Keeping the planet as beautiful as it is.
As a family business, we take a long-term view and act in the best interests of our planet’s future. After all, what good are premium glasses if we cannot enjoy the beauty of nature around us?
To live up to our mission, we operate sustainably and responsibly and do everything we can to protect the environment for generations to come. We believe that our innovative spirit helps us to keep finding new, sustainable solutions that reduce our impact on the planet.
Making great strides towards our carbon elimination goals
Even though our eyewear production is already CO2-neutral thanks to carbon offsetting, we are working tirelessly to keep reducing our emissions. One major advantage in our race to eliminate carbon has been our on-site solar energy production, involving both rooftop solar panels and solar “flowers” (smaller, column-mounted solar panels arranged in a flower-shaped array, which automatically rotate to optimize exposure to the sun). We are also converting our vehicle fleet to electric and hybrid vehicles, and our production facilities are powered exclusively by CO2-free green electricity. The remaining tons of CO2 that we emit are offset through certificates issued by Gold Standard projects in the global South.
That’s something to be proud of: 100 % CO2-free electricity.
Our mission: zero emissions. At our corporate headquarters and at our production site, we already use 100 percent CO2-free, sustainable and environmentally friendly electricity. Our energy is generated from natural, renewable sources such as wind, solar, small sourced power, and biofuels and is free of CO2 and nuclear power. We are committed to investing in clean energy for the future. Our own solar energy panels generate around 15 % of the electricity we consume each year. And our green energy mission is only just getting started.
Every drop of water counts.
At the Silhouette Group, every drop of water is precious. We make great efforts to conserve water. We are also constantly working to improve the quality and purification of the wastewater we produce. For example, the wastewater at our production site passes through state-of-the-art treatment facilities and can then be reused. Through water monitoring with smart water meters, we monitor, evaluate and analyze all our water consumption. At our production site in Linz, we recycle over 104,000 liters of water a day in an Austrian water protection area.
70 %
of our suppliers and agencies
are based in Austria.
104000
liters of water
are recycled daily at our production site in Linz, which is located inside a water protection area that meets the highest Austrian environmental standards.
100 %
CO2-free, sustainable
electricity is used to power the Silhouette Group production sites.
Silhouette has always been focused on the environment. Since 1964.
In order to protect the endangered biodiversity, the Silhouette Group has created a natural garden on the company premises in Linz. In the densely built-up, mixed-use area of land on Ellbognerstrasse, the sprawling parkland looks like a green oasis. Over the years, the lawns have turned into a vibrant sanctuary for insects, beetles, small mammals, and birds. Our blossoming meadow is now teeming with even more local species of plants and wildflowers. This has brought life to the soil and improved the microclimate. The Silhouette Group is clearly demonstrating that business and biodiversity are not mutually exclusive but can flourish side by side.
Biodiversity in swarms, thanks to Silhouette’s 200,000 bees.
On May 2, 2023, 200,000 honey bees had their first day at work at the Silhouette Group. Our ten bee colonies are housed in ten beehives on the natural green space near the company headquarters. The hives are perfectly aligned for the bees to fly in and out. Our swarm of new employees collect pollen within an approximate radius of 200 to 500 meters. In doing so, they’re enriching the flora on the company premises and making a definite contribution to enhancing biodiversity. The honey bee may be small, but its benefits are huge. When it collects pollen, it transfers it to pollinate 80% of all wild plants and crops.
Josef Keplinger,
Head of Quality, Employee Safety, Environment
„The Silhouette Group’s green initiatives are playing an important role in environmental protection.“
Sustainability Report: Our CSR in action
The Silhouette Group has always been ahead of its time. We have been abiding by the principles of sustainability intuitively ever since our company was founded in 1964 - before the word “sustainability” was on any company’s agenda. Our desire to protect the environment has always influenced every decision we make. And now, we are proud to present a full Sustainability Report, detailing all our company’s environmental and social responsibility initiatives. This is one more way in which we live up to our responsibility towards people and the planet.
Arnold Schmied,
Member of the owner family
„We have made two commitments: to keep our manufacturing based in Austria and to conserve natural resources.“
Certificates
What inspires us
The Austrian premium eyewear manufacturer impressed the jury in the demanding, three-stage selection process and was awarded the ALC Integration Prize for Upper Austria. This is further proof of the strong commitment and pioneering role of the Silhouette Group in the fields of integration and innovation!
October 23, 2024
The Silhouette Group is an industry pioneer in reducing carbon emissions through its own efforts. Since September 2022, our eyewear production has been carbon-neutral with offsetting. This achievement has allowed us to meet a goal that many companies have only set for 2030, eight years ahead of schedule.
September 7, 2024
The Silhouette Group is engaged in ambitious, pioneering work on environmental protection. We are now specifically involving the younger generation. Teaming up with the Austrian Climate Alliance, we train apprentices to become climate checkers.
June 5, 2024
This year's World Earth Day theme, "Planet vs. Plastic," resonates deeply with us at the Silhouette Group. Committed to fostering a healthier environment, we are actively reducing our plastic consumption. Explore our journey towards sustainability in our captivating new CSR video.
April 22, 2024
Für Businessreisen gelten strenge Richtlinien, die sowohl die Auswirkungen auf die Umwelt als auch die Reisekosten minimieren sollen.
September 7, 2023
Am 2. Mai 2023 hatten 200.000 Honigbienen ihren ersten Arbeitstag bei der Silhouette Group. Die zehn Bienenvölker sind in zehn Bienenstöcken auf der naturbelassenen Grünfläche bei der Unternehmenszentrale untergebracht.
July 18, 2023
The Silhouette Group prevailed over other local companies and institutions to win the IRIS23 City of Linz Environmental Award.
June 23, 2023
Today is the World Earth Day. In a world where 2.2 billion people have no access to clean drinking water, the Silhouette Group is working to make every drop count.
April 22, 2023
The Silhouette Group is on a mission to protect the environment from microplastics. To help achieve this goal, the globally successful family-owned business from Austria has developed innovative processes, including a closed production cycle.
April 21, 2023
We have always been ahead of the game when it comes to our desire to protect the environment. In our second Sustainability Report, we once again summarize the ecological, economic and social impact of our corporate activities.
March 9, 2023