HUBER+SUHNER considers care for the environment an important and vital aspect of its corporate responsibility. As stated in our environmental policy, we strive to continuously improve our environmental performance and make the most efficient use possible of raw and auxiliary materials, energy, and water. HUBER+SUHNER also aims to avoid air and water pollution as well as to minimise the use and disposal of toxic and hazardous chemicals.
Although environmental stewardship has been a HUBER+SUHNER priority for many years, we have intensified our efforts to improve environmental performance over the past few years. As early as 1999, the company implemented an environmental management system according to ISO 14001 and obtained certification for its sites in Switzerland. Today, almost two-thirds of all production sites are certified, including the four largest: Pfäffikon and Herisau in Switzerland, Changzhou in China, and Tczew in Poland. ISO 14001 certification is planned in 2023 for another three production sites: Warren in New Jersey, United States, Cambridge, United Kingdom, and Krzeszowice, Poland. The certification of the site Mainz, Germany, has been postponed to 2024.
Since 2009, HUBER+SUHNER has used life cycle analysis (LCA) to determine its environmental performance annually on a quantitative basis and, since 2019, the significant environmental aspects as required by the ISO 14001 standard. The procedure is described in one of the company’s environmental management processes. It is based on the LCA phases according to ISO 14040.
In 2022, for the first time, all sites under the full operational control of HUBER+SUHNER AG (head office) provided at least data on energy consumption and employee commuting. The data on raw materials and commercial goods, transport of goods within the Group and to customers as well as business travel were taken from central systems. Based on the number of production employees and the manufacturing activities carried out, it is estimated that more than 95 % of the company’s environmental impact has therefore been recorded.
HUBER+SUHNER has applied an inventory analysis based on input-output models. Each production site is considered a unit into which energy and materials enter (input) and from which emissions, waste, wastewater, and products are generated (output). Where company-specific data are not available, data from established service providers have been used. The life cycle impact assessment (LCIA) was conducted using an internationally recognised LCIA method which allows a fully aggregated assessment (single score indicator) to simplify communication and interpretation.