Communication on Progress 2021

Datwyler’s Code of Conduct clearly stipulates that the companies and employees of the Group must respect the human rights, dignity, privacy, and personal rights of every individual. Datwyler does not tolerate any form of discrimination, humiliation, oppression, harassment, or offence. In the reporting year 2021, the Compliance Officer (currently the CFO) received no complaints of alleged discrimination in Datwyler companies. In its Code of Conduct, Datwyler commits to ensuring a safe and healthy working environment. Datwyler has defined expectations of suppliers in a separate Supplier Code of Conduct.

In its Code of Conduct, Datwyler commits to open and honest behavior with integrity. Datwyler gives its suppliers fair contractual terms and reasonable valuable consideration. In return, Datwyler also expects the suppliers to treat their employees and suppliers fairly and honestly.

Since 2014, the Datwyler Group also has a supplier Code of Conduct.

For Datwyler, environmental protection is an important mission and is therefore embodied in the company’s values and Code of Conduct. This encompasses both environmentally friendly production, the efficient use of resources, and the development of products that are made of the most environmentally sound components possible.

The environmental data in the sustainability reporting covers more than 99% of energy consumption, 99% of resource consumption, more than 97% of waste, and 100% of Datwylers continued operations workforce.

The company is continuously investing in the maintenance and modernisation of its production plants worldwide.In the reporting year, investments in property, plant, and equipment amounted to CHF 110.9 million (2020: CHF 90.8 million / 2019: CHF 104.6 million).The impact on the use of resources is also considered when any investments are made in equipment and buildings.

At the end of 2021, 14 Datwyler plants were certified to ISO 14001, and additional plants are working toward ISO environmental certification. Thanks to measures that were implemented, Datwyler succeeded in reducing resource consumption per revenue unit for electricity and water volume over the last five years despite higher revenues.

Datwyler has set a goal to achieve climate neutrality for its own operations (Scope 1 and 2) by 2030. Beginning with emissions of approximately 80’000 tons of CO₂eq in 2020, Datwyler is following the reduction path defined by the Science Based Targets, which includes implementing measures to purchase renewable energy and increase energy efficiency. These actions are intended to drastically reduce greenhouse gas emissions despite forecasted business growth. In addition, greenhouse gas emissions that can’t be avoided will be offset from 2030 onward in order to achieve climate neutrality. Datwyler also started a project to identify and quantify Scope 3 emissions to develop measures for emission reduction.

In 2021, Datwyler’s operations were responsible for emissions of about 78,000 tons CO₂eq (scope 1 and 2) - a successful reduction in absolute CO₂ emissions by 2.5% compared to 2020. Thanks to the measures implemented to improve energy efficiency, relative CO₂ emissions have decreased by 14% compared to 2020.

Environmental protection at Datwyler encompasses both environmentally friendly production with efficient use of resources and the development of products that are made of the most environmentally sound components possible. With its proactive chemical compliance management, the company goes above and beyond the legal requirements. Datwyler proactively identifies substances of concern that are particularly hazardous to health and harmful to the environment and prohibits the use of these substances in the development and production of new elastomer products.

In many cases, Datwyler products directly help to protect the environment. One example is the new rubber gaskets for environmentally friendly natural gas engines or for Selective Catalytic Reduction technology, which reduce nitrogen-oxide emissions from diesel-powered vehicles in the automotive industry.