Sustainability: Sharing Responsibility

We have set ambitious goals for ourselves and are well on our way to achieving them: We have launched the “Eco-Mesh” sustainability initiative, which covers many areas – from facility management to production, materials, packaging, shipping, and logistics, all the way to our own vehicle fleet.

In all areas, our top priority is to act in a resource-efficient and economical manner in the interest of environmental and climate protection. Our employees are encouraged to adopt environmentally friendly practices and behaviors, and every single one of them is actively committed to this cause. Among other things, we have set ourselves the goal of achieving DIN ISO 50001 certification in energy management.

When it comes to packaging and shipping our products, we use a high proportion of natural materials, such as real wood for our racks and pallets. For cardboard and paper, we use recycled materials. To reduce shipping weight, we also use a small amount of plastic in our packaging.

As part of a continuous improvement process, we are constantly working to reduce energy consumption and lower emissions. These measures are being implemented step by step. For example, to reduce energy consumption in our buildings and save electricity, we have systematically converted all lighting to LED.

Measures with high energy-saving potential have also been and continue to be implemented in our production facilities. For instance, following an analysis by the Energy Efficiency Competence Center (K-EFF), we replaced piston compressors with frequency-controlled screw compressors, which consume significantly less electricity.

In the modern corporate fleet, alternative powertrains will play an increasingly important role in the future in further advancing the sustainability of all business processes. We are already in the process of implementing this and are gradually converting our fleet to hybrid vehicles.

In our production, we process various materials, with a high proportion of metal. When processing metals, we ensure that no waste – or as little as possible – is generated during the production process. This pays off both ecologically and economically. Additionally, our products are made from highly durable, robust materials and have a very long product lifecycle. Our raw materials are 100% recycled and thus re-enter the recycling cycle. Incidentally, we use an established deposit system in our production: The wire spools on which the rolled-up wire mesh is delivered for further processing are returned to the supplier and reused.

The waste generated during the production and processing of Synthetic Wire Cloths is fed into the recycling cycle. Where this is not possible, it is incinerated. Since we process plastics that are highly homogeneous (PY, PA, PPS, PEEK, etc.), recycling is made easier from the outset.

We manufacture our products exclusively in Germany, and we also source the majority of our raw materials from Germany. This ensures that as little energy as possible is required for transportation. These short distances benefit both the environment and our business.

For example, as part of our sustainability initiative, a solar power system covering an area of approximately 2,000 square meters and comprising 184 modules has been installed in the new production halls at SIEBFABRIK to help reduce energy consumption. All of these measures and components contribute to making our company even more sustainable, protecting the environment, and actively shaping the future.

We believe that sustainable supply chains play a key role in our company’s success and help us achieve our environmental, social, and governance (ESG) goals. That is why we have extended our commitment to meeting economic requirements as well as our environmental and social responsibilities to our entire value chain. We expect our suppliers to place just as much importance on sustainability as we do.

The principles of our Sustainability Code of Conduct for Business Partners set forth the minimum requirements for all suppliers regarding business ethics, environmental protection, resource conservation, human rights, and social standards. Acceptance of our Sustainability Code of Conduct for Business Partners is a prerequisite for our collaboration.

The CO₂ data for our suppliers’ products is an essential component in our ability to calculate the CO₂ footprint of our products and to work together toward the continuous improvement of our climate goals. The CO₂ footprint will also be a key factor in future sourcing decisions.