Debrecen4U
March 5, 2026
Schaeffler Announces Major New Environmental Commitments
In accordance with the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD), the Schaeffler Group has presented its sustainability statement for the second time as an integral part of its annual report. In this document, the company records its sustainability performance and how it has updated its ESG strategy in line with the new conditions following the acquisition of Vitesco. In the future, the 2025 reporting year will serve as the baseline for defining Schaeffler’s decarbonisation targets.
Klaus Rosenfeld, Chief Executive Officer of the Schaeffler Group, said: “Following the successful merger with Vitesco, we have continuously and proactively renewed our ESG strategy and aligned our climate targets with the new conditions. As in previous years, we intend to have our targets validated by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi). In doing so, we emphasise that sustainability continues to be of strategic importance for Schaeffler.”
Anja Rivera, Head of Strategic Sustainability at Schaeffler, added: “Our renewed commitment to the SBTi demonstrates that we consistently align our climate targets with scientific standards and actively shape change in order to secure a sustainable, competitive future – for our company, our customers and society.”
For Schaeffler, the 2025 reporting year continued to be defined by the integration of Vitesco, a leading international provider of solutions in the field of e-mobility, and by the targeted adjustment of the Group’s ESG strategy resulting from this integration.
The new framework includes five focus areas with a total of 20 strategic key performance indicators:
Advancing climate action towards net-zero emissions
Transition to a circular economy
Protecting human rights and working conditions
Developing employees for a sustainable future
Ensuring integrity in decision-making
The central theme of the action area “Advancing climate action towards net-zero emissions” is the systematic reduction of greenhouse gas emissions both in our own operations and across the entire value chain. In this context, reducing fossil energy sources and expanding renewable energy play a particularly important role. For example, by 2030, 70 per cent of the electricity used in the supply chain must come from renewable sources, cumulative energy savings of 150 GWh per year must be achieved, and the installation of 140 MWp of direct renewable energy generation capacity must be realised.
Within the action area “Transition to a circular economy”, Schaeffler focuses on resource-efficient manufacturing methods and integrates the principles of the circular economy into processes and products.
A clear objective is to reduce the proportion of non-recyclable waste to a maximum of 6 per cent by 2030, achieve cumulative savings of 750,000 cubic metres in freshwater consumption, and increase the share of secondary raw materials to 35 per cent.
Through comprehensive programmes aimed at protecting human rights and promoting safe working conditions – “Protecting human rights and working conditions” – Schaeffler demonstrates its commitment to fairness as well as to occupational safety and health protection. By 2030, at least 95 per cent of the company’s employees must participate in mandatory human rights training, and the accident rate (the proportion of accidents resulting in lost working time) must not reach 1.0.
The fourth focus area, “Developing employees for a sustainable future”, centres on employee education and training, as well as promoting diversity and an inclusive culture. By 2030, at least 25 per cent of leadership positions at Schaeffler must be held by women, and a training participation rate of 85 per cent must be achieved.
Reliable and transparent ESG-oriented decision-making structures are central pillars of Schaeffler’s corporate governance. The action area “Ensuring integrity in decision-making” therefore focuses on compliance, whistleblowing and optimising ESG rating performance. By 2030, 95 per cent of employees must receive the necessary training on relevant topics, and at least 90 per cent of all reports of misconduct must be processed without delay.
Selected indicators influence the annual performance-based remuneration of members of the Executive Board, managers and eligible employees. By improving waste efficiency, reducing the proportion of non-recyclable waste to 8.3 per cent, and implementing key qualification measures, new decisive short-term bonus targets were achieved in the 2025 reporting year. In 2026, a new bonus-related indicator will also be introduced as a KPI, providing an even more effective tool for increasing employee motivation and long-term commitment.
The annual report can be viewed at this link, with the sustainability statement beginning on page 40.
Source and photo credit: dehir.hu
