Report on Dematic’s Contribution to Sustainable Development Goals through Product Innovation

Executive Summary

Dematic, a global leader in supply chain automation, has achieved a significant milestone in sustainable industrial development. The company’s Multishuttle 2 automated storage and retrieval system (AS/RS) has earned the Cradle to Cradle (C2C) Certified® Bronze distinction. This is the first certification of its kind for a shuttle-based AS/RS, underscoring a commitment to the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure) and SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production). The rigorous assessment process validates the product’s alignment with circular economy principles and transparent, socially fair manufacturing practices.

Certification Details and Alignment with SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production

The Cradle to Cradle certification provides a framework for designing and producing goods that contribute to a circular economy. The Bronze certification for the Dematic Multishuttle 2, produced at the Stříbro facility in the Czech Republic and valid until June 2028, confirms adherence to stringent criteria that directly support the targets of SDG 12.

• Material Health: All components were evaluated to ensure they are safe for humans and the environment, promoting the reduction of hazardous materials in production cycles.
• Product Circularity: The system demonstrates a very high material re-use rate, a core principle of SDG 12, which aims to substantially reduce waste generation through prevention, reduction, recycling, and reuse.
• Clean Air & Climate Protection: The certification process assesses the use of renewable energy in manufacturing, contributing to sustainable production patterns.
• Water & Soil Stewardship: The standard requires responsible water management and conservation, aligning with targets for sustainable resource management.
• Social Fairness: The entire supply chain was evaluated for fair labor practices, supporting the social dimension of sustainable development.

Impact on SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure

The Dematic Multishuttle 2 represents a key innovation in logistics infrastructure. By integrating sustainability into its core design and production, Dematic is advancing the goals of SDG 9, which calls for building resilient infrastructure, promoting inclusive and sustainable industrialization, and fostering innovation.

1. Sustainable Industrialization: Achieving C2C certification for a complex industrial product with hundreds of components demonstrates that sustainable practices can be integrated into sophisticated manufacturing.
2. Technological Upgrading: This achievement sets a new benchmark for the material handling industry, encouraging the adoption of sustainable criteria in technological development.
3. Resilient Infrastructure: The Multishuttle 2 enhances the efficiency and density of supply chain operations, contributing to more resilient and sustainable logistics infrastructure.

Broader Contributions to Global Goals

The certification and the principles it represents extend Dematic’s impact to other critical SDGs.

• SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth): The emphasis on “Social Fairness” throughout the supply chain promotes safe and secure working environments for all workers.
• SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals): The successful certification was the result of a multi-stakeholder partnership involving Dematic, the Cradle to Cradle Products Innovation Institute, the assessor EPEA, and a broad network of suppliers, all collaborating towards a shared sustainability objective.

Conclusion and Future Outlook

The C2C Bronze certification of the Dematic Multishuttle 2 is a tangible demonstration of data-driven sustainability in the industrial automation sector. It establishes a precedent for responsible innovation and transparent supply chains. Dematic has expressed its commitment to using this achievement as a foundation for continuous improvement, aiming to further enhance the material re-use and overall sustainability of its technologies. This initiative serves as a powerful case study for how industry leaders can actively contribute to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development by embedding circularity and responsibility into their core products and operations.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure: The article focuses on an innovative technology, the Dematic Multishuttle 2, within the material handling industry. It highlights “sustainable innovation” and the role of technology in advancing logistics and supply chains, which is central to building resilient infrastructure and promoting sustainable industrialization.
• SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production: This is the most prominent SDG in the article. The Cradle to Cradle (C2C) Certification is based on principles of circular economy and sustainable production. The article explicitly mentions key elements of this goal, such as creating a “safe, circular, and responsibly made” product, focusing on “material health, recyclability,” a “high material re-use rate,” and encouraging “responsible material choices.”
• SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth: The C2C certification process includes “social fairness” as one of its rigorous standards. The article notes that this assessment was applied not only to Dematic but to all its component suppliers, indicating a commitment to ethical labor practices and social responsibility throughout the supply chain.
• SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals: The achievement of the C2C certification is presented as a collaborative effort. It involved Dematic, its “broad supplier network,” the Cradle to Cradle Products Innovation Institute (the certifying body), and EPEA (the assessor). This multi-stakeholder partnership was essential to evaluate a complex product with “hundreds of components” and ensure transparency across the supply chain.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

