CERATIZIT, part of the Plansee Group, has achieved a major milestone on its journey to becoming carbon neutral by 2025. Since the beginning of 2023, production operations for the carbide specialist have been powered by over 99% green energy from renewable sources.

As part of an ambitious sustainability strategy, CERATIZIT has been gradually switching to renewable energy sources for energy needs at its production sites. Now, 99% of CERATIZIT’s energy requirements come from renewable sources—a claim that is backed up by corresponding certificates from its energy suppliers. As such, the carbide specialists have reached their first milestone on the path to becoming carbon neutral by 2025. Switching the majority of its energy supply to renewable sources has helped the company immediately cut its corporate carbon footprint (CCF) by over 20%.

Fixed calculation basis for carbon-cutting targets

The company has based its carbon-cutting targets on the figures from its 2020/2021 business year, in which CERATIZIT emitted almost 176,000 metric tons of CO2e (carbon dioxide equivalent) according to the GHG Protocol (Greenhouse Gas Protocol).[1] Around a quarter of the company’s emissions fall under scope 1 of the Protocol (direct GHG emissions) and a quarter from scope 2 (electricity indirect GHG emissions), while around half fall under scope 3, which stem in particular from purchased goods and services as well as employees’ journeys to and from work.

“With these final figures, we have the necessary information to take the first steps to reducing our carbon footprint. Switching to renewable energy is only the first step in this process, but one that has enabled us to reduce our footprint by more than 20%,” explains Executive Board Spokesperson Andreas Lackner. With the figures now available, the company will decide on further measures to be taken over the next few months to reduce the company’s corporate carbon footprint (CCF) by at least 35% as currently planned by 2025.

The company has set itself the target of reducing its 2020/2021 CCF levels by 60% through additional measures by 2030, such as switching to ‘green’ hydrogen. The company plans to achieve ‘Net Zero’ by 2040, ten years ahead of the targets specified under the Paris Agreement.

[1] The figures are calculated according to a cradle-to-gate principle, meaning it includes scope 1, scope 2 and scope 3 upstream; scope 3 downstream is not used here.