Sustainability at SGL Carbon

A considerable proportion of our consolidated revenue is generated through products and solutions that make sustainable products possible. Our specialty graphite for lithium-ion batteries and components for fuel cells, for example, help to accelerate the switch from internal combustion engines to electric drives, while our carbon fiber-based lightweight construction products help to further reduce energy consumption and carbon emissions in the automotive and aviation sectors.

We are also continuously working to reduce energy consumption in our manufacturing. One example is the development of a graphite for batteries that needs significantly less power in serial production. Studies and projects are also under way on new technologies designed to significantly reduce energy consumption in carbon fiber production. At our site in Meitingen, we have come up with a solution that could become a model for others. It involves supplying a neighboring residential area with energy generated from the waste heat of our cooling water – a win-win situation for the community and the company.

Our objective is to use resources efficiently and to avoid negative impact on the environment as much as possible. We want to continuously reduce the amount of water we consume and waste we generate. When it comes to waste, our principle is 'avoidance is better than recycling and recycling is better than disposal'. Unavoidable waste can often be reused in other products or at other sites. Recycled carbon fibers, for example, can be turned into fleece textiles for vehicle manufacturing. SGL uses water carefully and relies on secondary circuits and recooling systems wherever this makes economic sense. As water generally does not come into direct contact with production, it is not contaminated, and in some cases can be discharged into rivers after use.

The health and safety of our employees is one of the company's core values. We have set ourselves the objective of implementing a rigorous process for preventing work-related injuries and illnesses. Laws and internal guidelines are to be adhered to without exception in all manufacturing processes and for all products. Creating a safe working environment is the responsibility of the company's management and every employee. Another objective is to continually improve existing safety procedures. In 2017, the target for the accident frequency rate was 2.25 accidents per million hours of work. At an actual frequency rate of 2.5, that target was slightly exceeded, but the frequency of accidents was once again very low.