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CLIMATE PROTECTION & RESPONSIBILITY

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OUR CLIMATE GOALS

% Scope 1 fossil fuel free

According to the greenhouse gas (GHG) protocol standard all emissions within the company, especially from combustion, are covered by Scope 1. Due to the investments in geothermal heating and electric mobility we do not have any combustion processes within the company since 2019. Hence we are free of fuel fuels in Scope 1. 

% Scope 2 fossil fuel free

According to the greenhouse gas (GHG) protocol standard  emissions from the production of energy, heat and steam are covered by Scope 2. As we invested in an photovoltaic plant and buy electricity originating from 100 % renewable sources the needed energy has been without fossile fuels since 2014.

% Scope 3 identified

All external purchases of products, services and the mobility required for operation are recorded in Scope 3 in accordance with the GHG protocol. These emissions are currently being determined.

According to the GHG specifications, we are already carbon neutral, as Scope 3 has not be included. But that doesn’t stop us from continuing to work on our GHG emissions balance.

t CO2 saved

By changing our energy supply to renewables in 2014 and generating our own renewable energy starting in 2020, we were able to save the specified amount of GHG emissions.

MWh PV electricity

Our own photovoltaic plant has been able to generate the stated amount of electrical energy since it was commissioned in 2020, almost all of the energy is used internally. Besides that we use the energy for heating of the building and to charge our electric car.

to SDGs contributed

The 17 Sustainable-Development Goals (SDG) of the United Nations are guidelines for a sustainable economy and society. These include not only climate protection but also a just and healthy society. You can read about our contribution in the “Sustainable Development Goals (SDG)” section below. 

UN GLOBAL COMPACT

We reflect our responsibility for the environment and society in our business processes. As a result we have been working according to the UN-Sustainable-Development–Goals (SDG) since 2020. Furthermore we joined the United Nation Global Compact (UNGC) in March 2021. The UNGC is the world’s largest initiative for corporate responsibility and sustainability. We are thus taking another milestone on our way to a responsible and sustainable transformation of our company.

For us, the goals and agreements of the UN Global Compact are not just a label that looks smart on the homepage and only serves “green washing”, it is a personal attitude of us and our colleagues. This results in a corresponding way of working both internally and when working with our customers, suppliers and partners.

Please find here the according press release of Buchinger|Kuduz joining the Global Compact.

Buchinger|Kuduz Nachhaltigkeitsbericht UNGC Communication on Progress 2022

Please find our latest Communication On Progress Report for download here (in german language). This report summarises all our activities in terms of human rights, labour norms, environment protection and fighting against corruption. In case of any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us.

ENTREPRENEURS 4 FUTURE

Logo E4F Buchinger|Kuduz

We are convinced that corporate responsibility absolutely includes the protection of the environment and the entire living space.

Based on the student movement Fridays4Future we have joined the companies that stand for a responsible and sustainable economy. Hence we are also involved at Entrepreneurs4Future. As a doctor of physics, Mario Buchinger also contributes to Scientists4Future.

OUR RESPONSIBILITY ACCORDING TO THE SDGs

Sustainability must not be just an empty phrase. The Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) are guidelines of the United Nations, which is the basis for a holistic and sustainable improvement. We work together with our customers to improve the world’s society. But we also measure our own efforts by these guidelines.

Nothing is perfect, so we have to continuously improve ourselves in order to seek for perfection. On this page we show our current status in terms of the 17 SDG criteria.

Last update: February 2022

SDG Goal 1: No poverty
SDG1
End poverty in all its forms everywhere.

We pay our employees and contractors in a way that their work is valued within our social environment. The payment is independent from gender, origin or appearance. We entirely reject seating, we align the payment based on the executed tasks and abilities instead.

SDG Goal 2: Zero hunger
SDG2
End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture.

We get our food from regional suppliers like, Tiroler Gemüsekiste. If there is no other way, the food is at least from Europe, such as through the tree sponsorship at Naranjas del Carmen. We reduce our meat consumption to a very low level and include in our buying decisions, how the food was produced (e.g. no factory farming, no monocultures, avoidance of completed products). We support organisations such as Arche Noah, who preserve natural diversity. Additionally, we keep an eye  on the purchase amounts, right storage and that no food is wasted.

SDG Goal 3: Good health and well-being
SDG3
Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages.

For our travels, we mainly apply ground-based public services such as railways, which is the service with the highest safety. We reject working for “lethal companies”. This includes among other criteria, that we will not work for companies which mainly produce alcoholic drinks or tobacco products. All people working for us, have a health insurance and the workplace follows ergonomic, work technique and occupational medicine guidelines.

SDG Goal 4: Quality education
SDG4
Ensure inclusive and quality education for all and promote lifelong learning.

We support universities, colleges and other institutions with lectures and seminars pro bono. Knowledge available within our organisation is provided to our network with no costs. Staff members are continuously adequately qualified. In our company, relevant magazines and specialist literature are made available free of charge. In addition, training offers can be taken advantage of during working hours.

SDG Goal 5: Gender equality
SDG5
Achieve gender equality and empower women and girls.

