VTG GmbH
Climate Impact & Sustainability Data (2021, 2022, 2023)
Reporting Period: 2021
Environmental Metrics
ESG Focus Areas
- Environment
- Social
- Governance
Environmental Achievements
- Switched headquarters and a major site in Duisburg to renewable energy in 2021.
- Converted lighting from HQL spotlights to LED spotlights at several workshops, resulting in electricity savings of almost 258 MWh per year and a reduction of 66 tons of CO2 equivalents.
- Modernization of the data center in Hamburg enabled energy savings of around 61 MWh per year.
- Replacement of individual workstation printers with energy-saving floor printers saved around 6 MWh of electricity.
- Achieved a recycling rate of over 90%.
Social Achievements
- Reduced accident frequencies by just over 42% compared to the previous year.
- Offered VTG RailTrain training program to disadvantaged young people.
- Main sponsor of Hamburg Towers basketball club, promoting social work projects.
Governance Achievements
- One breach of laws and regulations was fully clarified and appropriately sanctioned.
- Implemented a comprehensive data protection management system.
Climate Goals & Targets
- Climate neutrality by 2040.
- Convert all workshops to electricity from 100% renewable energy sources by 2026.
- 30% of transports climate-neutral by 2030, 70% by 2035.
- Reduce Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 50% by 2030 (base year 2021).
- Develop a concept for ongoing assessment of climate risks by 2022.
- Reduce the number of accidents by 20% per year to the LTIFR by 2024 (base year 2020).
- Expand the VTG Family & Care program.
- Achieve 15% women in first and second management levels and 25% across all other management levels by 2025.
- Achieve 25% women in first and second management levels and 35% across all other management levels by 2030.
- Expand whistleblowing process for external parties by 2022.
- Sign a Code of Conduct with all suppliers by 2025.
Environmental Challenges
- Reducing energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions.
- Dealing with waste and noise pollution.
- Water scarcity in some regions.
- Compliance with laws and regulations worldwide.
- Ensuring data protection.
- Addressing corruption risks in high-risk countries.
Mitigation Strategies
- Implemented a comprehensive energy management system.
- Switching workshops to 100% renewable energy by 2026.
- Implementing various energy-saving measures.
- Using whisper brakes to reduce noise pollution.
- Regular water risk assessments for production sites.
- Efficient compliance management.
- Comprehensive data protection management system.
- Strict ban on corruption, anchored in the Code of Conduct.
Supply Chain Management
Supplier Audits: Random audits in business units.
Responsible Procurement
- VTG Code of Conduct for Business Partners (Tanktainer business unit).
Climate-Related Risks & Opportunities
Physical Risks
- Not disclosed
Transition Risks
- Not disclosed
Opportunities
- Not disclosed
Reporting Standards
Frameworks Used: GRI Standards (Core option)
Certifications: ISO 45001
Third-party Assurance: Not disclosed
UN Sustainable Development Goals
- SDG 3
- SDG 4
- SDG 8
- SDG 9
- SDG 11
- SDG 13
VTG's activities contribute to these goals through various initiatives described in the report.
Sustainable Products & Innovation
- r2L transport technology
- SWS-PowerBox
- m2 wagon
Awards & Recognition
- Not disclosed
Reporting Period: 2022
Environmental Metrics
ESG Focus Areas
- Environment
- Social
- Governance
Environmental Achievements
- Installed whisper brakes on 88.4% of wagons in Europe (excluding England), exceeding statutory requirements.
- Converted VTG headquarters in Hamburg and a major site in Duisburg to electricity from renewable sources in 2021; Sema near Celle and Waggonbau Graaff near Elze also switched in 2022.
- Achieved a recycling rate of over 90%.
Social Achievements
- Recorded an LTIFR of 10.8, a decrease of 22.7% in accident frequency compared with the previous year.
- Organized a garbage collection campaign at the Hamburg site and tree planting campaigns.
- Granted Christmas wishes to around 90 children from the “Stiftung Mittagskinder” foundation.
Governance Achievements
- No violations of laws and regulations in 2022.
- No significant critical concerns reported.
- Improved GRESB sustainability rating from 96 to 99 out of 100.
