Franziska Kunz Becomes New Head of Global ESG and Sustainability at Kistler

Summary

July 22, 2025 - The Kistler Group is reinforcing the strategic orientation of its commitment to sustainability. To integrate sustainability as a core element of its business model, the company is appointing Franziska Kunz to the new position of Head of Global ESG and Sustainability; it will also focus more closely on sustainable solutions and continue to reduce its emissions.

Marc Schaad, CEO of the Kistler Group, sees this commitment as essential to generate key advances in innovation and achieve economic success. “As a company, we view sustainability not as a trend but as a responsibility – both today, and for future generations,” Schaad affirmed. “Through our solutions, we help to ensure greater sustainability not just for our own production processes, but for those of our customers as well.”

Two of Kistler’s German production sites are already equipped with their own photovoltaic systems, which are making a visible contribution towards reducing emissions–alongside the green electricity certificates obtained in Germany, China and Japan as well as Switzerland, Slovakia and the USA. In 2024, the Group achieved an overall reduction in its Scope 1 and 2 CO₂ emissions to less than 2,190 metric tons. That equates to a year-on-year decrease of 4.6% and a reduction of almost 40% compared to 2021, when the sustainability initiatives were launched.

Kistler is driving its global ESG and sustainability strategy ahead

Franziska Kunz is taking on the newly created position of Head of Global ESG and Sustainability. As the former Head of Production Center Meerane (Germany) and current Sustainability & CSR Manager of the Kistler Group, she comes equipped with 19 years of experience in the company and wide-ranging expertise in sustainability matters. As she considers the challenges that lie ahead for her, Kunz comments: “Worldwide developments call for new products and business models so we, as a company, also need new strategies.”

Alongside many other initiatives, Kistler is continuing its international drive to boost electromobility in the Group’s vehicle fleet: 50% of its pool and company vehicles in Germany are already electrically powered. The figure at Kistler’s headquarters in Winterthur is currently around 30%. 44 charging points are active at sites in Germany, Switzerland and the USA. Pilot projects to promote the circular economy are also being launched, and work is under way to minimize Scope 3 emissions–with a particular focus on the product use phase and purchased goods.

A newly formed cross-divisional team is ready to play its part here: “Our Compliance Forum brings representatives of the Supply Chain, Purchasing and Product Development departments together at one table," Kunz explained. "This ensures that we take an international approach–based on sustainability criteria – as we consider and work through the issues that face us." She also oversees the newly created ESG Contact Point for sustainability issues, which offers further assistance for employees and customers with questions on topics such as emissions or recycling options.

Kistler products ensure sustainability across diverse sectors of industry

Measurement solutions from Kistler have a crucial role in the production and development of high-quality products. By measuring, monitoring and evaluating relevant parameters in the production process, manufacturers can avoid scrap, reduce material usage and improve overall quality. In these ways, Kistler solutions open the way to more resource-efficient production across a diverse range of industrial sectors. Sustainability will also be a key factor in the development of new Kistler solutions: “Our resources and materials are in increasingly short supply. That’s why we’re collaborating with our customers to explore an important question: what new products and business models will be needed to meet these challenges in the future? This perspective should become an established element of our product development,” Kunz concludes.

About Kistler

Kistler is the global market leader for dynamic pressure, force, torque and acceleration measurement technology. Cutting-edge technologies provide the basis for Kistler’s modular solutions. Customers in industry and scientific research benefit from Kistler’s experience as a development partner, enabling them to optimize their products and processes so as to secure sustainable competitive edge. Unique sensor technology from this Swiss corporation helps to shape future innovations not only in automotive development and industrial automation but also in many newly emerging sectors. Drawing on our extensive application expertise and always with an absolute commitment to quality, Kistler plays a key part in the ongoing development of the latest megatrends. The focus is on issues such as electrified drive technology, autonomous driving, emission reduction and Industry 4.0.