Tasks inside our company as well as at the customer are carried out based on qualification and abilities. In projects on site, we work with cross-functional teams. We live cultural diversity and are fully convinced that mono-cultures will not survive, but multicultural societies succeed in innovation and change.

 
SDG Goal 6: Clean water and sanitation
SDG6
Ensure access to water and sanitation for all.

In our building we collect rain water from all roof surfaces to use it as raw water. Drinking water is supplied by efficient fittings and used thrifty. We use water bubblers with glass carafes, so we avoid plastic packaging. Glass or metal bottles and reusable cups are used on the go.

SDG Goal 7: Affordable and clean energy
SDG7
Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all.

We use 100 % renewable energy. A major amount of our energy used (2022: 57,6%) for office, household, lights, heating and electric car charging is generated by our solar power supply installed on our roof. An intelligent control system increases energy efficiency. At the beginning of 2023, we also commissioned a PV balcony power plant to show how easy it is to generate energy yourself. In addition, we are currently planning an expansion of the PV system including storage.

 
SDG Goal 8: Decent work and economic growth
SDG8
Promote inclusive and sustainable economic growth, employment and decent work for all.
 
Growth for us means change. We consider humans as a source of improvements and not as a resource. Everybody is needed to develop our society to survive also in the future. We use technologies and innovations not as an end in itself but as an opportunity for continuous improvement of our society including the environmental protection.
SDG Goal 9: Industry, innovation and infrastructure
SDG9
Build resilient infrastructure, promote sustainable industrialization and foster innovation.

We go onward with the time and pay attention to new technologies. Doing this, we include our customer’s expectations so that all applications never result in being an end in itself. We apply a local and privacy orientated information infrastructure which we also make available to others. We no longer use products from the meta group (Facebook, Instagram) and do not use Google Analytics or similar tracking systems.

SDG Goal 10: Reduced inequalities
SDG10
Reduce inequality within and among countries.
Developing strategies, value streams and supply chains together with our customers, we include fairness and ethical behavior throughout all entities. We consider the world as a whole and countries as human-made artificial structures which must be treated equally.
SDG Goal 11: Sustainable cities and communities
SDG11
Make cities inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable.

Especially in cities, public transportation is crucial to preserve clean air and space for living. Therefore in urban areas we only travel by public transportation services. In rural areas we also try to use this as much as possible. Additionally, we  bought a folding bike, which makes it easier to reach more distant destinations.

SDG Goal 12: Responsible consumption and production
SDG12
Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns.

All our processes are aligned to reduce a waste as much as possible. In case of waste, materials must be degradable as much as possible and is brought to the respective recycling processes. With just a very few exceptions, food is never disposed. Technical devices are utilised as long as possible. Additionally, we try to get repaired as many things as possible. We make all our activities transparent (e.g. on this web page).

We also support others (customers and organizations) in developing sustainable processes – whether for production or services.

SDG Goal 13: Climate action
SDG13
Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts.

We publish articles and give talks about topics dealing with human made climate crisis and emphasize on the responsibility of every individual and the economy. We use renewable energies and apply almost only ground-based and sustainable transport services (train, public transport, folding bike and e-car). Additionally, in 2022 we also established the position of Chief Climate Officer in the management board. The company’s greenhouse gas balance is currently being calculated in order to be able to derive further objectives.

We include thoughts about ecological consequences in our projects and development corresponding activities for our customers. To support the long-term development towards a sustainable future we developed the “Climate Transformation Compass”.

Additionally, we support initiatives like e.g. Greenpeace, Entrepreneurs for Future, Scientists for Future and Fridays for Future.

SDG Goal 14: Life below water
SDG14
Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources.
We use products without microplastics and other ingredients, which cannot be cleaned by conventional purification plant. This applies especially to cleaning liquids which we prepare by ourselves using natural and organic ingredients. Thereby, ocean waters are less polluted.
SDG Goal 15: Life on land
SDG15
Sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, halt and reverse land degradation, halt biodiversity loss.

Many areas on our property are covered with natural vegetation and we avoid surface sealing as much as possible e.g. by the usage of grass paver. By this, natural habitats for animals and plants are preserved. Therefore we invested also in a system for water retention, which improves the soil conditions over the long run. Additionally, we prefer local and organic produced food and therewith contribute to our region. 

SDG Goal 16: Peace, justice and strong institutions
SDG16
Promote just, peaceful and inclusive societies.

We reject all kinds of mandates from “lethal companies”. This means that we do not work for companies which make their highest share of profit with goods or services destroying lives or environment. We include in our business and private decisions not just the question whether something is legal, we also consider whether something is legitimate. We reject any kind of corruption and bribery. Additionally, we support organisations, like Amnesty International, SOS Mitmensch and Aufstehn in Austria.

SDG Goal 17: Partnerships for the goals
SDG17
Revitalize the global partnership for sustainable development.

Thinking and acting globally – this is one of our guidelines. We emphasize on local value added and purchase goods as local as possible. We cooperate with our network worldwide and support also international projects with local colleagues.