Policies related to pollution
We want to mitigate the negative impacts of our business activities and our contribution to the value chain on the environment. Our most important concept in the upstream value chain is our Code of Conduct for Suppliers of Goods and Services (hereinafter referred to as the Supplier Code). In it, we call on our suppliers to take a responsible approach to environmental protection. It includes both negative impacts in connection with air, water and soil pollution and, implicitly, the use of substances of concern. We aim to minimise negative impacts and prevent emergencies and damage with the help of the Code and the review of our suppliers’ sustainability performance via the document-based EcoVadis rating. The Supplier Code of Conduct contains guidelines on how to avoid negative impacts on the environment. Further information on the Supplier Code of Conduct can be found in the chapter Workers in the value chain. The supplier management of the service company Bechtle Logistik & Service, whose management reports directly to the Executive Board member who is also responsible for sustainability. In addition to the Supplier Code of Conduct, the sustainable procurement strategy adopted in the reporting period is one of the most important instruments for fulfilling the due diligence and responsibility requirements for the environment in the supply chain. At the same time, governance structures are defined here that control the actions for dealing with the relevant impacts, risks and opportunities.
In the area of the downstream value chain, the sustainability strategy addresses the topic of sustainable logistics. The sustainable logistics concept was set out in writing in the 2025 fiscal year and is based on the three central pillars of intralogistics and distribution, packaging and resources, and emissions. In intralogistics and distribution, the focus is on the efficient and sustainable organisation of all internal logistics processes and subsequent distribution to the customer. The second core pillar focuses on reducing the entity’s own use of resources, reusing resources and recycling and reusing materials. This pillar is based on the three central principles of Reduce, Reuse and Recycle. The third pillar focuses on the transparent recognition and measurement of the environmental impact of our logistics processes, such as CO2 emissions. Actions and initiatives are formulated for each pillar.
In addition, the Bechtle Circular IT concept for the circular economy and the sustainable procurement strategy are designed to minimise the impacts of pollution along the entire value chain. Both directives came into force in the reporting period. Further information on the Bechtle Circular IT concept can be found in the chapter on the use of resources and the circular economy, and on the procurement strategy in the chapter on Labour in the value chain.
Pollutants are not currently explicitly addressed in our policies but are implicitly part of various actions. The sustainable procurement strategy also takes the issue into account indirectly, for example by creating transparency about conflict minerals. The sustainable logistics concept focuses on reducing the consumption of resources and increasing the proportion of recycled packaging. These actions in the area of packaging help to avoid materials containing harmful substances, such as plastics or composites or to replace them with more environmentally friendly alternatives.
Actions and resources in connection with pollution
In the reporting period, we planned and finalised new actions as part of the implementation of the sustainable procurement concept published in the reporting period. Remedial and preventive actions were defined based on the annual supplier risk analysis. The supplier review using the document-based EcoVadis rating – including the use of the IQ Risk Tool – has been our largest ongoing measure for around three years. The review by EcoVadis covers in particular our main suppliers and products in the upstream value chain and extends to the geographical regions in which our Tier 1 suppliers have their headquarters.