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 HSE programmes. Brenntag implemented Groupwide energy reporting in order to make its own energy consumption and associated CO₂ 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 CO₂ emissions (per warehouse tonne of goods sold) by 6% by 2020 compared to base year 2016.

To complement this reporting, employees from the Brenntag regions share their experiences with best practices and successful energy-saving measures.

During 2018, the global activities of the Brenntag Group resulted in a total of 245,668.72 tonnes of CO₂ emissions (Scope 1 and 2). Indoor energy consumption (offices and warehouses) accounted for around 44% of this, while the vehicle fleet (trucks, company cars and other vehicles) accounted for around 56%.

This means we must record an increase in total energy consumption and total CO2 emissions, due primarily to the first-time inclusion of data from major company acquisitions in North America. The Scope 1 and 2 CO₂ emissions per tonne of goods sold also rose by 3.11% compared to the 2016 base year). A main reason for this was the expansion of the company’s own truck fleet in the USA, which resulted in a lower proportion of transport through external companies. This led to a transfer of Scope 3 emissions to Scope 1 emissions.

The analysis of the data also shows that energy consumption at the Brenntag sites may be subject to business-related variations, which are influenced by the nature and scope of the products traded there and the services provided.

Brenntag Group*: Energy consumption

	2018		2017**
	Total	per 1,000 warehouse tonnes of goods sold	Total	per 1,000 warehouse tonnes of goods sold
Electricity (in MWh)	150,613	15.2	152,669	16.4
Gas (in MWh)	200,933	20.3	171,781	18.5
Diesel (in 1,000 litres)	44,971	4.5	38,059	4.1
Petrol (in 1,000 litres)	6,585	0.7	6,143	0.7
Other*** (in 1,000 litres)	3,991	0.4	3,719	0.4

Brenntag Group*: CO2 emissions****

	2018			2017**
	Scope 1	Scope 2	Scope 1+2	Scope 1	Scope 2	Scope 1+2
Total (in tonnes)	179,316	66,353	245,669	154,096	65,416	219,512
per 1,000 warehouse tonnes of goods sold (in tonnes)	18.1	6.7	24.8	16.6	7.0	23.6

*This data does not include the following operating units: Brenntag International Chemicals, Raj Petro Specialities P. Ltd., Alphamin Group, Comércioe Indústria Química S.A., Cofarcas Productos Quimicos y Servicios, S.A., Whanee Corporation (included since Q3/2018) and all units in Africa and the Middle East.
**Due to improved technical analysis possibilities, the energy consumption reported for 2017 was again reviewed and adjusted.
****CO2 emissions are calculated for electricity on the basis of the respective country-specific factors, in accordance with the Greenhouse Gas Protocol Factors (2012), and for all other energy types on the basis of the energy-specific factors defined in the UK Government GHG Conversion Factors for Company Reporting (2016).