Greenhouse gas emissions
Since 2017, GEA has disclosed the relevant data for the respective year under review that is audited by KPMG in accordance with ISAE 3000. Moreover, starting in 2018, GEA switched the way it presents CO2 equivalents across all three scopes to a regional level as required by the CDP. The data series comprises the years 2017 to 2019.
In 2019, GEA measured the CO2 emissions released by its 78 largest sites that comprise production, service and administration. As of 2019, the year under review, GEA started reporting the market-based CO2 equivalents (under Scope 2) for countries in which energy supply companies can provide reliable information on the respective fuel mix using the latter as a basis for reference. In the year under review, the market-based calculation was performed for Germany and New Zealand.
Across the globe, the key figures for energy consumption are collected via a standardized system and reported as follows:
- Scope 1 – Direct Greenhouse Gas Emissions: GEA includes fuel emissions from fuel oils, various gases, diesel and gasoline.
- Scope 2 – Indirect Greenhouse Gas Emissions: GEA reports emissions from electricity, heat, steam and cooling (site-related in accordance with IEA conversion factors and/or market-based).
- Scope 3 – Other Indirect Greenhouse Gas Emissions: Currently, this category merely includes reporting on business travel.
- Intensity – Ratio of greenhouse gas emissions/GEA’s sales
Further information on the method used for calculating CO2 emissions in 2019 is outlined on the company’s website at gea.com under "Explanatory notes to environmental reporting." The figures presented are – unless market-based – in line with the conversion factors stated in the GHG Protocol/IEA (11/2019) – IEA 2019.
|
Direct Greenhouse Gas Emissions (Scope 1), in tons of CO2 equivalents |
2019K | 2018* K | 2017K |
|---|---|---|---|
| Asia Pacific (excluding China) | 548 | 562 | 529 |
| China | 492 | 472 | 373 |
| DACH & Eastern Europe | 19,166 | 18,737 | 23,772 |
| Latin America | 7 | 5 | 9 |
| North America | 6,397 | 8,150 | 7,199 |
| Northern and Central Europe | 1,611 | 1,402 | 1,356 |
| Western Europe, Middle East & Africa | 8,490 | 7,799 | 8,595 |
| GEA’s total | 36,711 | 37,127 | 41,833 |
K) Audited by KPMG
*) Due to changes in allocation and computation, the reference base of reporting sites was adjusted in 2018.
| Indirect Energy-Related Greenhouse Gas Emissions
(Scope 2), in tons of CO2 equivalents |
2019 K | 20181 K | 2017K | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| site-related | market-based2 | |||
| Asia Pacific (excluding China) | 1,569 | 1,466 | 1,463 | 1,340 |
| China | 5,702 | 5,702 | 4,779 | 4,614 |
| DACH & Eastern Europe | 17,925 | 13,701 | 18,661 | 19,628 |
| Latin America | 101 | 101 | 97 | 109 |
| North America | 5,946 | 5,946 | 6,107 | 5,513 |
| Northern and Central Europe | 2,659 | 2,659 | 2,459 | 3,472 |
| Western Europe, Middle East & Africa | 2,865 | 2,865 | 1,995 | 2,248 |
| GEA’s total | 36,768 | 32,441 | 35,561 | 36,925 |
K Audited by KPMG
1) Due to changes in allocation and computation, the reference base of reporting sites was adjusted in 2018.
2) market-based, 22 sites in Germany and New Zealand
| Indirect Greenhouse Gas Emissions (Scope 3), in tons of CO2 equivalents | 2019 K | 2018 1 K | 2017K |
|---|---|---|---|
| GEA’s total | 18,412 | 21,021 | 15,958 |
| Indirect Energy-Related Greenhouse Gas Emissions
(Scope 2), in tons of CO2 equivalents |
2019 K | 20181 K | 2017K | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| site-related | market-based2 | |||
| GEA total | 91,890 | 87,564 | 93,709 | 94,716 |
| Ratio of tons CO2 equivalent to GEA’s revenue | 18.83 | 17.94 | 19.40 | 20.59 |
1) Due to changes in allocation and computation, the reference base of reporting sites was adjusted in 2018.
2) market-based, 22 sites in Germany and New Zealand
Compared with 2018, GEA’s business operations emitted less greenhouse gas emissions (Scope 1) while generating slightly higher revenues than in the previous year. GEA‘s energy efficiency optimization initiatives conducted at the sites had a positive impact and brought about a reduction in emissions of CO2 equivalents under Scope 1. Overall, in 2019, GEA was able to lower its greenhouse gas emissions both in absolute terms and in relation to sales. This way, in the year under review, GEA achieved the set target of reducing CO2 emissions by 1.5 percent (on a comparable basis, i.e. prior to changes due to market-based calculations) that had been agreed with the Executive Board: Based on the IEA conversion factors, the (equivalent) decline amounted to –2.95 percent, while a market-based calculation resulted in a –8.04 percent decrease.
In 2019, GEA was once again seeking to expand its climate reporting and is currently conducting several internal projects in this area. For instance, this includes an analysis of how greenhouse gas emissions can be captured, controlled and reported along the entire value chain (upstream/downstream); however, such emissions are frequently not or not completely under GEA’s direct control, for example where the transport of goods or the procurement of stainless steel are concerned.
Read more in our Annual Report >>
Energy audits
Since 2015, companies that do not fall under the EU Commission’s definition of small and medium-sized enterprises have to carry out an energy audit every four years. They are obliged to do so under the German Energy Services Act (Energiedienstleistungsgesetz – EDL-G). The latter transposes into law the European requirements of the Energy Efficiency Directive (Directive 2012/27/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of October 25, 2012). These energy audits were due in 2019, the year under review, and successfully completed. The captured energy savings potential of the various sites was systematically recorded; the respective potential is checked for feasibility, with subsequent implementation being tracked.
> 2.95% less CO2 emitted in 2019 (location-based)
> 8.04% less CO2 emitted in 2019 (market-based)
