Tuesday, 7 April 2026
PORR AG reported measurable progress in implementing its ESG strategy during 2025, alongside continued financial performance. The company reduced emissions, increased the use of recycled materials and renewable energy, and marginally improved gender diversity, according to its combined annual and sustainability report.
The Vienna-based contractor outlined that its ESG framework, introduced in 2025, includes 18 measurable targets supported by 55 actions through to 2030. After the first year, 13 percent of these measures have been fully implemented, while a further 71 percent remain in progress.
Chief executive Karl-Heinz Strauss said the results demonstrate that environmental performance and economic growth can be pursued simultaneously, positioning sustainability as a core element of the group’s operating model.
Emission reductions were a key outcome. Direct emissions (Scope 1 and 2) declined by 22.5 percent, while value chain emissions (Scope 3) fell by 12.9 percent. This places the company on track to meet its Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) commitments, which include a 43 percent reduction in Scope 1 and 2 emissions and 25 percent in Scope 3 emissions by 2030. The reductions were supported by increased use of alternative fuels, expansion of renewable energy and lower overall energy consumption. Emissions intensity decreased by 14.3 percent year-on-year.
Total energy consumption declined by 9.2 percent to 817 GWh, while the share of renewable energy increased to 19.9 percent from 7.7 percent in 2024. Measures included wider deployment of photovoltaic systems, increased use of green electricity on construction sites and optimisation of equipment usage.
The company also reported progress in circular economy practices. The internal recycling rate rose to 57 percent, meaning that more than half of the materials used in its operations are sourced from recycled inputs. This reduces reliance on primary raw materials and limits exposure to supply volatility, with recycled excavation materials, asphalt and secondary construction materials identified as key contributors.
Workforce diversity improved modestly, with women accounting for 17 percent of employees and 16.4 percent of management roles, up slightly from the previous year.
In parallel, PORR has begun rolling out a standardised approach to sustainable construction sites following certification in Austria for both building and civil engineering projects. The company intends to embed these criteria across all sites as a minimum requirement.
Looking ahead, PORR is expanding its “sustainable construction” portfolio, combining baseline standards with tailored solutions for clients. The offer includes carbon-optimised design and execution, lower-emission materials, energy-efficient site operations, logistics optimisation and recycling-oriented demolition concepts. The strategy is aimed at reducing emissions, resource consumption and costs across the full lifecycle of construction projects.