Climate Goals & Targets
- Climate neutrality by 2040
- Achieve 30% climate-neutral transports by 2030
- 25% women in management positions at first and second management level and 30% women across all other management levels by 2030
- Reduce Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 50% by 2030 (base year: 2021)
- Formulate target for reduction of Scope 3 emissions by 2023
- Convert workshops to electricity from 100% renewable energy sources by 2026
- Increase the share of renewable energies to 30% by 2023, aiming for 100% in the coming years.
Environmental Challenges
- Increased energy consumption due to increased activities by rail transport companies.
- Water consumption increased due to higher number of cleaning activities and leak tests.
- Supply chain disruptions due to the war in Ukraine and subsequent sanctions on Russia.
Mitigation Strategies
- Implemented various energy-saving measures (e.g., LED lighting, modernization of data center).
- Implemented water treatment for reuse in cleaning operations and pressure tests.
- Decided to discontinue business activities in Russia and sell the companies concerned.
Supply Chain Management
Responsible Procurement
- Code of Conduct for Suppliers
Climate-Related Risks & Opportunities
Reporting Standards
Frameworks Used: GRI Standards 2021
Certifications: ISO 50001, ISO 45001, ISO 27001, ISO 9001
Third-party Assurance: Ernst & Young GmbH Wirtschaftsprüfungsgesellschaft
UN Sustainable Development Goals
- SDG 3
- SDG 4
- SDG 8
- SDG 9
- SDG 11
- SDG 13
VTG's activities contribute to these SDGs through various initiatives described in the report.
Sustainable Products & Innovation
- Whisper brakes
Awards & Recognition
- German Transport Turnaround Prize
Reporting Period: 2023
Environmental Metrics
ESG Focus Areas
- Climate protection
- Energy efficiency
- Noise reduction
- Waste management
- Water management
- Occupational health and safety
- Diversity and equal opportunities
- Supply chain management
- Human rights
- Compliance
- Data privacy
- Customer satisfaction
Environmental Achievements
- Converted German workshops to electricity from 100% renewable energies in 2023.
- Achieved a recycling rate of over 90% (aiming for 93%).
- Reduced energy consumption through various measures (LED lighting, welding machine modernization, compressor replacement, IT infrastructure optimization).
- Reduced greenhouse gas emissions (Scope 1 and 2) by 28.35% compared to 2022.
Social Achievements
- Accident frequency reduced to 11.5% per 1 million working hours (undercutting the benchmark of 12 accidents).
- Implemented near-miss reporting and analysis program.
- 25.2% of employees are female.
- Organized garbage collection and tree-planting campaigns.
Governance Achievements
- No compliance violations or related fines in 2023.
- Implemented a comprehensive data protection management system.
- Information security management system (ISMS) certified according to ISO 27001.
Climate Goals & Targets
- Climate neutrality by 2040
- 30% of own transports climate-neutral by 2030
- 25% women in first and second management levels and 30% across all management levels by 2030
- Reduce accident frequency by 20% per year to 2024 (base year 2020)
- Reduce Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 50% by 2030 (base year 2021)
Environmental Challenges
- Reducing Scope 3 emissions (emissions beyond direct operational control).
- Reconciling family and career for employees.
- Addressing water consumption increase due to higher cleaning activities and leak tests.
Mitigation Strategies
- Developing targets to reduce Scope 3 emissions by 2024.
- Offering hybrid working, family-related leave, and the VTG FAMILY & CARE program.
- Continuously considering smaller modernization measures to optimize water management.
Supply Chain Management
Supplier Audits: Not disclosed
Responsible Procurement
- Code of Conduct for Suppliers
Climate-Related Risks & Opportunities
Physical Risks
- Not disclosed
Transition Risks
- Not disclosed
Opportunities
- Not disclosed
Reporting Standards
Frameworks Used: GRI Standard (GRI 1:Foundation 2021)
Certifications: ISO 50001 (energy management system), ISO 27001 (ISMS)
Third-party Assurance: Not disclosed
UN Sustainable Development Goals
- Not disclosed
Not disclosed
Sustainable Products & Innovation
- Wagons with noise-reduced brake blocks
Awards & Recognition
- Not disclosed