The environment

We care for the climate and promote a circular economy: we develop and install manufacturing equipment that reduces energy consumption and optimizes recycling. We use renewable energy sources wherever possible and avoid the discharge of untreated effluents and waste.

We continuously strive to develop processes that use less material, cut energy consumption and reduce waste.

Our concern for the environment is applied in 3 domains:
  • develop new, eco-friendlier production processes for our plants worldwide
  • prevention and risk management
  • the development of products that contribute to a cleaner environment

1. Develop eco-friendlier production processes for our plants worldwide

In the first domain, our ambition is to develop eco-friendlier production processes for our plants worldwide. We do this by implementing worldwide initiatives that aim to reduce energy consumption and CO2 exhaust and by installing energy-efficient infrastructure in all our new plants.
  • Since 2015, Bekaert is running the Bekaert Manufacturing System (BMS), a transformation program focused on manufacturing excellence, including energy reduction measures. Although our total energy consumption increased compared to 2016 because of the growth of the business and a change in the product-mix, we were able to limit the increase. Thanks to BMS we achieved an annual recurrent saving of 249 GWh . This program is not 100% implemented yet, so we aim to increase the annual energy savings even further.
  • Bekaert wins ener.CON Europe Award 2018 for energy saving achievements
    In March 2018, Bekaert won the ener.CON Europe Award 2018 for the energy savings achieved through the Bekaert Manufacturing System. From 30 filings, an expert committee selected Bekaert and two other nominees to present their projects during the ener.CON Conference in Berlin. One of our BMS representatives held a powerful and convincing pitch in which he clearly explained what impact our BMS approach had and will continue to have on energy savings. Not only the energy and environment professionals from ener.CON recognized the power of this approach:  more than half of the 200 industry experts in the audience voted Bekaert the winner of the 2018 award.

     

  • The energy intensity ratio decreased versus our reference year 2015, both for electrical and thermal energy. Details of actuals and targets are described below in 'energy related data'.
  • The LED program replacing all traditional lighting by LED lights in production areas worldwide was completed in 2017. We achieved annual energy reduction savings of 87 GWh (50% of the energy used for lighting) as a result of this program. We will continue the LED light program in all new buildings and plants. We also aim to have LED lights installed in all BBRG production areas worldwide by 2020. GRI 302-4 + GRI 305-5
  • 25% of the electricity needs came from renewable energy sources in 2017.  The success rate in sourcing from renewable energy sources largely depends on the availability of these sources and of data thereon. In Ecuador, to mention one, 100% of Bekaert’s electricity consumption is from hydraulic energy. Bekaert targets to purchase 30% of electricity needs from renewable energy sources by 2020 and 40% by 2025.
  • In our Ranjangaon plant in India we completed the installation of a zero liquid discharge water purification system. As a result, all industrial wastewater streams are recycled and reused.  

    Indamper Ranjangaon

    The last treatment step of the zero liquid discharge water treatment consists of an evaporator which converts the wastewater in solid waste and clean distillate which can be recuperated in the process.
  • In September 2017, 30 Bekaert managers and consultants spent 2 days in the Aachen (Germany) Digital Capability Center a joint venture between Mc Kinsey & Company, ITA Academy Ltd and leading technology companies, to discuss the ‘plant of the future’ challenges and opportunities. On the agenda:
    • Safety
    • Health
    • Robotics
    • Environment
    • Our responsibility as an employer and as a supplier

2. Prevention and risk management play an important role in Bekaert's environmental policy

Prevention and risk management play an important role in Bekaert’s environmental policy. This includes measures against soil and ground water contamination, responsible use of water and worldwide ISO14001 certification.
  • In the course of 2017, Bekaert’s global procedure to ensure precautionary measures against soil and ground water contamination (ProSoil) was further fine-tuned with a list of concrete action plans that guarantee a “first time right” approach. This helps us to improve our risk analysis and priority setting. (GRI 102-11)
  • Responsible use of water is also an ongoing priority. We constantly monitor our water consumption and have implemented programs that aim to reduce water usage in the long term. (GRI 102-11)
  • In 2017, 95% of the Bekaert plants worldwide were ISO 14001 certified. ISO 14001 is part of the ISO 14000 internationally recognized standards providing practical tools to companies who wish to manage their environmental responsibilities. ISO 14001 focuses on environmental systems. Bekaert’s full worldwide certification is an ongoing goal; it is an element in the integration process of newly acquired entities and of companies that are added to the consolidation perimeter. Bekaert also received a group-wide certification for ISO 14001 and ISO 9001. The ISO 9000 family addresses various aspects of quality management.
  • Bekaert complies with the European RoHS regulation on hazardous substances. 

