Climate Change Data

Aquafil S.p.A.

Climate Impact & Sustainability Data (2015, 2021, 2022, 2023)

Reporting Period: 2015

Environmental Metrics

Total Carbon Emissions:160,000 tCO2e (approx.)
Scope 1 Emissions:Not disclosed
Scope 2 Emissions:Not disclosed
Scope 3 Emissions:Not disclosed
Renewable Energy Share:74% (electricity purchased)
Total Energy Consumption:2,451,995 GJ
Water Consumption:4,760,037 m3
Waste Generated:Not disclosed
Carbon Intensity:Not disclosed

ESG Focus Areas

  • Environmental Protection
  • Circular Economy
  • Stakeholder Engagement
  • Employee Well-being
  • Supply Chain Sustainability

Environmental Achievements

  • Launched ECONYL® Qualified project to improve supplier environmental performance.
  • Reduced greenhouse gas emissions from transportation by almost 19% compared to 2014.
  • Collaborated with Atlantis Water Park to transfer excess thermal energy, reducing CO2 emissions by over 2,000 tons per year.
  • Developed ECONYL® StayClean, an easily cleanable fiber made from 100% regenerated nylon waste.

Social Achievements

  • Adopted an Ethical Code of Conduct and an Organizational Management and Control model.
  • Held approximately 4,000 hours of environmental and safety training courses.
  • Launched the Healthy Seas initiative to recover and recycle end-of-life fishing nets.
  • Partnered with Outerknown and Speedo USA on sustainable product lines using ECONYL® yarn.

Governance Achievements

  • Implemented a four-step materiality analysis process involving stakeholders.
  • No fines or sanctions for non-compliance with laws or regulations in 2015.

Climate Goals & Targets

Long-term Goals:
  • Not disclosed
Medium-term Goals:
  • Not disclosed
Short-term Goals:
  • Develop ECONYL® Qualified protocol (completed in 2016).

Environmental Challenges

  • Increased energy consumption due to internalizing complex processes and increased production of secondary raw materials.
  • Managing the environmental impact of transportation.
Mitigation Strategies
  • Investing in renewable energy sources (hydropower and photovoltaic power).
  • Optimizing transportation operations to reduce emissions.
  • Collaborating with transport companies to limit distribution impacts.

Supply Chain Management

Supplier Audits: Not disclosed

Responsible Procurement
  • ECONYL® Qualified project

Climate-Related Risks & Opportunities

Physical Risks
  • Not disclosed
Transition Risks
  • Not disclosed
Opportunities
  • Not disclosed

Reporting Standards

Frameworks Used: GRI G4 guidelines

Certifications: ISO 14001 (Aquafil and Julon), ISO 9001 (Aquafil, Aquaspace and Tessilquattro), OHSAS 18001:2007 (Aquafil CRO d.o.o.)

Third-party Assurance: Not disclosed

UN Sustainable Development Goals

  • Not disclosed

Not disclosed

Sustainable Products & Innovation

  • ECONYL® yarn, ECONYL® StayClean

Awards & Recognition

  • Zlatni ključ 2014 nomination (Aquafil CRO d.o.o.)

Reporting Period: 2021

Environmental Metrics

Total Carbon Emissions:44,456 tCO2e/year
Scope 1 Emissions:31,725 tCO2e/year
Scope 2 Emissions:12,730 tCO2e/year
Renewable Energy Share:100%
Water Consumption:3,092 Megalitres/year
Waste Generated:13,159 tons/year

ESG Focus Areas

  • Circular Economy
  • Environmental Protection
  • Supply Chain Responsibility
  • Employee Well-being
  • Community Support

Environmental Achievements

  • 64% reduction in Scope 1 + Scope 2 emissions in 5 years
  • 100% of electricity from renewable sources
  • 25% reduction in water consumption in 5 years
  • 90% of waste recovered (recycling and energy recovery)

Social Achievements

  • 100% increase in the number of female executives in 2 years
  • 92% increase in hours of training delivered vs 2020
  • Doubled welfare budget vs 2020

