ESG Sustainability

Energy and Climate

At POL-MAK, we continuously develop initiatives that support energy efficiency, the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, and the responsible management of resources. Our activities include investments in energy efficiency, renewable energy sources, and the development of environmental management systems.

Key initiatives include:

• modernization of LED lighting systems supported by the award of a White Certificate,
• replacement and modernization of high-energy-consuming equipment,
• participation in the DSR programme supporting the stability of the national power system,
• development of renewable energy sources,
• implementation of heat pumps and heat recovery solutions in production processes,
• gradual electrification of the forklift fleet. 

Raw Materials, Products and Circular Economy

We strive to reduce the environmental impact of our products through responsible sourcing and the development of solutions that support the circular economy.

Our activities include:

• offering selected products made from recycled materials,
• developing products suitable for industrial and home composting,
• using FSC® and PEFC™ certified forest-based materials,
• using transport cartons made from recycled materials,
• verifying the recyclability of selected product packaging solutions.

Waste and Resources

We implement initiatives that support the efficient use of resources and the reduction of waste generated by our operations.

Our activities include:

• a waste segregation system covering key waste streams,
• initiatives supporting material recovery and recycling,
• monitoring of energy, raw material and water consumption,
• projects supporting the circular economy.

Awards and Certifications

POL-MAK’s efforts to improve energy efficiency and reduce environmental impact have been recognised with the Energy Transition Leader awards in 2024 and 2025. These initiatives support our long-term environmental objectives and responsible business development.

Our activities are also guided by the findings of audits and continuous improvement processes carried out within implemented management systems and environmental certification programmes.

Check out our certifications.

People and Workplace

At POL-MAK, we believe that responsible business begins with people. We create a working environment based on safety, respect, equal opportunities, and professional development. Our activities include the protection of human rights, employee development, social dialogue, and building an organizational culture founded on responsibility and cooperation.

We are committed to creating an accessible and inclusive workplace and supporting diversity and social inclusion.

Health and Safety

Employee health and safety are among the key pillars of our sustainable development approach. We continuously improve our occupational health and safety practices through risk assessment, preventive measures, employee engagement, and continuous improvement processes.

We regularly conduct training programmes, workplace monitoring, and initiatives aimed at reducing occupational risks and strengthening a culture of safety.

 Skills Development

We invest in the professional development of our employees through vocational, managerial, ESG, Compliance, and human rights training programmes. By supporting lifelong learning, we help our employees build competencies that contribute to both individual and organizational growth.

Community Engagement

As family-owned companies, we actively support initiatives that contribute to the development of children, young people, and local communities. We implement our own educational projects, including POL-MAK Akademia Maczka i Stokrotki, an initiative focused on environmental awareness and future skills development.

In addition, we support local social, educational, cultural, and sports initiatives through cooperation with schools, community organizations, and local authorities.

Ethics and Compliance

At POL-MAK, we believe that long-term business success requires transparent governance and high ethical standards. We continuously develop our ESG and Compliance systems to support responsible decision-making, prevent misconduct, and strengthen a culture of integrity across the organization.

Ethical Culture

Our activities are guided by the Code of Ethics, which defines the standards of conduct expected from all employees. We promote a culture of openness, accountability, and mutual respect, encouraging behaviour consistent with our organizational values.

Whistleblowing and Stakeholder Dialogue

We provide employees and other stakeholders with access to dedicated reporting channels, including our whistleblowing system. All reports are handled in accordance with established procedures, ensuring confidentiality and the protection of reporting persons.

Responsible Value Chain

We expect our suppliers and business partners to uphold ethical standards, respect human rights, provide safe working conditions, and demonstrate environmental responsibility. These expectations are defined in our Value Chain Code of Conduct, which forms the basis of our business relationships.

Governance and Transparency

We continuously strengthen our risk management, due diligence, and compliance processes. Our goal is to build transparent and trustworthy relationships with customers, suppliers, employees, and other stakeholders.

POL-MAK has been a Sedex participant since 2013. As a result, our Polish plant has become part of an international community dedicated to responsible business, responsible sourcing and improving ethical standards and working conditions in the supply chain.

To maintain SEDEX membership, POL-MAK undergoes the SMETA (SEDEX Member Ethical Trade Audit) - the most widely used ethical audit in the world.

What does the EcoVadis rating mean?

EcoVadis is one of the world's leading independent sustainability assessment platforms, used by companies worldwide to evaluate the sustainability performance of their business partners.

The assessment covers four key areas of corporate responsibility: environmental performance, labor and human rights, ethics, and sustainable procurement.

The EcoVadis methodology is based on internationally recognized standards, including GRI, ISO 26000, the United Nations Global Compact, and the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). To date, more than 150,000 companies worldwide have been assessed by EcoVadis, making it one of the most widely recognized and trusted sustainability rating systems.

