Scope and methodology
The geographical scope is described in the third paragraph of the preceding section. Direct emissions and the consumption of resources as well as electricity, heat, water, heating and transport fuels, and waste and wastewater (core balance) are in scope of the LCA as are raw, auxiliary, operating and packaging materials as well as commercial goods[1], commuting and business traffic, and the transport of materials and products (complementary balance) as shown in figure 1 (see also footnote 2 in the chapter "Greenhouse gas emissions and climate change"). Materials and commercial goods are sourced from external suppliers, with the exception of plastic compounds, which are manufactured at the Pfäffikon compounding facility and processed at the Changzhou, Pfäffikon, and Herisau plants. The quantities processed or consumed were taken from the ERP system (purchasing data).
The use phase of our products has not been in scope since most of our products are passive components only. The disposal of our products has also not been in scope. With lifetimes ranging from 20 to 30 years it is difficult to predict the impact of the products’ end-of-life treatment.
HUBER+SUHNER has delivered all relevant data to sinum AG (St. Gallen, Switzerland), which is responsible for calculating the environmental and carbon footprint. The environmental footprint evaluation is conducted according to ISO 14040. The LCIA method for the environmental footprint is the Ecological Scarcity[2]. The carbon footprint evaluation complies with the World Resources Institute (WRI)/World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) Greenhouse Gas Protocol: A Corporate Accounting and Reporting Standard (revised edition). Global warming potential factors aligned with the Sixth Assessment Report of the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change have been used, as recommended by the Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Protocol and CDP; GHGs accounted for were carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), nitrous oxide (N2O), hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), perfluorocarbons (PFCs), sulphur hexafluoride (SF6), and nitrogen trifluoride (NF3) as listed in the amended Annex A to the Kyoto Protocol. The footprints were calculated by using expert system REGIS and ecoinvent database version 3.9.1. Performance data shown in the environmental performance indicator (EPI) table follow GRI standards 301, 302, 303, 305 and 306. Intensity data always refer to the added value generated as a measure of the economic performance. The added value has been calculated from profit before tax and depreciation plus personnel costs minus other financial results. The added value for the years 2018–2022 is displayed at the bottom of the environmental performance indicators (EPI) table.
The underlying data were collected for the calendar year 2022. In cases of expected disproportionate delays in the evaluation, the data were collected for the period 1 December 2021 to 30 November 2022. HUBER+SUHNER estimates the deviation from the calendar year period to be less than ± 5 %.
Ernst & Young Ltd performed a limited assurance engagement on selected EPIs for 2022 (see Addendum 3: Independent assurance report).