Our environmental management

Our production is energy- and resource-intensive. Both through the consumption of natural resources and the use of various chemicals, the topic of environmental protection enjoys a high priority for us.

INDICATORS

With our environmental management system in accordance with the European standard EMAS, we pursue a holistic approach to the topic of the environment.

Developed by the European Community, EMAS covers all relevant environmental aspects. It is also performance-focused: Every certified company should continuously improve its environmental performance – and involve its employees in the process. "EMAS-certified companies make an effective contribution to environmental protection, save costs and show social responsibility. EMAS ensures that all environmental aspects from energy consumption to waste are implemented in a legally secure and transparent manner." (www.emas.de)

Sub-topics

↓ Our environmental team
↓ Environmental reporting
↓ Environmental aspects
↓ Energy and water management
↓ Wastewater management
↓ Waste management
↓ Biodiversity

→ Not all chemistry is the same?
→ CO2 footprint
→ Our fibre stars

> EMAS
> GRI 102-11
> GRI 102-12
> GRI 102-16
> GRI 103-2
> GRI 103-3
> GRI 307-1

Environmental reporting

As an EMAS-registered and certified company, we are obliged to publish a detailed environmental statement annually. The environmental statement is validated by an environmental appraiser and is an essential part of our environmental management system.

The most important key figures and information can be found on this sustainability page. Our validated environmental statements are available for download here:

OEKO-TEX® STeP

In addition, we have also been certified according to the OEKO-TEX® STeP standard since 2020. This means that the systemic requirements of EMAS are supplemented by content requirements from the OEKO-TEX® STeP standard. This standard contains six different modules: Chemicals Management, Environmental Performance, Environmental Management, Social Responsibility, Quality Management and Health & Safety.

Environmental standards
Downloads

↓ EMAS certificate
↓ ISO 14001 certificate
↓ STeP by OEKO-TEX® certificate
↓ Kettelhack Corporate Policy

External links

→ EMAS.de
→ OEKO–TEX.com

Our environmental team

Responsibility for environmental management lies with Sustainability Manager, Giada Trotta and our Technical Manager, Arthur Kalmbach. This interdisciplinary team ensures that the environmental management system is holistically implemented and fully embraced by all colleagues.

> EMAS
> GRI 102-30
> GRI 102-31
> GRI 103-1
> GRI 303-2

Our environmental aspects

Environmental aspects are all activities, products or services of a company that have an impact on the environment. The identification of direct and indirect environmental aspects is an essential part of any environmental management system. These aspects are recorded, evaluated and reviewed at regular intervals.

Click here for our environmental aspects

> EMAS
> GRI 302-1
> GRI 302-3
> GRI 303-1
> GRI 303-5
> GRI 305-7

Energy and water management

Resource consumption depends on various factors, for example, the grammage and composition of the fabric, colour and finishing requirements, or even batch size. A multitude of product variants, therefore, also stands for a multitude of consumption profiles. For this reason, even a comparison with oneself becomes a challenge. Looking at our production profile is, therefore, essential for interpreting the key figures.

Our production profile

 2021/20222022/20232023/2024
Output (m)10 595 4549 940 3719 453072
Machine hours30 73429 34526313
 2021/20222022/20232023/2024
∅- Weight in g300300300
White share (%)333435
Colour share (%)676665

A lot of steam is needed in the dyeing and finishing process. Therefore, our production is energy intensive. The high consumption of energy and water is one of the most important environmental aspects and thus energy and water management is a very important part of the environmental management system. Consumption data are evaluated on a monthly basis – key figures support this evaluation and indicate irregularities at an early stage.

Our Consumption Data

Summary analysis in 2023/2024
 2021/20222022/20232023/2024
Electricity kWh           4 262 6504 111 7993 824 497
Green electricity share65,0 %69,0 %85,5 %
Gas kWh32 235 24028 296 96325 153 913
Total energy kWh36 497 89032 408 76228 978 410
kWh/machine hrs.                    1 187                       1 1111 101
 2022/20222022/20232023/2024
Well water m3165 758158 444147 895
Municipal water m32 8292 6782 629
Total water m3168 587161 122150 524
Municipal water share1.7 %1.66 %1.75 %
m3/machine hr.5.95.55.72
 2021/20222022/20232023/2024
Total air emissions in kg8 5788 5095 822
     Sulphur dioxide343333
     Nitric oxide2 9012 8342 834
     Dust201916
     Methane5 6225 1162 939
Air emissions/machine hrs.0.280.270,22
Energy + Water
“We cover almost 99 % of our water needs with treated well water.”
Well water
98.3%
Municipal water
1.7%
“Various measures to improve energy efficiency in the last fiscal year will save about 480,000 kWh of energy annually in the future.”

