SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2023
3 Dear Readers, As 2023 comes to a close, I’d like to take a moment to reflect on the significant changes that have shaped the hygiene industry this year, and how we have adapted to those challenges. The ongoing impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, staffing shortages, and rising costs have emphasized the need for more sustainable healthcare practices. This combination of factors has underscored the need to adopt new technologies to improve compliance, including automated monitoring and real-time data tracking. It has also highlighted the value of facility management data achieved through smart monitoring. OPHARDT remains an innovator in its field, taking significant strides through the launch of our Smart from the Start platform. Smart from the Start involves equipping every touchless hand sanitizer dispenser with a chip that transmit data right from the factory stage. This dual-purpose chip enables users to collect dispenser activation data, as well as monitor fill levels in our products. Smart from the Start devices will revolutionize the industry with smart hygiene solutions for the healthcare industry and beyond. In our studies, Smart from the Start dispensers contributed to a decrease in healthcareacquired infections and helped reduce the length of hospital stays, leading to an up to 30% decrease in C02 generated and an up to 28% reduction in plastic product consumption. Hospitals and clinics worldwide are employing practices such as lean management and resource optimization to reduce waste, cut costs, and enhance patient outcomes. Similarly, the manufacturing sector faces a parallel challenge—how to optimize every aspect of production to increase output while reducing environmental impact and operational costs. OPHARDT is constantly working to optimize our process to unlock efficiencies in manufacturing. A great example this year took place at our Belgian location in Maaseik. Faced with rising energy costs, our team implemented a variety of projects aimed at reducing electricity and gas consumption, including roof renovations and changes to our anodizing line. Through these projects, we were able to achieve a 30% reduction in natural gas consumption, when compared it to previous years. Rainwater collection and integration into our toilets, combined with process changes has allowed us to unlock and increase water efficiency by 50%. These stories, and more, can be found throughout the report. This year also marks a change in leadership at OPHARDT. I am excited to announce that OPHARDT Hygiene will be transitioning to a new CEO at the end of this year. Ken Friesen has been CFO at OPHARDT for close to a decade. With his commitment to excellence by transparency, intelligent planning and timely implementation, he is uniquely positioned to lead us as we continue toward our goal of marrying innovation with cost effective, volume-driven manufacturing. In our 2023 Sustainable Development Report, we delve into OPHARDT Hygiene’s activities and initiatives relating to our three sustainability goals: to improve health and well-being, cultivate stronger communities, and foster a thriving environment. On behalf of the entire OPHARDT team A MESSAGE FROM HEINER OPHARDT, CEO Heiner Ophardt - CEO & Board Chair-
COMPANY OVERVIEW
5 OPHARDT AT A GLANCE From the most advanced medical facility to the most demanding public space, we solve the problems of hand hygiene through obsessive engineering, deep research, and manufacturing excellence. Like so many innovative companies, our story starts in a garage. Hermann Ophardt, a persistent inventor and designer, prototyped Europe‘s most iconic dispenser, the ingo-man® in 1967. It was the first dispenser capable of reliably dispensing alcohol-based sanitizer. Our vision at OPHARDT Hygiene is to provide universal access to life-saving hygiene solutions. Our mission is to Break the Chain of Infection. We are still tireless perfectionists. We not only design cutting-edge soap and sanitizer pumps, we manufacture them in-house. When our engineers want to check on our manufacturing process, they do not have to book a flight. They just walk down the hall. Since then, we have never stopped innovating. Over 500 patents and 7 production locations later, we continue to work tirelessly to break the chain of infection. To break the chain of infection, we need to start with our hands. Our hands hold endless potential to heal, help, and create. They can also carry disease and harm. Eighty-percent of all infectious diseases are spread through hands. Hand hygiene affects us all. The power to live longer, healthier lives is in our hands.
