EANS-News: Wienerberger takes sustainability management to the next level - IMAGE
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Having concluded its successful sustainability program 2020, Wienerberger is
pursuing further ambitious targets for 2023:
Research & Development/Company Information
Vienna -
* 15% reduction of our CO2 emissions by 2023
* New products designed to be fully re-usable and recyclable
* Biodiversity program for all sites
* More than 15% women in senior management by 2023
Vienna, June 30, 2021 - Pursuing the ambitious targets of its Sustainability
Program 2023, the Wienerberger Group intends to continue on its value-creating
growth path in the years to come. To this end, all corporate activities are
aligned with the Group's sustainability targets and subjected to strict ESG
(environmental, social, governance) criteria. In support of the European Green
Deal, Wienerberger is determined to become climate-neutral by 2050 by
decarbonizing its production processes, offering an innovative product
portfolio, and adopting new technologies. As a first step, CO2 emissions will be
reduced by 15% by 2023. To promote and sustainably advance these developments,
Wienerberger invests EUR 60 million per year in research and development,
innovative processes, and new products.
Heimo Scheuch, Chairman of the Managing Board of Wienerberger AG: "In the face
of the climate crisis, we know that pursuing ambitious sustainability targets is
the only way to build a future for our planet. The new Sustainability Program
2023 constitutes the essential basis for our ESG strategy. Benefitting from the
experience gained with the 2020 program, we are thus reacting to changing
ecological, economic and societal demands. With innovative products and systems
and on the strength of our group-wide commitment, we intend to elaborate
forward-looking solutions for decarbonization, promote a circular economy, and
foster biodiversity. In doing so, we are supporting the European Green Deal for
2050 and preparing the ground for a better future."
Zwtl.: Sustainability Program 2023
In the process of elaborating its new sustainability program, Wienerberger
analyzed its own value chains and identified five specific core topics: climate
& energy, the circular economy, biodiversity & environment, employees, and
business ethics & social impacts. All stakeholder groups of Wienerberger AG,
including employees, customers, partners, investors, and decision makers in
research and politics, were involved in the development of the Sustainability
Program 2023.
Zwtl.: Climate change & decarbonization: 15% reduction of emissions by 2023
Wienerberger has set itself the ambitious target of a 15% reduction of its
emissions by 2023, as compared to 2020, and the achievement of climate
neutrality not later than 2050. This applies to the entire value chain, from
product development to sourcing, production, and the use, re-use or recycling of
Wienerberger products. In sourcing, the percentage of secondary raw materials is
being increased and transport operations are being optimized through group-wide
supply management. Moreover, Wienerberger is making a continuous effort to
minimize CO2 emissions in production through technological innovations. The
company actively advances the decarbonization of its product portfolio through
innovations and the design of new products. The latter include climate-neutral
bricks and solar panels integrated into roof surfaces, as well as solutions for
smart pumping stations, rainwater management systems, or the improvement of the
micro-climate through green roofs and facades.
Zwtl.: Circular economy: All new products to be fully recyclable or re-usable by
2023
The circular economy is another central pillar of the Wienerberger
Sustainability Program 2023: In the future, all new Wienerberger products are to
be fully re-usable or recyclable. Moreover, Wienerberger is continuously
increasing the amount of secondary raw materials and recycled substances in its
production. In the plastic pipes sector, the current targets were achieved two
years earlier than originally planned: In 2020, the amount of secondary raw
materials used was increased to 83 kilograms per ton of products.
Zwtl.: Biodiversity & environment: Biodiversity program for all sites
Wienerberger is making every effort to protect the environment and is therefore
elaborating biodiversity programs for all its production sites and clay pits.
This also includes measures to recultivate and renature depleted clay extraction
sites or making them available for appropriate subsequent use.
"The protection and preservation of our environment is firmly embedded in
Wienerberger's perception of its corporate mission: We respect nature reserves,
use resources sparingly, and foster biodiversity at our production sites. Over
the past 40 years, the world has seen an unprecedented loss of biodiversity - a
development we must counteract. Our current best-practice examples include the
beehives for 80,000 bees on the roof of Wienerberger's Vienna headquarters,
cooperation between Wienerberger Germany and the WWF, and our renaturing
projects at depleted clay pits", explains Heimo Scheuch.
Zwtl.: Employees: 15% women in senior management positions by 2023
Wienerberger's employees are the company's most important success factor. The
central objectives of human resources management are to develop their potential,
promote diversity, and ensure the highest possible level of occupational safety.
In new appointments, preference is given to women when male and female
candidates are equally qualified. In recent years, the number of women in
executive positions has increased significantly, with 5% more women in senior
management. Thanks to safety systems in production and continuous investments in
occupational safety, the frequency of accidents decreased by another 3% in 2020,
as compared to the previous year.
Zwtl.: Business ethics & social impacts
Wienerberger acceded to the UN Global Compact and is firmly committed to
observing the ten principles regarding human rights, occupational safety,
environmental protection, and the fight against corruption. The company observes
clear ethical principles and a strict compliance policy, which is subject to
continuous internal review. Wienerberger also expects its suppliers to adopt a
responsible approach in dealing with people and the environment. The company's
supplier management regime is being further developed with a view to
digitalization and ESG criteria. To ensure compliance with minimum standards,
supplier audits and monthly supplier scans are performed within the framework of
the group-wide Supplier Code of Conduct.
The Wienerberger Sustainability Program 2023 provides an extensive description
of the company's sustainability strategy, the progress achieved, and the
potential for further improvements. It can be downloaded in pdf format [https://
www.wienerberger.com/content/dam/corp/corporate-website/downloads/
sustainability/2020/2020-Wienerberger-Sustainability-Report_EN.pdf] and ordered
here [https://www.wienerberger.com/en/info/order-report-mailing.html].
Zwtl.: Wienerberger Group
The Wienerberger Group is a leading international provider of smart solutions
for the entire building envelope and for infrastructure. Wienerberger is the
world's largest producer of bricks (Porotherm, Terca) and the market leader in
clay roof tiles (Koramic, Tondach) in Europe as well as concrete pavers
(Semmelrock) in Eastern Europe. In pipe systems (Steinzeug-Keramo ceramic pipes
and Pipelife plastic pipes), the company is one of the leading suppliers in
Europe. With its total of 197 production sites, the Wienerberger Group generated
revenues of EUR 3.4 billion and EBITDA LFL of EUR 566 million in 2020
Further inquiry note:
Claudia Hajdinyak, Head of Corporate Communications Wienerberger AG
t +43 664 828 31 83 | claudia.hajdinyak@wienerberger.com
Christine Vieira Paschoalique, Head of Corporate Sustainability Wienerberger AG
t +43 1 601 92 - 10180 | sustainability@wienerberger.com
end of announcement euro adhoc
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issuer: Wienerberger AG
Wienerbergerplatz 1
A-1100 Wien
phone: +43 1 60 192-0
FAX: +43 1 60 192-10159
mail: office@wienerberger.com
WWW: www.wienerberger.com
ISIN: AT0000831706, AT0000A2GLA0
indexes: ATX
stockmarkets: Wien
language: English