> EMAS
> GRI 303-1
> GRI 303-4

Wastewater management

Wastewater management is an important element in our environmental management system. Given the high level of water consumption, wastewater is also the result of production. Compliance with legal requirements from the Wastewater Ordinance is ensured by the daily controlling and checking of the mixing and equalisation basin by trained staff. In addition, there are regular and independent inspections conducted by the responsible monitoring authorities and contracted service providers.

Summary analysis in 2023/2024
 2021/20222022/20232023/2024
Wastewater m3150 917151 042143 905
Wastewater l/running metre14.215.115.2
 2021/20222022/20232023/2024
Wastewater emissions in kg287 989212 142161 037
∅ Wastewater emissions kg/m31.781.411.12
Wastewater

> EMAS
> GRI 306-1
> GRI 306-2
> GRI 306-3
> GRI 306-4
> GRI 306-5

Waste management

Waste is recovered or recycled by authorised and qualified waste disposal companies. Waste types and quantities are recorded in a waste register. In addition to the typical waste types – such as paper, municipal waste or even film – "textile-specific" waste types such as residual solutions, sludge or textile waste are also generated.

Waste summary

Click here for the complete waste summary
2021/2022 2022/2023 2023/2024
Total waste 565 T 416 T 290 T
Hazardous waste 23 T 0,8 T 0,85 T
Hazardous waste per output 0.20 g/m 0,08 g/m 0.09 g/m
Waste
Direct textile recycling

In the production process, textile "waste" accumulates at various points, for example, as offcuts, or in sample production. These remnants are sold directly to a textile recycling company and are, therefore, not officially declared as waste.

2021/20222022/20232023/2024
5.61 g/m5.74g/m6.03 g/m

> EMAS
> GRI 304-1
> GRI 304-2
> GRI 304-3

Biodiversity

As a manufacturing company, we depend on an intact ecosystem and on biodiversity, because the use of natural resources (e.g. water) and raw materials (e.g. cotton) is essential for our production processes.

When the company was relocated from the city centre to an industrial site in 1982, part of the forest area was preserved when the company premises were planned. This area of nature on the border to the neighbouring farm is largely left to its own devices. The small forest is home to deer, rabbits, squirrels and various bird species, among others.

On a roof terrace renovated in 2017, the insect-friendly greenery also attracts various butterflies, bees and wasps – from spring through to autumn. Both areas count as "near-natural areas" according to the EMAS definition and serve nature as both a retreat and habitat. The remaining open areas are mainly bushes, shrubs and lawns.

Biodiversity
“Germany has committed itself to the protection of biological diversity through both the Convention on Biological Diversity and the Sustainable Development Goals (UN Sustainable Development Goals). This issue is also an important component of environmental protection for German companies.”
What is biodiversity?
Biodiversity

Our Kettelhack forest grows by exactly one tree per employee per month!

Since 2018, we have supported the Plant-for-the-Planet project. On behalf of Kettelhack, one tree per employee is planted every month in Campeche (Mexico). As a foundation, the organisation has taken over its own plantation area comprising almost 14,000 hectares of fallow land there, and is reforesting this area with various native tree species. These trees not only store carbon, but also promote local biodiversity. Through our contribution, 1,200 new trees are added every year.

Next article >
Not all chemistry is the same …
Further articles on the topic
Good Tomorrow
Sustainable textile
Enviroment
Social

CSR-Standards 

About this report

go to the Corporate Website

Hch. Kettelhack GmbH & Co. KG
Birkenallee 183, 48432 Rheine

© 2020 kettelhack . All rights reserved 

Facebook Twitter Youtube

Konzept & Design

to top

Bilanz 2020/2021

Abfallmanagement

Die Abfallmengen sind im Vergleich zu den letzten Jahren stark gestiegen. Der Anstieg ist das Resultat der bereits genannten umfassenden Sanierungs- und Umbaumaßnahmen. Über die Kategorien „Metall“ sowie „Eisen, Stahl“ wurde das alte Inventar aus sanierten Sozialräumen (Regale, Spinte, Bänke, etc.) sowie der alte demontierte Dampfkessel entsorgt. Zudem startete der sukzessive Austausch alter Lüftungsanlagen in den Bereichen Produktion und Verwaltung. Der Anstieg in der Kategorie Holz ist vor allem auf die Entsorgung von Paletten des alten Regalsystems zurückzuführen, welches komplett ausgetauscht wurde.

