July 17, 2025 - NORD DRIVESYSTEMS has been awarded the EcoVadis gold medal for 2025, ranking in the top 4% of all globally rated companies and improving their score by 10 points from the previous year. With its roots as a family business, the drive manufacturer exhibits integrity, reliability and a long-term approach. These values are reflected in their sustainability efforts and the care they extend to the environment. NORD scored 85/100 points in the “Environment” category, achieving the highest individual rating. The rating was based upon measures including the use of renewable energies, recovery of waste heat, level of energy-efficient production and detailed CO 2 e-reports according to Scope 1-3.
The cross-divisional CSR team, in cooperation with ownership and management, continue to push NORD forward on a variety of initiatives covering 5 main areas of focus:
- Products: Integration of sustainability measures into the product research and development process.
- Governance and Process: Establishment of an international governance structure and CSRD-compliant reporting for the NORD DRIVESYSTEMS Group and its 48 subsidiaries.
- Environment: Coordination of structured measures to reduce energy consumption and waste, as well as increase self-produced electric power and the use of renewable energies in NORD’s manufacturing processes.
- People: Focus on inclusivity, respect for human rights, strengthening work culture, promoting safety and continuing education for employees around the world.
- Supply Chain: Evaluating manufacturing facilities and the upstream supply chain to assure sustainable production is given high priority.
Development of new products that consume less energy and reduce CO2 emissions, such as NORD’s IE5+ PMS motor technology as well as the NORD ECOBOX and ECO Service that evaluates system performance and provides insight to where efficiencies can be achieved.
These products and more help customers to achieve their sustainability goals
Implementation of environmental management standards at the 10 largest subsidiaries is the first step of implementing CSR measures worldwide.
Development of an international climate strategy and preventative measures against water-polluting substances.
Training of all employees on sustainability efforts.
Monitoring of legal requirements to identify risks and minimize environmental impact through efficient manufacturing and transportation processes.
NORD’s global areas of focus include the reduction of energy usage and building infrastructure to switch to green, renewable energy sources. The company has already equipped 9 subsidiaries with photovoltaic (PV) capabilities with additional projects planned. NORD is also establishing new manufacturing procedures to reduce the amount of waste generated as well as find ways to reuse or recycle what remains. In addition to global projects, NORD also looks for opportunities to conserve, reduce and recycle at the local level.
In the U.S., acetone reclaimer efficiency was improved by nearly 30% compared to the prior year and allowed purchase of less acetone in 2024. Another project of note is the addition of an upgraded Manufacturing Execution System (MES) that digitizes most production steps, significantly reducing the amount of paper and toner used. While large-scale projects have substantial impacts, NORD also looks for smaller ways to make a difference.
In the US, EV chargers are being installed to support employees and visitors, allowing them to charge their vehicles while on site and promoting sustainable choices. NORD US has also installed water filtration systems at all locations to reduce the amount of plastic waste their facilities generate. Each year, more than 100,000 plastic bottles are saved in the US. NORD will continue to evaluate its manufacturing processes, supply chain operations and business activity to identify new ways to conserve energy while providing reliable, energy efficient product options to its customers.
About NORD DRIVESYSTEMS Group
With more than 4,900 employees, NORD DRIVESYSTEMS has been developing, producing and selling drive technology for over 50 years, and it is a global leader among full-service providers in the industry. In addition to standard drives, NORD delivers application-specific designs and solutions for special requirements, such as energy-saving drives or explosion-protected systems. NORD has subsidiaries and sales partners in 80 countries worldwide. The dense sales and service network guarantees optimal availability, enabling short delivery times, and customer-oriented service.
NORD produces a very diverse range of drives for torques from 88 lb-in to more than 2.5 million lb-in, provides motors in the power range of 0.16 – 1,341 hp, and manufactures frequency inverters with the required power electronics of up to 200 hp. Inverter solutions are available for conventional control cabinet installations as well as for decentralized, fully-integrated drive units.