Schüco will reduce CO2 emissions by 30% by 2025

Schüco One, the new headquarters building of Schüco, is proof of sustainable construction. Its aim is to be the first in the world to achieve three types of certification: LEED, BREEAM, and DGNB. (photo: 3XN Architects)

The ambitious goals for CO₂ reduction set by Schüco together with the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) will contribute to limiting global warming to 1.5 °C, in accordance with the Paris Agreement. This is confirmed by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi), which supports companies in transitioning to a low-carbon economy. In this context, Schüco once again emphasizes its commitment and goal in its partnership with the World Wildlife Fund, namely to enhance sustainability in the construction industry.

Buildings with environmental certifications, sustainable energy concepts, and higher energy efficiency in production – from a technical standpoint, the construction industry offers numerous options to reduce CO₂ emissions. Yet, it still significantly lags behind – both in terms of the goals set by the German government and the Science Based Targets initiative to limit global warming to 1.5 °C. However, achieving the Paris Agreement is contingent upon a construction industry that strives to protect nature.

"Buildings that we are currently constructing or renovating with an emphasis on energy efficiency will be used for decades. They will significantly contribute to how much energy we will need in the future for living and working. Resource consumption during the construction phase also has a considerable impact. Therefore, it is crucial that we urgently take the right steps," says Andreas Engelhardt, Managing Partner of Schüco International KG. "In partnership with the World Wildlife Fund, we are analyzing how we as a company can contribute to this shift. One of the outcomes is clearly defined CO₂ reduction targets. We are pleased that the Science Based Targets initiative has now confirmed these goals."

The foundation is a joint climate strategy

Specifically, Schüco aims to reduce its absolute CO₂ emissions by 30% by 2025 compared to the reference year 2018. This target includes emissions from its own production, purchased energy, and during the extraction of raw materials, including further processing and use of Schüco products. The company strives to fulfill its vision that by 2040, it will generate no emissions harmful to the environment. The foundation of this effort is a carbon-neutral footprint throughout the entire chain, which Schüco has outlined in its latest sustainability report – Schüco is among a handful of companies in the construction industry that pursue this goal.

Absolute reductions in CO₂ beyond the stated goals have been verified by the Science Based Targets initiative and recognized as scientifically valid. This means they meet the decarbonization rates set by scientists specializing in climate studies and achieve the threshold of 1.5 °C. Schüco thus ranks alongside pioneering German companies with climate goals that are more ambitious than those set by the German government.

"Companies play a key role in achieving the climate goals set out in the Paris Agreement. Schüco is sending a clear signal with its commitments that these entities are also ready to take responsibility for the climate crisis," stated Eberhard Brandes, CEO of the German branch of the World Wildlife Fund. "The World Wildlife Fund is pleased that Schüco, with its ambitious emission reduction plans, has set standards for the entire construction sector."

Sustainable construction solutions as a tool

Throughout the year, Schüco will collaborate with the World Wildlife Fund to transform the confirmed climate goals into concrete measures and incorporate them into its daily operations. Both partners believe that the most important factor is implementing sustainable construction solutions with maximum energy efficiency. This approach involves the purchase of specific materials and the manufacturing of environmentally friendly products that have been proven to save resources. For Schüco, sustainability also means that window, door, and façade systems are returned back into the recycling process after their use phase. Therefore, the company places significant emphasis on the recyclability of the materials used in its products and pays increased attention to their subsequent separability during the design phase.

In relation to the climate, Schüco has been tracking its GHG (Greenhouse Gas) emissions since 2011. In order to fully realize reduction potential in the future, Schüco is striving to implement measures across all areas of its operations. The purpose of these related goals is to systematically further reduce energy and resource consumption.

In an effort to promote sustainability in construction, Schüco collaborated with the World Wildlife Fund in defining the goal of reducing CO2 emissions by 30% by 2025. (photo: Franziska Beckmann)

The aim is to limit global warming

The partnership between Schüco and the World Wildlife Fund has been ongoing since the end of 2018, with an initial period lasting three years. As part of the collaboration, the partners will combine their expertise and contribute to achieving the goal of the Paris Agreement on climate change, namely limiting global warming to 1.5 °C. The jointly established, scientifically backed climate strategy represents a first milestone for Schüco. The partnership will further focus on formulating measures to enhance the sustainability of production and material procurement.

About the World Wildlife Fund (WWF): Our goal: We want to stop the degradation of the natural environment of our planet and build a future in which people live in harmony with nature. With five million supporters and branches in more than 100 countries worldwide, the World Wildlife Fund is the largest international organization for nature conservation and environmental protection in the world. Its German branch constructively collaborates with businesses on projects and industrial initiatives and also within the framework of bilateral partnerships to address environmental issues. Based on collaboration with businesses, the World Wildlife Fund aims to transform supply chains and value-creation processes into eco-friendly economies that save resources. We work with industries and organizations whose transformation promises significant change—directly through reducing their carbon footprint and indirectly through their influence on their respective sectors and markets. More information can be found at www.wwf.de About the Science Based Targets initiative: The Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) was established in 2015 with the support of the non-profit organizations CDP (Carbon Disclosure Project), the UN Global Compact, the World Resources Institute, and the World Wildlife Fund. It encourages companies to contribute to achieving the climate goals agreed in Paris and plays a key role in reducing global greenhouse gas emissions. To this end, the initiative defines and promotes best practice approaches for setting scientifically backed climate targets. Currently, about 750 companies are members of the initiative, with over 300 having already confirmed their climate protection targets. More information can be found at www.sciencebasedtargets.org