Our Commitment
In 2017, BayWa r.e. set a goal to achieve carbon neutral operations from 2018 onwards. We achieved our goal by offsetting all our operative carbon emissions as of the end of 2018.
But this was just the beginning. In 2020, we launched our Sustainability Framework 2025 with the objective of expanding our existing sustainability commitment from being ‘100% carbon compensated’ to go ‘beyond carbon’.
The Sustainability Framework therefore emphasises and encourages employee-driven sustainability initiatives and projects that support social, economic and environmental objectives.
Statement on Sustainability – Matthias Taft, CEO of BayWa r.e.
Our Sustainability Framework
Our Sustainability Framework 2025 is inspired by the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) developed by the United Nations General Assembly.
Out of these UN Goals, we have selected ten priority SDGs that will help us to guide our company’s internal sustainability efforts and in turn contribute to the wider UN Goals.
Our Selected Priority SDGs
Beyond Carbon
We recognise that sustainability is a holistic endeavor and we still have a long way to go on the path of true accountability. We aim to go ‘beyond carbon’ and to address a wide range of sustainability aspects for society, the economy and the environment.
Following our SDG selection, we have initiated working groups that are driven by employees from across the globe. Prioritised objectives that directly contribute to our Sustainability Framework are ‘Promote Diversity, Equity and Inclusion’, ‘Foster Sustainability within our Supply Chains’ and ‘Enhance Acceptance of Renewable Energy Projects’. Our working groups are already working towards these objectives.
Another initiative is our Sustainable Lecture Series. This internal event series has been set up to give our employees the possibility to listen to and speak with leading scientists, activists or policy makers on different aspects of sustainability. Our first speaker was Prof. Rex, leader of the MOSAIC Expedition to the Arctic, who shared with us first results from the expedition and his urgent call for immediate action on climate change.
We will continue to build and evolve our approach to sustainability in the coming years. The journey we are on is not one that has an end, rather it is a way of thinking and acting that will continuously evolve and help shape our business.
We welcome your interest to creating change together. If you have questions, feedback or would like to hear more about how we're working towards these goals, please contact us.
We are a part of the BayWa Group
... and its sustainability commitment
A group-wide Climate Strategy was implemented by the BayWa Group in 2019, which outlines ambitious commitments and goals.
BayWa’s climate strategy is guided by the Paris Agreement on gobal warming. An important foundation for our work is the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPPC) Special Report ‘Global Warming of 1.5°C’ in which immediate action to mitigate climate change, sequester carbon emissions and steer the future of our Earth in a better direction is called for.
As part of its commitment to work towards clear and tangible sustainability goals, the BayWa Group has joined RE100. RE100 is a group of corporations that have publicly committed to using 100% renewable energy in the coming decades.
In its second year of participation, BayWa AG has achieved a B rating in the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) and is above both the European and the industry average.
In 2020, BayWa was named one of "50 Sustainability & Climate Leaders" by the United Nations and Bloomberg. The film published for this purpose shows how BayWa, as a traditional conglomerate, is driving the agricultural, energy and building materials sectors forward through sustainable innovations.
BayWa AG's Group-wide climate strategy
Our Achievements on the Climate Strategy Goals
With our business models and expertise in the renewable energy sector at BayWa r.e., we strive for sustainability and contribute to the groupwide company targets of BayWa AG.
Since 2018 all emissions from our sites, car fleets and business travels have been 100% carbon compensated. BayWa r.e. is implementing the BayWa AG group target of generating additional capacities of renewable energy and between 2017 and 2020, we have constructed wind and solar projects and delivered solar panels totalling 5 GW.
For us, the reduction of Greenhouse gases is a top priority. Therefore, emission reduction potentials are identified on a regular basis and reduction projects are continuously implemented. BayWa r.e. has been supplied with 100% green electricity since 2020 and energy efficiency is embedded in our Sustainability Framework 2025.
Our Footprint
As part of the BayWa Group, we disclose our sustainability related data such as our energy consumption and other CO2 emissions via the annual BayWa AG’s sustainability report since 2015.
The BayWa Sustainability Report is prepared in accordance with the standards of the internationally recognised Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) and is subject to an external independent audit.
To date, we are reporting all direct emissions from our sites, facilities and car pools (Scope 1) and indirect emissions such as electricity, heating and cooling consumption (Scope 2) as well as our travel emissions (Scope 3.6).
Currently, we are expanding our reporting scope to include more Scope 3 categories.
Based on the collected data, we identify areas to actively reduce our carbon footprint and to define concrete measures to increase energy efficiency and consequently reduce emissions.
Measures that are already under implementation include the use of LEDs in our offices and warehouses, the switch to 100% green electricity supply in 2020 and the continuous transition to an electric car fleet.
As a company active on a global level, it is currently not possible to operate completely carbon free. Therefore, all remaining emissions from our sites, our car fleets and the business travel of all employees are offset to further reduce our impact. BayWa r.e. has compensated 100% of its GHG emissions since 2018.
The principle of offsetting is based on the idea that it is not crucial for the climate where CO2 is emitted or avoided. Therefore, emissions caused in one place can be saved in a faraway place where carbon reduction projects are feasible and offer social and environmental benefits for the region.
When it comes to the selection of external compensation projects, we focus on high-quality emission certificates from a mix of project types and different providers. We have profiled a few of our recent projects in the case studies below.
In addition to our recent support for external compensation projects, we intend to develop our own BayWa r.e. carbon compensation projects in the near future.
Lesotho: Solar Home Systems
In the rural regions of Lesotho, the majority of households are not connected to the public grid. People rely on candles and paraffin lamps to light their homes, which emit climate damaging CO₂ and harmful carbon monoxide when burned. In particular, the use of paraffin lamps indoors poses a high health risk for families. Therefore, the atmosfair-project gives households access to solar lamps and solar home systems. Several hundred solar systems are currently in operation – atmosfair plans to supply more than 30,000 households in Lesotho with solar systems. (Copyright: atmosfair)
Cambodia: Forest Protection
The Cardamom Rainforest Landscape is one of the last unfragmented rainforests remaining in Southeast Asia and is a critical part of the Indo-Burma Biodiversity Hotspot. Using global best practices for forest protection and community development, the Southern Cardamom REDD+ project prevents more than 3,000,000 tons of carbon emissions annually and protects 497,000 hectares of tropical rainforest in South-West Cambodia. This area is globally significant for ecosystem servicing, wildlife conservation and community livelihoods. It also serves as the region’s most important watershed, climate regulator and carbon sink. (Copyright: Everland)
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