Sustainability

Fostering Resilient Growth.

Strategic relevance

Essential to our strategy for long-term value creation

At EMH Partners, we are committed to building long-term value alongside entrepreneurs and management teams. We are convinced that sustainable practices contribute to building resilient, future-proof businesses.

Our portfolio companies share two fundamental characteristics: they are asset-light and people-centric businesses. What connects these companies is their focus on technology and their people as scarce resources. And it is the value of trust and ethical behavior that underpins their way of doing business.

While their environmental footprint is naturally moderate, our companies recognize the economic importance of actively managing climate impact and resource consumption.

Core ESG-linked value levers

People

Improve productivity and reduce turnover costs by attracting and retaining top talent through strong employer attractiveness

Good Governance

Secure long-term resilience by acting transparently, managing risks responsibly, and upholding ethical standards that go beyond compliance

Customers

Build long-term trustful customer relationships by building safe products, protecting data and acting reliably

Climate and Resources

Secure cost efficiency, regulatory alignment, and long-term resilience by reducing emissions and managing resources responsibly

The EMH approach to sustainability

Closely embedded into our investment approach

Based on our commitment to long-term value creation, we have integrated sustainability into our investment approach at every stage – from initial screening to exit – ensuring measurable value creation (see details below).

Our approach builds on our UN PRI signatory status since 2020 and is supported by strong governance through a dedicated Sustainability Manager and a rigorous ESG Policy. In 2024, we further professionalized our framework through EDCI membership and active contribution to their working group on commercial outcomes.

Beyond that, we take sustainability seriously within EMH. With 9 tons of CO₂ emissions per employee, we are among the leading group of comparable PE firms. We also offer a healthy and engaging workspace and maintain long-standing social partnerships in our community.

Sustainability along the investment process

Annual training

Annual sustainability training is mandatory for all EMH professionals. The training deepens understanding of regulatory trends, material sustainability risks, and value creation levers.

Early stage sustainability view

Early signals of material sustainability risks and value opportunities are identified by the sustainability manager and discussed with the investment team in the weekly review of potential targets.

ESG due diligence

The ESG due diligence follows the EMH Sustainability Playbook and combines internal analysis with expert-led external reviews. Material findings are integrated into the Investment Committee documentation.

ESG onboarding

Based on due diligence findings and benchmarking, the portfolio companies are supported in prioritizing ESG topics and defining accountability.

Sustainability-linked value creation

EMH provides strategic guidance for managing risks and realizing opportunities. As an example, our EMH Portfolio Roundtables bring together sustainability leads across the portfolio for best practice sharing.

Annual review

The ESG performance of each company is analyzed and benchmarked against EDCI. Major implications are discussed with company management.

ESG exit readiness

EMH and company management align the process to mitigate material risks and make sustainability a positive contributor to exit valuation.

Memberships and initiatives

We proactively engage with the broader sustainability ecosystem of portfolio companies, investors, and peers to contribute our share towards sustainable development.

  • In 2024, we became a member of the ESG Data Convergence Initiative (EDCI).

    EDCI is about driving convergence around meaningful environmental, social and governance (ESG) metrics for the private equity industry, as well as generating useful, performance-based, comparable ESG data.

    As a signatory, we will actively contribute to driving ESG data convergence and are committed to following best market practices.

    This allows us to continuously benchmark our portfolio and improve ESG performance.

  • In 2020, EMH became a signatory to the United Nations Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI).

    The PRI is the world’s leading proponent of responsible investment and works to understand the investment implications of environmental, social and governance (ESG) factors.

    As a leading growth investment firm, we have a responsibility to act in our stakeholders’ best and long-term interests.  As a PRI signatory, we incorporate ESG topics into all our decision-making processes.

  • At EMH, we consider the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) throughout the entire investment process.

    The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, adopted by all United Nations Member States in 2015, provides a shared blueprint for peace and prosperity for people and the planet.

    At its heart are the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which are an urgent call for action by all countries – developed and developing – in a global partnership.

     

                   Portfolio highlights

                                     How EMH’s portfolio companies are transforming sustainability
                                     into tangible value

Let's connect.

Sustainability at EMH Partners

Contact

Achim Kreuzer
Sustainability Manager
Achim.Kreuzer@emh.com

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