We did a double count: We have only one planet Earth.
2.2 Resource efficiency
Together for a better future
Our goal: to contribute in the best possible way to the protection of the climate and the environment.
Manmade climate change threatens not only the planet that we live on, but also ourselves. The complex challenges are growing by the year, and the pressure to act is rising. We need solutions as fast as possible. We are well aware of this task and ask ourselves every day when taking business decisions how we can meet our sustainability promise even more purposefully.
What can we do?
Our contribution to climate action & environmental protection
1. Optimise business processes
2. Reduce emissions
3. Mitigate impacts on the environment
With this step, we also live up to our responsibility towards our stakeholders who demand greater resource efficiency and environmental management which goes beyond what the law prescribes.
2.1 Climate action & environmental protection
Because less emissions are our mission.
Climate action
The journey of a thousand miles starts with a first step. To us, this step is: transparency. Therefore, the carbon footprint is the most important tool in evaluating and communicating our climate action. By working closely with partners, customers and service providers, we strive for strategic partnerships to achieve our climate goals. We record emissions along the entire value chain based on the Greenhouse Gas Protocol (GHG), a globally recognized standard.
Development of our emissions
Scope 1 and Scope 2 encompass emissions directly caused by FIEGE at our locations. Locations from our clients are partially not yet recorded due to a lack of transparency. We are talking with our clients and service providers to obtain further data availability for a complete footprint.
Overview of emissions (Scope 1 and 2)
Reduction of our Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions
Since 2022, we have been buying 100 % renewable energy for all our German locations. And even our locations in Italy, Czech Republic and Belgium have been buying electricity produced from renewable energy sources.
We are increasing the installation of photovoltaic systems on the roofs of our logistics locations. Internationally, this already amounts to 300.000 m2, which are operated by FIEGE or third parties.
All german locations have switched to LED lighting, which comes to 1.2 million m². Again, international locations will follow.
Scope 3
Based on currently available data, purchased transportation services are the largest share of our Scope 3 emissions. In co-operation with our service providers, we put measures into place to reduce this, such as: route optimisation, driver training, alternative drive systems and avoiding empty runs.
We take an integrated approach to the materials that we buy and pay attention to sustainability aspects both when buying as well as using the materials.
Even though business travel only makes up a small share of emissions, it takes little effort only to heavily influence them through policies (example: incentives to use public transport services). Therefore, alternatives to domestic flights are desired.
Business travel
After having captured our current footprint in our CO2 balance in a first step, the subsequent tasks that await us are to define our climate goals and to put measures into practice to meet these goals.
to halve emissions.
to achieve net-zero emissions.
FIEGE Faro | Climate risk assessment
To comply with disclosure requirements and drive forward our ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance) communication with stakeholders, there is a growing need to analyse financial climate-based risks for real estate to technically adapt the buildings accordingly.
Within the context of our FIEGE Faro pilot, we conducted a climate risk assessment for the first time. The aim of the analysis is to quantify potential impacts of physical climate risks on the value of a property investment.
FIEGE Faro is a pilot focusing on the realisation of a sustainable logistics building which will qualify as both climate positive while in operation, as well as climate-optimised during construction.
Climate positive operation
Low impact of construction on the environment
Environmental and social beacon project
Environmental protection
To protect our environment, the question is which impacts do our business activities have on:
Land
Water
Soil
Flora and fauna
And how can we positively manage this impact? In Dieburg, for example, we re-naturalised a boundary ditch, created a copse on an area of over 5,000 m² with some 250 trees, set up 35 nesting boxes for kestrels, songbirds and bats and built a roughly 4,000 m²-large retention basin for rainwater.
Establishment of biological starting point and categorisation under the habitat connectivity (target species and habitats)
Deriving measures according to the desired use
Consideration of lifecycles of endemic species (Animal-Aided Design), habitat connectivity
Prevention of environmental traps
(bird strike, lighting)
Goal: preservation and promotion of the variety of species
Roof greening
Vertical greening
Habitats on the building itself (nesting places)
Bird protection glass (special bird-friendly patterns, reduces mirror figure)
Nature-like modules
Biosensor lighting
Of the possible biodiversity-promoting measures for the FIEGE Faro building project, greening in general as well as of the rooftop and the façade in particular is the most positively impactful in terms of biological diversity as well as microclimate, thermal insulation during the winter season and the protection of materials and soundproofing.
