The European business location Austria has recently been the subject of discussions, with studies showing a decline in mood among companies and poor investments. However, the Upper Austrian plastics and foam company Greiner is taking a different approach. Out of its total of 138 million euros in investments, over 80 percent flowed into European locations, with 56 million euros invested in Austria alone.

Greiner’s CEO Saori Dubourg emphasized that they will remain firmly anchored in Europe, with a commitment to Austria as a location due to its favorable conditions for developing new technologies and products. Despite facing challenges such as declining sales and geopolitical tensions, finance director Hannes Moser described Greiner’s results as solid. Signs of recovery are already appearing in the packaging sector for the current financial year, although the market environment remains challenging.

In 2022, Greiner acquired a Serbian recycling company as part of its sustainability strategy and commitment to the Circular economy. Company boss Dubourg highlighted progress in achieving EU recycling goals and discussed efforts to comply with the Supply Chain Act. The European Green Deal presents both regulations and opportunities for expanding markets and intensifying the economy.

Greiner is also investing heavily in its employees, with a focus on artificial intelligence and sustainability. Efforts are being made to increase the proportion of women in management positions to 40 percent by 2030, despite global labor shortages. Despite this challenge, Greiner increased its number of employees worldwide by 9.3 percent last year, with only a slight increase in Austria itself due to labor shortages there too. Currently, there are over 190 vacant positions at Greiner globally, including 60 openings in Austria alone.

Overall, despite challenges facing other businesses in Europe and concerns about deindustrialization, Greiner is remaining committed to investing in its employees and maintaining its presence in Europe’s business landscape through sustainable practices and innovation-driven solutions.