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CSR Reporting
Carbon Footprint
Renewable Energy
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SIG
is one of the world's leading solution providers for the food and beverage
industry within the field of carton packs and filling technology. Their
customers in over 70 countries fill more than 10,000 products from over
50 product categories into SIG carton packs.
After committing to ambitious sustainability goals (e.g. substantial reduction
of greenhouse gas emissions and development of a carton packaging with
leading environmental performance) as part of their "Corporate Compass",
a CSR report according to GRI was first published for 2016. Dr. Ralf Resch
supported the SIG team in the areas of data gathering and preparation,
carbon footprinting and energy management. During this reporting process
and subsequently various optimisation potentials were uncovered, e.g.
for the usage of renewable energy at different production sites, the operation
mode of the CHP and for a more efficient data capture during CSR reporting
and carbon footprinting.
The cooperation has been evaluated as very good by the responsible SIG
contact and has been continued since then. Alongside the annual gathering
and consolidation of carbon dioxide emission and energy consumption data
for the reporting process (meanwhile in additon to GRI also for CDP and
DJSI), the creation of own capacities and the sourcing of green energy
are focal points of the cooperation.
Dr. Ralf Resch performed an initial sustainability quick check for ORT, a marketing production company headquartered in Krefeld/Germany with branch offices in other parts of Germany. Based on a stakeholder analysis, relevant topics in the three dimensions of ecology, economy and social aspects were captured, analysed and compared with industry benchmarks. Recommendations were made in the following areas:
Communication:adjustment
of the mission statement
and the Internet
presentation- Management:introduction
of sustainability related
performance indicators
for eco- and socio-efficiency,
leading to a sustainability
management system - Social
aspects:employee
involvement through a
lighthouse project - Ecology:replacement
of the current heating and air
conditioning system
with a cogeneration plant
(combined production
of electricity and heat or cooling)
This lead ORT to apply for participation in the ESF programme "CSR
for SMEs".
The project "Calculation and reduction of the corporate carbon footprint"
took up several recommendations of the quick check and implements them,
e. g. through
- Calculation
of the corporate carbon footprint,
evaluation based
on comparable indicators - Determination
of the main drivers for greenhouse
gas emissions - Creation of
ideas for the reduction of greenhouse
gas emissions
and energy consumption, involving
the employees - Implementation
of the most promising ideas, realisation
of the ecological
and economic gains
Activities started in the spring of 2012 and lasted for two years. Dr. Ralf Resch coached and consulted the project team, in particular through calculating the carbon footprint and determining the main drivers, conducting trainings and workshops for the employees, evaluating the measures to reduce the carbon footprint and communicating the results. After formal completion of the ESF programme, carbon footprint calculation was continued and further measures implemented.
The results are really impressive: from 2011 – 2020
- Greenhouse gas
emissions could be reduced by 71%,
- Energy consumption
by 45% and
- Energy cost
by 22%
This was achieved mainly through organisational measures and behavioural
change.
In addition, a cogeneration unit was installed for combined heating/cooling
and electricity production.
Carbon footprint calculation will be continued in the coming years to
evaluate results and to implement further optimisations.
In 2015 ORT started with sustainability reporting according to ISO 26000 in order to systemise the existing CSR activities and to develop focus areas for further activities. Dr. Ralf Resch supported ORT with content and structural aspects of the report, the preparation of key figures und provided suggestions for future plans. According to the planned biannual update, in 2017 the second report was published and contained further targets for the next period, e.g. a PV roof installation for self-supply of green electricity and a larger e-mobility offering as well as an ecological upgrade of the company premises to foster biodiversity. These targets have been accomplished in the following period and described in the 2019 report. The most recent CSR report (only in German) shows not only the achievements of more than 10 years of sustainable development but also presents ambitious goals for the future. Dr. Ralf Resch continues in his advisory role with suggestions, methodical advice and carbon footprinting.
Dr. Ralf Resch together with other experts developed a concept for the
supply of Bionade GmbH in Ostheim/Germany with renewable energy,
involving local farmers, company employees and other stakeholders.
At first the following parameters were analysed:
- Status quo of
energy consumption (sources of energy,
usage pattern,
cost and greenhouse gas emissions) - Applicability
of renewable energy sources for the
requirements of
BIONADE - Regional potentials
of renewable energy sources
- Possible business
models and forms of cooperation
withcontract farmers
and other regional partner
Based on this, a proposal with the following components was developed:
- Concept
for the future renewable energy supply of the
main plant through
the combination of a community
biogas plant,
wood chips heating, small hydro power,
small wind power,
solar heat and photovoltaics - Concept
for the implementation of a closed loop cycle of
material by using
digestate as fertiliser for the contract
farmers - Possibility
for a permanent carbon storage in the form of
biochar, reducing
the atmospheric CO2 content and
improving the
soil of the contract farmers, through a
HTC plant - Development
of the stakeholder network
- Calculation
of the required investment and investigation
of adequate public
and private sources of financing - Communication
strategy and phase plan for concept
implementation - Perspectives
for the energetic optimisation of the whole
value chain to
achieve a carbon neutral provision of
the product
The proposal was very well received by the company
and becomes part of the
future planning.
Innovation and Transfer Network for Sustainable SMEs of the
Leuphana University Luneburg/Germany
The Innovation Incubator Luneburg is a project to stimulate the economy
in the former administrative region of Luneburg through close cooperation
with scientific institutes. The Leuphana University Luneburg developed
this EU sponsored project and implements it through 2010 – 2015 together
with the federal state of Lower Saxony, with a focus on the creation of
jobs in future-proof industries and the strengthening of the research
and development capabilities of SMEs in the region.
In 2011, a project group within the sub team "Sustainable SMEs"
intended to develop a practical standard for sustainable buildings in
close cooperation with the Network Sustainable Building in Verden as external
project partner. For this endeavour, a pilot study was commissioned to
analyse the "Stakeholder constellation of a standard for sustainable
building" in order to determine relevant supra-regional stakeholders,
analyse their interests and develop advantageous set-ups for a purposeful
approach to develop the Network Sustainable Building as certification
body.
Dr. Ralf Resch was commissioned with this study.
He analysed existing standards for sustainable building, interviewed selected representatives of the relevant stakeholder groups and developed suggestions for the positioning of the Network Sustainable Building and its focussed cooperation patterns with major stakeholder groups. In November 2011, he presented his findings to representatives of the Innovation Incubator and the Network Sustainable Building, who evaluated the results positively:
"The cooperation with Mr. Resch as expert for mission oriented
research in the area of sustainability management was spot-on and in time.
His recommendations are perfectly suited for the needs of the various
project partners."
(Dr. Holger Petersen and Matthias Schock, Innovation Incubator Sustainable
SMEs)
Manufacturer of taps
A large international manufacturer of taps planned in 2021 the publication
of a CSR report according to GRI. Dr. Ralf Resch provided advice to the
agency preparing this report on behalf of the manufacturer for the GRI
conformity of the report content and the preparation of respective data
and facts form the enterprise. The report has been completed as planned
and certified by GRI. The collaboration has been valued highly by the
agency and shall be continued for the next reporting cycle.