Sustainability

Net Zero by 2045

Extra Budget for Process Transformation

“Our most important sustainability goal is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. We aim to cut those in half by 2030 – we’re talking about absolute numbers, regardless of how much growth we experience. We are starting with our own products and processes to achieve this target. With our investment budget for sustainable process transformation, we support projects that cut greenhouse gases, other emissions and water consumption, or contribute to a circular economy. In the reporting year, we used this budget to approve projects that aim to achieve annual reductions of more than 100,000 metric tons of CO₂. In order to support and further promote our employees’ commitment to sustainable process transformation, we started awarding our annual WACKER Net Zero Award, worth 10,000 euros, in 2022. This is our way of recognizing outstanding projects that significantly reduce our company’s environmental footprint.”

“We are starting with our own products and processes to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.”

Renewable Reductants in Silicon Production

“Silicon metal is one of the most important raw materials for WACKER and is used in the production of silicones and hyperpure polysilicon. The silicon metal produced in Holla, Norway, covers roughly one-third of demand. We are currently expanding the Holla site, which is playing a key role in helping us achieve net zero emissions. The coal employed as a reductant in the production of silicon metal is now being replaced with renewables, such as biocarbon sourced from sustainable forests. The use of biomass is deemed to be carbon-neutral, because combustion releases the carbon dioxide taken up by the plants while they were growing. In the downstream stage, we would like to capture this biogenic CO₂ again and either store it permanently or use it as a raw material in the production of chemicals. We will be installing a pilot plant for this in 2023.”

“The coal employed in the production of silicon metal is being replaced with renewables.”

Green Electricity for Electrified Processes

“We are working on switching our production sites to green electricity. We have already succeeded in doing this at our Holla site – among other things by negotiating power purchase agreements with providers of wind and hydroelectric power. In 2022, our Holla site procured all its electricity from renewable energy sources. Over the coming years, we will switch our other production sites to green electricity worldwide. Due to increasing process electrification, our electricity consumption will rise in the next few years despite intensive efficiency measures. That’s why we are working on fossil-free alternatives for steam generation, for example with heat pumps. This will allow us to utilize electricity even more efficiently and avoid fossil fuels such as natural gas.”

“In 2022, our Holla site procured all its electricity from renewable energy sources.”

WACKER aims to reduce its absolute greenhouse gas emissions by 50 percent by 2030 and achieve net zero by 2045.

We press ahead with sustainable solutions using our certified WACKER Sustainable Solutions program and manage our product portfolio in line with defined sustainability criteria.

We prioritize climate-friendly technologies and our products facilitate renewable energy generation, electromobility, and climate-friendly construction techniques.

What we procure is sustainable: our suppliers have been inspected in line with the global TfS standard and can prove the sustainable nature of their business practices. We are reducing our absolute greenhouse gas emissions in our supply chains by 25 percent.

We save water by reducing our wastewater load through pretreatment, recycling and recirculation and by making efficient use of water in our production processes.

We prioritize safety by adopting safety strategies in our plants and by running programs designed to promote an awareness of safety.