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Sustainability at SGL Carbon

As a technology-based company with a focus on developing smart solutions, we are aware of our environmental and social responsibility. By smart we mean intelligent, trendsetting, and sustainable.

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  • Download CSR report
  • Our Sustainability Principles
  • Energy consumption and CO2
  • Water requirement and waste volume

In 2016 and 2017, we carried out a materiality analysis based on the criteria of the Global Reporting Initiative. The aim was to identify key sustainability topics for the company, and thus to create the foundations for the non-financial report. In line with the double materiality claim, this analysis considered the economic impact that an issue has on the company, and how SGL's business activities impact third parties.

Corporate social responsibility report

Read more about our corporate social responsibility activities that are classed as material.

They include socially responsible, environmentally conscious, and resource-friendly conduct, the promotion of sustainable product solutions, being responsible for our employees, respecting human rights, corporate citizenship, and compliance and anti-corruption standards.

Download CSR report

Our Sustainability Principles

Sustainable product innovation

SGL Carbon pursues target-oriented research and development both in its two business units and in Central Innovation. In addition to increasing economic profitability, these activities equally aim to continuously improve the sustainability of our products and processes.

Reducing energy consumption in manufacturing

The manufacture of carbon fibers and specialty graphite production processes require extremely high temperatures and is energy intensive. The majority of SGL Carbon's energy consumption is due to generating heat and the thermal cleaning of emissions. As a company using a large amount of energy we have special responsibilities with regard to climate change and the environment, as the consumption of energy is also linked to emissions of greenhouse gases, in particular CO2.

The top-level target for energy management is to use all types of energy efficiently and to thus ensure constant improvements. In so doing, SGL Carbon is focused on energy-efficient equipment and processes. We have included this in our EHSA energy management policy and our Code of Conduct. In addition,
we offered training activities at the ISO 50001 certified sites and communicated energy management within the Company. We want to ensure that our employees are also aware of our energy reduction activities. They should have the necessary knowledge that will help them contribute to actively reducing energy consumption. Since December 2015 all of SGL Carbon’s European production sites have an ISO 50001-certified energy management system. Certification was issued by the management system certification companies, DQS and DEKRA. The non-European sites, Moses Lake, Gardena and Arkadelphia have also been certified to ISO 50001.

Resource management

As part of SGL Carbon’s business activities, waste products from carbon and residual materials are produced. Both carbon and also the residual materials produced in most of the production processes are highly recyclable. We primarily use water to cool production equipment.

At all of its locations worldwide, SGL Carbon undertakes to comply with all of the applicable statutory requirements and to uphold effective management processes and continuous performance improvements for its management of resources. We pursue the objective of using resources efficiently, and avoiding impacting the environment as far as possible. We thus aim to constantly reduce water consumption and the production of waste. Our principle for waste avoidance is: avoidance is better than recycling and recycling is better than disposal. Waste that cannot be prevented can often be reused in other products or at other locations. For example, recycled carbon fibers can be used as fleece textiles for automotive production. SGL Carbon uses water carefully, and uses secondary circuits and cooling equipment wherever this makes economic sense. Water that does not come directly into contact with production is not contaminated, and can be discharged into rivers after use in some cases.

Occupational health and safety

SGL Carbon relies on having a highly performing workforce for its entrepreneurial success. We regard protecting our employees' health and safety as being an ethical obligation with a high entrepreneurial value. We have set out binding requirements for all our employees in our Code of Business Conduct and Ethics
and our EHSA Policy which applies worldwide. We also attach great value to the corresponding standards at our business partners and consider health and safety at work aspects when selecting suppliers. The Code of Conduct for suppliers and subcontractors stipulates that these must ensure their employees' health and safety in their work-place, and set up a management system for constant improvement.

The aim is also to improve on the existing safety activities. In 2019 a target Frequency Rate for accidents with lost time injuries was 3.10 accidents per million worked hours. This includes accidents by SGL’s employees and external contracted employees) with at least one day lost after the day of the accident. This target was not reached with an actual result of 3.29, however the Frequency Rate was lower than in 2018 (3.45 accidents/million worked hours). The target for Severity Rate was reached with a value of 140 (target: 155) and was also lower than in the previous year (148 days/million worked hours). Targets of 3.10 accidents/million worked hours and 150 days/million worked hours have been set for 2020.

Our Environmental Data at a Glance

Energy consumption and carbon dioxide emissions

Environmental data 1)20192018Change
Energy consumption
in gigawatt hours (GWh)1,4091,441-2%
 thereof oil and gas488500-2%
 thereof electricity628646-3%
 thereof steam293296-1%

in relation to economic output

(GWh per €1.0m sales revenue) 2)

1.371.41-3%

CO2-emissions 3)

in thousands of tons (kt)393406-3%
 thereof direct9093-3%
 thereof indirect303313-3%

in relation to economic output

(kt per €1.0m sales revenue) 2)

0.380.40-5%

1) The data includes all fully consolidated subsidiaries

2) Adjusted sales revenue (excluding price, currency and other special effects). The adjustment of the previous year's figure results from the use of a rolling base year

3) The calculation of CO2-emissions is based on „UK Government GHG Conversion Factors for Company Reporting“ of the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy, Gov. UK for direct emissions (Scope 1) and steam (Scope 2) as well as on „EMISSION FACTORS 2019“ of the International Energy Agency (IEA) for indirect emissions (Scope 2)

Water requirement and waste volume

Environmental data 1)20192018Change
Water requirement
Total (millions m3)7.429.24-20%
 thereof from Company wells4.205.73-27%
 thereof from rivers1.801.85-3%
 thereof from public water supply1.421.66-15%

in relation to economic output

(m3 per €1,000 in sales revenue) 2)

7.29.0-20%

Waste volume

in thousands of tons (kt)26.329.7-11%
 thereof hazardous waste4.63.628%

in relation to economic output

(t per €1.0m sales revenue) 2)

25.629.0-12%

1) The data includes all fully consolidated subsidiaries.

2) Adjusted sales revenue (excluding price, currency and other special effects). The adjustment of the previous year's figure results from the use of a rolling base year.

Further information

SGL Vision – Focus on growth and the future – Change and progress are technology-driven. As a technology-based company, we make a substantial contribution to bothVision
Find out more about compliance at SGL, about our Code of Conduct, and about how we take effective action against misconduct and corruption.Compliance
Find out more about SGL Carbon and its role as a manufacturer, development partner, and driver of smart solutions in specialty graphites and composites.About us
SGL Carbon is one of the leading companies in the market and as such committed to lawful, ethical, and sustainable conduct.Responsible conduct in the supply chain
Responsible and lawful conduct is a prerequisite for all our business activities and relationships. The Code of Conduct emphasizes this obligation and reflects our shared values.Code of Conduct
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