Environmental Position
The document defines our basic strategy for environmental management processes.
Environment
Sartorius is operating at more than 30 production sites across the globe.
In the manufacture of our products, we consume energy, release greenhouse gases and use water, particularly in the production of membranes and the assembly of our filters.
To minimize our impact on the environment, we have set ourselves ambitious goals.
Climate Action
2045: Complete decarbonization of business activities
Sartorius is committed to the long-term goal of fully decarbonizing its business activities by 2045.
Together with our customers and suppliers, we aim to achieve net zero emissions through continuous decarbonization along the value chain and by offsetting unavoidable residual emissions in line with the Paris Climate Agreement.
Mid-term targets until 2030
- Reduce CO2eq emission intensity by ~10% per year on average compared to 2019
- Zero avoidable emissions in scope 1 and 2
- 100 % electric energy from renewable sources
In 2019, global greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) measured in CO2 equivalents (CO2eq) amounted to ~50 billion tons, 4-5% of which were related to the healthcare sector. With attributable emissions of ~450,000 tons, Sartorius made up 0.025%.
Though our impact is rather small, we understand that every contribution counts when it comes to achieving global climate targets. That is why we are making substantial efforts with our products, at our sites and along our value chain. As a dynamically growing company, we focus on reducing our CO2eq emission intensity which specifies the output of emissions in proportion to sales revenue.
We aim to reduce our CO2eq emission intensity by an average of ~10% per year until 2030.
Compared to the base year 2019, this equals a total reduction of ~70%. To reach this goal, we plan to spend on average ~1% of revenue per year.
Scope 1
Emissions in Scope 1 are direct emissions. They result mostly from the use of fossil fuels to generate heat and power at our sites or process emissions.
Switching to renewable energy at our sites will have a major impact in reducing Scope 1 emissions. The process emissions generated during membrane production are currently deemed unavoidable based on the technology available at present.
We aim to eliminate all avoidable Scope 1 emissions by 2030.
Scope 2
Indirect emissions within Scope 2 occur during the generation of purchased energy, particularly electricity.
We are working to switch to zero-emission energy from renewable sources wherever possible. The success of this effort is subject to the availability of renewable energy at our global locations.
We plan to eliminate Scope 2 emissions by 2030.
Scope 3
Scope 3 emissions occur along the value chain.
~70% of emissions attributable to Sartorius are generated upstream, e.g. mainly in connection with purchased goods or services; ~20% occur downstream, e.g. during the transport of our products or disposal at the end of the product life cycle.
Currently, our activities focus on the upstream value chain and include an adapted supplier strategy and the optimization of logistics processes.
Taking responsibility along the entire value chain
Around 96% of emissions attributed to Sartorius are generated in the upstream and downstream value chain. Together with suppliers and customers, we are working towards complete decarbonization.
Materials and Circularity
Until 2030
- At least 75% Group sales revenue with products designed according to circularity criteria (including product and transport packaging)
- Zero operational waste to landfill
We procure a range of raw materials and supplies for the manufacture and packaging of our products.
In 2023, we have set ourselves the goal of optimizing the use of resources along the value chain with the idea of a circular economy in mind.
The goal of a circular economy is to decouple economic growth from environmental impact and to reduce resource consumption as well as waste, pollution and greenhouse gas emissions.
First Results
- Plastic waste quota: -44 %
- Plastic recycling rate at almost 70%
Water and Wastewater
At Sartorius, water is mainly used for the production and modification of membranes. Our manufacturing processes are designed to minimize the use of rinsing water. Organic solvents are treated and largely recycled.
Distillation plants are installed at the relevant consumption sites in Göttingen and Yauco to ensure almost closed solvent cycles. In addition, the Yauco and Bangalore sites have a cistern system that collected rainwater for various applications.
Supply Chains
With around 8,000 suppliers from more than 40 countries and a purchasing volume that corresponds to more than 40 percent of sales revenue, the Sartorius supply chain plays a significant role in the company's sustainability transformation. We expect our suppliers and their suppliers to meet sustainability standards.
Our sustainability requirements are set out in our Code of Code of Conduct for Business Partners, which was updated in 2022. So far, 675 suppliers have signed the document, which corresponds to 45% of our purchasing volume.
In addition, the company has received a total of 1,779 valid sustainability-related supplier self-assessments, and we conducted 62 quality-related supplier audits that included sustainability aspects.
Stories on local and global initiatives
