Sustainability and corporate responsibility

Sustainability and corporate social responsibility (CSR) are key issues in the modern business world. Companies increasingly have a responsibility not only to pursue economic goals, but also to take social and environmental aspects into account. The relevance of these issues for companies is reflected in the need to meet legal requirements, gain the trust of customers and investors and remain competitive in the long term.

This page provides a comprehensive overview of the importance of sustainability and CSR for companies and presents various relevant aspects and initiatives. Various topics are covered below, including the Supply Chain Act, Life Cycle Assessment, the Aluminum Stewardship Initiative, energy audits, environmental product declarations, EcoVadis assessments, the Product Carbon Footprint, ResponsibleSteel and the SA 8000 standard.

Sustainability and CSR

Sustainability and CSR are indispensable foundations for responsible action in today’s business world. Sustainability means using resources in such a way that they are also available to future generations, while CSR emphasizes a company’s responsibility towards society.

These two concepts serve as a foundation for all subsequent topics and form the basis for sustainable business. The transition to the Supply Chain Act shows how legal frameworks oblige companies to implement sustainable practices.

Supply Chain Act

The Supply Chain Act is an important legal instrument that obliges companies to comply with environmental and social standards along their supply chain. It has far-reaching effects on companies, as it obliges them to carry out life cycle assessments and sustainability reporting.

These measures are intended to protect human rights and comply with environmental standards. The Supply Chain Act is therefore an important step towards promoting sustainability and CSR in companies and serves as a transition to detailed consideration of life cycle assessment.

Life cycle assessment

Life cycle assessment is an essential tool for evaluating the environmental impact of products and services over their entire life cycle. It helps companies to quantify their environmental impact and identify measures to reduce it.

In the aluminum industry, life cycle assessment is supported by the Aluminum Stewardship Initiative (ASI), which sets industry-specific sustainability standards. This practice shows how LCA can be applied in different industries and leads to the next important initiative, the ASI.

Aluminum Stewardship Initiative (ASI)

The Aluminum Stewardship Initiative (ASI) promotes sustainable practices in the aluminum industry. It defines standards for the entire supply chain, from raw material extraction to processing. ASI criteria also include energy audits, which ensure that companies continuously improve their energy efficiency.

The link between ASI and energy audits illustrates how industry-specific initiatives can contribute to meeting sustainability targets. The next section looks in detail at energy audits according to the EN 16247 standard.

Energy audits according to EN 16247

Energy audits are a key tool for improving energy efficiency in companies. The EN 16247 standard provides a structured framework for carrying out these audits and helps companies to systematically identify and implement potential energy savings. Energy audits not only contribute to reducing operating costs, but also to reduction of CO₂ emissions. The results of these audits can be documented in environmental product declarations (EPDs).

Environmental Product Declarations (EPD)

Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) provide transparent information about the environmental impact of products. They are based on a life cycle analysis and help companies to disclose and improve their environmental footprint. EPDs play an important role in sustainability assessment and can document the results of energy audits.

The link to EcoVadis assessments shows how EPDs can help improve sustainability assessments, which is explained in the next section.

EcoVadis

EcoVadis provides a comprehensive rating system for companies’ sustainability performance. The ratings are based on a variety of criteria, including environmental management, fair labor practices and ethical business conduct. EcoVadis ratings are a valuable tool for improving corporate reputation and meeting customer requirements.

The link with the Product Carbon Footprint (PCF) shows how detailed environmental data can be used to assess and improve sustainability performance.

Product Carbon Footprint (PCF)

The Product Carbon Footprint (PCF) measures the total CO₂ emissions associated with the manufacture and life cycle of a product. Calculating the PCF helps companies to understand their carbon footprint and develop measures to reduce it. The PCF plays an important role in the steel industry, as the example of ResponsibleSteel shows. The PCF is a specific metric that contributes to the fulfillment of sustainability targets.

ResponsibleSteel

ResponsibleSteel is an initiative to promote sustainable practices in the steel industry. It sets standards for environmental and social responsibility and supports companies in improving their sustainability performance. ResponsibleSteel is closely linked to compliance with SA 8000, a standard for social responsibility. Together, the two standards promote holistic sustainability that takes both environmental and social aspects into account.

SA 8000

The SA 8000 standard is an internationally recognized standard for corporate social responsibility. It defines requirements for fair working conditions, respect for human rights and the protection of employees. The implementation of SA 8000 helps companies to systematically integrate social responsibility into their business practices and thus contribute to comprehensive sustainability.

Conclusion

Integrating sustainability and CSR into corporate strategies is essential for long-term success and social responsibility. The various approaches and initiatives presented on this page provide a comprehensive overview of the opportunities and benefits of sustainable action.

The outlook for future developments shows that the importance of sustainability and CSR will continue to grow. Companies that implement these principles are well equipped to meet the challenges of the future. For further information or advice, please do not hesitate to contact us.