Governance Achievements

  • Approval of a new remuneration policy
  • Approval of a new engagement policy
  • Acquisition of more ISO 50001 and SA8000 certifications

Climate Goals & Targets

Long-term Goals:
  • Achieve net-zero emissions
Medium-term Goals:
  • 100% of the Group plants certified ISO 14001 by 2025
  • 100% of the Group plants certified ISO 50001 by 2028
  • 100% of the Group companies certified SA 8000 by 2028
  • Joining the Science Based Targets (SBTs) initiative and setting GHG emissions targets by 2025
Short-term Goals:
  • 60% of total fibres revenues from ECONYL® products by 2025
  • 60% of BCF EMEA clients joining the post-industrial Take-Back program by 2025
  • 35,000 tons of post-consumer waste collected by 2025
  • 13 projects involving end brands into activities of eco-design and recycling of end-of-life clothes by 2025
  • 50% pallets reuse for the BCF EMEA business by 2025
  • Reduce wastewater discharges by 30% by 2025 (baseline 2018)
  • 30% reduction in water consumption by 2025 (2018 baseline)
  • 30% reduction in water discharge by 2025 (2018 baseline)

Environmental Challenges

  • Supply chain disruptions due to the pandemic
  • Maintaining high safety standards during increased production
  • Addressing water stress in operating areas
Mitigation Strategies
  • Implemented robust Covid-19 response measures
  • Increased security levels and provided new PPE to workers
  • Thoroughly monitoring water stress levels using WWF’s Water Risk Filter

Supply Chain Management

Responsible Procurement
  • Aquafil Code of Conduct
  • ECONYL® Qualified Guidelines for Partners
  • SA 8000 compliance

Climate-Related Risks & Opportunities

Physical Risks
  • Adverse weather conditions
Transition Risks
  • Tightening environmental regulations
Opportunities
  • Development of energy-efficient products

Reporting Standards

Frameworks Used: GRI Standards

Certifications: ISO 14001, ISO 50001, SA 8000, ISO 45001, ISO 9001, OEKO-TEX, Cradle to Cradle Material Health Gold & Silver

Third-party Assurance: DNV GL

Sustainable Products & Innovation

  • ECONYL® yarn
  • Bio-based Nylon

Awards & Recognition

  • Top Italian Circular Economy excellence according to Symbola and Enel’s report

Reporting Period: 2022

Environmental Metrics

Total Carbon Emissions:55,011 tCO2e/year (market-based Scope 1 & 2)
Scope 1 Emissions:48,097 tCO2e/year
Scope 2 Emissions:6,915 tCO2e/year (market-based)
Scope 3 Emissions:Not disclosed
Renewable Energy Share:100%
Total Energy Consumption:Not disclosed
Water Consumption:1,961,000 m3/year (groundwater) + 398,000 m3/year (aqueduct) + 12,000 m3/year (surface water)
Waste Generated:14,758 tons/year
Carbon Intensity:Not disclosed

ESG Focus Areas

  • Climate Change
  • Circular Economy
  • Biodiversity
  • Human Rights
  • Diversity & Inclusion
  • Supply Chain Responsibility
  • Governance

Environmental Achievements

  • Reduced total water consumption by approximately 25% compared to the previous year and exceeding the 30% reduction target set for 2025 compared to 2018.
  • Reduced total water discharges by around 38% in 2022 compared to the previous year, exceeding the 30% reduction target for 2025 compared to 2018.
  • Reduced greenhouse gas emissions (market-based Scope 1 and Scope 2) to 55,011 tCO2eq in 2022 from 72,106 tCO2eq in 2019.
  • 100% of the power used by the Group was generated from renewable sources in 2022.
  • Launched a pilot project to recycle pallets used to transport products, achieving approximately 90% pallet reuse.

Social Achievements

  • Launched the “Do ut Des” initiative to improve soft skills and a Talent Management strategy to create professional development paths for high-potential employees.
  • Introduced a Global Parental Leave Policy to guarantee paid parental leave for all Group employees.
  • Introduced a new agile work agreement for Italian plants, allowing employees to work remotely two half-days per week.
  • Implemented various wellbeing initiatives across different plants, including supplemental health insurance, preventative screenings, and eyeglass reimbursements.
  • Continued to pursue SA8000 certification for all Group plants, achieving certification for Aquafil UK in 2023.

