Environment
Environmental protection Our ecological footprint
We carry out these measures.
We carry out these measures.
Table of Contents
Energy Management System at ept
Although raw materials account for the majority of CO2 emissions—more than 80%—our own energy consumption, at 14%, is a factor that we can directly influence and thus yields better results in reducing CO2 emissions.
Since energy consumption depends primarily on operational performance, we use energy consumption relative to value added as our overarching energy management metric. Value added is calculated as gross profit in millions of euros minus earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) in millions of euros.
This reflects the success of the measures taken, as the efficiency metric is steadily improving. (See the current Sustainability Report.)
This significant improvement in energy consumption over the past few years is the result of a wide range of technical and organizational measures, as well as activities aimed at reducing energy consumption at all locations.
To measure our company’s energy efficiency and track changes in it, we calculate “Energy Performance Indicators,” which compare the company’s energy consumption to other operational metrics.
Download Sustainability Report
Since energy consumption depends primarily on operational performance, we use energy consumption relative to value added as our overarching energy management metric. Value added is calculated as gross profit in millions of euros minus earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) in millions of euros.
This reflects the success of the measures taken, as the efficiency metric is steadily improving. (See the current Sustainability Report.)
This significant improvement in energy consumption over the past few years is the result of a wide range of technical and organizational measures, as well as activities aimed at reducing energy consumption at all locations.
To measure our company’s energy efficiency and track changes in it, we calculate “Energy Performance Indicators,” which compare the company’s energy consumption to other operational metrics.
Download Sustainability Report
The consumption of energy sources such as compressed air, heat, gas, or electricity is measured on-site. This is done using data loggers, which are installed either at the interface with individual departments or even on individual machines. They transmit their measurement values to central energy management software, through which the key performance indicators can be clearly assigned, read, and displayed in clear diagrams. Sankey diagrams provide a clear breakdown of a plant’s total energy consumption, showing percentages down to the individual consumer.
Active Climate Action
Geothermal energy
We have been implementing concrete climate protection measures long before the climate protection targets were established.
In fact, we have already carried out far-reaching initiatives to protect the environment and the climate in the past, some of which required significant investments and entailed a long payback period.
For example, at our site in Buching, geothermal energy is used to generate heat, producing an annual energy output of 297 MWh and resulting in a reduction of 80 metric tons of CO2 emissions per year.
In addition, there is a rooftop photovoltaic system there with an annual energy output of approximately 55 MWh.
In fact, we have already carried out far-reaching initiatives to protect the environment and the climate in the past, some of which required significant investments and entailed a long payback period.
For example, at our site in Buching, geothermal energy is used to generate heat, producing an annual energy output of 297 MWh and resulting in a reduction of 80 metric tons of CO2 emissions per year.
In addition, there is a rooftop photovoltaic system there with an annual energy output of approximately 55 MWh.
Our climate protection goal
We are committed to the climate protection goals of the Paris Agreement (COP21) and the German Climate Protection Act. The climate protection goal requires global greenhouse gas neutrality, meaning that any greenhouse gas emissions that remain unavoidable must be at least offset by sequestering or removing greenhouse gases from the atmosphere.
In the long term:
In the long term:
- Net-zero GHG emissions from the use of any type of energy for ept’s own value creation by 2035 at the latest.
- Reduction of specific greenhouse gas emissions for the raw materials we use and the semi-finished parts we procure by 25% by 2035 at the latest.
Wastewater from electroplating
With regard to water as a resource, our environmental criteria focus on the wastewater generated during the electroplating process. This manufacturing process produces wastewater contaminated with metals, which is treated and purified in our own water treatment plants at Peiting and Augsburg, so that at the end of the process we discharge treated, clean wastewater into the municipal wastewater systems of Peiting and Augsburg.
The wastewater is regularly tested for concentrations of the metals copper, nickel, zinc, tin, and lead. Our wastewater analyses have not detected a single instance where the maximum permissible concentration for any of these metals was exceeded. The values measured in these analyses are, on average, well below the permissible limits. Additional wastewater tests conducted by an independent laboratory also found no instances where the limits were exceeded.
The wastewater is regularly tested for concentrations of the metals copper, nickel, zinc, tin, and lead. Our wastewater analyses have not detected a single instance where the maximum permissible concentration for any of these metals was exceeded. The values measured in these analyses are, on average, well below the permissible limits. Additional wastewater tests conducted by an independent laboratory also found no instances where the limits were exceeded.
At our six electroplating facilities at the two electroplating sites—Augsburg and Peiting—we work closely with the respective water management agencies of the districts. All required wastewater reports have been prepared, evaluated, and accepted by the authorities without any objections.
In addition to the discharge of treated wastewater, the storage of environmentally hazardous substances plays an important role in electroplating. The chemicals and hazardous substances used in electroplating are stored in suitable containers and with appropriate precautions to ensure that the substances cannot enter the environment in the event of container damage or improper handling.
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In addition to the discharge of treated wastewater, the storage of environmentally hazardous substances plays an important role in electroplating. The chemicals and hazardous substances used in electroplating are stored in suitable containers and with appropriate precautions to ensure that the substances cannot enter the environment in the event of container damage or improper handling.
Learn more
Further improvements to the production process
In addition to the two optimizations described in detail above, we also provide optimization services in the following areas:
- Energy management
- Wastewater from electroplating
- Circular economy & waste
- Product packaging
- Connectors in the electronics lifecycle
- Biodiversity
- Environmental & Energy Management System
- and much more