6 COMPANY PROFILE Organization Privately-held and family-owned since 1962. Global Executive Team The Global Executive Team represents the most senior committee responsible for decision-making on economic, environmental, and social topics. Members include: Heiner Ophardt John O’Malley Ken Friesen Albrecht Lang Fred Roffel Thomas Houcken Allen Soden Global Management Team The Global Management Team forms the second-tier of our governance structure and is comprised of more than 30 members worldwide. The Global Management Team assists in developing and propelling company goals, strategies, and policies, and provides the link between senior management and the entire OPHARDT Hygiene team. Manufacturing Locations Beamsville, Canada Ballymote, Ireland Maaseik, Belgium Issum, Germany Niederbipp, Switzerland Yerevan, Armenia Cavite, Philippines Brands ingo-man® SanTRAL® PRAESIDIO® the untouchable™ NEPTUNE KX Series H3 Dispenser RX Series BTF Pump X10 Kanary® By region, in % Belgium 4 Canada 23 Germany 25 Ireland 15 Philippines 29 Switzerland 4 By gender, in % By age, in % Male 66 Female 34 <30 16 30-50 52 >50 32 550 Employees
7 STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT At OPHARDT Hygiene, we appreciate and benefit from the diversity of stakeholders to whom we are accountable. We consider stakeholder engagement an essential aspect of our corporate governance. As stakeholder expectations and the industry itself are constantly evolving, we maintain close ties with key stakeholders at all levels of our company, communicating on a regular basis through both formal and informal channels. These relationships assist us in shaping the way we do business–prioritizing the topics that matter most in our industry. Stakeholder Group Methods of Engagement Customers Understanding the current and future needs of our customers helps us to deliver sustainable value, building on our reputation, and increasing our sales Annual Sustainability Report Conferences and Forums Direct Contact via Sales and Customer Care Hygiene Hub Blog Monthly Newsletter Product Videos Semi-annual Newsletter Social Media Trade Shows Education and Research Organizations Working together with education and research organizations enables us to provide a more scientific approach to deliver the best possible hand hygiene opportunities. Collaborative Partnerships Conferences and Forums Direct Engagement Sponsorships Tradeshows Employees Engaging regularly strengthens our team and provides an opportunity to listen and provide feedback on individual needs, as well as on the overall direction of the company. Company-wide Intranet Consultations Direct Engagement Employee Engagement Surveys and Forums Info-point Boards Newsletters Training Townhall Meetings Governance and Regulatory Bodies Proactively engaging and consulting with our regulators supports us in preparing in advance for potential changes that will impact our business. Annual Sustainability Report Conferences and Forums Direct Engagement Industry Associations Stakeholder Group Methods of Engagement Healthcare Providers Through engaging and consulting with healthcare providers we can better understand their needs and support them in providing safer patient care through improved opportunities for hand hygiene. Collaborative Partnerships Compliance Campus Visits Conferences and Forums Direct Engagement Hygiene Hub Blog Monthly Newsletter Product Videos Support for Educational Activities Non-governmental Organizations Collaborating with a range of NGOs supports us in gaining a better understanding of the immediate and wider sustainability issues affecting our local communities and beyond. Direct Engagement Donations and Sponsorships In-kind Support and Volunteering Initiatives Joint Fundraising Events Partnerships Local Communities Engaging with our local communities is essential to understanding how we can better support the community and in maintaining our reputation as a safe and responsible neighbour. Collaborative Partnerships Direct Engagement Local Business Forums Volunteering and Fundraising Events Suppliers and Partners Working together with our supply chain partners helps us to identify and mitigate potential supply chain risks, as well as to improve resource efficiencies of our products and services. Annual Sustainability Report Collaborative Partnerships Direct Engagement Hygiene Hub Blog Monthly Newsletter Policy Statements Site Visits Supplier Audits
8 Aktion Saubere Hände (Action Clean Hands) Bundesverband Handschutz e.V. (National Association for Hand Protection) Deutsche Gesellschaft für Krankenhaushygiene e.V. (German Society for Hospital Hygiene) Gesellschaft für Hygiene und Mikrobiologie (Society for Hygiene and Microbiology) United Nations Sustainable Development Goals Verbund für Unternehmen & Familie e.V. (Network for Business & Family) World Health Organization: Private Organizations for Patient Safety (WHO POPS) KEY PARTNERSHIPS We strive to make socially and environmentally responsible contributions to our local communities and across the globe. We support and engage with a diverse group of local and international organizations. These organizations are helping making the world safer, healthier, more equitable, and more sustainable. Some of these organizations include:
OUR SUSTAINABLE VALUES We believe that the economy, environment and society are interconnected and interdependent. In pursuit of our company mission, to Break the Chain of Infection, we must also work toward preserving our natural environment, as human and environmental health go hand-in-hand. That’s why we’re continually working to improve our products and services, doing more with less. We strive to make meaningful contributions to a more sustainable, circular economy, built to benefit all. In working to deliver more sustainable value with each and every product delivered, we’ve defined three main sustainability goals: Improve health and well-being" At the very heart of our business is our commitment to improving the health and well-being of people around the world through infection prevention and improved hygiene.. Cultivate stronger communities We remain steadfast in our commitment to create a positive social impact in our local communities and around the world. Foster a thriving environment We are committed to being good environmental stewards and responsibly managing the environmental impact of our operations, delivering more with less.
10 IMPROVE HEALTHANDWELLBEING It is widely understood that hands are a main vector for the transmission of disease, with 80% of all communicable infections spread by the hands. These pathogens are transmitted not only through hand-to-hand contact, but also through frequently touched objects and surfaces, like door handles and rails. In medical and care facilities, as well as high-traffic public areas, the risk of infection is high. That’s why our team focuses on providing comprehensive hygiene solutions that support infection prevention and ultimately save lives. As in previous years, we employed our three-pronged approach, using product innovations, education & communication, and cross-industry collaboration to support us in achieving our goal of improving health and well-being through hand hygiene and in our company mission to Break the Chain of Infection. IMPROVE HEALTH AND WELL-BEING
11 PRODUCT INNOVATIONS Hygiene is an ever-evolving field that has changed dramatically over the past century. Breakthrough advancements have saved countless lives and improved the quality of life for many around the world. While significant strides have been made in improving health and well-being, there exist many persistent and emerging health issues related to hygiene. Continued innovation and collaboration among diverse stakeholder groups can help ensure well-being for everyone, at all ages. Our Approach Thorough hand hygiene supports health and well-being, and is an essential component of infection prevention and control. Raising the standard of hand hygiene can only be sustained when supported by innovative and reliable soap and sanitizer products. At OPHARDT Hygiene, we specialize in providing opportunities for hand hygiene for a wide range of settings and conditions, from public entrances, to heavily frequented public restrooms, to point-of-care solutions in medical facilities. Where there is a need for hand hygiene, we have a solution.
