarbonization across its operations and for its customers. Building on an SBTi-validated climate program, ZEISS continues renewable energy adoption at its sites and actively engages suppliers. By providing robust product carbon-footprint data ZEISS intends to enable its customers to make informed decisions regarding product-specific emission reductions.
Dr. Nicole, Ziegler, Head of Sustainability at ZEISS Group
Background & current commitments and goals
As part of its sustainability strategy, ZEISS pursues a “Circular Economy North Star” with the long-term ambition to keep high-quality resources in use for as long as possible and continuously increase the reuse rate of products, components and materials. For ZEISS, circular economy is a systematic approach across the entire product life cycle that preserves value, strengthens resilience and reduces environmental impacts. The three key levers are eco-design, resource efficiency in development and production, and value retention and reuse through circular services, maintenance and business models.
Andreas Pecher, CEO ZEISS Group
Background & current commitments and goals
As a responsible employer, ZEISS fosters a healthy and safe work environment while promoting employee well-being, inclusion, and engagement. ZEISS creates positive societal impact in the communities where we operate through initiatives such as the corporate volunteering program “A heart for Science”, social business partnerships, and funding programs. At the same time, ZEISS upholds human rights across the value chains through a robust Due Diligence approach.
Dr. Roya Akhavan, Project Lead for Sustainability
Background & current commitments and goals
Corporate Governance at ZEISS translates ZEISS values into business conduct and processes by defining clear structures, fostering a compliance culture, and creating transparency. The ZEISS Compliance –Management- System and effective operating model support employees to act responsibly as well as partners and stakeholders in relying on ZEISS as a trusted, compliant partner. Transparent and concrete communication on sustainability underlines the ZEISS ambition to treat sustainability as a key value driver.
The international ZEISS initiative "A Heart for Science" aims to encourage young people aged 12 to 18 to get into science and technology
The focus is on corporate volunteering, which offers all employees an opportunity to get involved, for example by giving talks, running workshops, or organizing events
The aim of the initiative is to develop and bolster the promotion of STEM at ZEISS, which has had systems in place for this for many years
Since 2015, ZEISS has been establishing basic eyecare in remote parts of India
Several thousands of eye exams were performed every month & patients received eyeglasses or medical care
The focus will be on raising awareness for visual impairments and the associated need for eyeglasses
Jugend forscht is considered Germany's best-known competition for young scientists and engineers in science and technology.
In collaboration with ZEISS, the final round of the East Württemberg Regional Competition of Jugend forscht was held at Aalen University
Projects in the following categories: World of Work, Biology, Chemistry, Geography/Space Sciences, Mathematics/IT, Physics and Technology
The new Optima Pharma ProCell, powered by ZEISS microscopy technology, represents a major advancement in automated CAR-T cell manufacturing. In collaboration with the Bosch Health Campus and Heidelberg University Hospital, ZEISS is helping to make personalized cancer therapies faster, safer, and accessible to more patients.
In the Dellenhäule nature reserve in southern Germany, ZEISS joins naturalist and TV presenter Nick Baker in the Ant City – a vast network of sandy mounds built by millions of tiny forest dwellers. Equipped with his ZEISS binoculars and magnifying glass, Baker explores the world of ants and shows how the smallest creatures tell the biggest stories. Modern ZEISS technology plays a crucial role.
A habitat rich in biodiversity – To gain a better understanding of humans' impact on European coasts and oceans, ZEISS supports EMBL on the unique research expedition TREC (Traversing European Coastlines) across Europe.
ZEISS Industrial Quality Solutions (IQS) is making its contribution to enhancing the wind energy industry in China. Turbines in China's wind parks must be able to withstand extreme weather conditions. The manufacturing of relevant components, such as large turbine components, therefore requires the highest precision. The company Luoyang Xinqianglian Slewing Bearing Co., Ltd (LYXQL) builds slewing ring bearings, which are the centrepiece of the turbines, and relies on metrological solutions from ZEISS. ZEISS employees and LYXQL explain how it will be able to contribute to the energy transition.
50% of the world’s population could be myopic by 2050. We met a family in China, where prevalences are especially high. Both children, Aidan and Reese Zhong, were diagnosed with progressive myopia, a special form of nearsightedness, which is characterized by the fact that it gets worse over the years. ZEISS is committed to supporting myopic children with single vision eyeglass lenses that help to correct their vision or myopia management solutions including special eyeglass lenses for those who are affected by the progressive form of nearsightedness.
At ZEISS, dedicated employees show their support for sustainability through various initiatives. To mark Earth Day, ZEISS is showcasing a series of projects that encourage environmental awareness. For example, ZEISS employees in India are helping to make school desks out of recycled materials and have installed a filter system to provide the residents of Devanahalli with clean drinking water.
Some of the ZEISS Beyond Talks are focused on sustainability. You can leverage the prepared assets on your SBU's and SSC's channels as well.
No greenwashing
No changing/distorting the quotations
No additional icons
Corporate Brand, Communications & Public Affairs