Sustainability
at WESERLAND

Economic, ecological, and social goals
as an integral part of our corporate strategy

Setting new priorities: accountability, relevance and sustainability

Sustainability: Our Corporate Goal as a Long-Term Strategy

Weserland eco

Weserland defines sustainability by taking a holistic view of environmental protection, social justice and economic efficiency. We endeavour to go far beyond the fulfilment of rules and standards by combining environmental protection and sustainability with substantial and responsible action. Future generations should not have to accept any restrictions in their lives.

We consider products and processes not as an end point, but as valuable resources. This perspective allows us to view waste materials as potential sources of secondary raw materials and thus support the recovery and reuse of materials as part of our circular economy activities. We explore ways to use raw materials more efficiently, reduce waste and reuse materials.

All our solutions are guided by a long-term strategy aimed at creating both environmental and economic benefits – not only for our customers and society, but above all for future generations.
Together with our customers, we develop tailored solutions that meet technical requirements while considering opportunities for more efficient use of raw materials, as well as the reuse and recycling of materials.

Our CO₂ reduction path

Funded by the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Protection

Our environmental policy

Sustainability is a key component of Weserland GmbH’s corporate strategy. Through our EP-30 transformation project, we are working to gradually reduce our company’s greenhouse gas emissions. Our goal is to achieve a 40% reduction by 2032 compared to the 2022 baseline year. We monitor our progress through regular greenhouse gas emissions accounting.

To achieve this goal, we rely on:

Climate protection and energy efficiency: reducing energy consumption and using renewable energies.
Resource conservation: Substitution of critical raw materials, preferably local procurement.
Water and waste: Efficient use of water resources, reduction and recycling of waste.
Circular economy: Development of recyclable products and use of reusable packaging systems.

The management bears overall responsibility, while our environmental management officer coordinates operational implementation. The environmental policy is reviewed annually and continuously developed.

Key fields of activity

Focal Points of Our Sustainability concept

Raw Materials and Resources

For Weserland as a chemical company, the responsible use of raw materials and resources is of fundamental importance. We focus on increasing resource productivity and optimizing energy-related services. When it comes to procurement, our company places particular emphasis on the entire life cycle.

As a company certified to DIN EN ISO 14001 since the 1990s, we have a thorough understanding of the importance of using resources responsibly, particularly water, which plays a key role in chemical production. In our production processes, we aim to keep process water within a largely closed-loop system. We also use technical and organisational measures to prevent leaks and contamination.

We continuously review technical and organisational measures to reduce energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions in our operations.

Product Responsibility and Circular Economy

As an experienced player in the chemical industry, we understand the importance of the circular economy and product responsibility as essential elements of our business activities. Our approach is based on processing a wide range of raw materials into high-quality finished products for industrial applications that serve as aids for further processing.

One example is the recovery of raw materials from our finished coatings, such as those used in textile carpets. We are exploring ways to recover and reuse raw materials from used coating materials. In doing so, we are investigating which material properties can be achieved to enable reuse.

In product development, we explore the use of natural and bio-based raw materials. In doing so, we consider technical requirements as well as opportunities for reusing and recycling materials. In line with the German Circular Economy Act (Kreislaufwirtschaftsgesetz), we aim to incorporate durability and careful design into every product to minimise waste during manufacturing and use. In addition to technical requirements, our product development process takes into account raw material consumption, resource efficiency and opportunities to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Avoid Environmental Pollution

We are dedicated to reducing environmental pollution through innovative approaches in closed loop recycling management. In line with the objectives of the EU taxonomy and beyond, we are working intensively on the issue of the packaging cycle. We will counter the trend towards disposable packaging in the industrial sector with a systematic rethink.

We focus on the take-back and reuse of suitable packaging, particularly drums and Intermediate Bulk Containers (IBCs). Together with our customers, we are working to further expand the use of reusable packaging.

As a company whose operations do not generate wastewater for discharge, we place great importance on the responsible use of resources. Our measures include regular maintenance of hydraulic systems, technical precautions to prevent leaks and established procedures for cleaning our machinery. We ensure that the areas where our equipment is installed and cleaned are equipped with sealed surfaces, appropriate gradients and dedicated containment systems.

Responsibility in the Supply Chain

As part of our corporate responsibility, we attach great importance to the sustainable and ethical organisation of our supply chain. It is important to us not only to guarantee environmental standards and social responsibility internally, but also to actively implement these principles throughout the entire chain.

As part of our supplier evaluation process, we consider environmental and social aspects alongside economic and quality criteria. We assess selected suppliers against defined requirements. To support this process, it is essential that our partners have a clear understanding of our expectations regarding sustainability and social responsibility from the outset.

Weserland aims to integrate local suppliers and raw materials into its supply chain wherever possible. Depending on needs and circumstances, we assess compliance with our supplier requirements through evaluations, discussions or on-site visits. Furthermore, Weserland is committed to increasingly working with suppliers that disclose their sustainability performance on recognised platforms such as EcoVadis or CDP.

Qualified Employees

When it comes to sustainability, we are also committed to the targeted promotion and development of our employees (m,f,d). This is based above all on the conviction that qualified and satisfied employees (m,f,d) are not only the key to the company’s success, but also make a significant contribution to environmental protection and sustainability.

At the heart of our corporate culture is our commitment to long-term employee retention, regardless of gender or background. We therefore place great importance on the continuous training and professional development of our teams. This helps us strengthen our employees’ professional skills and provide them with the knowledge needed to use energy and raw materials responsibly and manage waste appropriately in their daily work.

We offer comprehensive company health management and additional amenities such as a job bike and job ticket to promote a healthy work-life balance and support environmentally friendly mobility. At Weserland, people are not just a contributing factor, they are at the centre of everything we do. This approach extends from production through the laboratory and field service to trainees and office staff. We attach great importance to our employees (m,f,d) not only knowing the appropriate rules, but also living them and having the right attitude.

Role Model for Refurbishment

In our Interiors (WLI) business division, we focus on refurbishing and renewing seating systems. This allows existing components to be reused and materials to be selectively replaced. Our aim is to conserve resources and reduce environmental impacts through the refurbishment of seating systems.

We demonstrate our commitment to sustainability by specialising in the renovation of seating systems for rail vehicles, buses as well as upholstered seats in waiting areas at airports and train stations. A key advantage of our work is the contribution of our expertise in fire protection, which further enhances the safety and quality of the renewed products.

Among other measures, polyurethane foam cushions – another key component of our product portfolio – are shredded and partially incorporated into new foam cushions. By reusing processed polyurethane foam in this way, the need for new raw materials can be reduced. In the production of polyurethane foams, we also consider the use of polyols derived from renewable raw materials. This can partially replace fossil-based raw materials.

To achieve our goals

Our Standards and Guidelines

In developing our sustainability management system, we use the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the environmental objectives of the EU Taxonomy as guiding frameworks. We support the Ten Principles of the UN Global Compact, and many of our voluntary commitments are reflected in our own Code of Conduct.

We are guided by the EU Taxonomy Regulation (6 environmental objectives of the EU). In particular, we focus on climate protection, the prevention of environmental pollution and the sustainable use of water.

We are aligning these, as well as the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), with the ESG criteria (environmental, social, governance) as a framework for our corporate governance.

An independent assessment of our sustainability strategy is essential to us and should be carried out using an internationally recognised and widely established system. We regularly have our sustainability performance assessed by EcoVadis. The rating covers four areas: Environment, Labour and Human Rights, Ethics, and Sustainable Procurement.