The Energy Transformation Leaders competition aims to promote innovative and scalable solutions, products, technologies and services related to climate and environmental protection, as well as innovative projects that can have an impact on accelerating Poland's green transformation. The competition's jury includes the National Energy Conservation Agency and the National Centre for Research and Development. The competition accompanies the Polish Climate Congress, which takes place in Warsaw.

The multi-phase energy transformation between 2020 and 2023 at Zaklad Poligraficzny POL-MAK included a number of projects to improve energy efficiency, such as replacing lighting with energy-efficient lighting, installing renewable energy sources and heat pumps, and implementing advanced purchasing strategies for electricity and natural gas, among others. The company also actively participates in the Demand Side Response (DSR) programme, which supports the stabilisation of the operation of the energy system in Poland.

- Energy transformation allows us to increase our competitiveness. Thanks to projects implemented one after another, we are improving the energy efficiency of individual production processes and building and constantly updating energy media purchasing strategies, which translates into optimising electricity and gas fuel costs while increasing production capacity. No less important is the environmental dimension of these activities, which is becoming an important aspect of the prepared ESG strategy of the POL-MAK Printing Plant. As a family company, we feel a daily responsibility for our environment and future generations, so I can assure you that our multi-stage energy transformation is not yet complete. We would like to thank you for appreciating the measures already implemented," said Dariusz Makowiak, member of the management board of Zakład Poligraficzny POL-MAK Sp. z o.o.

Sustainability is key for us, especially in the context of building a responsible supply chain, where our suppliers and their suppliers play an important role. We take steps to implement social and environmental due diligence at all stages of the value chain. We do not tolerate violations of human rights, labour laws or environmentally harmful activities at any stage, especially at raw material producers and suppliers. We consider any violations of human rights and labour laws or environmentally harmful actions at any stage of the value chain to be unacceptable.

ur 2024 Value Chain Code of Conduct reflects the requirements for all our suppliers, indicating the standards of behaviour we expect in terms of sustainability. The Code builds on the ideas set out in the Supplier Code of Conduct introduced in 2023, which has been fully accepted by all our business partners.

Zakład Poligraficzny POL-MAK is proud to announce its commitment to sustainability and environmental protection through the reduction of Scope 1 and Scope 2 greenhouse gas emissions.

Base year and emission reduction targets

In order to effectively measure our progress, we have set 2022 as the baseline for our actions. This year we recorded:
- Scope 1: 283 (tonnes CO2e)
- Scope 2: 2641 (tonnes CO2e)

Our target is to reduce these values:
- Scope 1 by 75% before 2030
- Scope 2 by 100% before 2025

We believe these are ambitious but realistic plans towards reducing our carbon footprint in the ranges indicated.

Scope 1: Direct Emissions

Our aim is to minimise direct GHG emissions from our controlled operations. We focus on reducing emissions from the combustion of fuels in our facilities and from the use of production equipment. As part of this activity:
- We invest in modern technology and equipment with improved energy efficiency.
- We use innovative energy sources, reducing the use of fossil fuels.
- We support training and initiatives for our employees to promote environmentally friendly practices.

Scope 2: Indirect Emissions from Purchased Energy

At the same time, we are working to reduce indirect emissions associated with the purchase of electricity and heat. Our actions in this regard include:
- Switching to renewable energy by investing in solar panels and purchasing certified green energy to reduce our carbon footprint.
- Optimising energy consumption at our sites by continuously upgrading infrastructure and implementing energy management systems.
- Engaging in long-term partnerships with energy suppliers to support sustainable practices.
We believe that these steps will contribute to achieving significant reductions in greenhouse gas emissions and help us in our role as a responsible representative of the printing industry. We are committed to continuing our efforts towards a more sustainable future, while working together with our stakeholders to create a world where environmental care is a priority.

Thank you for your support and trust.

Management Board of Zakład Poligraficzny POL-MAK

Statement_Carbon_Foodprint_Zaklad-Poligraficzny_POL-MAK_2024.pdf

The purpose of implementing the whistleblower protection procedure at Zakład Poligraficzny POL-MAK is to encourage people with knowledge of certain irregularities at POL-MAK to report them to POL-MAK by providing these people with a due guarantee of confidentiality, data protection and non-disclosure. In doing so, we fulfil the obligations imposed by the Whistleblower Protection Act implementing Directive (EU) 2019/1937 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 October 2019 on the protection of persons who report breaches of Union law.

The procedure defines the rules for whistleblowers to report violations of the law and for POL-MAK to follow up on the reports. The content of the procedure is available on the website in Polish: wiemipowiem.pl/polmak.

At POL-MAK, we design our products with responsible use of resources in mind, but their real environmental impact also depends on what happens to them after use.

On our new subpage, we have gathered clear and practical guidelines on reuse and proper waste separation of our products and packaging - from napkins and plates to cartons and films.

👉 Learn more: What should you do after using the product?