Climate Change Data

Environmental Metrics

ESG Focus Areas

• Environmental
• Social
• Governance

Environmental Achievements

• Reduced business trips through video conferencing and advanced communication systems.
• Minimized paper consumption through leading-edge office infrastructure design.
• Developed impregnation technology for stators that is faster and more cost-efficient than conventional methods, driving e-mobility forward.

Social Achievements

• Offered a pleasant working environment with fair treatment of employees.
• Supported a balanced work-life relationship through flexible working time models and home office workplaces.
• Provided individual qualification concepts to leverage employee potential and address market developments.
• Offered training opportunities, including bachelor's and master's theses, internships, and dual courses of study.
• Prioritized employee safety through planned, equipped, and monitored operational facilities, regular training, and compliance with relevant laws and regulations.

Governance Achievements

• Established a clear organizational responsibility for compliance and risk management.
• Implemented an early risk detection system to actively control risks and combine risk management with opportunity management.
• Developed compliance guidelines and documents supported by an independent compliance organization.
• Provided permanent contact persons for compliance issues and a whistleblower system for anonymous reporting.
• Implemented a commitment to fair competition, preventing corruption and money laundering, and upholding work ethics, diversity, and appreciation.

Climate Goals & Targets

Environmental Challenges

• Risks in the speed of implementation of new technological approaches in the automotive industry combined with the acceptance of new forms of mobility.
• Heavy regulation of the waste disposal industry due to stringent environmental standards.
• Potential dilution of the technological claim of MAX Group's solutions by market changes and shifts from specialist markets to mass markets.

Mitigation Strategies

• Focusing on development and production of machinery and equipment for high-precision production processes, particularly in the automotive and electronics industries.
• Intensive research & development and in-house production in Environmental Technologies business unit.
• Developing, implementing, and integrating end-to-end assembly systems and robot-supported production systems in Evolving Technologies business unit.

Supply Chain Management

Climate-Related Risks & Opportunities

Sustainable Products & Innovation

• Machinery and equipment for high-precision production processes, solutions for efficient recycling of resources and waste, end-to-end assembly systems and robot-supported production systems.

Environmental Metrics

ESG Focus Areas

• Environment
• Social
• Governance

Environmental Achievements

• Vecoplan installed a photovoltaic system generating 600,000 to 800,000 kilowatt hours per year.
• Vecoplan implemented measures to reduce energy consumption, solvent emissions, and improve energy efficiency (e.g., electric forklifts, increased PV system self-sufficiency, reduced transport, etc.).
• ELWEMA, Vecoplan, and bdtronic are ISO 14001:2015 certified.

Social Achievements

• The share of women on the Supervisory Board is 33.3%.
• A minimum share of 30% women in management below Managing Directors is achieved.
• The share of women in the entire workforce of MAX Automation SE is 55.6%.
• Nearly all portfolio companies are training companies, offering apprenticeships and dual studies.

Governance Achievements

• Established a whistleblowing system.
• Compliance with nationally and internationally accepted standards for responsible corporate management and control.
• Clear policies and procedures to comply with laws and regulations and to fight corruption and bribery.

Climate Goals & Targets

Environmental Challenges

• Lack of central sustainability management at the Group level until 2023.
• Shortage of skilled workers.
• Heavy regulation in individual sectors.
• Potential reputational damage due to non-compliance with human rights or social concerns.

Mitigation Strategies

• Decided in 2022 to develop a structured sustainability strategy from 2023 onwards.
• Investing in staff training and development.
• Implementing a comprehensive human rights due diligence throughout the supply chain.
• Establishing a Code of Conduct and a comprehensive compliance structure.

Supply Chain Management

Supplier Audits: Not disclosed

Responsible Procurement

• Fairness and integrity in business relationships.

Climate-Related Risks & Opportunities

Physical Risks

• Not disclosed

Transition Risks

• Market changes

Opportunities

• Development of energy-efficient products

Reporting Standards

Frameworks Used: German Sustainability Code (GSC)

Certifications: ISO 14001:2015 (ELWEMA, Vecoplan, bdtronic), ISO 9001:2015 (some portfolio companies), ISO 13485 (AIM Micro Systems)

Third-party Assurance: Not disclosed

UN Sustainable Development Goals

• Goal 7 (Affordable and clean energy)
• Goal 3 (Good health and well-being)
• Goal 4 (Quality education)
• Goal 5 (Gender equality)
• Goal 16 (Peace, justice, and strong institutions)

The company's core business supports these goals.

Sustainable Products & Innovation

• Energy-efficient drive concept (HiTorc)
• Automation solutions for efficient production

Awards & Recognition

• Not disclosed

Environmental Metrics

ESG Focus Areas

• Climate Change
• Workforce
• Recycling
• E-mobility
• Compliance
• Governance

Environmental Achievements

• Installation of photovoltaic systems at Vecoplan and bdtronic (bdtronic system not operational in 2023)
• Vecoplan's HiTorc drive system, reducing energy consumption in shredding machines
• ISO 14001 certifications at bdtronic, ELWEMA, and Vecoplan
• Implementation of measures to reduce energy consumption, solvent emissions, and improve energy efficiency at Vecoplan (e.g., electric forklifts, paint mixing system, high-performance filter systems)

Social Achievements

• ISO 45001 certifications at bdtronic and Vecoplan (occupational health and safety)
• Job bike program at holding company and some portfolio companies
• Commitment to ILO core labor standards
• Offering internships and dual study places
• 33.3% women on the Supervisory Board

Governance Achievements

• Establishment of centralized sustainability management at the holding company
• ESG project team established to coordinate ESG projects
• TISAX certification at bdtronic
• Code of Conduct implemented across the group
• Whistleblowing system in place

Climate Goals & Targets

Environmental Challenges

• Shortage of skilled workers
• Heavy regulation in certain sectors
• Risk of technological claims being diluted by market changes
• Demographic change impacting employee recruitment and retention
• Potential reputational damage due to non-compliance with human rights or social concerns

Mitigation Strategies

• Investment in staff training and development
• Focus on attracting, developing, and retaining excellent employees
• Comprehensive compliance structure including Code of Conduct and whistleblowing system
• Early risk detection system
• Preparation for the new Act on Corporate Due Diligence Obligations in Supply Chains

Supply Chain Management

Supplier Audits: Supplier evaluation process initiated in 2023

Responsible Procurement

• Commitment to human rights and prevention of child labor, modern slavery, and human trafficking
• Preparation for the new Act on Corporate Due Diligence Obligations in Supply Chains

Climate-Related Risks & Opportunities

Reporting Standards

Frameworks Used: German Sustainability Code (GSC), EU Taxonomy Regulation, CSRD (Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive)

Certifications: ISO 14001 (bdtronic, ELWEMA, Vecoplan), ISO 45001 (bdtronic, Vecoplan), ISO 9001 (bdtronic), ISO 13485 (AIM Micro Systems), TISAX (bdtronic)

UN Sustainable Development Goals

• Goal 7 (Affordable and clean energy)
• Goal 3 (Good health and well-being)
• Goal 4 (Quality education)
• Goal 5 (Gender equality)
• Goal 16 (Peace, justice, and strong institutions)

The MAX Group supports these SDGs through its core business and activities

Sustainable Products & Innovation

• Solutions for e-mobility and smart mobility
• Innovative production technologies for medical technology
• Solutions for automation and digitalization of manufacturing
• Vecoplan's HiTorc drive system

Awards & Recognition

• Vecoplan awarded EcoVadis Silver Medal