Holidays spent in a motorhome, caravan, camper van or CUV are inextricably linked with experiencing the natural environment. Environmental protection and sustainability are therefore both an obligation and a matter of course for Knaus Tabbert.
On the one hand it is important that our production processes conserve resources and are sustainable, and on the other hand that we help through innovations to put low‐emission vehicles on the road that meet the latest environmental standards.
Knaus Tabbert is working resolutely to reduce greenhouse gas emissions along the entire value chain. In the first instance, Scope 1 emissions are being analysed, i. e. the direct emissions from the plants, and Scope 2 emissions generated by purchased energy. Knaus Tabbert aims to reduce these emissions by 80 per cent by 2030 compared to the base year 2021.
Knaus Tabbert has defined individual targets to achieve its goal of reducing Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 80 per cent by 2030 compared to the base year 2021. This takes into account all production sites: In Germany, our headquarters in Jandelsbrunn in Lower Bavaria along with Mottgers and Schlüsselfeld, and Nagyoroszi in Hungary.
Energy efficiency and the use of renewable energies are our primary focus when constructing new buildings, but also when operating our existing buildings and infrastructure. Today, we already generate the majority, namely more than 75%, of the thermal energy we need for heating and production from biomass and by using green electricity. The transition from fossil to renewable energy sources will be continued steadily. We have set ourselves the goal of obtaining 90% of the heat we need from regenerative sources by 2030.
New buildings, including our most recent production hall in Jandelsbrunn, are supplied exclusively with renewable energies. Heat pumps and absorption chillers – cleverly combined with biomass heating – provide the necessary heating and cooling here. A 750 kWp photovoltaic system, one of the largest roof installations in the eastern Bavarian region, also supplies the electricity needed.
Not only making use of renewable energy sources, but also using energy efficiently, is an integral part of our sustainability strategy. We consider electricity to be the noblest form of energy, universally usable whilst being expensive and precious at the same time. For these reasons, we have set ourselves the goal of saving 2% of our annual electricity consumption in the form of energy efficiency projects.
In order to improve efficiency, we are constantly implementing a variety of projects including the use of state‐of‐the‐art lighting technology, efficient drive systems and heat generation, economical use of compressed air and the prevention of compressed air leaks. Today, we already obtain 100% of the electricity we consume at all our German production sites from renewable sources.
By collaborating closely with our suppliers, we are increasing the recoverable proportion of the materials we use and thus of the product itself. We return a large part of our surplus production residues to the materials cycle. In this way, the materials remain part of the value chain and contribute to the circular economy. We strive to keep wood residues and offcuts as low as possible by using cutting‐edge production processes such as nesting machines. Those wood residues, however, that cannot be avoided or recycled are fed into our biomass heating systems to heat our plants.
Furthermore, using water resources sparingly is another of our top priorities. We are striving to reduce our demand for fresh water sustainably by recirculating it and making use of rainwater.
Knaus Tabbert aims to reduce Scope 1 emissions (the direct emissions from the plants) and Scope 2 emissions (purchased energy) by 80 per cent by 2030 compared to the base year 2021.
The same energy output needs to be produced from a lower energy input, or an increasing amount produced from the same energy input. The focus for Knaus Tabbert is on saving energy. One concrete measure to achieve this is to save 2% annually of the electrical energy consumed the previous year in the form of energy‐saving projects.
The field of action ‟ Eco‐friendly and recyclable materials‟ is closely linked to the recovery of product waste and focuses on dealing with material resources efficiently. Knaus Tabbert is constantly looking to optimise its processes in this area.
Back in 2021, Knaus Tabbert initiated a multi‐stage project in the area of waste management, implementing it in the 2022 reporting year with the aim of improving resource efficiency and consequently environmental protection.
Knaus Tabbert is currently setting up a water management system at its four production sites. In the future, this will allow water and wastewater quantities to be continuously monitored and evaluated. By using a new sprinkler system for leak testing vehicles, we have already been able to reduce our consumption of fresh water at the Jandelsbrunn site.
The CO2 emissions generated directly by vehicles en route to their destinations are to be reduced through technical innovations. In concrete terms, this involves the development of new technologies and thus also alternatives to the combustion engine. In this respect, Knaus Tabbert regards itself as the innovation leader in the industry and has established its own project team within the Group for this purpose.
In 2021, Knaus Tabbert presented a study for a motorhome with hybrid drive at the Caravan Salon in Düsseldorf. The study was intended to point the way to a motorhome that featured an e‐licence plate allowing it to be driven in environmental zones, and that also had a minimum cruising range of 600 km. To achieve this, the study vehicle was fitted with a so‐called range extender to increase its cruising radius.
An e‐caravan is a caravan that benefits from its own energy supply (battery) and its own drive (e‐motor). The e‐caravan cannot travel autonomously, but can support the towing vehicle and thus extend its cruising range. The first completed and fully functional prototypes are already available.
The KNAUS YASEO celebrated its world premiere as the first caravan for e‐mobility at the Caravan Salon 2023.