“Beyond celebrating our first century, 2025 is a pivotal year for our commitment to a responsible future,” said Ulrich Zuenelli, Chairman of the Board. “Becoming a Benefit Corporation strengthens our pledge to act with transparency, vision and responsibility.”
The transition formalizes Loacker’s dedication to four key areas of shared value, which define its integrated sustainability strategy:
climate action, circularity and environmental protection;
ethical sourcing and community impact;
social responsibility for employees;
guilt-free pleasure through responsible consumption.
Rooted in Alpine values, Loacker has always combined performance, environmental stewardship and social care. This mindset now inspires tangible actions to push beyond industry standards and create solutions that do not yet exist.
One such innovation is OptiBake, the world’s first inductively heated wafer oven with zero direct emissions. Developed in partnership with Swiss-based Bühler Group, OptiBake cuts energy consumption by up to 50%, eliminates direct CO₂, CO and NOx emissions, and offers enhanced production flexibility. After a prototype was installed at Bühler’s Austrian facility in 2023, the first operational oven began testing at Loacker’s Heinfels plant in May 2025. Early results exceed expectations in both product quality and performance. The oven is powered entirely by renewable electricity backed by Guarantees of Origin, ensuring zero operational greenhouse gas emissions.
Loacker invested significant internal resources into OptiBake, forming a multidisciplinary team of engineers, production and maintenance specialists to co-develop the technology alongside Bühler.
Innovation extends beyond production: with its Flexible Printing Technology Development project, Loacker is pioneering inline flexible packaging printing. This breakthrough eliminates adhesive labels, reducing materials and waste, and earned the company the Best Packaging 2025 award in the Technology category.
Looking ahead, Loacker is building a new research and development center, the Loacker Technology Center, which will drive product innovation and support sustainable growth.
“Our Technology Center will be a cornerstone of our future,” said Andreas Loacker, Vice President and Managing Director Innovation. “It will enhance product development while strengthening our sustainability efforts through technological advancement and environmental responsibility.”