12 THE HAND HYGIENE REVOLUTION IS CALLED SMART FROM THE START In fall of 2023, OPHARDT reinforced its role as a key player in the hygiene market with the launch of a revolutionary concept called Smart From The Start. The Smart from the Start approach involves equipping every touchless hand sanitizer dispenser with a chip right from the factory stage. The Smart from the Start chip combines touchless function technology with intelligence technology for smart data collection on a single board. This dual-function chip enables dispenser activation, bottle weight monitoring and WiFi and Bluetooth connection. Users can subscribe to OPHARDT's monitoring software, Kanary, at any time, eliminating the need for retrofitting. Unlocking smart functions via Bluetooth is easy, requiring only a mobile device and the Kanary app. These efficiencies mean a lower cost for users, compared to offerings from other companies. A trio to start Smart From The Start has been integrated with the X10, KX, and RX touchless dispenser systems, offering design flexibility and customization to users. In addition, hygiene specialists can ensure conformance with criteria set out by the Commission for Hospital Hygiene and Infection Prevention, part of the Robert Koch Institute (KRINKO), with the Euro bottle format, available with the RX dispenser systems. Next Steps We are constantly working to optimize how users can evaluate data to support improved hand hygiene. We are expanding the Smart From The Start offering to include the ingo-man® brand, a key product line found in German-speaking hospitals and clinics. With the integrated Bluetooth function, up to 100 dispensers can be configured as smart devices per hour.” – Josh Geurts, Head of Software Development at OPHARDT Hygiene “The Smart from the Start concept represents a quantum leap in the mass adoption of smart hygiene solutions. By equipping every touch-free hygiene dispenser with smart features, we eliminate the need for additional investment in smart technologies and enable everyone to activate these features when and where it is right for them.” – Joel Ophardt, Global Marketing Manager at OPHARDT Hygiene
13 New 2.5 L ingo-man® dispenser For more than 50 years, the ingo-man® brand has stood for outstanding quality and innovative technologies. With the new 2.5 L IMP X Euro dispenser, we expand our offerings for hand hygiene in high-traffic areas. OPHARDT launches online shop OPHARDT has always stood for groundbreaking innovations and first-class technologies in the field of hygiene dispenser systems. Customers can now visit our online shop to view and purchase from our selected product portfolio. shop.ophardt.com Another Red Dot Award Win The PRAESIDIO Mini, led by Hendrik Ophardt, Mark Liu, and Patrick Stressler, was honored with the Red Dot Award 2023 for its design quality even before it was launched in the market. The disinfectant dispenser’s features include operability in various setups, maximized battery life, CleanTip technology, and parts composed of PCR plastics. Expanding the KX Brand The KX dispenser system, known for its ability to deliver flexibility to users, has further expanded its offerings with a new refill system. The new refill system is an economically attractive dispenser solution, featuring a pump with integrated PCR plastic and Clean-Tip technology. Expanding the SanTRAL® Plus lineup At our BRAIN Forum in June, we announced the expansion of the SanTRAL® Plus product portfolio to include a touchless toilet seat cleaner, a small volume 250 ml liquid dispenser in both manual and touchless, a cabinet-mounted version of our X10 platform, and a light-weight aluminum stand. OPHARDT honored for outstanding R&D The esteemed BSFZ seal was awarded to OPHARDT Hygiene by the Federal Ministry of Research and Education for exceptional work in research and development. The company’s R&D initiatives include the GeDeSens project, which involves detection of biological microparticle contamination for direct hand hygiene quality analysis. PRODUCT INNOVATIONS
14 COMMUNICATION & COLLABORATION Hand hygiene compliance is an increasingly important topic in healthcare settings. Low compliance rates can unnecessarily risk patient health, and also financially burden to healthcare facilities through the spread of infections. Alongside the right tools in the right places, education, communication, and cross-discipline collaboration are core components to promote hand hygiene. Our Approach For more than 50 years, our team has worked tirelessly to understand the current and emerging needs in the medical industry and beyond to better serve our customers and end-users. We continue to strengthen ties both within and beyond the hygiene and healthcare industries through collaborations with our business partners, medical-research institutions, and other key stakeholder groups. Each year, our team attends a variety of hygiene and healthcare related conferences, exhibitions, and trade shows. We also host our own forums, training sessions, and other events to provide additional opportunities for collaboration among key stakeholder groups. By bringing together a variety of groups working toward a common goal, we hope to stimulate discussions and foster new innovations to further elevate public health and well-being.
15 A FUTURISTIC BRAIN FORUM In mid June, people from around the world gathered in our German headquarters for two days of training, product updates, networking, and inspiration. During our annual BRAIN Forum on June 14th and 15th, OPHARDT Hygiene was pleased to host our partners to connect with them and showcase our latest technologies—and even share a sneak peak of what’s to come. Product updates included spotlighting on the PRAESIDIO® Mini, which won a Red Dot Award, honouring the best products, communication and design concepts from around the world; the expansion of the SanTRAL® Plus product line; the introduction of the Cloud Bottle; and an additional chrome finish option for OPHARDT’s hospitality dispenser. We presented a roadmap for our Kanary software, and our revolutionary Smart From The Start unified board design that unlocks updated capabilities for touchless dispensers. We were also able to showcase new technologies that we have been hard at work on, like our fuel cell-powered PRAESIDIO® and our floating droplet concept, where a droplet of sanitizer floats in the air, suspended by fans pumping out air, waiting for someone to grab it and disinfect their hands. On top of our exciting new product innovations, we heard from our CEO, Heiner Ophardt, as he shared about the future of hand hygiene, and Professor Nico Mutters, MD gave us an overview of the state of hygiene research. As a point of inspiration, European Space Agency (ESA) reserve astronaut Nicola Winter shared her story with us, drawing out lessons about teamwork from her time with the ESA and the German Armed Forces. To round out the fully filled days with keynote speakers, dinners, and product launches, we also hosted multiple training sessions, include the TÜV hygiene compliance course and English and German language Kanary training. We look forward to meeting together with our partners again in late Spring 2025, when we meet for the first time at our manufacturing location in the Niagara Region of Canada.
