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Sustainability

According to our leading principle "to live material", we design a world in which future generations will still be comfortable. This is particularly reflected in the sustainability based on which we produce our products. We pursue an integrated approach that is relevant for us in an economic, ecological and social sense. We prove that we live this approach in many different areas of our company.

Are you interested in sustainability at SCHWENK?

Please use the following link to request our sustainability information.

Environmental and nature protection

We consistently and above-averagely invest in best environmental technologies in all sites. This way, we regularly undercut benchmark values in the area of emissions of our factories, and actively contribute to health and climate protection.

We acquire our raw materials in our quarries, sand and gravel pits that are a habitat for plants and animals at the same time. Therefore, we already create habitats for pioneering and other very rare animals and plants, e.g. in our migrating biotope concept, even while producing rock. Additionally, we apply further measures to protect and support rare and endangered species and communities in the scope of our biodiversity projects, such as re-introduction of the partridge.

Resource efficiency

More than one fifth of the natural raw materials have been replaced by secondary materials at SCHWENK by now. They are combined with the natural raw materials to secure our high product quality demands. By using secondary raw materials, we not only protect natural raw materials and close material cycles but also reduce CO2 emissions.

Use of secondary fuels, such as dried sewage sludge or fuels from commercial and domestic wastes (BGS) is the rule at SCHWENK, rather than the exception. For many years, our secondary fuel rates have been leading in the German cement industry for this reason. Moreover we use an energy management system to continually improve the energy efficiency of our processes and systems.

Industrial safety and health protection

Industrial safety and health protection are the highest priority for us. This applies to our employees and to everyone who is present on our operating premises.

The introduction of a management system for industrial safety and health protection has enabled us to successfully create the prerequisites for this. As part of our operational health management, we also sustainably support the physical and psychological health of our employees.

Compliance and transparency

Compliance with statutory and authority requirements is only the minimum for us.
We take it one step further.

 

Certifications

Raw material mining

0

This is the number of years that we plan in advance to secure availability of our raw materials. This is enough time to build the Hoover Dam ten times over. This way, we ensure that subsequent generations will still have a raw materials supply.

Electrical power

0

Annual power consumption of approx. 1,500 Ø households

This is the energy we save every year in our new state-of-the-art vertical mills in the Allmendingen cement factory as compared to the previous ball mill.

We practice sustainability in all areas of our value-added chain. Convince yourself:

Secondary fuels

We are the leader in secondary fuel use in Germany, thus protecting fossil fuels.

 

CO2-balance

For every kg cement, we emit less than 0.6 kg CO2 when producing cement. This way, we produce specifically less CO2 than, e.g., most of the popular foods.

Regional material

0 km

We are constantly shortening our concrete transport routes through continuous site optimization. For example, the average transport route in 2020 at SCHWENK Beton Stuttgart's Westbahnhof plant was approx. 11.5 km. This allows us to protect resources and reduce CO2 emissions.

Biodiversity

On average, Germany has 0.03 plant species per area of 100 ha. Our quarries have 275 plant species. Our quarries therefore are a hot spot of biodiversity.

 

Logistics

More than 90% of the cement silo vehicles we use meet Euro 5 and 6. We take environmentally compatible transports seriously.

Area use

0-fold

The settlement and traffic area is this much higher as compared to the area share used for stone production in Germany. The area share for raw stone production in Germany is only 0.0036% at the moment (source: BGR)

Concrete residue

Our concrete residue is completely re-used. It is used, among others, to build concrete blocks, Easter Bunnies, Santa Clauses, vases …

fresh concrete recycling and hardened concrete recycling are implemented consistently by us!

 
 

SCHWENK as an employer

Transfer rate

We support our trainees in their development and offer attractive transfer opportunities. We have a transfer rate exceeding 90%.

 

Industrial safety and health protection

More than 60% of our companies are certified to "Sicher mit System" (systematically safety) already. Industrial safety is a big thing for us.

Training rate

0%

This is our training rate in cement. We strive to reach the same in other sections.

SCHWENK Headquarters

Hindenburgring 15
89077 Ulm
Phone +49 731 9341-0
Fax +49 731 9341-416
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