Sustainability management as an economic success factor

In his keynote speech, Prof Dr Rüdiger Hahn from Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf posed the question of when sustainability also pays off in microeconomic terms. He emphasised that sustainable action can make sense not only ethically but also economically if it is strategically integrated into corporate management.

He emphasised that the positive correlation between sustainability and company performance has been empirically proven many times over. In addition, sustainability risks are becoming more and more pressing, such as increasing legal and reputational risks, physical risks due to extreme weather events or competitive risks due to inadequate preparation for various sustainability requirements.

Prof Dr Hahn saw clear opportunities in the area of sustainable action in the fact that good sustainability management can have a positive impact on both sales and costs – as well as employee satisfaction. Another opportunity is to integrate sustainability as an integral part of the brand message.

His conclusion: there is more "success factor" in sustainability management than is often assumed – even many things that cannot be calculated in figures are nevertheless worthwhile. He emphasised that sustainability is a normative and ethical concept and not per se a means of maximising profits. He also warned against focusing too narrowly on short-term profits and pleaded for a holistic approach that harmonises social, ecological and economic goals.

Engineering for a world worth living in

Markus Glück emphasised in his presentation that 80 percent of sustainability costs are determined in the first 20 percent of product development. Consequently, the main responsibility for the sustainability of a product or service lies in the hands of product planning and development.

He therefore argued in favour of holistic engineering that takes the circular economy and ethical aspects into account from the outset. An ethical compass must become the leading decision-making criterion in product development.

It is important to sensitise the next generation of engineers to this topic, as they are pioneers of modern, holistic engineering. Engineers could assume responsibility by setting the course for areas such as water consumption, process management, raw material and energy requirements, but also raw material extraction, material selection, purchasing, processing, logistics and transport with their designs and material decisions. This urgently requires thinking and acting in cycles – a "design for circularity".

Sustainability in the EMS industry

Dr Mareike Haaß from in4ma presented current analyses on sustainability in the EMS industry. She reported that around a third of EMS companies in the DACH region are actively pursuing sustainability issues.

It is striking that the size of the company is less decisive than the attitude of the management level: it often depends on the attitude of the management or the owner whether sustainability plays a role in the company.

According to the study, environmental measures are primarily implemented when they make economic sense. Concrete figures were seldom mentioned, and companies often remained vague. Dr Haaß emphasised the importance of transparency and the need not only to report, but also to implement actual measures in the area of production processes.

Her conclusion: in future, transparent and comprehensive documentation and communication on sustainability will be unavoidable.

Raw material supply until 2030

Michael Schmidt from the German Mineral Resources Agency gave an outlook on the supply of raw materials for the energy transition and pointed out the geopolitical challenges associated with this. Lithium, copper and silicon are particularly important raw materials for wind and solar energy. Current developments in the area of the energy transition and the sustainable use of resources pose a number of challenges.

According to a sustainability scenario by the International Energy Agency (IEA) for 2030, the targets are definitely achievable. Nevertheless, there are significant obstacles to overcome: Some raw materials that are crucial for renewable energies show high demand shares and strong market concentration. In Europe, the solar industry is virtually non-existent, while the wind industry is facing considerable difficulties.

Germany and the EU are also heavily dependent on imports of many raw materials and components - particularly from China. This is particularly evident in the area of battery storage, which is essential for storing solar and wind energy in order to successfully implement the energy transition. Michael Schmidt therefore emphasised the need to establish strategic raw material partnerships and increase recycling quotas in order to ensure security of supply.