Environmental Responsibility
Long-term thinking and responsible action are two of SCHOTT’s guiding principles, which is why we are committed to environmental and climate protection. With our “Zero Carbon” strategy program, we are entering a new era of sustainable management.
Towards an ambitious goal
With our goal being climate neutral, we have embarked on a long and challenging journey. But we have already completed the first milestones.Climate neutral by 2030
Our clear goal: Climate neutral by 2030
As a global specialty glass manufacturer, we are part of an energy-intensive industry with a large CO2 footprint. We want to meet this challenge.
Our action plan
On our way toward climate neutrality, we act according to the principle "Avoid - Reduce – Compensate”. Our action plan comprises four fields of action.
Technology change
The goal of climate neutrality requires a massive upheaval in glass production. The greatest challenge is technology change, along with the time factor. In the long term, we want to completely abandon the use of fossil fuels as far as technologically possible. In developing new technologies, we are focusing on the most energy-intensive process step of glass melting. Here we are pursuing two main transformation paths: electrification and hydrogen technology. In both approaches, electricity from renewable energies plays a decisive role.
Improvement of energy efficiency
The continuous improvement of energy efficiency and the associated reduction of energy consumption has been an ongoing task for us for decades. As part of our proven energy management system, we are constantly working to identify and utilize energy efficiency potential. New impetus is coming from the digitalization of the melting process and artificial intelligence. With new types of sensors and technology in the field of big data, we can improve the structure of the mass data we collect at the glass melting tanks, analyze it automatically, and use it for process improvements.
100 percent green electricity
It is our goal to use electricity from renewable sources only. Since the end of 2021, we have been covering 100 percent of our electricity requirements worldwide with renewable energies with corresponding certificates of origin. In this context, we attach great importance to high-quality green power certificates that confirm a strong contribution to the energy transition. In the next step, we also want to procure green power via long-term power purchase agreements (PPAs) with operators of certain renewable energy plants.
Compensating residual emissions
We compensate residual emissions by investing in climate protection projects certified to strict standards. We made a start in 2020, and are now expanding our compensation portfolio step by step. In doing so, we are focusing primarily on nature-based solutions such as afforestation and reforestation. By 2030, we want to fully compensate the emissions that we cannot avoid through technology change, further improvements in energy efficiency, and the use of green electricity to become a climate-neutral company.
Environmental protection
Setting standards
Through the use of state-of-the-art technology and continuous process improvements, we repeatedly set standards in the glass industry when it comes to environmental protection.
“Protecting the environment and the natural resources are high-priority corporate goals to which we are clearly committed.”
Continuous process improvements to reduce emissions and energy and water consumption
Dust
Using filter technologies, we reduce dust emissions in the exhaust air from the glass melting process by over 99 %.
Nitrogen oxides
By introducing catalytic and non-catalytic processes, we have been able to reduce specific nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions by up to 75 % since 1989.
Energy
Since the 1990s, we have been converting the melting tank heating fuel to oxy-fuel technology, and have succeeded in reducing specific energy consumption by over 30 %.
Energy management
Energy management systems according to ISO 50001 and the energy efficiency network EffiNet@SCHOTT ensure that energy consumption is reduced.
Water
With closed-loop and water treatment systems, we significantly reduce fresh water consumption.
EHS management system
Integrated EHS management system
Since 1995, we have been using an integrated EHS management system to ensure that high standards of environmental protection and health and safety are maintained at all our sites worldwide. It is based on the international ISO standards 14001 (Environmental Management Systems) and 45001 (Occupational Health And Safety).
In the meantime, the EHS standard for material compliance has also been added. These group-wide standards supplement national laws and regulations where it is important to SCHOTT to uniformly regulate relevant compliance topics and define a worldwide minimum standard.
Other key areas of responsibility
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If you need more information about our commitment to environmental and climate protection, please contact us.
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