WE AIM TO CUT OUR EMISSIONS BY AT LEAST 55% BY 2030 AND IN DOING SO CONSIDERABLY HELP TO REGENERATE OUR ECOSYSTEM – GET THERE
OUR OBJECTIVE FOLLOWS THE cradle-to-cradle design: THAT OF NOT MAKING A LESS DETRIMENTAL CONTRIBUTION BUT ONE THAT IS ENTIRELY POSITIVE.
NEW STANDARDS IN CLIMATE PROTECTION - BY 2040 AT THE LATEST WE WILL HAVE REACHED NET ZERO AND BE REMOVING MORE EMISSIONS FROM THE ATMOSPHERE THAN WE PRODUCE.
AMBITIOUS TARGETS
In 2022, we joined the Science-Based Targets initiative (SBTi) with the aim of cutting our scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions by at least 55% by 2030 and reducing our business-relevant emissions down to net zero by 2040.
INTERNATIONAL CLIMATE FINANCE
As a company in the bicycle industry, we are part of the solution working towards an environmentally-friendly mobility revolution – and we take this responsibility seriously. Instead of concentrating on the illusion of climate neutrality, we make contributions in the sense of international climate funding that aim to have a positive and regenerative impact on our planet and society.
This includes investing in projects aimed at reforestation, regenerative farming, and the promotion of biodiversity along with those designed to protect communities and ways of life that are at particular risk from drastic climate change and increasingly extreme weather events.
WE ALREADY USE 100% GREEN ELECTRICITY AT OUR HEADQUARTERS.
SIGNIFICANT CUT IN EMISSIONS SINCE 2018
In summary, scope 1 emissions at Schwalbe’s German headquarters and its subsidiaries sank from 612.9 metric tons of CO2eq in 2018 to 574.3 tons of CO2eq in 2023. Scope 2 emissions dropped from 359.8 tons of CO2eq in 2018 to 70.9 tons of CO2eq in 2023. Scope 3 emissions fell from 22,089.0 tons of CO2eq in 2018 to 14,439.4 tons of CO2eq in 2023. Total emissions were reduced from 23,061.8 tons of CO2eq in 2018 to 15,084.6 tons of CO2eq in 2023.
SINCE BASE YEAR 2018 THERE HAS BEEN A SIGNIFICANT DROP IN THE TOTAL EMISSIONS GENERATED THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE SCHWALBE GROUP
GHG Protocol Standard
2023’s greenhouse gas emission balance for the Schwalbe Group is based on the internationally recognized GHG Protocol: A Corporate Accounting and Reporting Standard and encompasses all climate-relevant greenhouse gases that fall under the ‘operative control’ of the company. The data for these calculations is based on ecoinvent 3.9.1 and the IPCC AR6 assessment method (GWP 100). From the reporting year 2023 we will be drawing up our greenhouse gas balance together with the ClimateSeed platform as our partner.
Scope 1, 2 & 3 emissions for the Schwalbe Groupe; grand total in metric tons of CO2eq.
SUCCESSFUL EMISSION CUTS IN PRODUCTION
Despite our robust growth in production between 2020 and 2022, we have been able to significantly cut our emissions in production – by 46% in 2022 compared to 2018. This process, known as decoupling, means that we have managed to separate our production growth from the generation of additional emissions.
OUR SUCCESS IN DECOUPLING SHOWS THAT PRODUCTION GROWTH IS POSSIBLE WHILE CUTTING EMISSIONS.
OUR LONG-TERM GOAL: TO REMOVE MORE CO2 FROM THE ATMOSPHERE THAN WE EMIT.
* for Green Mararthon production
THE FIRST DETAILED PRODUCT CARBON FOOTPRINT FOR THE GREEN MARATHON IMPRESSIVELY DOCUMENTS THE POSITIVE IMPACT OF THIS ECOFRIENDLY DEVELOPMENT.
PRODUCT CARBON FOOTPRINT FOR THE NEW GREEN MARATHON
With a product carbon footprint of 1.43 kg CO2 equivalents (CO2eq), the Green Marathon saves 41% CO2eq compared to the previous model. This considerable reduction in CO2 emissions has been brought about by the consistent use of recycled and renewable materials. Besides rCB, the full elimination of new synthetic rubber using recycled rubber, and a high proportion of Fair Rubber should be noted. Synthetic rubber is very resource intensive as it uses petroleum.
CARBON FOOTPRINT REDUCTION MEASURES
Our first Life Cycle Assessments (LCA) show that around two-thirds of our product emissions stem from the substances and materials we use. We are thus making a consistent change away from new (virgin) materials based on petroleum to recycled and renewable. In 2024, 70% of our tires will be made with recovered carbon black (rCB) from our own recycling process instead of with industrial or virgin carbon black.
LIFE CYCLE ASSESSMENT (LCA) FOR INNER TUBE RECYCLING
A comprehensive LCA study shows that using recycled butyl (rButyl) from the Schwalbe inner tube recycling program to replace new (fossil-based) butyl enables 97% CO2eq to be saved. The study was carried out according to ISO 14040, 14044 and 14067 guidelines and modelled with the Sphera LCA For Experts software. In 2023, Schwalbe saved 5,683 tons of CO2eq by using rButyl from the Schwalbe inner tube recycling program as a substitute for fossil-based new butyl.
BIODIVERSITY IS A KEY ELEMENT IN ACHIEVING OUR CSR TARGETS.
REFORESTATION PROJECT
Schwalbe is supporting reforestation in the direct vicinity of its headquarters in Reichshof-Wehnrath and has decided to finance the replanting and maintenance of 10,000 m² of woodland together with its employees.
THE AGROFORESTRY PROJECT IN JAVA
Schwalbe was the first company in the bicycle industry to start an agroforestry project with local farmers in Java in 2023. This project is absolutely pioneering in its efficiency and is scientifically supervised by the Indonesian Rubber Research Institute (IRRI).
SCHWALBE HELPS TO PROTECT ORANGUTANS IN ASIA
Schwalbe is actively helping to protect orangutans and the rain forest in Asia and supports the Borneo Orangutan Survival Foundation (BOSF).