3. We develop products that contribute to a cleaner environment

At Bekaert we develop products that contribute to a cleaner environment. Ecology is an aspect that is already considered during the R&D phase of new products. In many cases, it is even a driving factor in product development.

We refer to the chapter Our responsibility in the markets. 

Helping the Belgian Solar Team win the bronze medal in the 2017 World Solar Challenge

In October 2017 the engineering students of the Belgian Solar Team won bronze in the 3000 km long World Solar Challenge in Australia. The skillful navigation of the solar car was one of the critical elements in this successful race and was made possible by an advanced cord in the steering module. The solar team was looking for a lightweight solution where every gram counts. The Bridon-Bekaert advanced cords plant of Aalter (Belgium) provided a compact 2.8mm diameter cord that allows inducing more than 700 kilograms of force on the axles, right down Bridon-Bekaert’s alley of high-strength advanced cord technologies.


Environment related data

Energy(1) (GRI 302-1)

Total energy consumption = 4 780 GWh
Of which: 
  • Electrical energy (incl. cooling) = 2 946 GWh
  • Thermal energy (steam and gas) = 1 833 GWh

Bekaert has set targets for the reduction of energy consumption for the medium term (2020) and the longer term (2025). 
Bekaert wants to reduce its energy consumption by 10% (2020) and by 15% (2025) versus reference year 2015 (see glossary).

These targets are subject to the outcome of external expertise studies in 4 pilot plants in 2018 and subject to the pace of phased investments. 

Renewable Energy: 
25% of the electricity needs came from renewable energy sources in 2017. 

Bekaert has set targets to increase the share of renewable energy for the medium term (2020) and longer term (2025).

Bekaert wants to increase the share of renewable energy to 30% (2020) and 40% (2025) respectively.

Energy Intensity Ratio (2): (GRI 302-3)

  • Electrical energy (incl. cooling) = 912 KWH/ton. This is a decrease of 3% compared to base year 2015.
  • Thermal energy (steam & gas) = 568 KWH/ton. This is a decrease of 10% compared to base year 2015.
(1) All energy data is excluding BBRG
(2) Data provided by the respective plants

Methodology used: the energy data are monitored in a central database and are based on energy invoices.

Bekaert has set targets to significantly decrease the energy intensity ratios in the future. See targets overview and glossary.

CO2(1) 

As of 2017 Bekaert uses the following standards for the calculation of its CO2 emissions: 

  • Electricity (global): International Energy Agency (IEA)
  • Electricity (North-America): US EPA eGRID
  • Gas (global): Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) 
  • Steam (global): Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) 

GHG emissions from purchased electricity and other types of energy (Scope 2 emissions): GRI 305-2

 

  • Electrical energy (including cooling) = 1 440 235 ton CO2
  • Thermal energy (Steam and gas) = 370 733 ton CO2

GHG Intensity Ratio(2): (GRI 305-4)

  • Electrical energy (including cooling) = 446 kg CO2/ton. 
  • Thermal energy (Steam and gas) = 115 kg CO2/ton
Bekaert has set targets to reduce its GHG emissions for the medium term (2020) and longer term (2025). 

Bekaert wants to reduce its GHG emissions with 9% in 2020 and 14% in 2025. Taking into account the efforts we are making and targets we are setting to increase the share of energy from renewable sources, our GHG emissions will reduce with 12% in 2020 and 25% in 2025 (see targets and glossary).

These targets are subject to the outcome of external expertise studies in 4 pilot plants in 2018 and subject to the pace of phased investments. 

(1) All CO2 data is excluding BBRG
(2) Data provided by the respective plants

Water

Total volume of water withdrawn from any water source: 10 362 997m3 

Total volume of water withdrawn by source type: (label GRI 303-1)
  • City water: 6 123 131 m3 (~= 59.1%)
  • Ground water: 3 098 523 m3 (~= 29.9%)
  • Canal water: 744 225 m3 (~= 7.2%)
  • Rain water collected for reuse: 22 908 m3 (~= 0.2%)
  • Purchased steam: 374 211 m3 (~= 3.6%)
The total volume of effluent discharged from waste water treatment was 3 217 317 m3 in 2017. (GRI 306-1)

Destination of the effluent discharged:
  • Surface water (lake, sea, river, canal): 55.8% (1 791 326 m3)
  • Sewer: 38.5% (1 237 468 m3)
  • Irrigation: 5.7% (188 523 m3)
The total volume of effluent discharged in cubic meters by ton end product: 0.971 m3/ton end product.

Destination of the effluent per ton end product discharged: 
  • Surface water (lake, sea, river, canal): 0.541 m3 per ton end product
  • Sewer: 0.373 m3 per ton end product
  • Irrigation: 0.057 m3 per ton end product
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