Datwyler cuts resource consumption, eyes CO2 neutrality

Altdorf, Switzerland – Datwyler Group reduced its consumption of electricity, fuels, and water, and lowered CO2 emissions at its production plant in Italy, as part of its 2019 sustainability campaign. 

The Swiss group said it cut resource consumption for the third consecutive year, decreasing electricity use by 3.2%, fuels by 0.5%, water by 15.0%, and waste volume by 5.5% overall. 

The cuts represent an overall 3% reduction in energy and water consumption as well as waste volume, Datwyler said in its 2019 sustainability report, published 15 July.

Among other projects, the group said it installed a new closed cooling circuit for the mobility production facility at its Schattdorf plant in Switzerland.

In addition, Datwyler put into operation two of a total of three projected processing units for multiple water usage at its plant in Alken, Belgian.

Datwyler also reduced the CO2 emissions per revenue unit by 5.5% in 2019. 

According to the Swiss manufacturer, an interdisciplinary project group is currently working on “further advancing the sustainability and climate strategy with the long-term goal of carbon neutrality.” 

In Switzerland, Datwyler said its plant has been CO2-neutral since 2012, using a wood-fired heating plant for process energy and heating power as well as hydropower for electricity. 

This has resulted in annual savings of 500,000 tonnes of fuel oil and 3,600 tonnes of CO2. 

Last year also saw an investment of CHF1.7 million (€1.5 million) in “a modern cogeneration unit” at the group’s facility in Pregnana, near Milan. The upgrade, Datwyler said, will contribute an additional 900 tonnes per year of cuts in CO2 emissions.

Overall, however, the Swiss rubber goods manufacturer said its absolute CO? output rose by 1.2% to 89,388 tonnes in 2019.

Datwyler linked the increase to the inclusion of its Parco and Bins plants in California and Brazil, in the calculations for the first time.