Wieland, a 200-year-old German copper and copper alloy manufacturing company that makes piping for CO2 (R744) heat-exchanger products, was awarded a B in the “climate change” category by the London-based Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP), putting it in the top 36% of its international peers.
Only 11% have achieved the top score of A.
“All climate protection measures are firmly integrated into our business strategy,” said Dr. Erwin Mayr, CEO of the Wieland Group. “However, we not only strive to reduce our emissions. We are also working consistently towards achieving net-zero emissions by 2045.”
With its global footprint and almost 9,000 worldwide employees, Mayr said, Wieland can transfer knowledge across regions and make an impact on the world. “As an industry pioneer, we aim to set standards for eco-friendly products in our line of business,” he added. The CDP rating shows Wieland is playing a leading role within the metals manufacturing industry in the fight against climate change.
For customers who attach increasing importance to sustainability, the CDP rankings provide relevant, comparable climate data, including water safety, forest utilization and climate protection. Using annual standardized questionnaires, CDP collects data and information on a volunteer basis from companies on CO2e emissions, climate risks, reduction targets and strategies. CDP currently collects data from 15,000 companies in 60 countries.
From the approximately 120 complex CDP questions, Wieland set itself apart from the industry average in the categories of strategy and targets, risk management processes, corporate governance and initiatives to reduce emissions.
In its June 2022 sustainability report, the company reported that it reduced its greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 10% compared to its 2018/2019 baseline in its production (scope 1) and energy consumption (scope 2). By 2030, Weiland aims to reduce scope 1 and scope 2 GHG emissions by 42% and increase the share of recycled content from 74% to 90%.
“We are already on the right track,” Mayr said. “The validation of our decarbonization targets for 2030 by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) in September 2022 showed that they are in line with the 1.5°[C (2.7°F)] target set by the Paris Agreement. Our ambitious goal is to continue to improve and achieve an A rating in the CDP ranking in the medium term.” Moreover, Wieland continues to expand recycling activities in North America and Europe and increase the use of renewable energies for sustainable action.
Sustainability has been a long-term goal. Almost 20 years ago, Wieland introduced its K65 CO2copper alloy piping solution containing 2% iron. In the drive to be greener, this piping reduces the amount of material required and is suitable for CO2 refrigeration and chiller tubes. The alloy is lightweight and easy to weld, requiring less downtime for maintenance and repairs.
Visit by Illinois governor
In other news, Wieland’s largest manufacturing facility in Vöhringen, Germany, hosted Illinois (U.S.) Governor J. B. Pritzker on January 17.
“We have a strong footprint in the United States, with eight locations in the state of Illinois alone,” said Mayr. “There, we are contributing to the revitalization of manufacturing in the USA and serving the critical industries in the fields of semiconductors and electric vehicles.”
“I am honored to host Governor Pritzker in Vöhringen and to demonstrate the high-quality manufacturing we are so proud of,” added Mayr. “With a history of more than 200 years, copper and copper alloys remain highly relevant and serve the key megatrends we are currently facing, be it electrification, digitalization or sustainability.”
During his visit to the Vöhringen facility, Pritzker said, “Wieland is leading the charge toward a clean energy future – streamlining automation, advancing innovation and strengthening ties with the local community. Our joint history dates back more than a century, and as Illinois continues to grow our semiconductor and electric vehicle ecosystems, Wieland’s global perspective will help us pave the way for a clean energy future.”
With a global network of sites, trading companies and services, Wieland offers a broad portfolio of products, services and technologies. From prototypes to series productions, the company develops solutions for high-performance copper materials for refrigeration, air-conditioning, electronics, automotive and other industries.
“As an industry pioneer, we aim to set standards for eco-friendly products in our line of business. “We not only strive to reduce our emissions. We are also working consistently towards achieving net-zero emissions by 2045.”
Dr. Erwin Mayr, CEO of the Wieland Group
