Report on Dematic Multishuttle 2 Cradle to Cradle Certification

Executive Summary

On September 22, 2025, Dematic announced that its Multishuttle 2 system has achieved Cradle to Cradle Certified® Bronze, becoming the first shuttle-based automated storage and retrieval system (AS/RS) in the industry to receive this distinction. This certification, awarded by the Cradle to Cradle Products Innovation Institute, underscores a significant advancement in sustainable industrial practices and highlights the company’s alignment with several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly those concerning responsible production, sustainable innovation, and clean energy.

Certification Details and Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Cradle to Cradle Certified® Bronze Achievement

The Dematic Multishuttle 2, a high-speed AS/RS technology integral to logistics automation since 2006, has been recognized for its adherence to sustainable design and manufacturing principles. The Bronze level certification is specific to units produced at the Dematic facility in Stříbro, Czech Republic, and is valid until June 2028. This achievement reflects a comprehensive commitment to creating products that are safe, circular, and responsibly made.

Assessment Criteria and SDG Contribution

The certification process involved a rigorous, transparent evaluation of the product and its extensive supply chain, which includes hundreds of components. The assessment, conducted by EPEA, a part of Drees and Sommer, validates the product against five key sustainability categories, each directly contributing to specific SDGs.

• Material Health and Circular Economy: The evaluation confirmed a high material re-use rate for the Multishuttle 2, directly supporting SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production) by promoting the reduction of waste through circular design principles.
• Renewable Energy and Carbon Management: The certification standard requires responsible energy use in manufacturing, aligning with SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy) and SDG 13 (Climate Action) by encouraging the transition to renewable energy sources.
• Water Stewardship: Adherence to water stewardship criteria contributes to SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation) by ensuring responsible water use and management throughout the production process.
• Social Fairness: The requirement for social fairness throughout the supply chain supports SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth) by promoting safe working conditions and ethical labor practices.

Industry Impact and Future Outlook

Fostering Sustainable Innovation in Logistics

The certification of the Dematic Multishuttle 2 establishes a new benchmark for sustainability within the material handling and supply chain automation industry. It demonstrates that complex industrial products can be designed and manufactured in a way that supports a circular economy, thereby advancing SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure) by fostering sustainable and resilient industrial innovation.

Commitment to Continuous Improvement

Dematic has expressed its commitment to using the certification as a foundation for ongoing enhancement. The company has identified further opportunities to improve the product’s sustainability profile and aims to build upon this achievement. This forward-looking strategy is detailed in Dematic’s 2024 Annual Sustainability Report and reflects a long-term dedication to advancing global sustainability targets.

1. The certification process has provided a clear roadmap for future product development focused on circularity.
2. Dematic intends to leverage the findings to further increase material re-use and enhance the sustainability of its broader product portfolio.
3. The transparent evaluation of the supply chain sets a precedent for responsible sourcing and partner engagement in the sector.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 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 product, the “Dematic Multishuttle 2,” which is described as a key technology in the implementation of “Industry 4.0 in logistics.” The company’s commitment to “sustainable innovation” and driving progress in the “material handling industry” directly relates to building resilient infrastructure and fostering innovation.
• SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production: This is the most central SDG in the article. The Cradle to Cradle (C2C) Certification is fundamentally about sustainable production patterns. The article highlights that the certification validates the product is “safe, circular, and responsibly made,” focusing on “material health, recyclability,” and a “high material re-use rate.” This directly addresses the goal of ensuring sustainable consumption and production.
• SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy: The C2C certification process, as described in the article, includes meeting “rigorous standards for… renewable energy use.” This connects Dematic’s production process for the Multishuttle 2 to the goal of increasing the share of renewable energy.
• SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth: The C2C certification criteria include “social fairness.” This implies that the production process and the supply chain are evaluated for their adherence to fair labor practices, contributing to the promotion of inclusive and sustainable economic growth.
• SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals: The article illustrates a multi-stakeholder partnership. Dematic collaborated with the “Cradle to Cradle Products Innovation Institute” and its assessor, EPEA. Furthermore, the process required a “transparent evaluation” of “all suppliers of components,” demonstrating a partnership approach to achieving sustainability throughout the supply chain.

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

1. Target 9.4: 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 achieving a sustainability certification for an industrial automation product (“Dematic Multishuttle 2”) is a direct example of retrofitting industries with sustainable and clean technologies. The certification itself is a mark of this achievement.
2. Target 12.2: By 2030, achieve the sustainable management and efficient use of natural resources.
   • The C2C certification’s emphasis on “material health” and the product’s “very high material re-use rate” directly align with the efficient use of natural resources.
3. Target 12.5: By 2030, substantially reduce waste generation through prevention, reduction, recycling and reuse.
   • The article states the C2C certification validates the product is “circular” and meets standards for “recyclability.” The mention of a “high material re-use rate” is a direct reference to achieving this target.
4. Target 12.6: Encourage companies, especially large and transnational companies, to adopt sustainable practices and to integrate sustainability information into their reporting cycle.
   • Dematic, as a global company, is adopting a significant sustainable practice by getting its product C2C certified. The article also explicitly directs readers to its “2024 Annual Sustainability Report,” showing the integration of sustainability information into its corporate reporting.
5. Target 7.2: By 2030, increase substantially the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix.
   • The C2C certification process requires an assessment of “renewable energy use,” indicating that the company is actively measuring and working to improve its use of clean energy in its production facilities.
6. Target 8.8: Protect labour rights and promote safe and secure working environments for all workers.
   • The C2C standard of “social fairness” implies that the company and its suppliers are evaluated on their labor practices, contributing to the protection of labor rights within their sphere of influence.
7. Target 17.16: Enhance the Global Partnership for Sustainable Development, complemented by multi-stakeholder partnerships.
   • The entire certification process described is a partnership between Dematic (the company), the Cradle to Cradle Products Innovation Institute (the standard-setter), EPEA (the assessor), and the “broad supplier network,” all working towards a common sustainability goal.

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

• Indicator for Target 9.4 & 12.6: The achievement of the “Cradle to Cradle Certified® Bronze” serves as a tangible indicator. The number of industrial products receiving such a certification can measure the adoption of sustainable technologies.
• Indicator for Target 12.2 & 12.5: The “material re-use rate” is explicitly mentioned as a metric (“demonstrates a very high material re-use rate”). This is a direct quantitative indicator of progress towards circularity and waste reduction.
• Indicator for Target 12.6: The publication of the “2024 Annual Sustainability Report” is a clear indicator of a company integrating sustainability information into its reporting cycle.
• Indicator for Target 7.2: The assessment of “renewable energy use” as part of the C2C certification implies that the percentage of renewable energy used in the production process is a measured indicator.
• Indicator for Target 8.8: Adherence to “social fairness” standards, as verified by a third-party certification, acts as an indicator of promoting safe and fair working environments.
• Indicator for Target 17.16: The successful collaboration with the C2C Institute and the engagement of the entire “broad supplier network” in a “transparent evaluation” serves as a qualitative indicator of a functioning multi-stakeholder partnership.

SDGs, Targets, and Indicators Table

Source: prnewswire.com