Sustainability as a commitment and an opportunity

Sustainable solutions and technologies from the Wirtgen Group

On the right track

Sustainable solutions and technologies are already firmly anchored in all corporate processes of the Wirtgen Group.

We have a vision: The future of road construction must be made smarter and safer and, above all, must maintain a consistent focus on sustainability. This is the reason why sustainability is a guiding principle for all Wirtgen Group product brands and determines their actions in all areas of the company. We have set ourselves clear and ambitious goals in our commitment to addressing and overcoming the ecological and economic challenges this involves. We focus intensely on the conservation of valuable resources and the reduction of harmful emissions in the design and construction of our machines and during their work on construction sites around the globe, and thus make an important contribution to the achievement of a sustainable road construction process chain.

Clearly defined goals: The reduction of CO₂e emissions on the basis of internationally recognised standards

The Greenhouse Gas Protocol (GHG)

We have set ourselves the goal of reducing our CO₂e emissions in three key areas (so-called scopes) in line with the internationally recognised standards of the Greenhouse Gas Protocol, in short, the GHG Protocol. In the course of this, we determine, closely observe and analyse all emissions, both direct and indirect, arising at each point along the value chain.

The GHG Protocol is subdivided into three areas known as ‘scopes’, each of which relates to a specific area responsible for the generation of emissions. This standard serves as an aid to the determination of our carbon footprint.

Our goals for 2030

Scope 1: (by 2026) Reduction of CO₂e emissions in all areas of the company group by 50%.
Scope 2: (by 2026) Reduction of bought-in energy related CO₂e emissions by 50%.
Scope 3: (by 2030) Reduction of CO₂e emissions in all upstream and downstream processes by 30%.

Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi)

Our parent company, John Deere, has had the effectiveness of its envisaged targets assessed and validated on the basis of the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi). The initiative assesses the emission reduction targets of its members on the basis of the latest insights in the field of climate science. The achievement of our corporate targets means that we, as a company, can make an effective contribution to the realisation of the goals of the Paris Agreement on Climate Change. One hundred of the companies listed in the Fortune 500 have already joined the Science Based Targets initiative.

We concentrate on three fields of action

In our efforts to achieve our planned sustainability goals, we concentrate on three fields of action:

Operations
Machine efficiency
Production Systems

Field 1: Operations

Operations covers all activities and processes in our factories. Our brand headquarters in Germany and the local production facilities in Brazil, China and India are among the most advanced of their kind and are already committed to working efficiently and conserving valuable resources. A good track record so far, but no reason to rest on our laurels. By 2024, we will realise ISO 14001 certification at all Wirtgen Group factories and initiate numerous other individual measures for sustainable production, up to and including the installation of photovoltaic power generation systems.

What is the ISO 14001 standard for environmental management systems?

Launched in 1996, ISO 14001 has since become established as an internationally recognised standard for the certification of environmental management systems. Its overarching objectives are to promote environmental protection, reduce negative impact on the environment and implement environmental goals in full compliance with economic, social and political needs.

Source: TÜV SÜD

Field 2: Machine efficiency

The efficiency of our machines plays an essential role in the successful and competitively viable realisation of our customers’ projects. This is why we attach great importance to the continuous improvement of our products and the development of technical solutions that are not only innovative, but also particularly sustainable.

These include, for example, not only the reduction of fuel and material consumption and wear, but also the use of fuels from renewable sources (HVO) or the ability to use alternative fuels such as wood dust and Biomass to Liquid (BtL) in asphalt mixing plants.

At the same time, we continue to press ahead with the electrification of our machines. Today, we already offer our customers a choice of 8 Hamm rollers and 2 Vögele road pavers with battery-electric drive systems. A number of impact crusher models from Kleemann can also be operated exclusively by electric power from an external power grid. Demands for local zero-emission operations on construction sites are increasing, above all in the case of projects in urban settings. Today, our machines are already able to fulfil such demands.

Tandem rollers from Hamm:

Hamm has already made a start in the electric construction machine segment with a choice of eight electrified tandem rollers.

Mini pavers from Vögele

The new battery-electric MINI 500e and MINI 502e Mini Class road pavers from Vögele are the ideal choice for local zero-emission asphalt paving projects.

Impact Crushers from Kleemann

The MOBIREX MR 130(i) PRO impact crusher with the E-DRIVE drive concept and an external electric power supply option.

Field 3: Production Systems

We take a holistic view of the road construction process chain and, with our Production Systems, offer efficient and sustainable end-to-end solutions that enable a significant reduction of harmful emissions. Our Production Systems use more recycling materials, alternative fuels and combustibles and, depending on the specific application, can also reduce site logistics requirements to the bare necessities. For our customers, this results in the optimisation of their carbon footprint and the certainty of contributing to more sustainability in the road construction process chain.

CO₂e-neutral fuels

The new EVO JET burners from Benninghoven enable reliable use of renewable, and therefore sustainable, energy sources such as Biomass to Liquid (BtL) or wood dust.

Especially resource-friendly

In-place cold recycling enables 100% recycling and re-use of the pavement material removed in a single pass.

The way ahead – digitalisation

Digital technologies increase and assure sustainable performance of our machines. This is why this issue is an integral component of all product developments and, in view of the cost-efficiency of our Production Systems, is also an enormously important factor for our customers. The combination of the considerable progress we have already made in the digitalisation of individual machines and future connectivity across entire construction sites will enable our customers to further increase their efficiency and promote more sustainable project execution. In the future, the necessary connectivity will be provided by the long-established and field-proven John Deere Operations Center TM. We will soon be bringing you more on this subject.

The John Deere Operations Center.

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