The Dräxlmaier Group is a globally operating family-owned company, with its headquarters in Vilsbiburg, Germany. Since its foundation in 1958, the company has developed and manufactured modern wiring harness systems, exclusive interiors and central electrical and electronic components, with a clear focus on the premium automotive segment. The Dräxlmaier Group employs about 55.000 employees and is among the global top 100 automotive suppliers.
Especially in the automotive industry, energy efficiency and environmental impacts are a top priority. Besides rigid legal requirements regarding fleet consumption and CO2 emissions, electric mobility is rapidly gaining importance. Consequently, a stringent CSR strategy and active sustainability communications as well as environmental reporting are vital.
At the same time, the large car manufacturers are facing increased demands from stakeholders to document their sustainable performance across the entire value chain. Therefore, they increasingly request their suppliers to report on CO2 emissions or energy consumption in production and logistics, using supplier assessment questionnaires or online platforms.
Download & Links
Solution: CO2 management and sustainability communications at the highest level
For Dräxlmaier, dealing with CO2 emissions and other ecological indicators was no news: Sustainability always had a high value within the family-owned company. For several years, company experts had been conducting product-based analyses. In 2013, following stakeholder requests and strategic interests of Dräxlmaier, a company-wide Carbon Footprint was calculated by DFGE for the first time. The goals were to:
- identify potentials for reducing energy and resource consumption,
- provide valid and comprehensive input for individual stakeholder requests and
- form a basis for participation in the CDP Climate Change reporting program
Since 2013, the Carbon Footprint is calculated annually based on the methodology of the Greenhouse Gas Protocol and fulfills also the requirements of ISO 14067 and PAS 2050:2008. It includes emissions from energy and fuel consumption, but also other indirect (Scope 3) emissions of the up- and downstream value chain.
DFGE uses its TopDown Approach for reducing time and efforts for data collection: Emission hot spots with a large contribution and big leverage are identified, which are assessed more closely in an iterative and recursive process. Thus, valid results with a low uncertainty bandwidth can be gathered within just a few weeks, including the relevant up- and downstream emissions.
This high reliability and quality of results in accordance with international standards was a key criterion for Dräxlmaier – as well as the inclusion of value chain emissions, which is a major focus point in the automotive sector. DFGE with almost 20 years of experience with eco-balances and the automotive industry therefore is the ideal partner to meet the requirements of Dräxlmaier and the expectations of its stakeholders.
For preparing the CDP questionnaire, DFGE could draw from a large basis of data and information that is gathered via Dräxlmaier’s company-wide sustainability management. Together with the detailed emission data determined by the Carbon Footprint, comprehensive answers could be given to the CDP climate change program
As an outcome, the CDP score attained by Dräxlmaier in 2013 was exceptionally high for a first-time responder, and could be increased even further with the 2014 CDP response.
Also from 2015 on, DFGE continues to calculate the Corporate Carbon Footprint of Dräxlmaier and will facilitate a successful CDP participation.
More information on DFGE solutions
- Carbon Fooptrint Calculation
- Sustainability Communications
About Dräxlmaier Group
The DRÄXLMAIER Group is an international automotive supplier with more than 60 sites in over 20 countries. Headquartered in Germany, the company currently employs around 55.000 people throughout the world. Thanks to them and to its considerable innovative capacity, the DRÄXLMAIER Group has achieved technological leadership in the premium automotive segment.
The inventor of the customer-specific wiring harness, the DRÄXLMAIER Group today stands for pioneering innovations in conventional and alternative drive systems, as well as in electrical and electronic components. Among these are multi-voltage and high-voltage wiring harness systems, as well as HV battery systems. As the market leader for the complete interior for premium automobiles, the DRÄXLMAIER Group also supplies renowned automobile manufacturers with center consoles, door panels and instrument panels, as well as complete door and cockpit modules. In 2013, the DRÄXLMAIER Group achieved sales of 2.9 billion euro. More at www.draexlmaier.com/
About DFGE
DFGE – Institute for Energy, Ecology and Economy – was founded as a spin-off of the Technical university Munich in 1999. DFGE offers consulting, software and auditing services to integrate CSR activities in business processes and the supply chain. Solutions of DFGE’s Sustainability Intelligence are CO2 Management, accounting of corporate carbon footprints as well as product carbon footprints and LCAs and support for international sustainability rankings and reportings like UN Global Compact, Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) or Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP). As independent Institute DFGE’s work is based on advanced scientific and research methods and institutionalized standards, e.g. DIN Norm 16258, ISO 14040/14044, DIN EN 14064, ISO 14067, ISO/WD 14069, Grenelle contracts, BPX 30-323, METI, PAS 2050 Green House Gas Protocol (WRI/WBCSD). Goal of all DFGE solutions is to provide correct calculations, transparent reporting and integration into existing environmental systems and to create a Sustainability Intelligence Platform, which does not only allow to manage sustainability information but to reduce carbon emissions. Among the worldwide customers are public sector. mid sized companies as well as Fortune 500 corporations.