United Nations sustainable development goals

Rieter offers a wide range of training opportunities to improve the qualifications of its employees. These range from apprenticeships to internships, student projects and other continuous professional development opportunities. As part of its learning culture, Rieter invests in ongoing employee training by providing suitable training opportunities and granting employees paid leave in order to learn. The aim is to achieve a training rate of more than three days annually per employee. Rieter offers a wide range of courses through a continuously expanded global digital learning platform.

Rieter respects the human rights of its employees. The company provides its employees with a professional, safe and secure working environment. Rieter does not employ child labor in any of its companies and respects the minimum working age according to local laws. Rieter requires its tier 1 suppliers to sign its Supplier Code of Conduct in which the company stipulates that fundamental human rights (including child labor laws) must be upheld.

Rieter’s global Environment Health & Safety (EHS) Management System applies to all sites and employees. The company implements its local management systems based on the Corporate Management System and local regulatory and legal requirements. EHS professionals conduct incident investigations and carry out regular risk assessments in order to identify hazards and develop corrective and preventative measures, thus ensuring a safe working environment for all personnel.

Rieter monitors its Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions (scope 1 and 2) following the guidelines of the GHG Protocol. In addition, Rieter also aims to reduce CO₂ emissions in the textile value chain by continuously improving the energy efficiency of its products and machines. This is the company’s most effective means of reducing the industry’s carbon footprint and the company has set ambitious targets for its systems: Ring spinning system (per kilogram yarn, Ne 30 viscose): Target 2025: In 2025, energy consumption is to be reduced by 15 percent compared with 2021. Air-jet spinning system (per kilogram yarn, Ne 30 viscose): Target 2025: In 2025, energy consumption is to be reduced by 16 percent compared with 2021. Rotor spinning system (per kilogram yarn, Ne 30 viscose): Target 2025: In 2025, energy consumption is to be reduced by 2 percent compared with 2021.

In 2024, Rieter has invested about CHF 50.0 million, or 5.8 percent of sales, in the development and commercialization of technology that is of strategic importance to the company’s future growth. As of December 31, 2024, Rieter employs 4 785 employees.

Rieter monitors the amount of hazardous and non-hazardous waste generated, as well as the disposal method. Efforts to reduce the amount of waste generated focus on packaging optimization.

As a leading supplier to the textile industry, Rieter is committed to upholding the highest ethical principles in its dealings with employees, shareholders, customers, suppliers, competitors, governments, society and the environment. Rieter expects its suppliers to uphold the same ethical principles and integrity in their activities with stakeholders and the environment. These sustainable procurement expectations are set out in the Supplier Code of Conduct.

In 2024, Rieter has committed to developing science-based targets in line with the net-zero goals of the SBTi. Rieter monitors its GHG emissions (scope 1 and 2) according to the reporting guidelines of the GHG Protocol. By 2030, the company aims to have significantly reduced its scope 1 and 2 emissions by switching to renewable energy. The company aims to achieve net zero by 2040.