Governance Achievements

  • Joined the United Nations Global Compact.
  • Successfully launched a pre-industrial scale bio-nylon production plant.
  • Committed to estimating Scope 3 emissions.
  • Updated materiality analysis to comply with GRI changes and stakeholder feedback.
  • Implemented a structured approach to governance transparency with five pillars: Board composition and operations, investor communication, director and auditor remuneration, and disclosures on governance and remuneration policies.

Climate Goals & Targets

Long-term Goals:
  • Net zero emissions (target year not specified).
Medium-term Goals:
  • Ensure all Group plants are ISO 14001 and ISO 50001 certified by 2025.
  • Achieve 30% renewable energy by 2030 (already achieved 100% in 2022).
Short-term Goals:
  • Generate 60% of total turnover from fibres containing ECONYL® brand products by 2025.
  • Involve 60% of EMEA BCF customers in the post-industrial Take-Back scheme by 2025.
  • Collect 35,000 tonnes of post-consumer waste by 2025.
  • Reduce the Group’s total water consumption by 30% (compared to 2018) by 2025.
  • Reduce the Group’s total water discharges by 30% (compared to 2018) by 2025.

Environmental Challenges

  • Energy crisis and supply chain disruptions due to the conflict in Ukraine and COVID-19.
  • High staff turnover rate in the US due to the 'Great Resignation'.
  • Increased raw material costs.
  • Increased energy costs and transportation costs.
  • Potential risks associated with extreme weather events and climate change impacts on supply chains.
Mitigation Strategies
  • Seeking regional diversification of raw material procurement sources.
  • Recovering incremental purchase and service cost components on products sold.
  • Implementing policies to counteract turnover and improve employee well-being (parental leave, agile work, etc.).
  • Entering into multi-year contracts for energy provision to mitigate the effects of sudden cost increases.
  • Initiating a process of analyzing vulnerability to physical risks associated with climate change.

Supply Chain Management

Supplier Audits: Not disclosed

Responsible Procurement
  • Code of Conduct
  • SA8000 requirements
  • ECONYL® Qualified initiative
  • Third-party integrity screening

Climate-Related Risks & Opportunities

Physical Risks
  • Extreme weather events
Transition Risks
  • Regulatory changes
  • Market shifts
Opportunities
  • Development of energy-efficient products

Reporting Standards

Frameworks Used: GRI Standards

Certifications: ISO 9001, ISO 14001, ISO 45001, ISO 50001, SA 8000, OEKO-TEX, Cradle to Cradle Material Health Gold and Silver, ECO Passport, Responsible Care, Full Authorised Economic Operator (AEO)

Third-party Assurance: PricewaterhouseCoopers S.p.A.

UN Sustainable Development Goals

  • SDG 5
  • SDG 6
  • SDG 7
  • SDG 8
  • SDG 9
  • SDG 10
  • SDG 11
  • SDG 12
  • SDG 13
  • SDG 14
  • SDG 15

Aquafil's initiatives contribute to these goals through its focus on circular economy, renewable energy, human rights, diversity and inclusion, community engagement, and environmental protection.

Sustainable Products & Innovation

  • ECONYL® regenerated nylon
  • Bio-nylon 6
  • 3D printing filaments made from ECONYL®

Awards & Recognition

  • Not disclosed

Reporting Period: 2023

Environmental Metrics

Total Carbon Emissions:976,153 tCO2eq/year
Scope 1 Emissions:61,694 tCO2eq/year
Scope 2 Emissions:12,096 tCO2eq/year
Scope 3 Emissions:902,362 tCO2eq/year
Renewable Energy Share:94% (electricity)
Total Energy Consumption:2,291,804 GJ/year
Water Consumption:815.8 megaliters/year
Waste Generated:18,597 tons/year
Carbon Intensity:Not disclosed

ESG Focus Areas

  • Circularity
  • Climate Change
  • Human Capital
  • Innovation
  • Supply Chain Sustainability
  • Human Rights
  • Diversity & Inclusion

Environmental Achievements

  • Developed ISO standard 4484-2 for measuring microplastics in textiles.
  • Reported Scope 3 emissions for the first time.
  • Conducted a Climate Change Risk and Vulnerability Assessment.
  • Conducted a Biodiversity Impact Assessment.
  • Approved an Environmental Policy.
  • Obtained ISO 14001 certification for two more plants (Aquafil USA and Asia Pacific).