Kanary gains Soobr powers Kanary, a groundbreaking service provider for hygiene monitoring solutions, and Soobr, a state-of-the-art company for facility management services, are joining forces to connect Kanary-compatible dispensers with Soobr’s features through the Kanary cloud. Cooperation between B. Braun and OPHARDT Hygiene Under the motto, "Strengths become synergies", OPHARDT and B. Braun expand a decades long partnership the common goal of further improving hand hygiene compliance in the healthcare sector. Aktion Saubere Hände OPHARDT has been supporting the "Action Clean Hands" campaign since 2016. The national campaign works toward making sustainable improvements in hand disinfection compliance in German hospitals. Hygiene Hub We delve into our latest product innovations and explore the latest research, trends, and market developments relating to hand hygiene on our Hygiene Hub blog. OPHARDT Supports WHO POPS We have been a member of the World Health Organization Private Organizations for Patient Safety (WHO POPS) since 2015. We collaborate on approaches to improve hand hygiene in healthcare settings. COMMUNICATION & COLLABORATION Monthly Newsletter Each month, we publish an electronic newsletter, bringing the latest updates on hand hygiene and OPHARDT products to your fingertips.
17 CULTIVATE STRONGER COMMUNITIES As global markets grow and become increasingly interconnected, consumers are presented with more choices than ever before. With that, consumers’ expectation that companies conduct business in an ethical and responsible way has grown accordingly. At OPHARDT Hygiene, improving the lives of people around the world has always been at the core of our vision and mission. We remain steadfast in our commitment to positively impact the communities in which we live and work, and beyond. Our team works to cultivate stronger communities by focusing on those that are both local and global.
18 LOCAL COMMUNITIES Small and medium sized businesses are an essential part of local economies. They support economic development, create job opportunities, and have deeper, more enduring ties to the communities. The impact that small and medium sized businesses have on their local communities is often much greater than the economic benefits they appear to provide on the surface. Through close partnerships and collaboration with local organizations, small and medium sized businesses can help cultivate stronger, more vibrant communities. Our Approach We believe when companies and communities collaborate and engage with one another, they become stronger, more productive, and more resilient. Collaborating with local organizations focused on providing positive social impacts motivates us as a company, and as individuals. It helps us to engage and retain people who value making a positive impact for our business. Being part of a team that cares means that we can better people's lives where we live and around the world.
19 This year, we continued to build on our long history of supporting the local community at our Beamsville location in the heart of Canada's Niagara Region. On June 3, we organized our Third Annual Charity Golf Tournament in the nearby community of Wainfleet. About 50 participants, consisting of our colleagues and their families, came together on a sunny, warm day to play a great game for a great cause. Participants of all abilities were welcomed onto the field. The day was filled with a good spirit of competition. A raffle, door prizes, a food drive, and a putting contest rounding out the day’s activities. By the end of the fun-filled day, our team had surpassed the goal of raising $6,000 CAD. A grand total of $6,250 CAD was presented to a representative of the Niagara Chapter of Food4Kids. Since its founding in 2012, Food4Kids' mission is to provide healthy food for kids with at-risk, low-income or disadvantaged homes with limited or no access to food during weekends or during the summer months. This vital aid helps to fill the gap not covered by school nutrition programs. More than 4,000 children are supported at 254 local schools, 52 weeks a year. THIRD ANNUAL CHARITY GOLF TOURNAMENT $6,250 $
20 Supporting Niagara’s Youth Over the course of the year, we held different contests, challenges, lunches, and raffles to raise $2,195 CAD in support of the Grimsby branch of TheFort. Together with the funds raised during the Annual Golf Tournament, our team raised more than $8,400 CAD as part of our efforts to support the region’s kids and teens on a local scale. TheFort provides local youth with access to free supervised programs, food, reliable support, and priority access to crisis intervention resources across the Niagara Region, since its founding in 2001. Connecting with Issum’s Kindergartens Each year, colleagues at our Issum location connect with the local kindergartens, often hosting ‘Kindergartenfest’, in honour of Elisabeth Ophardt. Elisabeth is the late wife of founder Hermann Ophardt, who contributed greatly to the establishment of our company. Early education was a topic close to heart for Elisabeth, who was a founding member of a sponsoring association that established the Krütpasch kindergarten in 1992. In June this year, the team donated 83 bags of goodies for the children, including ABC games to support learning and coloured soaps to encourage handwashing. LOCAL COMMUNITIES OPHARDT Supports Apprenticeships At OPHARDT, we work to strengthen local communities by investing in our youth. We offer learning and development opportunities cooperative placements and apprenticeships. We also support placements for students with different abilities. In 2023, more than 20 placements were supported globally. Christmas decorating contest
21 GLOBAL COMMUNITIES The need for businesses to make a positive impact in society has become increasingly important in recent years. In our global, interconnected world, companies are expected to not only create and sustain economic growth and development, but also to make worthwhile contributions in the communities in which they operate and beyond. Today‘s global consumers are concerned not only with which goods and services they purchase, but also how and by whom those goods and services are produced. Our Approach At OPHARDT Hygiene, we are building on a long tradition of engaging with local and global communities to create positive social impacts. Providing access to life-saving infection prevention tools is the very heart of our business. We are committed to doing our part to improve people’s lives on a global scale. In addition to supporting infection prevention and control, we seek to continuously better our understanding of the wider impacts our business operations have on the global community. Our business contributes to the economic well-being of the communities in which we live and work, supporting our communities through employment, education, and training opportunities, as well as through support of organizations working to make positive contributions to people’s lives.
