Environmental Sustainability
Which measures of the environmental and energy concept contribute most to achieving WashTec’s goals?
The most important measures for achieving the WashTec CO2e reduction target are the conversion of the heating systems, the modernisation of the infrastructure, the electrification of the vehicle fleet and the continuous purchase of green electricity.
What is the timetable for the transition to green energy at the production sites outside Germany?
We have planned to install a photovoltaic system at our Czech site in 2025. This will enable us to reduce external electricity purchases and use green electricity. We are currently unable to purchase green electricity from the electricity supplier for the site in the USA. However, we are also looking into the possibility of a photovoltaic system here. Due to different regional conditions, we are unable to provide an exact timetable for when we will purchase 100% green electricity at all production sites, including those outside Germany.
Have you already carried out an external energy audit to identify opportunities for improvement?
In addition to the regular ISO 50001 audits, we carried out a voluntary external energy audit in Augsburg in 2019 and 2023 and a mandatory external energy audit in France in 2020. In France, this is repeated every four years due to legal requirements.
We recognised additional savings potential in individual cases and incorporated these findings into our environmental and energy concept.
Does WashTec also undertake activities to promote biodiversity?
We have explicitly included this in our environmental and energy concept and are working on it. You can read about our activities in this area in the “Our responsibility to society” section.
To what extent is WashTec aware of the impact of the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM)? Are you already taking measures to adapt to CBAM?
We have intensively analysed the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM). After careful analysis, we have determined that there are no recognisable direct effects for our company. The products and services we have identified at our production sites in Europe are supplied from Europe.
Will WashTec also provide information on the return of old appliances from countries other than Germany, Austria and France with regard to hazardous waste?
Only the chemical canisters are hazardous waste. Old systems, for example, are not hazardous waste. Most of them (>95%) can be recycled. Customers have the option of having their old systems disposed of by WashTec.
