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Sustainable process and production management

Every year, we implement a variety of projects to reduce consumption and increase biodiversity. We aim to continuously reduce the impact of our activities on the environment. Occupational health and safety and environmental protection are important pillars of our corporate policy and share the same priority as other company goals. Our holistic approach encompasses waste, water, energy, emissions and biodiversity.

Unavoidable waste
Generating less and maximizing recovery

Through rigorous waste separation, we recycled 2,655 metric tons, or 95% of our total waste in 2023. Two processing plants in our manufacturing departments separate metal chips from the emulsions they are trapped in. Reducing the moisture content of the chips to less than 1% in this manner enables effective and cost-efficient recycling.

On our enclosed machine tools, we increasingly use centrifugal extraction units, where we separate the picked-up cooling lubricant from the captured oil and emulsion mist and reuse it within the system. Non-reusable cooling lubricant is stored in centralized tanks near the cooling-lubricant treatment equipment, thereby avoiding the unnecessary transport of hazardous waste within the company.

We also use polymer nets instead of trash bags in all business units with suitable waste. This saves around 120,000 trash bags annually.

Savings and other facts from 2023

–15%

Waste

–10%

Hazardous waste

95%

Recycling rate

120,000

Fewer trash bags used

Water as an essential resource
Minimizing consumption and preventing wastage

We use water in our manufacturing processes but aim to significantly reduce our consumption. In 2023, we implemented a small project that saves 120 m³ of water per year during the disinfection of equipment filters.

We have also installed the necessary equipment to recover water and energy while rinsing filters for our ultra-filtration equipment. Because rinsing is performed around the clock, the new technology will save 80,000 kWh of energy per year. Up to 75% of the hot rinse water (at approx. 50° to 60° Celsius) will be recirculated, thereby saving up to 5,500 m³ of water per year.

Energy
Transitioning, conserving and anticipating

All our affiliated companies in Germany draw 100% of their electricity from verifiable renewable sources. This green electricity is purchased from a variety of suppliers. Around 60% comes from power purchase agreements that contractually specify the type of power plant, with hydroelectric power making up the dominant share.

At our headquarters in Traunreut, we have already been generating our own power through photovoltaic panels on the roofs of our production buildings. In 2023, we installed enough photovoltaic panels on these buildings to provide roughly 820 MWh in annual capacity. And more are being planned. We are also planning to build two company-owned wind turbines near our headquarters. When it comes to heat energy, district heating from Traunreut’s municipal utilities covers our needs under normal conditions.

And just as important as switching to renewable sources is saving energy in the first place, not least due to economic reasons.

Savings and other facts from 2023

100%

Green power

–10%

Electrical energy

–15%

Heat energy

2

Wind turbines planned

Emissions reduction
An ongoing environmental goal

To reduce greenhouse gas emissions, we have been optimizing buildings and equipment with great success. In 2023, we reduced our year-on-year emissions of CO2 equivalents by 72%.

Besides water, the cleaning agents we use include various solvents, especially alcohols and acetone. We are working to determine the suitability of less environmentally harmful alternatives while taking into account the rigorous quality requirements of certain cleaning processes. In 2023, we reduced our year-on-year VOC emissions by 17%.

The HEIDENHAIN headquarters has been climate-neutral since 2021.

Biodiversity
Creating habitats and preserving the variety of life

We know that built-up land is a common feature of a manufacturing site. Production facilities, administrative buildings, roads and truck courts are unavoidable. But at our headquarters in Traunreut, 23% of our 305,000 sqm site is landscaped as near-natural space.

One of our concerns has been to increase botanic diversity on our grounds and to protect and enhance natural habitats, especially for insects and birds. For many years, we have taken care to make our green spaces as wildlife-friendly as possible.

For birds, we have installed birdhouses and birdbaths. We were happy to see that all birdhouses were occupied in 2023. And insect hotels, especially at our densely built-up headquarters, provide a habitat for insects right in the center of town.

More about our corporate responsibility

Code of conduct

Trust, respect and transparency are the foundations of our corporate activities. These principles are firmly anchored in our Code of Conduct.
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Human rights

We take our responsibility for our employees seriously. At HEIDENHAIN, upholding human rights is an obvious and essential part of this endeavor.
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Supply chain

Regional, trusted and synergetic: We value working with regional suppliers, maintaining business ties that go back years.
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Sustainable products

Our products feature high quality and long service lives. Our customers are able to increase their productivity and reduce their carbon emissions.
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