Strategy and Organization
We leave nothing to chance.
„Sustainability is the key to a successful long-term business model. That´s why we consistently implement our holistic sustainability and climate strategy."
Stefan Henkelmann, Leader Sustainability Office,
BENTELER Business Services GmbH
The basis of our strategy: The Sustainable Development Goals
As a global company, we have linked the BENTELER sustainability strategy with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) set globally consistent benchmarks for sustainable development priorities through 2030. We also derive the priorities for BENTELER from this. We have identified ten on which our business activities have relevant effects.
Relevant SDGS
We have prioritized five sustainability targets and are gradually implementing corresponding strategic measures:
- SDG 6: Clean water and sanitation
- SDG 7: Affordable and clean energy
- SDG 8: Decent work and economic growth
- SDG 12: Responsible consumption and production
- SDG 13: Climate action
BENTELER Sustainability Targets at a glance
Our emissions targets
In our industry, which has many energy-intensive processes, we focus primarily on climate protection (SDG 13). We have set ourselves ambitious targets for this. The focus is on the decarbonization of the company. By 2030, we want to halve our production-related absolute Scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions compared to 2019. We aim to be climate-neutral in our production by 2040. With regard to the supply chain, we aim to reduce absolute Scope 3 GHG emissions by 30% by 2030 compared to 2019. We aim to achieve net zero emissions across the company by 2050.
Other environmental targets
We have defined additional environmental goals in the areas of water and waste (SDG 6 and 12). By 2030, we aim to reduce absolute water withdrawals at sites in regions of high and very high water stress by 20% from the 2019 baseline. We also aim to reduce our waste volume by 20% during this period.
Focused on achieving goals
In addition, the advancement of women has a high priority in our sustainability strategy. By 2030, we aim to achieve a 25% share of women in management positions in our company (SDG 8).
In formulating current and future goals, BENTELER incorporates the expectations of its stakeholders to the best possible extent and takes into account regulatory requirements and developments in the financial market.
The Science Based Target Initiative
The BENTELER Group has set climate targets to act in line with the Paris Climate Agreement. After the methodology and emission figures had been assessed and confirmed in advance by external auditors, they were also validated by the Science Based Target Initiative (SBTi). Our aim is not only to reduce our emissions, but also to ensure that our contribution to climate protection is effective and substantial, which is why we also rely on scientific validation. The prestigious Science Based Target Initiative is a partnership between CDP, the United Nations Global Compact, the World Resources Institute (WRI) and the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF).
Effectively organized: Our Sustainability Office manages implementation
The BENTELER Group established a Sustainability Office with several sustainability experts in 2022. They support the measures required for the implementation of the sustainability goals, are in regular contact with the departments and ensure that all those responsible receive the support required for the implementation of the measures. The Sustainability Office reports directly to the Executive Board.
Materiality
We conducted a materiality analysis in 2021. This enables us to assess which topics are relevant for our sustainability reporting. The basis for the potentially relevant catalog of topics included an industry analysis, the application of the SDGs, the GRI standards, and regulatory developments such as the EU taxonomy.
In the next step, a panel of experts representing different stakeholder perspectives evaluated the list and discussed the expectations for BENTELER. Internal experts then assessed the impact of BENTELER's business activities on the environment, economy and society in an online survey. The results of the surveys were subsequently validated. The final result of the materiality analysis was finally confirmed by the Executive Board.
We keep talking
To understand the needs of our stakeholders and continuously improve our performance, we maintain an ongoing dialog. Our goal is to shape the future of the BENTELER Group together with all stakeholders. The group-wide communication strategy is updated annually. It defines target groups, topics and dialog formats. We attach great importance to dialog in our communication activities. We are convinced that only by exchanging ideas with our stakeholders can we learn from each other, strengthen the general bond and thus make a sustainable contribution to the company's success. Dialog with our employees around the world is particularly important to us. To provide them with orientation in a rapidly changing market environment, we inform them actively and comprehensively via targeted formats.
A concrete example is our regular "Business Update" - a video message in which the Executive Board explains the market and company situation on a wide variety of channels (intranet, plant screens, etc.). Here, too, we encourage our colleagues to send us their thoughts: Every employee is actively encouraged to provide feedback to supervisors, the corporate communications team or directly to the Executive Board.
