KLINHGER SCHÖNEBERG is one of the highest-rated companies worldwide
Customer: KLINGER SCHÖNEBERG
Category: Manufacturing
Date: June 2026
KLINGER SCHÖNEBERG GmbH is a flexible, medium-sized company focused on the research, development, production, and distribution of industrial valves, particularly ball valves and pneumatic actuators. The company chose DFGE’s EcoVadis Complete solution to systematically improve its sustainability performance and demonstrate it to external stakeholders in a credible manner.
Manfred Goßmann
Managing Director KLINGER SCHÖNEBERG GmbH
“Our collaboration with DFGE was very successful: their experts are highly professional and meticulous, and they were able to tailor the EcoVadis questionnaire to our specific needs. Thanks to this collaboration, our CSR rating has improved, and our understanding of the subject has deepened.”
Challenges
Make sustainability performance more visible and establish a solid data foundation
In recent years, KLINGER SCHÖNEBERHG has implemented numerous sustainability initiatives to consistently advance its commitment in this area. The challenge was to document these diverse activities with meaningful evidence and to present them accurately within a standardized framework—such as the EcoVadis assessment or a sustainability report.
A key focus was optimizing external communication: Although a sustainability report was already in place, it did not yet meet the requirements of recognized standards. At the same time, it became apparent that some relevant metrics were not being tracked consistently or had gaps. Internal processes related to sustainability guidelines also needed to be further formalized in order to build a more robust foundation for sustainability efforts in the long term.
Solution
Strategic and operational support from DFGE
DFGE supported KLINGER SCHÖNEBERG in the strategic and operational development of its sustainability performance. Over a period of about six months, various components were developed and implemented.
A key focus was on preparing a sustainability report in accordance with the VSME standard. In addition, existing guidelines were refined to more clearly define responsibilities regarding implementation, review, and adaptation.
External communications were also systematically enhanced: Existing measures and certifications that had not previously been systematically documented were reviewed and, in some cases, integrated into external reporting.
To improve data quality, relevant metrics were defined and refined using a KPI dashboard. This data was then incorporated into the VSME report, creating a solid foundation for further ESG work. The project was rounded out by a capacity-building workshop that strengthened internal expertise and solidified a sustainable foundation for the future development of the sustainability strategy.
Result
Measurable improvement and clear positioning within the EcoVadis framework
Through its collaboration with DFGE, KLINGER SCHÖNEBERG was able to improve its EcoVadis score by 10 points to a total of 87 points and was awarded the Platinum Medal for the first time. This places the company among the top 1% of all organizations evaluated worldwide.
Particularly significant progress was made in the categories of ethics, labor rights, and human rights. In addition to the measurable increase in scores, the internal structure and the ability to provide external evidence were also strengthened. The foundations that have been laid create a solid basis for further sustainability communication and for future reporting requirements.
