At Sto, the pursuit of sustainability is a long-standing tradition

Guiding principle: “Building with conscience”

Sto SE & Co. KGaA (Stühlingen) is a leading international manufacturer of paints, renders, varnishes and coating systems, as well as composite thermal insulation systems for the construction industry. Other key areas include concrete repair, floor coatings, acoustic systems, and ventilated curtain wall systems. Group turnover in 2025 amounted to 1.591 billion euros.

The manufacturer, based in Stühlingen in southern Baden, has recorded significant growth, particularly over the last two decades. More than 1,500 products and systems are now in use, and Sto SE & Co. KGaA has a global presence. In 2025, the technology leader employed nearly 5,500 employees and is represented in 35 countries through 50 wholly owned operating subsidiaries and their branches. The foundation of this success lies in its forward-looking strategic positioning, which is the result of a traditionally oriented corporate policy. Since the late 1980s, Sto’s guiding principle of “Building with conscience” has stood for the pursuit of social and environmental sustainability. The façade and interior specialist serves architects, specialised tradespeople, investors and building owners – including expert consultancy. The company’s origins lie in a lime works, founded in 1835, which was taken over by Wilhelm Stotmeister in the 1930s. Until the end of 2016, the company was managed by the third generation of the Stotmeister family, who also hold 90 percent of the ordinary shares with voting rights (10 percent held by Sto SE & Co. KGaA). The Stotmeisters remain committed to their company and now help shape its future through the supervisory board.

Social and environmental responsibility

Sto’s guiding principle is particularly evident in the company’s commitment to the idea of sustainability and its social activities: membership of the German Sustainable Building Council (DGNB) and the UN Global Compact Initiative, as well as the Sto Foundation established in 2005. Within its product portfolio, Sto ensures that its products are manufactured in a resource-efficient manner and contribute to energy efficiency in existing buildings. This is demonstrated, for example, by numerous certificates relating to environmental protection and the permanent reduction of harmful substances. Today, Sto SE & Co. KGaA sees itself as a “technology leader for the humane and sustainable design of built environments”.