Reduction – Reducing energy consumption, conserving resources
By sourcing renewable energy, we’ve been able to reduce our CO₂ emissions for years and have already achieved the zero-tonne CO₂ target for indirect emissions (Scope 2, Greenhouse Gas Protocol) at almost all European locations. We are also improving the energy efficiency of our buildings and facilities. By doing so, we are reducing our energy consumption and conserving resources. We also take other steps to invest in a clean future, such as printing on recycled paper, using carbon-neutral shipping and recycling transport packaging. All these measures help us save us more than 75.000 tonnes of CO₂ every year. We continue to focus more and more on sustainability and the direct saving of CO2 emissions – even though doing so will have no further positive effect on our own CO₂ footprint, since we’ve already switched to 100% sourced green electricity.
Our strategies: Genuine green electricity
genuine green electricity covers the total energy demand at all Hörmann locations in Germany, as well as many other European locations
reduction in CO₂ emissions per year
beech trees would be required to achieve the same level of climate protection
The total energy demand of the Hörmann Group in Germany is covered by Naturstrom. This certified supplier provides 100% genuine green electricity produced directly by medium-sized wind and hydroelectric power plants, mainly located in Germany. Since its foundation, this provider has been committed to supplying future-proof and sustainable energy and has operated independently of nuclear and coal corporations. Its purchased green electricity is also certified by the Grüner Strom Label association, which invests a fixed amount in alternative energy projects for each kilowatt hour of electricity sold. This label is supported by German environmental organisations such as BUND and NABU. Genuine green electricity is also purchased at many other Hörmann locations in Europe, as long as it is comparable with the electricity provided by Naturstrom in terms of traceability.
Our strategies: recycling of sections
We attach great importance to the expansion of recycling and the optimal use of resources. A specially developed recycling plant for foamed door sections represents a giant leap towards the circular economy we are striving to achieve. The facility turns old doors into raw materials again at our largest German factory, Hörmann KG Ichtershausen, in Thuringia. All of these materials are returned to the cycle of recyclable resources. A real cradle-to-cradle principle.
Raw material recovery instead of waste
To ensure the best possible thermal insulation, the steel sections of our doors are PU-foamed. The recycling plant separates the foamed sections of disused doors, which are returned via our own Hörmann branches, into steel and rigid foam core. The steel is fed back to the existing recycling system, where it is tuned into new pig iron, for example. The so-called PU core (rigid foam core) is pre-processed and then returned to our supplier, who is able to use the material to produce new polyol without any loss of quality. We then use this polyol to foam new door sections. This makes an active contribution to the recovery of raw materials and, consequently, to avoiding waste.
Our strategies: Gas instead of heating oil
less CO₂ is produced by burning natural gas compared to crude oil
reduction in CO₂ emissions per year
beech trees would be required to achieve the same level of climate protection
Switching from heating oil to natural gas at Hörmann locations significantly reduces our carbon footprint: burning natural gas, the least polluting fossil fuel, produces up to 40% less CO₂ compared to crude oil. In addition, we are increasingly focused on energy concepts that use heat pumps, while also checking the availability of biogas and, where possible, using it – as we already do at one location.
Our strategies: Efficient energy concepts
emissions are reduced by our use of highly efficient heating technology and light systems
reduction in CO₂ emissions per year
beech trees would be required to achieve the same level of climate protection
Many of our factories use cogeneration units or fuel cell heating systems. These systems generate electrical energy for the power network, as well as heating energy for the heating system. Air filtration systems and energy concepts that use temperature regulation also help to reduce our primary energy demand. In addition, lighting systems with modern and highly efficient LED lighting reduce our energy demand and therefore decrease CO₂ emissions.
Reducing CO₂ at Hörmann’s factory in Ichtershausen
Implementing an energy-efficient energy concept is also the aim of a new sustainability project at the largest Hörmann factory in Germany, Hörmann KG Ichtershausen in Thuringia. In order to progressively reduce its production-related emissions and enable the use of renewable energy, this factory has launched a project focusing on local energy generation and the use of hydrogen in process heating. Through this project, the factory has in some cases been able to replace natural gas as a fuel with renewable hydrogen, enabling it to make an immediate and concrete contribution to climate protection. This method could save approximately 680 t of CO₂ over a period of 20 years. The project will shed some light on a new combination of processes for using renewable energy during production. However, since climate protection is not only about individual measures, we want the project to deliver valuable and practical results that can be used in research and politics, among other things. We also want to motivate other companies to implement similar concepts and also increasingly move away from fossil fuels. The project, supported by the Free State of Thuringia, is co-financed using funds provided by the European Union as part of the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).
Our strategies: Certified energy management system
is being introduced throughout the Hörmann Group as a certified energy management system
reduction in CO₂ emissions per year
beech trees would be required to achieve the same level of climate protection
An energy management system in accordance with ISO 50001 is already being introduced throughout the Hörmann Group. Individual measures, such as intelligent building management systems with centralised energy control and automatic energy regulation, also reduce the energy demand at individual factories.
Our strategies: Environmentally friendly and recyclable packaging
of the plastic waste produced worldwide is packaging materials
pieces of plastic waste are already floating in our oceans
of all plastics are only used once and then thrown away
Source: National Geographic
Cardboard instead of plastic, recycling instead of dumping. After all, a product is only as sustainable as its packaging. That’s why we are significantly reducing the amount of plastic in our packaging and using more cardboard packaging or recycled packaging materials.
We’re also putting emphasis on less waste and more recycling: reusable production waste is reprocessed and added back to the material cycle, used cardboard is turned into packaging material and, last but not least, we use reusable dishes and cups in our canteens, at meetings and for our coffee machines.
Our strategies: CO₂-neutral shipping
parcel and postal shipping wherever possible
reduction in CO₂ emissions per year
beech trees would be required to achieve the same level of climate protection
Instead of traditional written correspondence, we rely on e-mails and e-billing. And if we absolutely have to send something by post, we use CO₂-neutral parcel and postal shipping wherever possible.
Our strategies: Climate-friendly printing
climate-friendly recycled paper is used for our printed products
reduction in CO₂ emissions per year
beech trees would be required to achieve the same level of climate protection
We rely on climate-friendly printing, using 100% recycled paper. This applies to all our offices, but also to the price lists for our sales partners and, in the near future, to all operating and fitting instructions for our products. We also want to save even more paper in future by providing our employees and sales partners with user-friendly IT systems for configuring, calculating and ordering our products. In addition, we print the newspaper inserts for our sales promotion activities on PEFC-certified paper, which is sourced from forestry operations that are at once economical, environmentally friendly and socially responsible.
Our strategies: Natural CO₂ storage
In addition to reducing emissions, we also invest in natural CO₂ storage. For example, we are developing green roofs, bee pastures and meadowland at many of our locations. In order to get our employees actively involved in our sustainability activities, we organise regular activities such as our information event on bee colonies or our fruit tree planting campaign. We also care greatly about the protection of biodiversity, which is why we support INSECT RESPECT®, an initiative committed to saving insects.
