CSR-VISION

We are leading in the development of environmentally friendly products, pioneering in the circular economy and taking responsibility for future generations

PURPOSE

Schwalbe, for every cyclist the right tire with the highest quality and maximum durability

MISSION

The four pillars of Schwalbe’s responsibility: products, company, supply chain, social action.

Responsibility
for the next generations

With our first CSR report we are not only setting goals, but we are also officially establishing our social and environmental responsibility throughout the company. It not only provides information for our employees and the industry as a whole, but also serves as an inspiration to further develop their responsibility – for the people and for our planet.

The CSR Report is based on the Sustainability Reporting Standards of the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI Standards). These internationally recognized guidelines enable standardization and comparability of all sustainability topics between different companies, even outside the bicycle industry.

The four pillars of the Schwalbe responsibility

Product

Product

CLOSED CIRCULAR ECONOMY

  • Tire recycling
  • Tube recycling

50 YEARS OF QUALITY

  • Long-lasting quality products
  • Marathon quality:
    From Kathmandu to Bergneustadt on one Marathon tire (world traveler Wolfgang Reiche)

MATERIAL OPTIMIZATION

  • Material Screening in accordance with C2C (ingredients, renewable ingredients, detoxing)

PRODUCT INNOVATION

  • Aerothan (TPU-material, sustainable high-end product)
  • Green Guard (first puncture protection, made of one third recycled material)
  • Green Compound (rubber compund exclusively made of renewable materials)

WASTE MINIMIZATION

  • Ressource-efficient packaging
  • 100 % recyclable packaging
Company

Company

EMPLOYEES

  • Comprehensive support & assistance
  • Long-term employment (further education, cycle to work scheme etc.)

NEW HEADQUARTERS

  • 70 % of materials used are circular

ENERGY CONCEPT

  • Electricity from 100 % renewable energy sources (HQ – 311 t CO2 savings/year)

MOBILITY CONCEPT

  • Sustainable mobility (cycle friendly employer, switch to e-mobility)

SUSTAINABLE PROCUREMENT

  • Highest standards for purchasing (e.g. office supplies)
Supply chain

Supply chain

IMPROVE LIVING STANDARDS

  • Fair trade natural rubber (Fair Rubber e.V.)
  • Higher wages and better work conditions

GLOBAL ENERGY CONCEPT

  • Use of organic waste instead of coal

SUSTAINABLE LOGISTICS

  • Selection of providers based on sustainability criteria
Social commitment

Social commitment

SOCIAL OUTREACH

  • Promotion of the wheelchair division (extensive portfolio for everyday activities and sports)
  • Sponsoring of parasports

CHARITY PROJECTS

  • Chancenwerk
  • World Bicycle Relief
  • Children for a better world

PROMOTION OF SPORTS

  • Sponsoring athletes
  • Regional support (VfL Gummersbach, TTC Bergneustadt)

BIODIVERSITY PROTECTION

  • Borneo Orang-Utan Survival Foundation
  • Greening of headquarters for greater biodiversity
  • Rooftop garden (herbs and vegetables for the canteen)

FUTURE UNDERTAKINGS – OUR CSR MARATHON

As one of the first companies in the bicycle industry, we have set ambitious CSR goals in our four pillars of responsibility.

Product

2023

Presentation of first product with 100 % RCB (Recovered Carbon Black)

2025

Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) for all core products



CONEBI/CIE Sustainable packaging commitment working with supply chain Partners to ensure that all packaging in the supply chain is reusable, recyclable, or compostable

2026

14 million recycled tyres
13 million recycled inner tubes

Company

2023

Sustainable mobility for HQ complete, holistic onboarding programme

2025

Energy transition: 100 % use of renewable energies in Germany

2030

Internal climate goal: reduce scope 1 & 2 emissions by 55 %; expand the inclusion of scope 3 emissions

Supply chain

2023

Audits of the JV factories in IN and VN

2024

Application of code of conduct for the entire group of suppliers / sub-suppliers and accessories suppliers

2025

Additional external auditing of the code of conduct

2027

Energy transition: expansion of renewable energies at the production sites

social commitment

2023

Begin of support for social projects in the production countries and for people in the resource extraction process

2030

Share of cycling mobility in commuting 25 %

Tire Recycling
TURNING USED INTO NEW

Schwalbe is the first manufacturer in the world to recycle bicycle tires, this saves 80 % of emissions.

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Tire Recycling

SUPPLY CHAIN RESPONSIBILITY

Compliance with ecological and social standards within the supply chain is an essential issue for us. We, like all companies, we are called upon to analyse our value chain.

Cooperation with Fair Rubber e.V.
In cooperation with Fair Rubber e. V. we are committed to the fair trade of natural rubber and thus actively support the improvement of the living and working conditions of rubber tappers.

THE NEW COMPANY HEADQUARTERS IN REICHSHOF

Open, spacious, green, and stimulating – this is the new heart of our Headquarters in Reichshof. Built according to the C2C principle, we have used 70 percent materials that can be recycled at the end of their utilisation. Another 28 percent can be downcycled.

THE NEW COMPANY HEADQUARTERS IN REICHSHOF

The new building reflects our future-oriented commitment to people and society down to the last detail.

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ENERGY AND EMISSIONS –
GREENHOUSE GAS BALANCE

With no more burnt tyres. Through this mission we aim to actively contribute toward the reduction of the CO2 footprint for bicycle mobility. In doing so, we conserve valuable resources.

Emissions reduction target: 55 % by 2030

Our current emissions reduction target is minus 55 percent by 2030 compared to the base year 2018. To achieve this, we aim to significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions that occur at our own sites, through business trips by employees, or through the manufacture of our products. In addition, we shall reserve the right to compensate for emissions that we cannot avoid.

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THE NEW COMPANY HEADQUARTERS IN REICHSHOF

Supplier Code of Conduct

Of course, we cannot solve all Problems alone. But it is our responsibility to help in shaping change, as the examples in this report show. We pursue this responsibility throughout the entire value chain and strive to create trust and build resilient partnerships.

We work towards a transparent and traceable supply chain to protect all stakeholders and meet our high standards. Our long-standing business relationships with our partners and our code of conduct provide us with a Guiding framework.

Supplier Code of conduct
Supplier Code of Conduct