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

Guiding principle: “Building with conscience”

Sto’s history began in 1955, when Stotmeister GmbH – as it was then known – became the first company to introduce organically bound renders to the market. Today, Sto SE & Co. KGaA is one of the world’s leading manufacturers of products and systems for building coatings. Its energy-saving insulation systems make a major contribution to climate protection, value preservation, and thus to sustainability goals in the building sector.

The company is a leader in the field of facade insulation systems. Its broad portfolio for new and existing buildings includes paints, renders, varnishes, materials for concrete repair, floor coatings, acoustic systems, and ventilated curtain-wall facade systems. The guiding principle “Building with conscience” encapsulates in three words the Sto Group’s self-image, which encompasses ecological and social responsibility. The group’s revenue in 2025 amounted to 1.591 billion euros.

Sto SE & Co. KGaA, headquartered in Stühlingen in southern Baden, traces its origins back to the company founded in 1835 by Anton Gäng. A lime works that was taken over by Wilhelm Stotmeister about 100 years later. After World War II, the company began its rapid rise to become a global enterprise. In 1955, Stotmeister GmbH – as it was then known – became the first company to introduce organically bound renders to the market.

Today, Sto SE & Co. KGaA, with its core markets in Europe, Asia, and the Americas, has a global presence and continues to grow internationally. With nearly 5,500 employees, the group generated revenue of 1.591 billion euros in 2025. By the end of 2025, the technology leader was represented in 35 countries through 50 wholly owned operating subsidiaries and their facilities. In addition, the company maintains supply relationships with distribution partners in numerous other countries.

Sto’s market partners worldwide include architects, specialist planners, specialised tradespeople, investors, and building owners who value the quality of the products and systems, the service and consulting support, and the innovative strength of this professional brand.

Until the end of 2016, the company was led by the third generation of the founding Stotmeister family, which also holds 90 percent of the voting common stock (10 percent is held by Sto SE & Co. KGaA). About one-third of Sto’s securities are preferred shares that are freely traded. The Stotmeister families, who own the company, remain committed and now help shape its future through the supervisory board.

Social and environmental responsibility

The concept of sustainability has been of great importance to Sto – not just since the climate protection goals were formulated as part of the European Green Deal. As early as 1988, the guiding principle “Building with conscience” expressed the commitment that has been embedded in the DNA of this family-owned company from the very beginning: to take responsibility for society and the environment. This approach extends far beyond mere climate and environmental protection goals and also encompasses the areas of circular economy, health, and social responsibility. In the production of Sto products, the company strives for energy and resource efficiency. The use of renewable raw materials and renewable energy is also being promoted in some product segments, without compromising the quality Sto products are known for.

In 2009, the mission statement was updated to reflect current trends – evolving from “a pioneer in environmentally conscious and people-centered living space design” to “a technology leader in the people-centered and sustainable design of built environments.” Sto SE & Co. KGaA fulfills the sociopolitical responsibility implied by this mission in many ways. In the area of corporate social responsibility, key initiatives include signing the United Nations Global Compact as early as 2009, as well as the commitment of the nonprofit Sto Foundation, which for over 20 years – with an annual grant budget of 1,000,000 euros today – has primarily supported the education and training of young tradespeople and architecture students.

Facade systems play a major role in reducing greenhouse gas emissions

The core business of Sto SE & Co. KGaA – the manufacture of exterior wall insulation systems – is not only a key driver of the company’s growth but also makes a direct contribution to energy conservation and, thereby, to climate and resource protection: Thanks to Sto systems installed on buildings worldwide since 1965, an amount of energy equivalent to approximately 155 billion liters of heating oil will have been saved by 2025. This means that the equivalent of around 495 million metric tons of CO2 was prevented from entering the atmosphere in the first place. In 2025 alone, Sto products reduced combustion gas emissions by an estimated 26 million metric tons. Furthermore, against the backdrop of increasing global warming, the heat protection provided by insulation systems is a significant factor because they reduce the energy and resource consumption of air conditioning systems. In the areas of health and ecology, certifications based on internationally recognized environmental labels underscore the product focus of Sto SE & Co. KGaA. Through extensive research efforts, the products and systems are continuously refined and improved.