© Evi Polak
ESG
Climate Change & Decarbonization
Climate change is threatening our survival on this planet. The building sector alone accounts for more than one third of worldwide energy consumption and almost 40% of CO2 emissions. With our innovative products and systems we are providing solutions for decarbonization. In doing so, we are supporting the European Green Deal and preparing the ground for the future.
© Evi Polak
Our Commitment
Holistic and Smart Solutions
Decarbonization and adaptation to climate change are important topics for wienerberger. We address these challenges by providing solutions that are fit for the future.
Group-wide commitment: Within wienerberger, we are committed to decarbonization along the entire value chain – from product design to sourcing to production and the end use of our products.
Positive climate balance of buildings: In the future, buildings ought to store more CO2 than they emit over their entire life cycle. With our products and building material solutions, we are actively contributing to the achievement of this target.
Plastic pipe systems that meet the future demands of energy supply: We are working on the development and supply of plastic-based pipeline systems for hydrogen and biogas. Such high-pressure systems are used in transport and industry.
Climate-resilient habitats, energy-efficient products: Global trends, such as climate change, are creating new requirements, for instance in water management. They are acting as drivers in the development of holistic and smart products and solutions.
Our Goal
What we Want to Achieve
15 %
less CO2 emissions (scope 1 and 2) by 2023 as compared to 2020
This target includes reductions of our:
- Scope 1 emissions: direct CO2 emissions from primary energy sources and from raw materials (of special relevance in ceramic production).
- Scope 2 emission: indirect CO2 emissions from wienerberger's electricity consumption; emissions from electricity generation. For further information and the definitions of Scope 1 and 2, please refer to the following chapter “Climate Change & Decarbonization”.
Our Measures
What We Are Doing
- In our sourcing, we promote circularity by increasing the amount of secondary raw materials used. Group-wide supply management facilitates the optimization of transport. Moreover, we have decided to convert fully to green electricity.
- In production and product design, we are minimizing CO2 emissions through technological innovations. The remaining greenhouse gas emissions are offset by climate protection programs.
- Through ongoing optimization programs, such as the Plant Improvement Program (PIP) and the Production Excellence Program (PEP), as well as the Lean Six Sigma management approach, we are improving our production procedures and optimizing our processes.
- We are advancing the decarbonization of our product portfolio through innovations and novel product designs. Examples include climate-neutral bricks and solar panels integrated into roof surfaces.
- Our products and solutions represent our response to climate change. Examples include our smart pumping stations, rainwater management systems, and the greening of roofs and facades to improve the micro-climate.
© KME Studios
Our Success and our Challenges
Optimizing Processes and Breaking New Ground
- Our decarbonization effort has been particularly successful in the clay block and roof tile segments. In recent years, we outperformed our targets in terms of efficiency enhancement.
- However, genuine decarbonization will take more than mere process optimization. New ways will have to be found and new processes developed.
- wienerberger will spend EUR 60 million per year on decarbonization. These investments comprise research and development, innovative processes and novel products.
Our long-term target is to implement the European Green Deal: wienerberger wants to be climate-neutral by 2050 at the latest. The decarbonization of production processes, an innovative product portfolio, and new technologies will take us there.
Useful Information
Decarbonization in Figures
|
Unit |
2020 |
2021 |
Chg. in % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total energy consumption | in gigawatt-hours |
7,431 |
7,993 |
+7.6 |
| Index of specific energy consumption | in % based on kWh/quantity of products ready for sale (2020 = 100%) |
100.0 |
99.1 |
-0.9 |
| Absolute direct (Scope 1) and indirect (Scope 2) CO₂ emissions | in kilotons |
2,649 |
2,659 |
+0.4 |
| Absolute direct CO₂ emissions from primary energy sources and raw materials (Scope 1) | in kilotons |
2,353 |
2,484 |
+5.5
|
Absolute indirect CO₂ emissions from electricity (Scope 2) |
in kilotons |
296 |
176 |
-40.7 |
Index of specific direct (Scope 1) and indirect (Scope 2) CO₂ emissions |
in %, based on kg CO₂/quantity of products ready for sale (2020 = 100%) |
100.0 |
91.9 |
-8.1 |
Index of specific direct CO₂ emissions (Scope 1)
|
in %, based on kg CO₂/quantity of products ready for sale (2020 = 100%) | 100.0 | 97.3 | -2.7 |
| Index of specific indirect CO₂ emissions (Scope 2) | in %, based on kg CO₂/quantity of products ready for sale (2020 = 100%) | 100.0 | 94.6 | -5.4 |
