17 March 2025
Filtration of the future - inspired by nature
MANN-FILTER presents new CO2-reduced filters impregnated with plant-based raw materials, manufactured using renewable energy, and packaged in sustainable, recycled material.
Ludwigsburg, 17 March 2025. The automotive industry is facing enormous challenges. Increasing sustainability demands, growing customer expectations, and changes in consumer behavior are coming up against the need for economic efficiency. Global filtration expert MANN+HUMMEL has a long tradition in the development of new and innovative technologies. The topic of sustainability is firmly anchored in the company’s philosophy and is in the DNA of its premium brand MANN-FILTER. With a new product innovation made from renewable raw materials—at the same price and with the same performance—the technology leader is taking a big step forward.
But it doesn't stop there. For the fourth time in a row, the Ludwigsburg-based family business has been awarded a gold medal by EcoVadis, the world's leading independent provider of sustainability ratings for companies, for its commitment to sustainability. MANN+HUMMEL is also a member of the United Nations Global Compact initiative and publishes an annual sustainability report that transparently documents the progress of its sustainable transformation.
With the power of nature. Next-gen filters with wood-based impregnation.
Product innovation made from renewable raw materials
Filters with cellulose media have previously been impregnated with fossil-based phenolic resin, which provides stability, rigidity, and chemical resistance. The filtration expert has partially replaced this crude oil-based treatment with the plant-based raw material lignin, a natural product contained in wood. Lignin is what makes wood stable and can also have the same effect on filter media. This technology is initially being used in selected MANN-FILTER air and oil filters—more filters will follow. As a result, MANN+HUMMEL is reducing the CO2 footprint of the relevant lignin impregnation during production by up to 5 percent compared to regular phenolic resin impregnation. In addition, this reduces the amount of crude oil used for impregnation by around 27 percent. The calculation of the CO₂ values and the calculation method for determining the crude oil savings have been externally verified and validated by ClimatePartner. ClimatePartner is a German organization that supports companies in calculating, reducing and offsetting CO₂ emissions and offers climate neutrality labels. Thanks to the switch to lignin, the MANN-FILTER C 17 237 air filter, for example, saves 3.93 tons of CO₂ and more than 4,500 liters of crude oil annually, based on 2024 sales figures. The material used comes from certified sources. Lignin is produced in large quantities as a waste product in paper and pulp production—several million tons are generated worldwide every year.
In the independent aftermarket, these innovative and more sustainable air filters are now available as MANN-FILTER applications for almost 70 million cars and transporters in Europe, while oil filters are ready to use for almost 17.6 million vehicles. The improved impregnation will now be incorporated into defined series products. More and more MANN-FILTER products are gradually being converted to lignin. "This means that customers do not have to choose between different versions, no additional storage space is needed, and no additional part numbers are required," explains Dr. Lars Spelter, lead engineer for filtration materials at MANN+HUMMEL. "Everything should be kept as simple as possible for our customers. Externally, the partially plant-impregnated filters differ from the conventional ones. They are slightly brownish due to the characteristic color of the lignin they contain and they have a pleasant, natural odor. The innovative products are easy to recognize by the green leaf pictogram on the packaging. Our lignin impregnation is a successful example of how ambitious CO2 reduction targets in product development can also be implemented in series products."
Performance and sustainability
The new innovative filters combine sustainability with consistently high performance in the usual original equipment quality and meet the strictest requirements of the automotive industry.
Green electricity and environmentally friendly packaging
For a holistically sustainable approach, it is not just the components and materials of a filter that should be included in the environmental balance sheet, but also its manufacturing process. To further reduce CO2 emissions during production, MANN+HUMMEL will only use electricity from renewable sources or a combination of green electricity and certificates and guarantees of origin from hydro, solar, or wind power plants from 2025. Energy sources for the generation of process heat are also to be CO2 neutral from 2035 in order to achieve a significant milestone in CO2-free production.
MANN-FILTER packaging offers another approach to improving the ecological footprint. The global filtration expert relies on at least 90 percent recycled cardboard from certified raw material sources at its largest filter plant in Marklkofen, Germany. "For the yellow-green box, we consistently rely on sustainable materials and use mineral oil-free vegetable oil-based paints as well as water-based adhesives and coatings. We also attach great value to conserving resources in production: more than 95 percent of the waste generated during the production of our filters is recycled. This means that almost all production waste is recycled either materially or thermally," confirms Marian Anton, Business Development Manager at MANN+HUMMEL.
"Even with the increasing proliferation of more sustainable electric cars, the contribution of combustion engines to achieving climate neutrality by 2050 remains important and necessary," Anton explains. "After all, even though only new cars that are CO2 emission-free will be registered in the EU from 2035, millions of passenger cars and commercial vehicles with petrol or diesel engines will still be in use, not only in the EU, but worldwide. Our filtration solutions therefore play a crucial role in improving the sustainability of new and existing vehicles, especially combustion engines."
Anton concludes with a look ahead: "The switch by our global premium brand MANN-FILTER to lignin-treated products is the next step towards more sustainable filters. Other innovative, more sustainable product features are already being developed and some will even be launched on the market this year. Sustainability is not a trend for us, but part of our DNA. With our strong MANN-FILTER brand, we want to support our customers in being able to operate and live more sustainably. Now and in the future."
Workshops and wholesalers can find more information on the subject of sustainability on the MANN-FILTER website: https://www.mann-filter.com
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About MANN+HUMMEL
MANN+HUMMEL is a global leader in filtration technology. Within its two business units Transportation and Life Sciences & Environment, the Ludwigsburg-based Group (Germany) develops intelligent filtration and separation solutions that enable cleaner mobility, cleaner air, cleaner water, and cleaner industry. Thus, the family-owned company founded in 1941 is making an important contribution to a clean planet and the sustainable use of limited resources. In 2023, over 22,000 employees at more than 80 locations generated a turnover of EUR 4.7 billion.
You can find further information on MANN+HUMMEL at https://www.mann-hummel.com