Guided by the company values, the Schaeffler Group creates the conditions for long-term, profitable growth. In terms of the company’s understanding of sustainability, this means being economically successful while at the same time assuming responsibility for the environment and society. The United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) form the foundation of the company’s sustainability engagement. The following clickable overview shows how the Schaeffler Group specifically contributes to the SDGs.
The health and well-being of the employees are important to the Schaeffler Group. The company is committed to reducing the frequency of occupational accidents by an average of 10 % annually until 2024. To achieve this strategic target, the "Safe Work@Schaeffler" project was optimized further. A global Health and Safety Day was held for the first time in 2023, which was carried out in all regions with online and face-to-face events.
For the Schaeffler Group to successfully transform, the qualification of its own employees and a culture of lifelong learning are essential. The Schaeffler Academy organized retraining and training courses for employees as global qualification programs, such as Fit4Production, Fit4Digital and Fit4Mechatronics. They include modular training courses with defined learning paths considering the different backgrounds of the respective target groups.
With its engagement for equal opportunities and further training as well as its social commitment, the company strengthens gender equality. The Schaeffler Groups Diversity and Inclusion strategy aims to firmly anchor diversity management in the company, make it more visible and reinforce issues of importance at all levels. Among others, the aim is to achieve the target quota of 20% for woman at the first two levels below the Board of Managing Directors by the end of 2025.
The scarcity of global water resources is steadily progressing. The Schaeffler Group has voluntarily set itself the target to reduce its use of freshwater by 20 % by 2023 when compared to 2019. In addition, water dependence is systematically being reduced in an effort to minimize water-related production risks. All locations with industrial wastewater and large volumes of wastewater are equipped with a variety of systems that enable a range of processes from treatment to nearly 100 % recycling.
Yet while electricity from wind, sunlight, and hydropower is becoming increasingly affordable, availability fluctuates and is unequally distributed around the world. As a universal energy source that is both storable and transportable, hydrogen plays a decisive role. The cross-divisional approach is aimed at developing technological solutions that enable both the production and use of hydrogen. The Industrial division supplies key components for electrolyzers. As a partner of the energy industry, the Schaeffler Group supplies key components for the expansion of renewable energy production. Efficient and high-performance bearing solutions increase energy production and the level of efficiency.
Climate neutrality
Resource efficiency and environmental protection
Green Products
For the Schaeffler Group, respect for human rights is an essential component of corporate responsibility. The company rejects any form of human rights violations or discrimination - for instance, based on origin, skin color, or gender. Respect for human rights is an integral part of the Group-wide Code of Conduct as well as the Supplier Code of Conduct. In 2023, the Schaeffler Group published a declaration of principles on respecting human rights. In the reporting year, the company further expanded its Human Rights Compliance Management System in view of systematic risk identification and reporting.
Diversity, employees, and people development
Occupational health and safety
Responsibility in society and supply chain
The Industrial division supplies key components for electrolyzers, which are the underlying technology in the production of green hydrogen. In addition, efficient bearing solutions for wind, solar, and hydropower energy are being developed to increase the energy yield and the level of efficiency. In the Automotive Technologies division, the company continues to develop bipolar plate components for fuel cells used to convert hydrogen gas directly into power. The Automotive Aftermarket division is responsible for the global spare parts business and supplies innovative repair solutions in original-equipment quality.
The Schaeffler Group values the diversity of experience and backgrounds of its employees and views them as strengths of the company. The differences and uniqueness of all employees promote innovation and make the Schaeffler Group more competitive in the future. Through various measures, the company promotes equality as well as belonging and ensures through its Code of Conduct that all employees feel valued and empowered to contribute their experiences and ideas.
The Schaeffler Group takes a holistic approach to developing innovative product solutions for the demands of the future – Schaeffler Industrial increases energy efficiency in wind turbines with its low-friction bearings. Automotive Technologies develops alternative drive technologies that help reduce the average carbon emissions of vehicles. Automotive Aftermarket solutions extend the lifecycle of vehicles in accordance with the latest environmental standards.
Decarbonizing production will primarily require a switch to more energy-efficient production processes as well as the use of renewable energy produced on-site and purchased (Scope 1 and 2). The Schaeffler Group plans to cover its demand for purchased electricity entirely with renewable energies by 2024. The Schaeffler Group’s energy management is in the process of defining minimum CO₂e reduction targets for all plants, with the aim of increasing energy efficiency. The plants themselves are also responsible for setting their own targets.
Climate neutrality
Resource efficiency and environmental protection
Circularity
Green Products
Responsibility in society and supply chain
Product safety and integrity
In 2022, a holistic Climate Action Plan was developed, which serves as a framework for the design and implementation of the necessary measures. The Schaeffler Group is working to make its own processes as energy-efficient, environmentally compatible, and resource-saving as possible. In doing so, the company focuses on continuously improving all processes relevant to the environment and energy. The Climate Action Plan consists of concrete targets and measures to promote an emissions reduction path that is consistent with the 1.5-degree target of the Paris Agreement and achieves climate neutrality in the Schaeffler Group by 2040.
Climate neutrality
Resource efficiency and environmental protection
To establish a shared understanding of sustainability, the Schaeffler Group is active in a variety of initiatives and associations that promote standardized measures and processes for effective sustainability management. For example, the company is involved in multi-stakeholder initiatives such as the industry dialogue of the National Action Plan on Business and Human Rights.
Responsibility in society and supply chain
Business integrity
