Sustainable business practices in harmony with nature

As a company in the construction industry, Schüco is reliant upon a number of different natural resources. These include aluminium and iron ore, crude oil and sand in particular. Their production and fabrication are also linked to a high level of land use and water consumption. For us, having sustainable business practices means ensuring we do not overuse the available resources and, where this has already happened, actively working towards regenerating and relieving the strain on ecosystems.

20250516_1448_Fußball-T-Shirt im Stadion_remix_01jvcj3tqvetssbtt978a4t0ma Kopie — © WWF / James Morgan

Added value and the environment: Understanding the connection

Fabricating materials, transport and building planning: we impact ecosystems in many ways throughout our value chain. The mining of bauxite (the primary source of aluminium) and the extraction of crude oil for PVC production, have a significant impact on natural habitats. The design and use of buildings also affects land use and the environment. However, unspoiled ecosystems are crucial for our economic success. This is predominantly evident when extreme weather events lead to disruptions in the supply chain.

Many of the negative effects on biodiversity and water resources occur in the upstream processes, outside of our direct area of responsibility. Nevertheless, we do contribute indirectly through our material procurement.

In order to manage our environmental impact in a targeted way and promote sustainable solutions, it is essential that we better understand the relationship between our interdependencies and impacts.

Our approach

In 2024, together with 36 other partners from science, the economy and environmental protection, we took part in a biodiversity project run by the Michael Otto Foundation for Environmental Protection. The aims were as follows:

Development of biodiversity criteria for a materiality assessment, taking into account site-specific circumstances
Evaluation and comparison of software alternatives for data collection

The central outcome was a set of practical guidelines for companies wanting to carry out a CSRD-compliant materiality assessment with regard to biodiversity. Using this as a basis, we have also derived our own process for identifying other water topics that are relevant for us.

Biodiversity and water

We determine our material topics as follows:

Software-supported analysis:

Using the WWF Risk Filter tool, we determined potential impacts, risks and opportunities throughout our value chain. The core materials of aluminium, PVC, steel and glass were a focus for us. The knowledge gained was assessed using a four-point scale.

Site analysis:

As part of the project with the Michael Otto Foundation for Environmental Protection, criteria for a site-specific assessment of biodiversity topics were devised. Together with the WWF, we are now working on converting these findings into a strategy, in order to collect structured data in a subsequent step.

Stakeholder dialogue:

By talking to experts – through personal conversations, discussion forums and multi-stakeholder initiatives – we are deepening our understanding of the sustainability topics identified and their relevance.

"As a company in the construction industry, we have a particular responsibility to protect biodiversity and reduce our water footprint. That’s why we are currently working to gain a clearer understanding of our specific impact on ecosystems."

Jörg Warning, Senior Expert Sustainability

Our next steps

We are currently developing a strategy together with the WWF to systematically identify and address biodiversity, water and raw material-related aspects, both in our direct area of influence and throughout the wider value chain.

Our approach is based on the understanding that sustainability is a holistic challenge as defined by the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Our aim is to minimise negative impacts on ecosystems through site-specific measures and to promote the regeneration of these natural environments.

We see the circular economy as a key lever for change: Through increased use of recycled materials and materials that conserve resources, we will reduce our dependence on primary raw materials and therefore make an active contribution towards protecting the environment.