Protecting the environment

The activities undertaken at the Group’s facilities includes a wide range of metal manufacturing processes such as:

• Cold-stamping of steel and aluminium
• Roll forming of steel and aluminium
• Assembly of metal components
• Welding
• Coating of metal components 
• Longitudinal and transversal cutting of steel
• Steel annealing in furnaces and through heat treatment

Such processes require the consumption of energy and water, and the use of chemicals and other materials, and the Group is aware of its responsibilities regarding the environmental impacts of its operations.  Protection of the environment through reduced consumption, protection of biodiversity and reduction of emissions of greenhouse gases are principles adopted by corporate management and all Group employees.  

The Group aims to carry out its activities in full compliance with current legislation and standards in every region and is committed to promote continuous improvement and prevention initiatives in its manufacturing processes to reduce negative environmental impacts and to optimize the use of resources.

To this end:

• all Group plants are required to monitor and reach the annual improvement goals set for indicators related to emissions, energy consumption, waste, and water consumption.
• As of 31 December 2023, 90% of the Group's facilities have an ISO 14001:2015 certification, which is the most widely recognized environmental risk management standard in the automotive sector;

The Group recognises that in order to minimise the impact of the production of its products on the environment, it is important that environmental issues are integrated in the company's supply chain management, alongside other procurement considerations.   The Group’s purchasing department has therefore been increasing the requirements for suppliers to align with the Group on environmental issues, with the aim of including such requirements into its purchasing terms and conditions in the medium term.

Energy efficiency

In 2023, the Group’s energy consumption was about 1.11 million GJ. The Group is aware that environmental protection requires the optimization of energy use, and this can also be achieved through everyday actions carried out at the production facilities and offices. Plants are encouraged to introduce innovative technologies to reduce energy use and to have in place employee awareness programs and training on energy conservation.

The Group is carrying out a program to migrate towards energy contracts which are derived from green sources or sources which emit a low level of GHGs. About 39% of the Group’s electrical energy now comes from renewable or low GHG sources, and the Group is committed to continue this initiative as new opportunities arise.

Emissions management

Greenhouse gas emissions are the main cause of climate change and global warming. The Group is committed to work to limit the emissions output of its production plants, and to launch related initiatives that contribute to the European Union’s support of the Paris Agreement – which is to maintain the global temperature rise to a temperature 2°C (35.6°F) below pre-industrial levels.

In 2023 the Group’s direct and indirect CO2 amounted to 106,728 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent.

The Group promotes the use of compensation measures for its greenhouse gas emissions. For example, it promotes the creation of green spaces (trees, bushes, grass, and flowers) to increase carbon capture and sequestration, as well as to contribute to an increase in biodiversity in the areas close to the production facilities. As of 31 December 2023, CLN Group has planted the following number of trees:

• MW division – 7,514 trees accumulated
• MA division – 10,584 trees accumulated

Our target is to have planted 15,000 trees by 31 December 2030, including those planted from 1 January 2019, which was already achieved in 2023. 

The key focus for the Group going forward will be transparency regarding its carbon footprint and clear projects to reduce emissions, which are well aligned with the goals set by our customers.

Waste and pollution management

Steel is the main scrap material in manufacturing processes carried out at the Group plants. During 2023, the Group has re-sold about 280,000 metric tons of metals (steel and aluminium) destined for recycling with reputable third-party scrap merchants or steel producers.

The Group produces only small quantities of hazardous waste, which is always disposed of through properly licensed entities, and as such the main focus in the plants is on non-hazardous waste management. Our facilities are required to put in place processes and procedures to increase the percentage of recycled waste and to replace materials which cannot be easily recycled with those that can.  There are a wide range of waste management projects taking place in the individual facilities, and our central HSE department takes care to spread the best ideas across the Group, with a focus on the promotion of sustainable consumption.

The Group is also conscious of the impact of its activities on the local population, for example from emissions of dust and noise, accidental pollution and road congestion, and requires every plant to minimise such impacts to the lowest possible level through robust policies and procedures.

Water management

Metal manufacturing sites require the use and discharge of water in several processes. An uncontrolled management of water causes negative environmental impacts, such as the decrease in volumes of water available and the modification of natural ecosystems. Therefore, the optimization of water use by our factories and the management of discharges, are the key drivers for our operations together with use of alternative water sources.

In 2023 the Group has withdrawn 358,712 m3 of water from third-party water suppliers.

data source: CLN Corporate Social Responsibility Report 2023

Green Issue Portal

CLN has launched a Green Issue Portal which supports the Group’s Environmental Policy by providing a space where CLN employees can suggest ideas to make significant improvements in the environmental impact of our operations.

To encourage the sharing of ideas on the Portal, the person in each region submitting the best idea each year during the period from 1 July to 30 June will receive a prize from the Regional Leader.

The ideas that can be submitted through the Portal are new ideas that offer an opportunity to better tackle our objectives to reduce Greenhouse Gases, as follows:

• Reduction in the use of electrical energy
• Reduction in the use of gas
• Reduction in the use of petrol or diesel for transport
• Conversion of processes from those using gas to those using electricity
• Other idea to reduce greenhouse gas emissions such as CO2

There are two ways to submit ideas on the Portal.

The Portal is designed also to promote environmental actions that help CLN Group reduce its environmental impact in accordance with the United Nations Global Compact and its principles - which require companies to support a preventive approach to environmental challenges; to undertake initiatives that promote greater environmental responsibility; and to encourage the development and dissemination of technologies that respect the environment.

The initial objective of the Portal is to encourage ideas to reduce Greenhouse Gases. The issue of Greenhouse Gases has been chosen as the first topic for the Portal as CLN Group is committed to supporting the achievement of the goals of the Paris Agreement on climate change – and the challenge is huge. Our customers are also setting challenging targets to reduce Greenhouse Gases, and it is important that we support them. It has effectively become the main challenge for the automotive industry going forward.

The Committee will select the best idea based on:

• Alignment with the type of opportunity set out above
• Overall impact – for example based on an estimate by the plant of the amount of GHG saved by the idea
• Applicability of the idea (cost, technology, investments required etc)

A local EHS officer will be appointed to assist with the validation.

For more information please visit: https://greenissue.gruppocln.com

You can choose the language on the portal by clicking on the box in the top right corner.