1. Target 9.4 (under SDG 9): “By 2030, upgrade infrastructure and retrofit industries to make them sustainable, with increased resource-use efficiency and greater adoption of clean and environmentally sound technologies and industrial processes…” The article’s focus on the Dematic Multishuttle 2 as a C2C Certified® technology, which emphasizes a “high material re-use rate” and “sustainable innovation,” directly aligns with the adoption of more environmentally sound industrial technologies.
2. Target 12.2 (under SDG 12): “By 2030, achieve the sustainable management and efficient use of natural resources.” The C2C certification’s validation of “material health,” “recyclability,” and “responsible material choices” demonstrates a direct effort towards this target. The article highlights the product’s “high material re-use rate” as a key achievement.
3. Target 12.5 (under SDG 12): “By 2030, substantially reduce waste generation through prevention, reduction, recycling and reuse.” The core concept of the Cradle to Cradle certification is to design products that are “circular,” meaning their components can be safely reused or recycled, thereby minimizing waste. The mention of a “high material re-use rate” directly supports this target.
4. Target 12.6 (under SDG 12): “Encourage companies, especially large and transnational companies, to adopt sustainable practices and to integrate sustainability information into their reporting cycle.” Dematic, a “global leader,” is adopting sustainable practices by achieving the C2C certification. The article also explicitly mentions and links to the company’s “2024 Annual Sustainability Report,” which is a direct implementation of this target.
5. Target 8.8 (under SDG 8): “Protect labour rights and promote safe and secure working environments for all workers…” The C2C certification’s requirement for “social fairness” and the “transparent evaluation” of Dematic’s suppliers against this standard connects to the promotion of fair labor practices within the company’s global supply chain.
6. Target 17.16 (under SDG 17): “Enhance the global partnership for sustainable development, complemented by multi-stakeholder partnerships that mobilize and share knowledge, expertise, technology and financial resources…” The article describes a partnership between the company (Dematic), its suppliers, a non-profit certification institute (Cradle to Cradle Products Innovation Institute), and a technical assessor (EPEA) to achieve a common sustainability goal. This collaboration across a “broad supplier network” to evaluate a “technically demanding” product exemplifies this target.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

• Cradle to Cradle (C2C) Certified® Bronze Status: This certification itself serves as a key indicator. It is a third-party validation that the Dematic Multishuttle 2 meets specific, rigorous standards for sustainability, directly measuring progress towards Targets 9.4, 12.2, and 12.5.
• High Material Re-use Rate: Mentioned by a Dematic research engineer, this is a specific, albeit unquantified, performance indicator for Targets 12.2 and 12.5. It suggests that the company is measuring the circularity of its product’s materials.
• Assessment of Social Fairness: The article states that the C2C certification process includes a standard for “social fairness” that was applied to Dematic and its suppliers. This assessment serves as an indicator for progress on Target 8.8, demonstrating that social responsibility is being monitored within the supply chain.
• Publication of an Annual Sustainability Report: The reference to Dematic’s “2024 Annual Sustainability Report” is a clear indicator for Target 12.6. It shows the company is integrating sustainability information into its public reporting cycle.
• Successful Multi-Stakeholder Collaboration: The successful certification of a product with “hundreds of components and a broad supplier network” is an indicator of an effective partnership (Target 17.16). The collaboration between Dematic, its suppliers, the certification institute, and the assessor demonstrates a functional partnership for a shared sustainability goal.

4. Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: laotiantimes.com