Conclusion
2.1 Climate Action & Environmental Protection
including a comprehensive list of measures help us to continuously reduce emissions.
Outlook
Emissions can be quantified and identified at customer level
Creation of a sustainability network to put viable measures into practice across the entire FIEGE Group
In the future, we will build data capturing processes in order to transparently identify Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions, but also Scope 3 emissions
By 2024, further locations are to be DIN EN IS14001-certified, thus creating international environmental standards across the entire Fiege Group. In the context of our international expansion, we also strive to achieve the respective standards for our new locations
In the future, we want to analyse and reduce the impacts of our activities on the biological diversity.
For 2023 it is planned to officially join the SBTi by signing the Commitment Letter.
2.2 Resource efficiency
Because nature keeps paying the price.
How can we use our resources with more respect?
We need to be more respectful of nature and more frugal in our consumption of natural resources. That means we are promoting the use of:
Recycled materials when buying new things
Multiple use of existing resources
We analyse our consumption and identify potential savings.
Zero Waste Hierarchy
All processes are informed by the Zero Waste Hierarchy.
WasteControl – the start of Mission Rethink
Our locations independently separate, collect and dispose of recyclable materials and waste in line with applicable laws, working with their own independently certified waste management companies. The protection of humans and the environment are a top priority here. With the help of a literally clean waste management, we not only can reduce negative impacts on the environment, but also save waste disposal costs.
WaCo is an acronym for Waste and Control. Yet we do not consider waste something to be disposed of, but rather as a residual material with raw material potential for the reusable material cycle. Control in this case stands for the careful examination but also management of input and output.
Germany’s Circular Economy Act and its Packaging Act greatly impact our sustainability behaviour. For this reason, we conduct upcycling and recycling campaigns such as the Waste Control Challenge with our colleagues. To upcycle existing resources reduces not only the energy consumption but also air and water pollution.
Sustainable management also improves the company’s reputation since nowadays, sustainability has become a buying criterion for many clients. That means we are working on analysing all upstream and downstream processes of our business activities to help with a circular economy.
Once we have exploited all our recycling options or if materials have reached the end of their lifecycles, we take care of a proper, earth-friendly disposal of the goods.
In everything that we do for our clients, we always vouch for full transparency of the flows and approaches in line with the latest requirements. Also, we offer help for what are often complex legal specifications. This provides comprehensive legal certainty for our clients.
FIEGE Real Estate
Smart buildings for a sustainable future. We aim to consolidate a building’s long-term use through innovative concepts while turning existing and new buildings as well as operations into a sustainable portfolio.
The future is green – even inconstruction.
We are lastingly changing the industry by developing sustainable real estates based on three dimensions:
Environmental
Economic
Social
We focus on quality standards such as DGNB, LEED, BREEAM or WELL Building which facilitate, amongst other things, a lower energy consumption of portfolio properties.
Renewable energy
Producing energy with our rooftop photovoltaic systems
We use sustainable sources for our energy needs that we cannot produce ourselves
Energy-efficient construction
Reducing the consumption of power, heat and cold to an absolute minimum is achieved through highly efficient consumption and smart controls
Optimised materials
Using recycled construction materials, wood that regrows, and CO2-optimised concrete
Emissions are lowered during construction already
Energy-efficient retrofitting
Captive generation of solar power
Intelligent lighting with LED
Reduced use of virgin materials
Use of existing building materials
No new soil needs to be sealed
Conclusion
2.2 Resource Efficiency
Outlook
Resource efficiency remains a core topic of our global sustainability drive. Following the development of our climate strategy, we will create theme-centred task forces with members from all relevant business units who deal intensely with how to save resources along our global supply chain.
Processing the waste management of our locations through our WasteControl unit
Collaborating with companies and clients to improve recycling management and establish new circular processes
Working in unison with our suppliers to minimise our consumption of resources
Analysing and using materials for new buildings that have a low impact on the environment and the climate and a high level of circularity
Complete processing of all waste material movements within our company as a recognised service provider across all business units
Data-driven company (including, but not limited to: monitoring and liaising with environmental authorities, waste material footprint, on-demand benchmark systems, Big Data approach)
Customer Service Initiative (including, but not limited to: communication, creating structured FAQs, WaCo Recycling app, digital waste wizard, e.g., chat offer for clients on homepage)
FIEGE Sustainability Report 2023
Detailed information, figures and content on all fields of action can be found in the full Sustainability Report 2023.
