Key aspects
Together with our stakeholders, we have taken a close look at our responsibility towards people and nature and defined the following areas of action as priorities for us:
- Climate protection: We are aware of our emissions, we make plans and take measures to reduce emissions, we use resources more efficiently and gradually switch to renewable energies.
- Responsibility for products: We will drive forward the selection of sustainable materials, we promote long-life products and create transparency along the entire product life cycle.
- Responsibility for people: We offer secure jobs and promote diversity, we focus on team spirit and are committed to training.
- Transparency: We will report regularly on our goals and progress.
Goals
We are aware of our current environmental impact. We have therefore set ourselves ambitious targets to minimise our contribution to climate change. We are aiming for greenhouse gas neutrality (net zero) by 2045.
This is to be achieved primarily through a continuous reduction in our energy consumption and the exclusive use of renewable energies by 2045.
Actions
Even though we are just at the beginning of our path to sustainability, we are already implementing numerous actions:
- Environmental protection: drawing up a greenhouse gas balance as a basis for reduction measures, complying with local chemical regulations and emission control laws, ensuring water quality and reducing water consumption, reducing waste and disposing of it properly
- Energy: energy management system in accordance with ISO 50001 at the Thalheim and Zwönitz sites, environmental management system in accordance with ISO 14001 at our site in São Bernardo do Campo, implementation of various energy efficiency measures, self-generation of electricity via photovoltaic systems at most sites
- Working conditions: Compliance with the principles of the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises and the core labour standards of the International Labour Organization (ILO) as well as the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights
- Work safety: Prioritisation of work safety throughout the company, compliance with safety regulations and provision of suitable personal protective equipment, appointment of safety officers and regular training of employees on work safety
- Human rights: Prohibition of child labour and forced labour, respect for the right to freedom of association and collective bargaining, promotion of diversity, diversity and equal opportunities
- Governance: Definition of a Code of Conduct, provision of an anonymous whistleblower system in the event of violations and irregularities