22 In collaboration with the Zomba-Hospital-Projekt e.V., OPHARDT Hygiene supported one of the largest hospitals in the East African country of Malawi to improve access to life-saving hand hygiene equipment. As part of a non-profit project, Zomba-Hospital-Projekt e.V., has been producing alcohol-based hand sanitizer and distributing the sanitizer to one of Malawi’s central hospitals. Project leader Dr. G. E. Jung, MD, is working to improve access to hand hygiene and provide safer patient care: "Relatively expensive alcoholic hand disinfectant has not been available until now. As part of a non-profit project, our association has been producing and distributing cost-effective alcoholic hand disinfectant according to the WHO formula at one of Malawi’s central hospitals since September 2023.” OPHARDT SUPPORTS HOSPITAL IN MALAWI As part of our commitment to improving global access to hand hygiene, OPHARDT donated 60 high-quality ingo-man® dispensers, which are now installed at the hospital. “From the use of these quality dispensers, we expect a possibly long lifespan in the context of high stress and limited maintenance possibilities,” said Dr. Jung. For more information about the project, including ways to donate, please visit Zombaprojekt.de
23 RESPONSIBILITY e.V. is a non-profit organization founded by a group of OPHARDT Hygiene employees in 2016. The RESPONSIBILITY Club's mission is to elevate health and well-being in underdeveloped communities around the world. This means promoting good hygiene, cultivating infection prevention, and providing much-needed equipment for facilities like hospitals, retirement homes, or schools. Improving access to these life-saving tools is a fundamental step toward fostering a better world for all. In 2023, the RESPONSIBILITY Club successfully raised approximately 2,500 CHF in support of non-profits around the world. Hygiene Infrastructure Construction, Nepal IIn June 2023, RESPONSIBILITY e.V. donated 2,500 CHF to SOS Children's Village Switzerland (SOS Kinderdorf Schweiz) to support hygiene in schools in the Bharatpur Region in Nepal. The funding will go toward the reconstruction of toilets and water pipes in public schools lacking adequate hygiene infrastructure. Expansion of RESPONSIBILITY e.V. On November 14, the RESPONSIBILITY Club opened a new chapter. RESPONSIBILITY Switzerland's main goal is to support the projects of RESPONSIBILITY e.V. and expand the eligible donor base, working to support hygiene improvement projects around the world. GLOBAL COMMUNITIES
24 Human and environmental health goes hand-in-hand. To achieve our company mission to Break the Chain of Infection and improve health and well-being around the world, we must also be good environmental stewards. We strive to responsibly manage the impact of our operations and to improve environmental performance. To do this, we actively support and promote programs that lead to greater resource efficiency and contribute to a more sustainable, circular economy. We’ve outlined a three-pronged approach, focussing on sustainable product design, resource efficiency in our operations, and environmental stewardship to support us in achieving our goal to foster a thriving environment. FOSTER A THRIVING ENVIRONMENT
25 Located on the Belgian/Dutch boarder, next to theMaas River, our Belgianmanufacturing plant has been a leader in driving operational efficiencies within OPHARDT. With the threat of a continued hike in energy prices in Europe, our Belgian team placed an even greater emphasis on energy efficiencies throughout the plant. Spanning from the end of 2022 to spring 2023, the team doubled down on efforts to reduce gas and electricity consumption. Natural gas is used for heating both the plant and our anodizing line. This presented us with a variety of opportunities for reduction efforts. Renovations on the roof led to reductions in gas consumption for heating the building. By implementing bath lids and making modifications to process controls and chemicals also led to reductions in electricity and gas consumption on the anodizing line. Together, these improvements have enabled the team to achieve an approximate 30% increase in efficiency regarding natural gas consumption compared to previous years, taking production values into account. In addition to the electricity and natural gas efficiency initiatives, the team also implemented water efficiency initiatives during this time. The team has successfully implemented a rainwater collection system to allow for rainwater to be used in the toilets. Together with decreases in evaporation through implementing bath lids in the anodizing line, we were able to achieve an approximate increase in water consumption efficiency by 50%. Improvement is ongoing at the plant, with additional plans for efficiency gains on the horizon. EFFICIENCY GAINS IN MAASEIK 50% WATER CONSUMPTION EFFICIENCY
26 Transitioning toward a more sustainable, circular economy is a critical shift we must make for future generations. It involves building an economy that is both restorative and regenerative, where all waste is minimized. This transition will impact not only the way products are designed and used but also the way they are processed at end of life. In a circular economy, product life spans are extended with reuse, repair, redistribution, remanufacture, and refurbishment playing a key role. Designing products in such a way that they can more easily contribute to closed material loops can enable us to reduce the generation of waste, while at the same time reducing dependence on primary resource extraction and imports of raw materials. Our Approach We are committed to using the resources we consume responsibly and are working toward making meaningful contributions toward a circular economy. For us, this begins with sustainable product design. Since the founding of our company, our reputation has been built on innovative, high quality, and long-lasting products. We use robust materials with classic designs to give our products a timeless appeal. Integrating recycled materials into our products helps us to keep valuable resources in the economy longer. Ensuring our products are recyclable at end of useful product life means that the materials we use can be incorporated once again into new products. As we move toward a more sustainable future, we are working to include further tenants of circular design into our product development process. SUSTAINABLE PRODUCT DESIGN
