A leading initiative by Klüber Lubrication.
In pursuit of the UN’s 1.5°C target and to combat climate change, Klüber Lubrication initially focusing on energy consumption, discovered that a solvent used for cleaning processes was a major contributor to their CO2 equivalent (CO2eq) emissions. Their ambitious goal was to reduce Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 75% by 2025 compared to 2019 levels. Klüber’s actions included replacing the critical solvent, optimizing solvent use, and sharing their learnings within the industry besides continuing the energy related optimization plan. They successfully achieved a 76.1% reduction in CO2eq emissions by 2022. This initiative also had positive economic and social impacts, generating pride among employees and reducing environmental damage costs. Klüber’s efforts extended to customers and were communicated to peers, as well as competitors, enabling lower emissions across the industry. They also strengthened sustainability further within their core strategy, e.g. by committing to a 90% reduction in Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 2030 as compared to 2019.
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Klüber Lubrication’s Climate Commitment
Klüber, driven by a commitment to contribute to the UN’s 1.5°C target, initially focused on reducing CO2eq emissions through measures associated with energy consumption. However, a pivotal discovery by a colleague in China revealed that a solvent used in cleaning processes had an enormous Global Warming Potential (GWP) of 10,000, resulting in emissions of over 30,000 tons of CO2eq per year – a significant portion of Klüber’s total emissions.
In response, Klüber set an ambitious goal to reduce their emissions (Scope 1 and 2) by 75% by 2025 compared to the base year of 2019. The primary challenge was to find alternative solvents to replace the critical one. This initiative became part of a broader climate neutrality strategy, comprising phases like increasing energy efficiency, adopting green energy, electrification, and compensation.
Through a series of measures, Klüber managed to replace the critical solvent with an alternative that had a significantly lower GWP of 55, as opposed to 10,000. This required intense research and collaboration between various teams. Despite the higher cost of the new cleaning agent, Klüber accepted it,. Employees were trained to ensure a smooth transition, but still dedicated management and monitoring was necessary to assure success.
Further research revealed another solvent with a high GWP used as a raw material, too. Replacing them in various products became a top priority, even though these emissions fell under Scope 3. Klüber initiated several R&D projects and worked closely with customers to gain their acceptance.
In addition to replacing critical solvents, Klüber conducted an inventory and assessment of all solvents used globally, striving for optimization. They launched communication campaigns internally and externally to raise awareness and share their experience with the industry and competitors.
The results
The results were remarkable. Klüber achieved a 76.1% reduction in scope 1 and scope 2 CO2eq emissions by 2022, surpassing their 75% reduction target for 2025. This equated to a reduction of 37,235 tons of CO2eq per year, preventing considerable environmental damage and avoiding costs.
Replacing the critical solvent as a raw material also had positive impacts. It reduced CO2eq emissions for customers by approximately 50,000 tons per year, contributing to lower Scope 3 emissions. Klüber’s customers appreciated these efforts, fostering improved customer loyalty.
This project not only had ecological benefits but also garnered external recognition and internal pride among employees. Klüber received multiple internal awards and demonstrated their commitment to sustainability within the Freudenberg Group and the industry.
Moreover, Klüber’s openness about their journey enabled peers and competitors to reevaluate their climate ambitions. By sharing their findings and lessons learned, Klüber contributed to a wider industry awareness of the importance of emissions reduction.
The success of this global team effort led Klüber Lubrication to prioritise sustainability even stronger in its core strategy. E.g. they committed to further reducing Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 90% until 2030 as compared to 2019, reinforcing their dedication to climate action.
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