Numerous companies around the globe, large and small, are getting increasingly serious about environmental and climate conservation. They are committing to doing everything they can in order to make their production processes climate-neutral in the near future. Schaeffler has adopted a sustainability roadmap as early as in 2019. It is basically about using various measures to be able to have CO₂-neutral processes at all of its production facilities worldwide by 2030 – this was already communicated in the group-wide Sustainability Report in 2020. Now Schaeffler is going one step further with its “Climate Neutrality 2040” goal.

Sustainability plays a key role in implementing our corporate strategy. The decarbonization of the Schaeffler Group by 2040 is a top priority for us. Through our defined targets and specific measures, we are doing our part to help achieve the objectives of the Paris Climate Agreement. In doing so, we are strengthening our position as a preferred technology partner and supplier of sustainable solutions and products, for example in the electric mobility and renewable energy segments.

Klaus Rosenfeld, Chief Executive Officer, Schaeffler AG

Climate neutral by 2040

Schaeffler plans, as recently announced via a press release, to also make its supply chains climate neutral by 2040. Important: The company will focus on tangible reduction measures, and only unavoidable emissions will be neutralized by means of carbon offsetting.

In fact, CO₂ intensity is now included in the company-wide management model along the entire value chain. The climate impact of individual process steps is recorded and controlled.

To achieve this goal, the company wants to intensify its relationships with its suppliers. After all, a large part of a product’s carbon footprint is created in the supply chain. Schaeffler’s strategy is to increasingly source raw materials and intermediate products from more climate-friendly processes – a major challenge, especially in energy-intensive areas such as steel and aluminum. On the production side, 100 percent of purchased electricity is to come from renewable sources by 2024.

Schaeffler has therefore defined specific milestones for itself: Initially, three quarters of its own production emissions are to be reduced by 2025, and by 2030, emissions from precursors and raw materials generated in the supply chain are to be reduced by 25 percent.

One of our objectives is also to have a strong CDP score. The fact that in 2020, after just two years, we were able to improve our rating from a ‘D’ to an ‘A-’, was an enormous incentive for us. Sustainability in all its facets is an integral part of Schaeffler’s DNA. We are constantly reappraising ourselves and are making this process transparent, as is also evidenced by our comprehensive sustainability reporting.

Corinna Schittenhelm, responsible for human resources and sustainability in the Schaeffler AG Executive Board

The seven sustainability targets set out in the roadmap, in addition to the goal of being climate neutral by 2040. The targets show that Schaeffler takes a holistic view of sustainability.