27 Post-consumer recycled resins (PCR) are materials made from plastic waste that has already been used by consumers, offering a sustainable alternative to virgin plastics. By recycling products like bottles and packaging, PCR resins reduce plastic pollution, conserve resources, and support the circular economy. The Ellen MacArthur Foundation highlights that using recycled plastics, including PCR, is vital for lowering dependence on fossil fuels and mitigating environmental impacts (2020) 1. Increasingly, governments and businesses are supporting PCR use through policies and sustainability commitments. The European Union, for example, aims to make all packaging recyclable or reusable by 2030 2 (European Commission, 2018). While challenges like quality variability and the need for improved recycling technologies remain, PCR resins are key to transitioning to a sustainable, circular economy. This year, we continued to progress with PCR resin integration into our products, trialing new materials and building out our portfolio of existing recycled materials. In 2023, we integrated more than 16,000 kilograms (about twice the weight of a school bus) of recycled plastics in the manufacture of our pumps and other small plastic components. In one year, we doubled the volume of recycled resins, integrating approximately 8,000 kilograms in 2022. Using more recycled resins in our products unlocks a significant decrease in carbon emissions as compared to virgin plastic resins, with estimates ranging from 50-85% carbon reduction.3 POST-CONSUMER RECYCLED PLASTICS IN OPERATION 1 Ellen MacArthur Foundation. (2020). The New Plastics Economy: Rethinking the future of plastics. 2 European Commission. (2018). Circular Economy Action Plan. 3 TONINI, D., GARCIA-GUTIERREZ, P., & NESSI, S. (2021). Environmental effects of plastic waste recycling. JRC Publications Repository. +16,000 kg
28 New stud welding system unlocks efficiencies Integrating an automated welding system at our manufacturing plant in Issum, Germany, will ensure significant time savings and improve visual consistencies in our stainless steel dispensers and bins. Additional investments will further optimize production processes in the near future. Introduction of the Cloud bottle With small businesses, restaurants, and homes in mind, OPHARDT took on the challenge of creating a bottle that would be compatible with the company’s foam pumps. Taking into account design constraints like 100% post-consumer recycled (PCR) plastic, the Euro bottle standard, robustness, as well as aesthetics, OPHARDT came out with the Cloud Bottle. This bottle, which has recycling as a core feature, this year. SUSTAINABLE PRODUCT DESIGN Expansion of X10 line This year we expanded our offerings of high-performance X10 pumps to include a grit pump. Capable of reliably dosing of grit, this pump is metal-free for improved recyclability, and manufactured using post-consumer recycled materials collected mainly from residential recycling programs.
29 Over the next 30 years, the global population is expected to exceed nine billion people, creatinggreater demand for energy, intensifyingpressureonwater resources, and generating a growing amount of emissions and waste. Energy derived from fossil fuels plays a key role in the release of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions— a leading contributor to global warming and climate change. Our changing climate is expected to bring with it altered precipitation patterns, exacerbating water scarcity in some regions, and intensifying flooding in other regions around the globe. With a growing population and developing nations working to achieve the industry and infrastructure of developed nations, we must all work toward transitioning to a low-carbon, circular economy, capable of meeting today’s demands, as well as those in the future. Our Approach At OPHARDT Hygiene, we are continuously working to strengthen resource efficiencies and limit waste and emissions within our operations. We are investing in more efficient technologies as they become available and are rethinking the way we design and manufacture our products to minimize waste. We prioritize efficiency and conservation initiatives relating to energy and water use, support projects that favour increased reliance on renewable energy, and are taking action to ensure our distribution channels and suppliers produce fewer GHG emissions. RESOURCE EFFICIENCY IN OPERATIONS
30 *All emissions are calculated using the IPCC’s median lifecycle emissions of energy sources, including albedo effect, based on a 100-year timeframe17 and the IPCC’s Guidelines for National Greenhouse Gas Inventories (unless otherwise stated) Emissions (metric tonnes of CO2e)* Scope 1 860 tCO2e Scope 2 779 tCO2e RESOURCE EFFICIENCY IN OPERATIONS Non-hazardous waste (t): Reuse 7 Recycling 285 Composting 8 Recovery (incl. energy recovery) 22 Incineration 7 Landfill 27 Products Aluminum 74 Stainless Steel 397 Other Metals 5 PE Plastics 342 PP Plastics 584 ABS Plastic 221 Other Plastics 197 Packaging Cardboard 277 Paper 8 PE Plastics 18 Other Plastics <1 Total, company-wide emissions: 1,639t CO2e* Total water withdrawal: 5,589 m³ Total process water discharge: 653 m3 (579 m3 treated off-site, 74 m3 discharged to sewers) Company-wide energy consumption, from all sources: 34,760 GJ 58% Purchased Electricity 25% Natural Gas 1% Propane 2% Gasoline 7% Diesel <1% Kerosene 2% OPHARDT Solar 5% Wood Pellets Material usage, by weight (t) Hazardous waste (t) Recycling 34 Recovery (incl. energy recovery) 20 Incineration <1 Landfill 13
