OUR SUSTAINABILITY VISION
Our passion is to provide truly sustainable solutions for a growing world. We create a positive impact for the people we work with, the consumers we serve, and the society and environment in which we operate. In doing so, we are commercially successful.
OUR SUSTAINABILITY MISSION
We are change agents and collaborate with our suppliers and value chain partners to catalyze change for the better. We actively contribute towards improving environmental performance throughout the value chain and, consequently, in final products. We promote social wellbeing. Creation of more positive impacts and benefits is the guiding light for our innovation and business practices.
Our defined sustainability mission and vision act as guide to making better choices in everything we do – from the small decisions of everyday business to strategic and long-term decisions.
“Naturally positive”, the Lenzing Group’s sustainability strategy, was created from the results of the materiality analysis and is firmly rooted in the Lenzing Group’s new Better Growth strategy which was developed in the reporting year. Within the four strategic drivers (sustainability, innovation, premiumisation and excellence), the corporate strategy defines the sustainability areas in which Lenzing can do most to create a more sustainable world. At the same time, this approach enables Lenzing to adequately consider and contribute to those United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) on which the company’s activities have the greatest impact.
Strategic focus areas of sustainability and the corresponding SDGs
Three strategic principles
Lenzing’s sustainability strategy builds on three strategic principles. Within those principles, seven focus areas were identified in which the Lenzing Group substantially contributes to creating positive impacts and benefits.
1. Driving systemic change
Complex global challenges call for a collaborative approach to designing systemic solutions that involve many stakeholder groups. As a leader in wood-based cellulosic fibers, Lenzing has a particular responsibility and an ambition to help raise the bar for sustainability in the textile and nonwovens industries. Transparency and traceability are a prerequisite for fostering trust and building long-term relationships. With its contributions to developing industry-wide methods, tools, and approaches, Lenzing is helping the industry to progress on its sustainability roadmap by overcoming critical challenges. Industry benchmarking tools such as ZDHC (Zero Discharge of Hazardous Chemicals) and FSLM (Facility Social Labor Module), concrete sustainability targets, supplier engagement, and physical and digital traceability tools contribute to this change.
2. Advancing circularity
According to Lenzing’s circular economy vision, “We give waste a new life. Every day”, Lenzing drives the industry towards a fully-fledged circular economy by striving to give waste a new life in all aspects of its core business and by co-developing circular solutions with potential partners in and outside the current value chain to close loops wherever possible. This vision is based on Lenzing’s determination to create value using as few virgin resources as possible and reduce the use of fossil carbon in the company and the value chain while improving sustainability performance.
The company unites the cellulosic fiber cycle of its wood-based products (biological cycle) with its innovative technologies that focus on closing loops in the production and recovery of raw materials and chemicals (technical cycle).
Dedicated targets for the development of recycled content-based fibers and circular business models with value chain partners contribute to this principle.
3. Greening the value chain
Lenzing’s responsible practices and innovative products enable its customers and value chain partners to improve their environmental and social performance and achieve their sustainability targets and commitments. Responsible sourcing practices, water stewardship, decarbonization, and sustainable innovations form the basis of Lenzing’s efforts in greening the value chain. The sustainability targets for air emissions, water emissions, pollution, and climate protection are the cornerstones of Lenzing’s responsible entrepreneurship and act as innovation drivers.
For further information on Lenzing’s sustainability strategy, strategic principles, and focus areas, please see the “Sustainability strategy” focus paper.
Sustainability policy
Lenzing aims to embody best sustainability practices, lifecycle and long-term thinking, transparent and respectful collaboration and partnerships with its stakeholders in all activities and business decisions to meet society’s long-term goals. Lenzing’s approach is creating more positive impacts and benefits thanks to its business practices and products to make the world a better place. This covers the three dimensions of PEOPLE, PLANET and PROFIT, balancing the needs of society, the environment and shareholders and partners.