Social Achievements

  • Launched the Talent Management project.
  • Introduced a new Diversity, Equality & Inclusion (DE&I) policy.
  • Introduced a new Human Rights Policy.
  • Provided 45,000 hours of training (+35% compared to 2022).
  • Implemented a new Global Parental Policy.
  • Implemented a new agile work agreement for employees in Italy, Slovenia, and Croatia.
  • Launched a corporate volunteering program.

Governance Achievements

  • Established an ESG Committee.
  • Approved a new ESG Policy.
  • Approved a new remuneration and incentives policy with ESG parameters.
  • Approved a Green Procurement Policy.
  • Updated the Code of Conduct and Whistleblowing Procedure.
  • Implemented a new Anti-Corruption policy.

Climate Goals & Targets

Long-term Goals:
  • Enrolling the Group in the Science Based Targets (SBTs) initiative by 2025.
Medium-term Goals:
  • Certify all plants as ISO 50001 by 2028.
  • Have at least 20% females in top and senior management by 2026.
Short-term Goals:
  • Generate 60% of fiber turnover from ECONYL® products by 2025.
  • Involve 60% of BCF EMEA customers in the post-industrial Take-Back program by 2025.
  • Collect 35,000 tons of post-consumer waste by 2025.
  • Start 13 projects involving final brands in eco-design and recycling of end-of-life garments by 2025.
  • Certify all plants as ISO 14001 by 2025.
  • Certify all plants as ISO 45001 by 2025.
  • Train at least 50% of employees on diversity-related issues by 2025.
  • Recover 50% of pallets for the BCF EMEA business by 2025.

Environmental Challenges

  • Geopolitical uncertainty and supply chain disruptions.
  • Climate change risks (floods, drought, intense rainfall).
  • Microplastic pollution.
  • High employee turnover in some regions.
Mitigation Strategies
  • Investing in R&D for circular products and technologies.
  • Developing alternative sourcing strategies.
  • Implementing climate risk and vulnerability assessments.
  • Developing a new supplier due diligence process.
  • Implementing employee retention policies.
  • Improving data collection and reporting.

Supply Chain Management

Supplier Audits: Not disclosed

Responsible Procurement
  • Code of Conduct
  • Green Procurement Policy
  • Supplier engagement procedure
  • ECONYL® Qualified Guidelines for Partners
  • Reputational Due Diligence process

Climate-Related Risks & Opportunities

Physical Risks
  • Floods
  • Drought
  • Intense rainfall
Transition Risks
  • Regulatory changes
  • Market shifts
Opportunities
  • Development of energy-efficient products
  • Growth of the circular economy

Reporting Standards

Frameworks Used: GRI Standards

Certifications: ISO 14001, ISO 50001, ISO 45001, ISO 9001, SA 8000, OEKO-TEX, Cradle to Cradle, ECO Passport, REACH

Third-party Assurance: PricewaterhouseCoopers SpA (limited review)

UN Sustainable Development Goals

  • 6
  • 7
  • 8
  • 9
  • 12
  • 13
  • 14
  • 4
  • 5
  • 9
  • 10

Aquafil contributes to 11 SDGs, 6 directly linked to core business and 5 linked to contextual initiatives.

Sustainable Products & Innovation

  • ECONYL® regenerated nylon
  • Plant-based nylon

Awards & Recognition

  • Morningstar Sustainalytics ESG Risk Rating (10.7 in 2023)
  • Visionary Awards 2023 (ESG Leadership)
  • Gasgoo Awards 2023 (Top 100 Player in China’s New Automotive Supply Chain)
  • Croatian Chamber of Commerce Award (Best ESG rating in medium-sized companies category)