SUSTAINABILITYMoving towards climate neutrality
We are investing in sustainable energy sources and state-of-the-art technology to minimise carbon emissions and achieve climate-neutral production by 2040.
CONSISTENTLY REDUCING EMISSIONSSteadily becoming more sustainable
Consistently reducing our emissions until we achieve climate neutrality is a key part of our climate protection strategy. This is supplemented by various sustainability certification systems for energy and the environment. Every year, we also take part in the international Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) ranking and EcoVadis.
OutlookWe set ourselves ambitious targets and aim to achieve climate-neutral production by 2040 at the latest.
Energy sources of the future
In order to achieve greenhouse-neutral production, a realignment of energy sources is necessary. Where we still use fossil fuels as energy sources in our plants, alternatives such as biomass will be used from 2022. The use of our own biomass from beet pulp is also an important part of our strategy. Thus, we not only act in a cycle-oriented manner, but we also reduce our emissions enormously.
Highly efficient combined heat and power plants in our sugar factories supply our own electrical and thermal energy. The surplus electricity is fed into the public grid. But in order to achieve greenhouse-neutral sugar production, a reorientation of energy production as well as energy sources is necessary.
We are investing at our sites to create optimal conditions for energy savings and a reduction in CO2 emissions. This also includes state-of-the-art digital technologies.
Our achievements to date in Germany
In 2021, we halved carbon emissions at our Jülich plant and reduced our energy consumption by 20% by phasing out coal. We also produce less dust, sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxides as a result. As we continue to work towards carbon-neutral production, the plant will be modified further in the next few years.
Now that we have phased out coal at our Jülich site, we will start doing the same at our Euskirchen plant in 2023, followed by our Könnern site. By doing so, we will reduce our carbon emissions by 76% by 2030 compared with 1990.
