MASHINIi

UZIN UTZ SE.

UZU.XETRA | Manufacture of paints, varnishes and similar coatings, printing ink and mastics

UZIN UTZ SE is a Germany-based company that manufactures and sells flooring systems, installation materials, and machines for surface treatment and flooring installation. The company operates through several brands, including Uzin, Wolff, Pallmann, Arturo, Codex, and RZ. Its product portfolio includ...Show More

Ethical Profile

Mixed.

UZIN UTZ SE's ethical standing presents a mixed picture. The company demonstrates a strong commitment to product safety, with 98.2% of sales comprising low-emission, solvent-free EMICODE EC-1 certified products. It aims for a 25% reduction in Scope 1 & 2 CO2 emissions by 2025 and utilizes 100% post-consumer recycled HDPE in some packaging. Employee engagement appears high, with 88% of the global workforce reportedly enjoying their work, and 85.9% on permanent contracts. However, reports suggest a notable increase in workplace accidents from 7 in 2022 to 17 in 2023. Glassdoor reviews also mention alleged low wages and difficult working conditions. Critics point to governance concerns, as half of the Supervisory Board members are not considered independent due to the company's family-owned structure. Furthermore, a subsidiary allegedly faced a compliance issue in 2023 related to a high tax prepayment. While a whistleblower system is in place, the company lacks comprehensive quantitative data on many key ESG metrics.

Value Scores

Better Health for All-10
-100100
Fair Money & Economic Opportunity0
-100100
Fair Pay & Worker Respect30
-100100
Fair Trade & Ethical Sourcing0
-100100
Honest & Fair Business-50
-100100
Kind to Animals0
-100100
No War, No Weapons0
-100100
Planet-Friendly Business-60
-100100
Respect for Cultures & Communities0
-100100
Safe & Smart Tech10
-100100
Zero Waste & Sustainable Products-50
-100100

Better Health for All

-10

The company's products demonstrate a strong positive health impact, primarily through improved indoor air quality. In 2023, 97.1% of the UZIN brand's sales were EMICODE EC 1 Plus certified, and 98.2% of overall sales were EMICODE EC-1 certified, indicating very low emissions.

1
This means less than 5% of revenue comes from products that are not certified as very low emission, and the company explicitly states no use of substances with proven endocrine effects or PBT substances.
2
The company provides transparency through its ECO2 CHOICE label with QR codes, offering details on CO2 savings and life-cycle data.
3
However, the company's operations still generate health-harming externalities, with a target to reduce Scope 1 & 2 CO2 emissions by 25% and a reported reduction of 3,000 tonnes of CO2 per year, indicating ongoing impacts.
4

Fair Money & Economic Opportunity

0

No evidence available to assess UZIN UTZ SE on Fair Money & Economic Opportunity.

Fair Pay & Worker Respect

30

In 2023, an employee survey revealed that 88% of UZIN UTZ's global workforce enjoys going to work, 86% would choose the company again, and 85% would recommend it.

1
The company's churn rate, which includes voluntary employee turnover, was 5.5% in 2023.
2
Regarding contract stability, 89% of employees were on permanent contracts in 2023.
3

Fair Trade & Ethical Sourcing

0

No evidence available to assess UZIN UTZ SE on Fair Trade & Ethical Sourcing.

Honest & Fair Business

-50

A formal whistleblower system was established in 2021, accessible to internal and external parties since early 2024.

1
It includes an external, independent ombudsman and allows anonymous reporting via phone, email, and tape recorder.
2
Half of the Supervisory Board members are not considered independent due to the company's family-owned structure.
3
A Code of Conduct for suppliers and service providers is in place, which includes anti-corruption measures, but there is no information on training frequency or effectiveness.
4
Only 7.0% of goodwill is covered by independent external audit, with no further details on overall audit coverage for revenue, assets, or subsidiaries.
5

Kind to Animals

0

The provided articles do not contain any specific, quantitative evidence related to animal welfare, cruelty-free certifications, animal testing policies or volumes, humane certifications for operations, measurable wildlife conservation impact, ethical substitution of animal-derived ingredients, supplier audits for welfare compliance, cage-free sourcing, investment in animal-free R&D, animal agriculture ethics, or animal-free R&D collaboration.

1
While some articles mention general sustainability efforts, a supplier code of conduct,
2
or tree planting,
3
these do not provide the concrete, measurable data required by the rubric's KPIs for 'Kind to Animals'.

No War, No Weapons

0

No evidence available to assess UZIN UTZ SE on No War, No Weapons.

Planet-Friendly Business

-60

UZIN UTZ's CO2e reduction pathways are based on the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) and are stated to have a confirmed scientific basis and validity, indicating commitment but not explicit validation of targets.

1
The company has not stated a net-zero target year.
2
No environmental compliance violations have been reported.
3
The company has created a 700m² wildflower meadow at its Ulm site, which represents a small-scale biodiversity effort.
4

Respect for Cultures & Communities

0

No evidence available to assess UZIN UTZ SE on Respect for Cultures & Communities.

Safe & Smart Tech

10

The company provides users with control over their personal data, allowing them to access, change, and delete their information, and opt-out of marketing emails.

1
It explicitly outlines user rights under GDPR, including rights to information, rectification, erasure, restriction of processing, data portability, and the right to lodge a complaint.
2
For data minimization, the company states that data is retained only as needed for service provision and stored only as long as necessary for event management, in accordance with GDPR and other relevant laws.
3
The company explicitly mentions compliance with GDPR, CCPA, and other state data protection laws, as well as the EU Taxonomy reporting obligation since 2021 and the German CSR Directive Implementation Act.
4

Zero Waste & Sustainable Products

-50

UZIN UTZ SE has set a company-wide target to reduce greenhouse gas emissions for Scope 1 & 2 by 25% by 2025.

1
The company has implemented waste reduction initiatives, including phasing out solvents in adhesives since the 1980s and introducing low-emission product systems in the late 1990s and 2013.
2
They highlight compliance with regulations related to isocyanates and microplastics in hazardous waste management.
3
Circular design principles are evidenced by the Arturo PU2030 flow coating having a silver Cradle to Cradle certificate.
4
The company provides basic disposal information on some products through an Environmental Product Declaration for UZIN RenoTop PLUS.
5

Own UZIN UTZ SE?

Upload your portfolio and see how all your holdings score across 11 ethical dimensions.

Audit My Portfolio

AI-generated analysis based on publicly available data. Not financial advice. Ratings are expressions of opinion derived from automated models and may contain inaccuracies. See our Risk Disclosure for full details.