31 The OPHARDT Hygiene Group of Companies (OPHARDT Hygiene) is dedicated to conducting business in a responsible and sustainable manner. Being socially responsible is key to our company’s long-term success, and a central value we are committed to providing our customers. As human and environmental health go hand-in-hand, we are also committed to minimizing the environmental impact of our operations. Through our reporting, we aim to keep our stakeholders informed on how we continue to create long-term sustainable value. As in previous years, we have adopted the GRI standards framework in providing an overview of our operations and initiatives. GRI is an internationally recognized, independent organization that helps businesses, governments and other organizations understand and communicate the impact of business on critical sustainability issues. GRI provides the world’s most widely used standards on sustainability reporting and disclosures. For a full list of GRI disclosures and their locations throughout this report, please refer to our GRI Content Index beginning on page 32. This publication is our seventh annual sustainability report. All information contained in this report is based on performance metrics for the 2023 calendar year (January 1 - December 31, 2023), and covers worldwide OPHARDT Hygiene manufacturing locations, including Germany, Canada, Belgium, Ireland, Switzerland and the Philippines, unless otherwise stated. As part of our ongoing commitment to stakeholder engagement, we welcome your feedback. Please share your thoughts by contacting us at sustainability@ophardt.com. ABOUT THIS REPORT
32 GRI CONTENT INDEX This material references Disclosures 102-1 – 102-7, 102-12 – 102-14, 102-16, 102-18, 102-40, 102-42, 102-43, 102-45 – 102-53, and 102-55 – 102-56 from GRI 102: Organizational Profile 2016; Disclosures 301-1 – 301-2 from GRI 301: Materials 2016; Disclosures 302-1 and 302-2 from GRI 302: Energy 2016; Disclosures 303-1 and 303-3 from GRI 303: Water 2016; Disclosures 305-1 and 305-2 from GRI 305 Emissions 2016; Disclosures 306-1 – 306-3 from GRI 306: Effluents and Waste 2016; Disclosure 307-1 from GRI 307: Environmental Compliance 2016; Disclosure 401-1 from GRI 401: Employment 2016; and Disclosure 406-1 from GRI 406: Non-discrimination 2016. For more information on the Global Reporting Initiative, visit www.globalreporting.org/Pages/default.aspx. GRI STANDARD NUMBER GRI STANDARD 2016 TITLE DISCLOSURE NUMBER DISCLOSURE TITLE LOCATION EXPLANATION/ REASON FOR OMISSION Organizational profile GRI 102 General Disclosures 102-1 Name of the organization OPHARDT Hygiene Our manufacturing and administrative facilities are collectively referred to as the OPHARDT Hygiene Group of Companies, or OPHARDT Hygiene for short. GRI 102 General Disclosures 102-2 Activities, brands, products and services GRI 102 General Disclosures 102-3 Location of headquarters Our founding site is in Issum, Germany. GRI 102 General Disclosures 102-4 Location of operations GRI 102 General Disclosures 102-5 Ownership and legal form GRI 102 General Disclosures 102-6 Markets served GRI 102 General Disclosures 102-7 Scale of the organization As a privately-held company, we choose not to publish data on financial performance. GRI 102 General Disclosures 102-12 External initiatives GRI 102 General Disclosures 102-13 Membership associations Cross-industry Collaboration Cross-industry Collaboration Key Partnerships Key Partnerships OPHARDT Hygiene at a Glance Company Profile Company Profile Company Profile Company Profile Company Profile
33 GRI STANDARD NUMBER GRI STANDARD 2016 TITLE DISCLOSURE NUMBER DISCLOSURE TITLE LOCATION EXPLANATION/ REASON FOR OMISSION Strategy GRI 102 General Disclosures 102-14 Statement from senior decision-maker Letter from the CEO Ethics and integrity GRI 102 General Disclosures 102-16 Values, principles, standards, and norms of behaviour A copy of our Code of Ethics and Business Conduct can be found on our website: www.ophardt.com Governance GRI 102 General Disclosures 102-18 Governance structure Stakeholder engagement GRI 102 General Disclosures 102-40 List of stakeholder groups GRI 102 General Disclosures 102-42 Identifying and selecting stakeholders We are accountable to a diversity of stakeholder groups. The groups included in this report represent the range of material topics that inform our business strategies. GRI 102 General Disclosures 102-43 Approach to stakeholder engagement Reporting practice GRI 102 General Disclosures 102-45 Entities included in the consolidated financial statement As a privately-held company, we choose not to publish data on financial performance. GRI 102 General Disclosures 102-46 Defining report content and topic Boundaries See each material topic for details. GRI 102 General Disclosures 102-47 List of material topics Included throughout the report. GRI 102 General Disclosures 102-48 Restatements of information There are no restatements of information for this reporting period. GRI 102 General Disclosures 102-49 Changes in reporting GRI 102 General Disclosures 102-50 Reporting period January 1, 2023 – December 31, 2023 GRI 102 General Disclosures 102-51 Date of most recent report 2022 Sustainability Report GRI 102 General Disclosures 102-52 Reporting cycle Annual GRI 102 General Disclosures 102-53 Contact point for questions regarding the report sustainability@ophardt.com GRI 102 General Disclosures 102-55 GRI content index GRI content index GRI 102 General Disclosures 102-56 External assurance The content of this report has not been externally assured. Stakeholder Engagement Stakeholder Engagement Cross-industry Collaboration OPHARDT Hygiene at a Glance Company Profile
