Baker Hager in St. Pölten: On the way to climate neutrality!

Baker Hager in St. Pölten: On the way to climate neutrality!

On August 10, 2025, the Governor of Lower Austria, Johanna Mikl-Leitner, visited the traditional Hager bakery in St. Pölten. The bakery, which has been operating in the region since 1907 and operates a total of 12 branches, is strongly committed to climate neutrality and sustainable solutions. Hager is part of the “Decarb4SME+” qualification project, which is supported by the ecoplus Food Cluster Lower Austria. The aim of this project is to help small and medium-sized companies (SMEs) like the Hager bakery meet the requirements of climate neutrality. This initiative is also co-financed by the European Union as part of the “Lower Austria Innovation Ecosystem”.

During her visit, Mikl-Leitner emphasized the importance of traditional family-run businesses for the quality of life in the region. In this context, managing director Wolfgang Hager emphasized the importance of sustainability in purchasing and production. The company also plans to use electric delivery vehicles from January 2026 to further reduce CO2 emissions. In this context, the master bakers and the state governor also visited the plans for a new photovoltaic system that will contribute to sustainable energy production.

Focus on sustainability

The Hager bakery is one of nine Lower Austrian companies in the food industry that are taking part in the “Decarb4SME+” project. This project aims to strengthen the skills of participating companies in relation to climate neutrality. This also includes the increased use of regional ingredients and the promotion of e-mobility. Ecological sustainability plays a central role for the bakery, which is clearly reflected in the planned measures.

However, many SMEs, like Hager Bakery, face challenges in implementing sustainable practices. A report from versfinanz.at highlights that high energy prices, inflation and geopolitical tensions, such as the war in Ukraine, are slowing developments in Europe. A recent study shows that SMEs are increasingly demanding support from the EU for more sustainable practices. Tax incentives and subsidized funds are particularly important for the green transition.

The needs of SMEs

The survey found that 73 percent of SMEs want tax incentives for sustainable products, while 67 percent want subsidized EU funds to support the green transition. At the same time, 59 percent of SMEs report negative effects of increased energy prices on their sustainability strategies. These challenges highlight how important it is that companies like Hager can operate in a supportive environment.

The Hager bakery is an example of the change that many traditional companies are undergoing in order to meet today's sustainability requirements. The support from projects like “Decarb4SME+” and the willingness of politicians to promote these developments show that sustainable and climate-neutral business practices are becoming increasingly important.

For more information on this topic you can visit the reports noe.gv.at, noen.at and versfinanz.at read up.