KARL STORZ Plants 400 New Trees for the Future

CO₂ offset of the anniversary celebration 

The tree planting is embedded in the company’s broader sustainability strategy. As a family-owned medical technology company with global responsibility, KARL STORZ has long pursued a forwardlooking approach. Sustainability was also a key consideration in the planning of the local anniversary celebration held in May 2025 at the Schwenningen exhibition grounds near the company’s headquarters. The event, which brought together employees from Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, included reusable materials, regionally sourced products, and digital solutions. Despite these efforts, some emissions from the event—such as travel and waste—were unavoidable. The reforestation initiative is a targeted measure to offset these CO₂ emissions. According to myreforest, each tree planted compensates for approximately 1,000 kilograms of CO₂—totaling around 400,000 kilograms, which is equivalent to the average annual emissions of 100 passenger cars.  

Jointly funded—for a shared future 

The tree planting initiative was financed collectively. In addition to KARL STORZ’s contribution, the KARL STORZ Foundation also provided funding for the project. During the anniversary celebration, many employees also donated to the foundation to actively support the planting effort and give something back.  

A forest with symbolic power 

The newly planted trees— a mixture of chestnut, checker, larch, Norwegian maple, and wild cherry—were specifically chosen for their positive impact on biodiversity and soil quality. In addition, they contribute to the development of a more climate-resilient, sustainable mixed forest. Previously, the area was dominated by a spruce monoculture, which had suffered greatly from increasing drought. The new forest area is located just a few kilometers from the original KARL STORZ Forest planted in 2024, creating a meaningful continuation of the previous initiative. “With this renewed tree planting effort in our region, we are sending a clear signal of our long- term commitment to sustainability,” said Anja Ebert, Senior Director Corporate Communications at KARL STORZ. “The joint planting event to mark KARL STORZ’s 80th anniversary was a true highlight: Colleagues from various departments came together after work to actively contribute to environmental protection. The initiative shows that sustainable change begins with collective action—together, we can achieve a lot.” 
 

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