Weleda Opens Sustainable Logistics Center in Schwäbisch Gmünd

Weleda AG, the world market leader in certified natural cosmetics and anthroposophic medicines, has a new landmark: Together with numerous guests from politics, business, and society, the company officially opened its new logistics center, the Weleda Cradle Campus, in Schwäbisch Gmünd. Among the participants were Dr. Nicole Hoffmeister-Kraut, Minister of Economic Affairs of the State of Baden-Württemberg, and Richard Arnold, Mayor of the City of Schwäbisch Gmünd.

(Arlesheim/Schwäbisch Gmünd) The Cradle Campus is a beacon of sustainability – ecological, economic, and social. The architecture is already award-winning. Built largely from local wood and clay, powered by solar energy and geothermal energy, the new logistics center operates 100 percent emission-free. The design was specifically tailored to the needs and wishes of the employees. With a total volume of 90 million euros, the new logistics center is the largest investment in the company’s history.

“The Cradle Campus fits perfectly with the Weleda strategy. It stands for growth with responsibility, for growth in harmony with people and nature,” explained Tina Müller, CEO of Weleda AG in her keynote. In its overall concept, which also considers the strengthening of the circular economy and biodiversity, the project is pioneering for the economy. “Protecting our planet requires new thinking and action,” said Müller. “It is not enough to harm natural resources less. We must give something back and strengthen our natural foundations of life again. We must operate regeneratively. Sustainability and growth are not contradictory. Sustainability creates growth.”

“The Cradle Campus bridges the past and future of Weleda,” said Thomas Jorberg, Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Weleda AG. “It represents the values that have applied to us since the founding of the company: sustainability, careful handling of nature, and social interaction. At the same time, the campus exemplary shows how business should function today and in the future.”

Prepared for Further Growth

With the new building, for which the groundbreaking took place in September 2021, Weleda aims to centralize its international distribution logistics, which were previously spread across six locations, in one place. As part of the project, the company has digitized its logistics and significantly optimized order picking and shipping for its customers through the fully automated high-bay warehouse. With the new wooden high-bay warehouse, which can accommodate 17,200 pallets, Weleda has also significantly expanded its previous logistics capacities. In normal operation, up to 10,000 shipments will be sent daily from here to 47 countries worldwide.

“With the Cradle Campus, we are well prepared for the growth of Weleda. We are taking our logistics to a whole new level,” explained Alois Mayer, a member of the Weleda management. “But the campus is even more: a thoroughly sustainable building complex, embedded in nature.” For example, the use of clay for the walls has resulted in a building structure that even meets the strict requirements for the storage of medicines without needing artificial climate control.

Award-Winning and Sustainable Architecture

For its consistently sustainability-oriented architecture, the campus has already received several awards: the prestigious Polis Award 2024 in the category “Ecological Effectiveness” and recently the “Iconic Award” from the German Design Council in the category “Best of Best – Innovative Architecture.” Even at the start of construction, the large project was awarded the preliminary certificate for the DGNB Platinum Standard, the highest rating level of the German Sustainable Building Council.

The jurors also recognized the measures to strengthen biodiversity. Weleda additionally enhances the new location by creating conditions for maximum species diversity. For example, the outdoor facilities will feature orchards with wild fruits, a juniper heath, and rose hedges. Thus, an agriculturally used monoculture is transformed into a landscape with high biodiversity.

Photo: © Weleda