Sustainable HVAC/R innovation through energy efficiency and eco-design
CAREL’s sustainability strategy connects energy efficiency, eco-design and climate transition.
Product innovation, operational efficiency and environmental impact analysis support CAREL’s low-carbon business model and help reduce environmental impact across the value chain.
A Sustainability Plan driving long-term climate progress
CAREL’s 2025–2028 Sustainability Plan sets measurable environmental objectives, including Life Cycle Assessment expansion (60% of Group product categories covered by at least one LCA by 2028), supply chain engagement for low-impact raw materials selection and Management Systems coverage based on ISO 14001 and ISO 50001 standards.
Energy efficiency and eco-design guide the development of HVAC/R technologies with lower environmental impact, as product use is the main source of indirect Scope 3 emissions. Through control intelligence, natural refrigerants and system-level optimisation, CAREL solutions help reduce energy consumption, support low-impact refrigerants and, in the future, extend lifecycle responsibility to materials, repairability and end-of-life management.
38%
Product categories covered by at least one Life Cycle Assessment
5.2% of revenues
Share of revenues allocated to R&D projects for lower-impact technologies.
Positive handprint products
Solutions that generate energy savings during use compared to average energy performance achievable with equivalent traditional technologies.
Designing lower-impact products through lifecycle insight
Eco-design at CAREL starts from Life Cycle Assessment. We use LCA to analyse product environmental impact across the full lifecycle, including raw materials, components, use phase and disposal. This method helps R&D teams identify where design decisions can reduce the environmental footprint of CAREL technologies.
We apply recognised LCA standards to support measurable product improvement. The first cradle-to-grave Life Cycle Assessment was conducted on an inverter in accordance with ISO 14040 and ISO 14044. Since 2024, CAREL has extended LCA work to isothermal humidifiers, a heat recovery unit, an electronic control device and a solenoid valve model.
From materials to repairability: designing for circularity
Sustainable product design starts by considering materials, recycling, repairability and useful life from the earliest stages of development. CAREL combines completed and planned Life Cycle Assessments with feasibility studies on recycled materials for products and packaging, turning environmental insight into practical design choices.
To support continuous improvement, we are developing measurable circularity indicators: our eco-design approach includes product disassembly, repairability and regenerability indices, helping the Group manage environmental impact through specific objectives and support the transition toward more circular HVAC/R technologies.
Recycled materials
Baseline analysis on recycled content in plastics, aluminium and packaging.
Repairability
Design criteria that support product repair and useful-life extension.
Disassembly and regenerability
Future indicators to measure and improve circularity across product categories.
Responsible packaging design
Packaging is an integral part of CAREL's eco-design approach. The Group continuously improves its environmental performance by increasing the use of responsibly sourced and recycled materials (FSC®- and PEFC-certified), reducing virgin plastic where technically feasible, and optimising packaging design to minimise material consumption and resource use throughout the product life cycle.
This approach supports CAREL's broader circular economy strategy, helping reduce environmental impact while maintaining the quality, protection and reliability expected by customers.
75%
FSC® / PEFC-certified paper and cardboard used for packaging at the 10 main production plants.
89%
FSC® / PEFC-certified wood used for packaging at the 10 main production plants.
74%
Recycled material in paper and cardboard packaging.
18%
Recycled material in plastic packaging.
2%
Plastic accounted for packaging materials purchased across our 10 main production plants.