Climate Protection
We aim to protect resources and use them optimally around the world. As part of our business activities, we consume electricity and different types of fuel, while simultaneously producing various air emissions. We take our climate protection responsibilities seriously.
Brenntag calculates the consumption of resources on the basis of the data which we collect through our QHSE programmes. Brenntag implemented Groupwide energy reporting in order to make its own energy consumption and associated CO2e-emissions more transparent. Sites’ energy consumption data are collected quarterly and are compiled and evaluated centrally by Brenntag’s sustainability manager. This data enables us to identify energy-saving potential.
Our target is to reduce the Scope 1 and 2 CO2e-emissions by 4% by 2021 compared to base year 2020. To complement this reporting, employees from the Brenntag regions share their experiences with best practices and successful energy-saving measures.
During 2020, the global activities of the Brenntag Group resulted in a total of 240,755 tonnes of CO2 emissions (Scope 1 and 2). Energy consumption at our sites (offices and warehouses) accounted for around 43% of these, while the vehicle fleet (trucks, company cars and other vehicles) accounted for around 57%. This resulted in a decrease in total Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions compared to the previous year, despite the inclusion of various corporate acquisitions in the data collection.
CO2 emissions per warehouse tonne of goods sold decreased by 6.06% compared to the previous year. We also achieved our target of reducing Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions (per ton of stock sold) by 6% by the end of 2020 compared with the base year 2016.
Energy consumption Brenntag Group*
| 2020 | 2019 | 2016** | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total | per 1,000 warehouse tonnes of goods sold | Total | per 1,000 warehouse tonnes of goods sold | Total | per 1,000 warehouse tonnes of goods sold | |
| Electricity (in MWh) | 143,388 | 13.8 | 139,240 | 13.7 | 146,904 | 16.5 |
| District Heating (in MWh) | 4,317 | 0.4 | 4,538 | 0.4 | - | - |
| Gas (in MWh) | 280,370 | 27.1 | 307,067 | 30.1 | 178,702 | 20.1 |
| Diesel (in 1,000 litres) | 47,192 | 4.6 | 44,401 | 4.4 | 36,290 | 4.1 |
| Petrol (in 1,000 litres) | 4,701 | 0.5 | 6,321 | 0.6 | 6,141 | 0.7 |
| Other*** (in 1,000 litres) | 3,834 | 0.4 | 3,947 | 0.4 | 3,870 | 0.4 |
CO2 emissions Brenntag Group*
| 2020 | 2019**,*** | 2016** | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scope 1 | Scope 2 | Scope 1+2 | Scope 1 | Scope 2 | Scope 1+2 | Scope 1 | Scope 2 | Scope 1+2 | |
| Total (in tonnes) | 194.492 | 46.263 | 240,755 | 196,636 | 55,397 | 252,033 | 151,159 | 68,921 | 220,080 |
| per 1,000 warehouse tonnes of goods sold (in tonnes) | 18.7 | 4.5 | 23.2 | 19.3 | 5.4 | 24.7 | 17.0 | 7.7 | 24.7 |
* The data for the reporting year do not include the following operating units: Brenntag International Chemicals, Quimisa S.A. (included from Q3/2020), Brenntag Finished Lubricants (Thailand) Ltd., Brenntag Sourcing Uruguay S.A., Brenntag Tanzania Ltd., Neuto Chemical Corp, the acquired caustic soda business of Suffolk Solutions Inc., Pachem Distributing Inc.
** The values given for the base year 2016 and the CO2 emissions calculated using the market-based method for 2019 have not been audited by PwC.
*** As part of our ongoing improvement process, the energy consumption reported for 2019 and the CO2 emissions calculated using the location-based method were again reviewed and adjusted.
**** Gas oil, kerosene, propane gas.
See Best Practices:
Environmental Protection Best Practices from the Brenntag regions