Shaping transformation: Minister-President Daniel Günther visits tesa headquarters in Norderstedt

• Minister-President's visit: Daniel Günther describes tesa as a pioneer in the energy transition and a role model for Schleswig-Holstein
• Artificial intelligence and digitalization: tesa implements AI solutions from product development to customer interaction
• Competitiveness: Visit emphasizes the importance of innovation for sustainable industry in Germany
   

Norderstedt - tesa, international manufacturer of innovative adhesive tapes and self-adhesive product solutions, welcomed the Minister President of Schleswig-Holstein, Daniel Günther, to tesa's headquarters in Norderstedt. The visit comes at a time when, according to the latest Sustainability Transformation Monitor 2025, political uncertainty is slowing down sustainability initiatives at more than 70 percent of German companies. tesa's clear commitment to carbon neutrality demonstrates how companies can drive transformation despite these challenges.

Future-proof energy supply for a competitive industry

tesa is aiming for climate-neutral production (Scope 1 and 2) by 2030 and is investing 300 million in the transformation of its business. This includes measures to save energy, increase energy efficiency and switch to renewable sources such as solar or wind power.

Dr. Ingrid Sebald, Chief Technology Officer at tesa, explains: "A sustainable transformation of our production is of central importance to us. We rely on innovative technologies that help us to optimize our processes and minimize our ecological footprint at the same time. The switch to renewable energies and digital solutions such as AI-supported process optimization are important building blocks in this regard. To ensure that this transformation remains economically viable for industrial companies like tesa, we need the support of politicians. We are pleased that Minister-President Günther has recognized our efforts and hope for further initiatives from the state to ensure the attractiveness of the business location. This is crucial for the competitiveness of German industry."

Dr. Jörg Diesfeld, Chief Financial Officer at tesa, adds: "The digital transformation is a core component of our future strategy. Through the targeted use of AI and machine learning, we are not only strengthening our innovative power, but also creating measurable added value for our customers. We are particularly pleased that the state government of Schleswig-Holstein has set itself the goal of playing a pioneering role nationwide in the field of artificial intelligence. This supports our efforts to take a holistic approach to the digital transformation - from product development to customer interaction. This is the only way we can remain competitive in a rapidly changing market environment, while achieving our sustainability goals."

Minister President Daniel Günther emphasises: "My visit to tesa is an impressive demonstration of the innovative potential in our state. Companies like tesa are not only pioneers of industrial change, they also prove that sustainability and economic success can go hand in hand. The consistent combination of modern technologies with ambitious climate protection goals is exactly the right path that we as the state government will continue to pursue. Schleswig-Holstein has the potential to become a leading location for innovative and future-oriented industries - tesa shows how this can be achieved.

Focus on AI, innovation and sustainability

During his visit, Günther gained insights into tesa's innovative technologies. He was particularly interested in tesa's award-winning Debonding on Demand technology - an innovation that allows strong adhesive bonds to be released on demand. This technology makes an important contribution to the circular economy by making it easier to recycle products and reuse materials. In addition to this sustainable innovation, tesa also presented solutions for automated applications in the automotive industry. The focus was on the development of more sustainable products, the implementation of sustainable production processes and the long-term security of energy supply in the context of the energy transition. It also provided an insight into how tesa, as an innovation driver in the adhesive tape industry, uses AI technologies specifically to develop sustainable products and optimize production processes - always with a focus on added customer value and resource efficiency.