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 the overarching key performance indicator for energy management. Value added is calculated as gross profit in millions of euros minus earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) in millions of euros.
This demonstrates the success of the measures taken, as the efficiency metric is steadily improving. (see current Sustainability Report)
This significant improvement in energy consumption over the past few years is the result of a variety 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 so-called “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 the overarching key performance indicator for energy management. Value added is calculated as gross profit in millions of euros minus earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) in millions of euros.
This demonstrates the success of the measures taken, as the efficiency metric is steadily improving. (see current Sustainability Report)
This significant improvement in energy consumption over the past few years is the result of a variety 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 so-called “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 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 Buching site, geothermal energy is used for power generation, producing an annual energy output of 297 MWh of heat and resulting in CO2 emissions savings of 80 tons 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 Buching site, geothermal energy is used for power generation, producing an annual energy output of 297 MWh of heat and resulting in CO2 emissions savings of 80 tons 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
When it comes to water as a resource, our environmental criteria focus on the wastewater generated during the electroplating process. This manufacturing process generates wastewater contaminated with metals, which is treated and purified in our own water treatment plants in 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 copper, nickel, zinc, tin, and lead. Our wastewater analyses have not detected a single instance of the maximum permissible concentration being exceeded for any of these metals. The values measured in the analyses are, on average, well below the permissible limits. Furthermore, additional wastewater tests conducted by an independent laboratory also did not reveal any exceedances of the limits.
The wastewater is regularly tested for concentrations of copper, nickel, zinc, tin, and lead. Our wastewater analyses have not detected a single instance of the maximum permissible concentration being exceeded for any of these metals. The values measured in the analyses are, on average, well below the permissible limits. Furthermore, additional wastewater tests conducted by an independent laboratory also did not reveal any exceedances of the limits.
At our six electroplating facilities across our two sites in Augsburg and Peiting, we work closely with the respective water management authorities in the districts. All required wastewater reports have been prepared, evaluated, and accepted by the authorities without objection.
In addition to the discharge of treated wastewater, the storage of environmentally hazardous substances plays a crucial 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
In addition to the discharge of treated wastewater, the storage of environmentally hazardous substances plays a crucial 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
