Road to Net Zero: our main commitment
Climate change is the biggest environmental, social and economic threat globally.
We all need to make an effort to reduce the greenhouse gas and CO2
We want to play an active role in creating a sustainable future, contributing to the evolution of the social and economic system while protecting the environment.
+ Reduce consumption and emissions (material topic)
+ Increase circularity
+ Combat climate change
+ Protect biodiversity
Green Policy
In 2020, we approved our Green Policy, a strategic document needed to chart the actions and initiatives we intend to implement to develop our sustainability goals.
The Green Policy 2023 is available here link.
This new version of the Green Policy expands the range of topics covered and introduces innovations relating to
- digital pollution
- energy consumption
- renewable energy sources
- car fleet management
- biodiversity.
Energy consumption and self-generation
We consume 1.3-1.4 GWh of electricity annually, entirely from renewables, as stipulated in our supply contract.
We are careful to identify waste, where applicable, so we can cut down on this consumption and we are constantly planning new photovoltaic installations where space permits.
A photovoltaic system is installed on the roof of the Solaro building consisting of 140 photovoltaic panels with a total area of 174 square metres and a maximum power of 32.4 kWp. We consume the energy generated for our production activities. In 2022, we generated 35,721 KWh of energy, equal to 2.9% of the total electricity consumption of the whole of SEW-EURODRIVE Italy 2022.
Solar panels for the new Caserta site will be installed in 2023. The installation includes panels with a total capacity of 89.6 kWp.
This forthcoming installation is expected to bring the coverage of our annual needs to 9% compared to consumption in 2022.
The targets for the coming years 2023-2026 are more ambitious, so as to bring energy self-generation to cover between 25 and 40 per cent of our needs (with reference to the group's 2022 consumption).
Lastly, planning is underway for a new plant in Bologna that will feature 8,000 square metres of roofing for the installation of about 250 kWp.
Monitoring & reduction
The upgrade of the network of electricity consumption meters at the Solaro site was designed and implemented in 2022.
The monitoring system was implemented to reliably determine the amount of energy pertaining to each department, to report the quantity of emissions and to enable us to define the product carbon footprint in the future. In the meantime, we looked for points of wasteful consumption in our systems and operations and implemented a series of actions to reduce electricity consumption, without ever losing sight of the requirements of the Italian National Energy Efficiency Action Plan in accordance with Directive (EU) 2018/2002, which sets an energy efficiency target of at least 32.5% by 2030.
Our efforts have yielded positive results; and we have recorded a 3.8% year-on-year reduction in energy consumption. We will continue in this direction to reach the target of a 5% reduction.
The decrease in energy consumption is even more appreciable when we observe that, in 2022, we achieved a growth in turnover by 20% generating a 12.6% increase in parts assembled in Italy, that however did not result in a corresponding increase in energy consumption. On the contrary, the 3.8% year-on-year decrease in consumption is particularly satisfying.
Emissions
Our operations do not generate any particular pollutant emissions into the atmosphere.
In 2022, direct and indirect Scope 1 and Scope 2 greenhouse gas emissions in terms of CO2-eq totalled 592.20 tonnes.
If we had not purchased 100% renewable energy, the 387.91 tonnes of CO2-eq generated by Scope 2 electricity consumption would have to be added to these emissions.
Waste: reduction, recycling and reuse
To reduce environmental impact, we invest in a series of actions that respect the three Rs:
REDUCE
Electricity consumption, the carbon footprint of the corporate fleet, paper consumption and the proportion of waste generated in each area.
RECYCLE
We devote time and attention to separate waste collection, which we outsource to waste disposal suppliers that ensure a high recovery rate and a low rate of disposal. We separate 100% of the waste produced into categories. Of these, only one is mixed, i.e. consisting of unsorted waste, called “dry residue” and represents 1.8% of the total. In In any case, the dry residue portion is recovered by the waste disposal company, which usually uses this waste as fuel to generate energy.
REUSE
PACKAGING: we recover the packaging that we receive in our warehouses, and reuse it for product shipments.
PRODUCTS: our business model has always offered customers a repair service, extending the useful life and recovering and reusing the motor components that are still fit for use.
Biodiversity
We are mindful of protecting the environment and biodiversity: we have entered into an interaction agreement with the Groane & Brughiera Briantea Regional Park, which our Solaro (MI) office directly borders on to the East, that calls for collaboration in environmental protection and sustainability activities to make the most of the scenic resources of the Groane & Brughiera Briantea Regional Park.
We aim to raise awareness of the issues in the area with various stakeholders: workers, customers, schools and other entities, promoting social inclusion and relations with the community around us, through programmes and initiatives for their active engagement.
We are specifically interested in:
+
creating a favourable “habitat” for pollinating insects in our private area, called the “PRATO FIORITO” or flower field project, compatible with the uniqueness of the Groane Park context,
+
making our areas available for possible studies or monitoring by the Park Authority or appointed personnel,
+
curbing non-native species, especially Invasive Alien Species (IAS),
+
considering the possibility of contributing to environmental rehabilitation, protection and conservation projects in the Cesate Pinewood area, part of the Natura 2000 Network or in another area in the natural park, signing an agreement with the managing body.
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