• Exclusive inauguration welcomes 70 guests from politics, business, and society.
• Weleda Cradle Campus operations are 100% emission-free: Built using timber and rammed earth, powered by solar and geothermal energy. • Project volume: 90 million euros – largest investment in the company’s history. 
• CEO Tina Müller: “The Cradle Campus aligns perfectly with the Weleda strategy. It stands for responsible growth – for growth in harmony with people and nature – and therefore stands for the future of economy.”

Weleda AG, the global leader in certified natural cosmetics and anthroposophic medicines, has a new landmark. Together with distinguished guests from politics, business, and society, the company officially opened its new logistics centre –the Weleda Cradle Campus – in Schwäbisch Gmünd during an event focused on the future of sustainable economy. Attendees included Dr. Nicole Hoffmeister-Kraut, Minister for Economic Affairs of the State of Baden-Württemberg, and Richard Arnold, Mayor of Schwäbisch Gmünd.

The Cradle Campus is a beacon of sustainability – environmentally, economically, and socially. The architecture has already received recognition for its innovative approach. Built primarily from locally sourced timber and rammed earth, and powered by solar and geothermal energy, the new facility operates with zero emissions. The design was developed in consultation with employees to meet their needs and expectations. With a total project volume of EUR 90 million, this new logistics centre represents the largest single investment in the history of Weleda.

“The Cradle Campus aligns perfectly with the Weleda strategy It stands for responsible growth – for growth in harmony with people and nature,” stated Tina Müller, CEO of Weleda AG, during her keynote speech. The project’s holistic approach, which integrates circular economy principles and strengthens biodiversity, is setting new standards for the economy.” Protecting our planet requires new ways of thinking and acting,” said Müller. “It is not enough to simply do less harm to natural resources. We need to give back and actively restore the foundations of life. We must operate regeneratively. Sustainability and growth are not opposing forces. Sustainability drives growth.”

“The Cradle Campus bridges the past and future of Weleda,” stated Thomas Jorberg, Chairman of the Board of Directors at Weleda AG. “It embodies the values that have guided us since the company’s founding: sustainability, respect for nature, and social responsibility. At the same time, the campus serves as a model for how businesses should function today and in the future.”

Equipped for Further Growth

With the new building – whose ground-breaking ceremony took place in September 2021 – Weleda has consolidated its international sales logistics, previously spread across six locations, into a single central hub. As part of this initiative, the company has digitalised its logistics processes and significantly improved order picking and shipping efficiency for its customers through a fully automated high-bay warehouse. With the new timber high-bay facility, with a capacity of 17,200 pallets, Weleda has considerably expanded its logistics capabilities. Under standard operating conditions, up to 10,000 orders will be dispatched daily from the Cradle Campus to 47 countries worldwide.

“With the Cradle Campus, we are ideally equipped to support the growth of Weleda, elevating our logistics to an entirely new level,” said Alois Mayer, member of the Weleda Management Board. “But the campus is even more – it is a fully sustainable complex in harmony with nature.” For example, the use of rammed earth walls has resulted in a building that meets stringent requirements for medicine storage without the need for artificial air conditioning.

Outstanding Architecture

The Cradle Campus has already received multiple awards for its comprehensive approach to sustainable architecture. It was honoured with the prestigious Polis Award 2024 in the “Ecological Reality” category and most recently won the Iconic Award from the German Design Council in the “Best of Best – Innovative Architecture” category. Even during the early stages of construction, the large-scale project achieved the DGNB Platinum Standard Pre-Certificate, the highest rating from German Sustainable Building Council.

The jury also acknowledged the efforts Weleda has taken to promote biodiversity at the Cradle Campus. The company has revitalised its new site by establishing optimal conditions to support diverse ecosystems. The outdoor areas now feature orchard meadows with wild fruit, a juniper heath, and rose hedges, transforming a previous agricultural monoculture into a thriving, biodiverse landscape.

Tina Müller, CEO of Weleda, commented: “Certainly, the project was a financial challenge for Weleda, but seeing what has been achieved here, we can confidently say: It was worth it.”

About Weleda

Weleda AG is a Swiss public limited company headquartered in Arlesheim, near Basel. Represented in over 50 countries, Weleda employs approximately 2,500 people worldwide. The company is the global market leader in certified natural cosmetics and anthroposophic medicines. Weleda operates six biodynamic gardens and is deeply committed to strengthening biodiversity and maintaining healthy soils. Weleda is a certified B Corp. For more information about the Weleda Group, visit weleda.com