Climate protection: a global task for industrial companies

Climate protection is one of the most pressing global challenges we face today. This is caused by the enormous increase over the past few years in emission of greenhouse gases, especially carbon dioxide (CO₂).

Through the Bayer Climate Program the Bayer Group adopts an innovative approach to climate protection. Lighthouse projects focusing on developments and products have been initiated as climate protection enablers. Take for example the Bayer Climate Check: Certified by TÜV, a renowned German inspection agency, this check helps to identify and quantify the potential for energy efficiency improvement. The results of this process provide the basis for measures to lower greenhouse gas emissions.

Our Approach

The Bayer Technology Services „Green Supply Chain & Logistics“-Module was developed to identify potentials to reduce CO₂-emissions in logistics. The module offers an additional Key Performance Indicator (KPI) to optimize single logistics processes as well as the complete Supply Chain in regard to climate protection.

The optimization in regard to CO₂-emissions will be integrated in the optimization of the total supply chain and logistics processes. This integrated approach assures that the “green” optimization will be done in balance between all KPI’s to get a well-adjusted Supply Chain.

In Supply Chain and Logistics (SCL), too, all climate protection projects start with an analysis of the current situation – the SCL Climate Footprint. We have defined this to be a specific product related indicator for all emissions caused by logistics processes, expressed in the form of CO₂ equivalents.

Method, Results, Benefit

The analysis starts with a targeted data collection using our dedicated questionnaire. We work with you to decide upon the scope of the logistics processes and to collect information on all kinds of transport operations, filling and packaging processes, and warehousing activities. These comprehensive data are used to identify the best ways for achieving an economically reasonable improvement.

The first step when assessing these data is to determine the SCL Climate Footprint. Taking into account additional key parameters such as costs, service levels, or the capital lockup in stocks, it is possible to identify specific potential and measures. The potential can be simply and quantitatively aligned with strategic corporate goals, thereby creating an excellent decision-making basis. For example, this method allows for an initial comparison between various solution scenarios to balance the conflict between questions such as “How green should the company be?” and “How much can it cost?” or “How will the service level be affected?” Different measures can be combined to build scenarios and to compare them.

The optimal approach is then selected based on the calculated change in the contribution to emissions and additional business management KPI’s.