34 GRI STANDARD NUMBER GRI STANDARD 2016 TITLE DISCLOSURE NUMBER DISCLOSURE TITLE LOCATION EXPLANATION/ REASON FOR OMISSION Social Topics GRI 406 Non-discrimination 406-1 Incidents of discrimination and corrective actions taken There are no incidents of discrimination to report in this reporting period. Environmental Topics GRI 307 Environmental Compliance 306-1 Non-compliance with environmental laws and regulations There are no non-compliance with environmental laws and regulations to report in this reporting period. Material Aspect: Product Innovations GRI 103 Management Approach 103-1 Explanation of the material topic and its Boundary Material Aspect: Communication & Collaboration GRI 103 Management Approach 102-1 Explanation of the material topic and its Boundary Material Aspect: Local Communities GRI 103 Management Approach 103-1 Explanation of the material topic and its Boundary Local Communities Material Aspect: Global Community GRI 103 Management Approach 103-1 Explanation of the material topic and its Boundary Material Aspect: Sustainable Product Design GRI 103 Management Approach 103-1 Explanation of the material topic and its Boundary Sustainable Product Design GRI 301 Materials 301-1 Materials used by weight or volume GRI 301 Materials 301-2 Recycled input materials used Sustainable Product Design Product Innovations Communication & Collaboration Global Communities Global Communities Resource Efficiency in Operations
35 GRI STANDARD NUMBER GRI STANDARD 2016 TITLE DISCLOSURE NUMBER DISCLOSURE TITLE LOCATION EXPLANATION/ REASON FOR OMISSION Material Aspect: Resource Efficiency in Operations GRI 103 Management Approach 102-40 Explanation of the material topic and its Boundary Resource Efficiency in Operations GRI 302 Energy 302-1 Energy consumption within the organization GRI 302 Energy 302-2 Energy consumption outside of the organization GRI 305 Emissions 305-1 Direct (Scope 1) GHG emissions GRI 305 Emissions 305-2 Energy indirect (Scope 2) GHG emissions GRI 303 Water and Effluents (2018) 301-1 Water withdrawal GRI 303 Water and Effluents (2018) 303-4a Water discharge GRI 306 Effluents and Waste 306-2 Waste by type and disposal method GRI 306 Effluents and Waste 306-3 Significant spills There are no significant spills to report in this reporting period. Resource Efficiency in Operations Resource Efficiency in Operations Resource Efficiency in Operations Resource Efficiency in Operations Resource Efficiency in Operations Resource Efficiency in Operations Resource Efficiency in Operations Resource Efficiency in Operations
36 Publisher OPHARDT HYGIENE-TECHNIK GmbH Lindenau 27 47661 Issum Germany Sustainability Contact Thank you for your interest in this report. We welcome your feedback, suggestions and inquiries. Tel.: +49 (0) 2835 18-10 Fax.:+49 (0) 2835 18-77 E-mail: sustainability@ophardt.com Editorial work and coordination Jessica Hunt Graphics, design and typesetting Victoria Ludigkeit Image Credits Adobe Stock, Istock Photo, Fotolia, Samuel Houcken Photography Publication date of this report December 20, 2024 For further information on our social and environmental performance, please visit our website: https://www.ophardt.com/en/sustainability COMPANY INFORMATION OPHARDT Hygiene | LinkedIn https://www.youtube.com/user/OphardtHygieneTech @ophardthygiene Note regarding information and forward-looking statements included in this report This report has been published for information purposes only. The Group may have issued, and may in the future issue, other communications that are inconsistent with, and reach different conclusions from, the information presented herein. Those communications reflect the assumptions, views, and analytical methods of the persons that prepared them, and have been estimated using the best available data at the time the communication was published. This report contains information on the Group’s objectives and trends for growth based on information currently available to the organization. Forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of the future tense, conditional, or of forward-looking terms, such as “anticipate”, “believe”, “estimate”, “will”, “may”, “consider”, “plan”, “intend”, “expect”, “think”, “aim”, “project”, or other variations or terms with similar meaning. This information should not be considered as a guarantee that the prospects and objectives described will be achieved. These statements are based on data, assumptions and estimates considered reasonable by the Group as of the date of this report publication. They may be affected by known or unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which might impact future results, performances and achievements of the Group in a way that is significantly different from the objectives described herein. This information might therefore change due to uncertainties relating notably to the economic, financial, competitive and regulatory environment, or other risks or circumstances. The information contained in this report reflects our beliefs, assumptions, intentions, plans and expectations as of the date of this report. All forwardlooking statements contained in this document are qualified in their entirety by this cautionary note. OPHARDT Hygiene in Social media
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