Sustainability at Freudenberg Performance Materials

At Freudenberg Performance Materials, sustainability is an integral part of the entire product life cycle. We don't only comply with international standards - we aim to exceed them. The overarching objective we pursue is to achieve the lowest possible CO2 footprint.

We are constantly working to get closer to our goals and make the world a better place.

What are our sustainability goals?

Sustainability is a mission and driving force for us.

Freudenberg Performance Materials wants to be carbon neutral by 2035. This aspiration is closely related to our core values and the long-standing sense of responsibility. The company has turned to a multistep strategy: reduction in energy use, electrification of gas fired assets, switching to green electricity and CO2 reduction in the entire supply chain.?Beyond that FPM strives to become a player in the circular economy, especially closing technical loops in cooperation with our clients.

What sustainability goals have we achieved in 2022?

In 2022 we completed the installation of 13,000 m2 of photovoltaic panels on the roof of our Nantong (China) factory. The new rooftop installation is projected to produce 1.5 million kWh of green electricity each year. In addition to reduced energy consumption from the grid, this new installation will lower CO2 emissions by approximately 1,200 tons/year. This was one of our numerous green energy projects in 2022.

More than 60% of the polymer used to manufacture our products is recycled material. Since the nineties, every day, we recycle and convert more than 7 million post-consumer PET bottles into nonwovens. Another important area of activity for a sustainable use of resources is the valorization of waste. Our scraps from the production of nonwovens are turned into chips and fed back into the production process.

From the use of raw materials and energy in production, through the valorization of water and waste, up to the reduction of CO2 emissions, we work continuously to further improve our footprint and handprint in order to develop pioneering and sustainable solutions that create better global living conditions.

What are the sustainable goals and plans for 2023?

Our efforts are focused in reducing our footprint and maximizing our handprint.

In today’s production we focus on five areas: Raw materials, waste, energy, emissions and water.

Striving for improvements in these areas is part of all our developments.?

We are working hard on forward-thinking technologies and high-performance solutions to manufacture up to 100% recyclable nonwovens containing the highest possible proportion of recycled material.

As for long-term goals, what do we have in mind for the coming years?

We want to become more energy efficient in all our processes and reinforce the expansion of photovoltaic systems for production as well as the?purchase of more green energy.?Another focal point is our product portfolio regarding its carbon foot/handprint and its circularity.?

What is our dream vision for the future?

We strive to develop pioneering and sustainable solutions to create better global living conditions and to protect the environment. Our position is very clear we want to keep our planet livable far into the future. In other words:

Becoming a market leader for sustainable products in the different application fields which we serve by offering a broad range of recyclable or biodegradable high performance products with zero or low carbon footprint.

Did you already know this about Freudenberg Performance Materials and sustainability? And if not, what was new to you? Let us know in the comments.