Sustainability at Heraeus

Our approach focuses on the topics that matter most to our businesses and our stakeholders. 

Our materials and solutions are used across a wide range of industries, including electromobility, renewable energy and healthcare. In specific applications, they can contribute to more efficient processes, more effective use of resources and improved patient outcomes. 

At the same time, producing these materials requires energy and resources. We therefore also work to reduce the impacts across our operations and value chain where we can. 

Within our own operations, we continue to strengthen how we address environmental, social and governance topics through Group-wide policies, management systems and defined responsibilities. This helps us work consistently across the Group, meet evolving expectations and continuously improve the way we operate.

We participate in the United Nations Global Compact, a voluntary initiative for responsible business practices. The Ten Principles provide a common reference point for the continued development of our policies and business practices. 

On climate, we have also set near-term targets to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. These targets were developed with reference to the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) framework in place at the time. Since then, SBTi has updated its framework, and we are currently evaluating whether and how to reviewing to update our targets accordingly.  

Our Sustainability Report 2025 provides further information on our policies, targets and performance. 

For all the details, see the report:

Climate

Reducing greenhouse gas emissions is an important part of how we operate responsibly as a global technology company. 

In 2024, we set near-term targets to reduce our greenhouse emissions, using 2021 as baseline. We aim to reduce our Scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas emissions by 42% by 2030 and our Scope 3 greenhouse gas emissions by 37.5% by 2035. The targets were developed with reference to the SBTi framework in place at the time. Since then, SBTi has updated its framework, and we are currently evaluating whether and how to reviewing to update our targets accordingly. 

Most of our greenhouse gas emissions occur across our value chain, making Scope 3 an important focus of our climate approach. We also aim to source at least 50% of our global electricity consumption from renewable sources by 2030. 

Further details are available in our Sustainability Report and Corporate Climate Policy.

Human rights and responsible supply chains

As a family-owned company with 365 years of history, we are committed to operate in line with applicable legal requirements and respect for internationally recognized human rights. We at Heraeus are committed to treating our employees, including temporary and migrant workers and employees in other employment relationships, with dignity and respect.  

We also expect our business partners, especially our suppliers, to uphold these same standards. Our expectations of suppliers are set forth in the Heraeus Supply Chain Due Diligence Policy and the Heraeus Code of Conduct for Suppliers. 

Health and Safety

Providing a healthy and safe working environment stands as a high priority and a fundamental responsibility within our organization. 

Our Global EHS Policy and the Heraeus Code of Conduct guide our approach to health and safety, reflecting the importance we place on the well-being of our workforce. We focus on three areas: complying with applicable requirements, strengthening a safety-conscious culture, and continuously improving our performance. 

Through our health and safety training programs, we raise awareness and encourage safe and healthy behavior in the workplace. We have established clear targets, including reducing our Lost Time Incident Rate (LTIR) to below 2 by 2030. We also aim to have 90% of our own workforce covered by our internal EHS management system requirements by 2030, supporting our long-term aspiration of zero work-related health incidents.

Diverse and inclusive corporate culture

Fostering diversity of thought, ensuring equal access to opportunity and promoting an inclusive corporate culture are strategically integral parts of the Heraeus Principles. 

It is important to us to create an appreciative, open and respectful work environment where all employees can contribute and feel like they belong. We are convinced that this is the best way to unleash the full potential of all employees and teams. 

Unlocking the power of our diverse teams is a leadership topic. Thus, we place special emphasis on training our leaders and intercultural teams to value different perspectives and foster respectful communication within a culture of psychological safety. By creating a safe, inclusive environment, we lay the foundation for positive working relationships. We champion inclusion, treat each other with respect, and encourage open dialogue and employee listening supported by annual engagement surveys. 

For us, diversity of thought is a business-critical topic: embracing diverse perspectives fosters innovation and enhances our ability to navigate challenges, leading to better decision-making. 

At Heraeus Group, governance structures, policies, and processes provide the framework for managing corporate governance, environmental, and social matters.  We believe that good corporate governance and business ethics benefit our stakeholders and support responsible decision-making, accountability and compliance with applicable legal and regulatory requirements. 

We regularly review and further develop our governance framework to reflect changing business needs and regulatory expectations.

Compliance

Our Code of Conduct, together with the Heraeus Principles, provides the framework for our business activities and operations. 

Our Compliance Management System defines content requirements, processes, responsibilities and structures that support compliance with external legal obligations and our internal voluntary guidelines across the Group. 

If employees or external parties believe that external or internal regulations have been breached, they can report violations at any time —confidentially and anonymously—through our web-based reporting system Heraeus SpeakUp or via an external ombudsman.