Könnern, 27 March 2025 – The Könnern sugar factory, the largest site of family-owned company Pfeifer & Langen GmbH & Co. KG, was honoured today by the State Secretary for Energy, Thomas Wünsch, as one of the inaugural members of the Saxony-Anhalt Environmental Alliance, which was founded in 1999. During his visit, Mr Wünsch presented the site managers for Production & Technology, Tino Kitzmann, and for Commercial Administration, Iris Richter, with a certificate and trophy in recognition of the factory’s many years of commitment to environmental protection and climate neutrality, emphasising the pioneering role of investments already made and future plans for the climate-neutral transformation of the site.

The sugar factory in Könnern is among the largest sugar producers in Germany. With around 250 employees, it processes more than two million tonnes of sugar beets from regional cultivation every year. The company places great importance on sustainability and the circular economy by utilising the entire sugar beet – producing sugar, animal feed, and other products.

Of particular note: The energy needed to process sugar at the site is already being generated entirely with renewable energies. What’s more, Pfeifer & Langen is planning to build a biogas plant to produce biomethane from beet pulp, a by-product of sugar production. Future plans also include using beet pellets to generate energy. The Könnern factory meets its entire production water requirements using the water contained in the beets themselves, meaning no additional external water is required. The site is certified in accordance with an internationally recognised environmental management system, setting new standards in the industry.

“The Könnern sugar factory is an impressive example of climate and environmental protection in practice in the industry,” State Secretary Wünsch emphasised. “It exemplifies the values of our environmental alliance: Voluntary commitment, innovative spirit and the willingness to accept responsibility for future generations. With this in mind, I am fully confident that the certificate stands not only as recognition for the company, but also as an incentive to consistently continue along the road towards climate neutrality.”

Michael Schaupp, Managing Director of Pfeifer & Langen, underscores the company’s consistent sustainability strategy: “The award from the state ministry for our long-standing commitment to environmental and climate protection in our operations fills us with pride. This acknowledgment reinvigorates our determination to continue pursuing our goals. We have already reduced our CO2 emissions at the factories by 50 per cent compared to 2019, and by 2040 at the latest, we want to be producing completely climate-neutral sugar.”

Background: The “Saxony-Anhalt Environmental Alliance,” founded in 1999, promotes environmentally compatible economic development in the state. Member companies undertake to voluntarily put in place environmental protection measures that go beyond the minimum legal requirements. The alliance currently has around 220 partners from a wide range of sectors, including metalworking, waste management, the food industry, and the skilled trades.