Environment
At TKMS, advancing environmental and climate protection is a core priority driving every process, product, and project. The Science Based Targets initiative rigorously evaluated thyssenkrupp AG’s climate goals, confirming their full alignment with the 2015 Paris Agreement’s mission to keep global temperature rise well below 2°C this century. Committed to achieving net-zero emissions by 2045, we are intensifying efforts to help limit warming to 1.5°C, the most ambitious target of the Paris Agreement.
These validated targets are fully embedded in our management framework through robust ESG governance, supported by dedicated committees and boards. By 2030, we plan to slash emissions from production and processes (scope 1) and purchased energy (scope 2) by 30%, while reducing emissions across the entire value chain (scope 3) by 16%.
Our commitment extends across the entire lifecycle of our products. From the outset, we design and build with resource efficiency at the forefront. Continuous innovation in research and development drives enhanced energy efficiency throughout product use. Our production processes evolve relentlessly to minimize energy consumption and CO2 emissions, integrating clean energy solutions such as renewables for power and heat supply.
TKMS leads with decisive action and unwavering dedication—shaping a sustainable future through precision, innovation, and powerful momentum.
Energy Management & Sources of Energy
Energy management stands as a cornerstone of our commitment to combating climate change and responsibly harnessing available energy sources. At TKMS and ATLAS ELEKTRONIK GmbH, every major production site operates under an ISO 50001-certified energy management system, reflecting our unwavering dedication to excellence.
We drive continuous advancement in energy performance, focusing on both electricity and heat supply. TKMS takes decisive, immediate action in energy management while executing a robust, long-term energy strategy. Our extensive measurement infrastructure—featuring over 500 monitoring points at complex manufacturing sites—enables precise control, evaluation, and data-driven improvements, ensuring full transparency in energy consumption. Between 2018 and 2021 alone, these efforts resulted in a remarkable saving of 6,000 MWh of electrical energy.
Wherever feasible, we source energy exclusively from renewables. At our owned production sites, 100% of purchased electricity originates from renewable energy sources. For leased sites, we align with the energy agreements established by the property owners.
This powerful approach underscores TKMS’s leadership in sustainable energy management, driving impactful results today and shaping a resilient future.
Waste Management
At TKMS, resource conservation and environmental protection are fundamental commitments. Our foremost principle is to eliminate waste without compromising quality, product integrity, or occupational health and safety. When waste cannot be avoided, recycling takes absolute priority over disposal. Through precise workflows, optimized raw material utilization, and mindful consumption of resources like paper and packaging, we prevent waste at its source.
TKMS designs products for exceptional durability and offers modernization services to extend the lifecycle of existing vessels, maximizing value and sustainability. We rigorously ensure proper waste segregation and delivery to authorized disposal partners. This commitment is reinforced by continuous employee training, provision of specialized waste containers, regular inspections, and careful monitoring of waste streams.
Across all sites, targeted initiatives—from canteens to offices—drive daily waste reduction. As a result, TKMS achieves recovery and recycling rates exceeding 90%, including thermal recycling. This powerful approach exemplifies our unwavering dedication to sustainable excellence and responsible stewardship.
Management of Water Resources
Industrial water management stands as a vital commitment to safeguarding the environment, preserving nature, and protecting local communities. We drive the efficient use of water resources through advanced technical and structural solutions, maximizing sustainability at every step. Our approach prevents water contamination, shielding ecosystems from the risks posed by hazardous substances in production. By rigorously classifying materials according to their hazard levels, we ensure responsible handling of all water-polluting agents. We meticulously evaluate wastewater discharge impacts, strictly adhering to all legal and regulatory standards. Through continuous internal audits and oversight by local authorities, we guarantee that safety measures at every site meet and exceed established guidelines. This is how we power a sustainable future with unwavering precision and responsibility.
Sustainable Technologies
TKMS embodies innovative power and unmatched technological expertise at its core. As a maritime powerhouse, TKMS drives growth through cutting-edge innovation rooted in deep industry knowledge. Shaped by evolving market trends and emerging demands, the new paradigm of integrated system solutions defines the future of the maritime domain: uncrewed platforms, seamless connectivity, combat cloud, multi-domain operations, and artificial intelligence. The “future battlefield” is taking form, along with new capability requirements from customers worldwide. The demand for rapidly deployable, state-of-the-art system solutions has never been greater.
With unwavering focus on innovation, TKMS strategically advances its specialized technological strengths and harnesses the unique expertise of its workforce to empower the entire organization. Its global research and development network is amplified through dynamic collaborations with universities, research institutes, and industry leaders. This powerful innovation ecosystem delivers sustainable solutions and shared knowledge that elevate every joint endeavor. From the very beginning, TKMS naval vessels have been engineered for maximum resource efficiency. Ongoing R&D efforts relentlessly push the boundaries of energy efficiency, fully aligned with European sustainability strategies.
The launch of NXTGEN Engineering and an expanded product portfolio mark a decisive leap toward a diversified and sustainable future. TKMS solidifies its role as a global innovation leader in maritime technology by bridging civilian and military expertise with current and future market demands. Cutting-edge products—including uncrewed underwater vehicles, ordnance disposal platforms, and offshore converter stations—stand ready to shape the next generation of maritime solutions.
Digital Transformation
We drive digital innovation across every stage of the value chain, harnessing technology where it delivers real impact. Our digital transformation empowers problem-solving and simplifies operations—for both customers and our workforce. A cornerstone of this strategy is paperless production, revolutionizing efficiency on the shop floor. Every welding machine is network-connected, delivering real-time status and data for rigorous quality control. This connectivity also unlocks full transparency in power consumption, enabling targeted energy efficiency measures.
Digitization fuels our agility, boosts productivity, and sharpens transparency throughout production. It also conserves vital resources—saving hundreds of thousands of sheets of paper annually. From automated manufacturing and IoT sensors to augmented reality and seamless quality assurance, our digital approach creates powerful advantages—for our customers and the environment alike.
Sustainability of Metal Additive Manufacturing
TKMS’s additive manufacturing center in Kiel, Germany, drives innovation by producing tailor-made metal and plastic components through a fully digital process. This seamless integration of design and production delivers powerful advantages across the value chain, benefiting customers and advancing environmental responsibility. Leveraging deep expertise and strategic research partnerships, TKMS unlocks the full potential of 3D printing to deliver groundbreaking solutions. The facility enables the creation of highly complex parts with unprecedented precision, achieving dramatic reductions in weight and volume—transforming a 14 kg component into a mere 2.1 kg without compromising performance. By building up material instead of removing it, additive manufacturing revolutionizes resource efficiency, minimizes waste, and supports sustainable practices through powder recycling. TKMS sets the standard for cutting-edge manufacturing that empowers customers and shapes the future.