Im Rahmen des Projekts zur Verbesserung der Abwasserqualität wurde zu Analysezwecken das Misch- und Ausgleichsbecken häufiger geleert. Dies hat zu einem Anstieg der zu entsorgenden Schlämme geführt. Altbestände aus dem Chemikalienlager wurden zudem der Entsorgung zugeführt, was zu einem Anstieg in der Kategorie Farb- und Lackabfälle führte. Die vielen baulichen Maßnahmen, die zum Großteil durch Fremdfirmen durchgeführt wurden, trugen insgesamt zu dem Anstieg der Abfallmengen bei. Da noch nicht alle Maßnahmen abgeschlossen sind, ist auch im kommenden Jahr mit einem erhöhten Abfallaufkommen zu rechnen.

Der starke Anstieg der Kategorie „Gefährliche Abfälle“ hängt mit einer einzigen Abholung zu entsorgender Restflotten zusammen. Bedingt durch eine lange Zwischenlagerung beim Entsorger haben sich durch Gärprozesse potenziell gefährliche Abspaltprodukte in den Behältern entwickelt. Daher wurde hier die Abfallschlüsselnummer nachträglich durch den Entsorger geändert. Für das kommende Jahr ist wieder mit einem vergleichbar niedrigen Niveau des Anteils gefährlicher Abfälle zu rechnen. Damit Ausreißer wie dieser künftig nicht übermäßig in die Bewertung einfließen, wird ab diesem Jahr hier der gleitende Durchschnitt der letzten drei Jahre angegeben.

 

 

Gesamte Abfallbilanz

 2019/20202020/20212021/2022
Gesamt305 T399 T565 T
Schlämme153 T142 T165 T
Farb- und Lackabfälle (Restflotten)53 T128 T185 T
Holz49 T60 T96 T
Papier + Pappe19 T22 T34 T
Siedlungsabfälle18 T10 T23 T
Kunststoff + Folie8 T5 T11 T
Metall5 T7 T17 T
Eisen + Stahl6 T1 T28 T
Gefährliche Abfälle0,8 T2,2 T26 T

Biodiversität

Biodiversität oder biologische Vielfalt ist in den biologischen Wissenschaften ein Bewertungsmaßstab für die Fülle unterschiedlichen Lebens in einem bestimmten Landschaftsraum oder in einem geographisch begrenzten Gebiet. Dabei werden drei Teilbereiche werden unterschieden:
1. Die Varianten unter den Mitgliedern derselben Art
2. Die Artenvielfalt
3. Die Menge der Ökosysteme (Lebensräume wie Biotop, Biom, Ökoregion).
(Quelle: Wikipedia)

Summary analysis in 2020/2021

Waste management

The waste quantities are at a stable level. Despite ongoing reconstruction measures in the laboratory and sanitary facilities, the categories "construction waste", "electric motors" and "concrete/bricks" were removed from the overview. Wood and paper+cardboard increased slightly, as did metal. The modernisation of the facilities in the laboratory area and a related "clean-up campaign" in the old laboratory are probable causes for this slight increase in waste quantities.

Sludges as well as residual liquors decreased slightly compared to the previous year. However, the proportion of waste to be declared "hazardous" has increased. This is mainly due to the disposal of a barrel of saturated detergent, which has to be disposed of about every 4 years. Since the proportion of hazardous waste is otherwise very low, the disposal of this barrel causes the proportion of hazardous waste per output to jump. Therefore, it is expected that the share will return to a normal-low level in the coming business year.

 

Total waste analysis

 2018/20192019/20202020/2021
Total305 T399 T353 T
Sludge153 T142 T117 T
Paint and varnish waste (residual liquors)53 T128 T107 T
Wood49 T60 T69 T
Paper + cardboard19 T22 T29 T
Municipal waste18 T10 T13 T
Plastic + foil9 T8 T5 T
Metal4 T5 T7 T
Hazardous waste0.25 T0.8 T2,2 T

Biodiversity

In the biological sciences, biodiversity is a measure of the abundance of different life in a particular landscape or geographically limited area. Three sub-areas are distinguished as follows:
1. the variations among members of the same species
2. the diversity of species
3. the set of ecosystems (habitats such as biotope, biome, ecoregion).
(Source: Wikipedia)

Infographic
Development of water consumption in m3

The high level of water consumption in production brings with it a corresponding volume of waste water. Compliance with the limit values from the Waste Water Ordinance is ensured by the indirect discharge permit. The daily control of the mixing and equalisation basin by our employees, as well as through the regular inspections by the responsible monitoring authorities, give us the necessary security.