Bernard M. Kemper, CEO and Chairman of the EEW Board of Management, commented: “Every sustainability report is akin to a voluntary commitment in which goals are set publicly, measures are carried out and performance is documented. We want to go beyond one-way reporting and we see ‘Let’s talk about:tomorrow’ as an invitation to dialogue. We will actively seek out this dialogue with all of our company’s relevant stakeholders in the coming months. Our goal is to collaboratively develop forward-looking solutions that not only consider sustainability in the short term but also guarantee it in the long term.”
Markus Hauck, CFO and member of the Board of Management: “In the focus area ‘Strengthening the circular economy’, we want to exploit the untapped potential of raw materials in waste. With chemical recycling, for example, EEW is exploring new opportunities to achieve circularity for plastic waste that was previously used for energy recovery. This is a win-win situation where EEW can measurably improve its carbon footprint while also reclaiming raw materials for new products.”
Dr. Joachim Manns, COO and member of the Board of Management: “In the strategic topic area ‘Dealing with climate change’, we will adopt measures to make our business operations more climate-friendly, including carbon capture and utilisation.” EEW is planning to build a pilot plant in Delfzijl, Netherlands, to capture CO2 that can then be used as a feedstock by industrial firms in the chemical park. At EEW’s headquarters in Helmstedt, there are also plans to capture CO2 from flue gas and refine this with green hydrogen to produce green methanol.”
CEO Bernard M. Kemper believes the topic area “Innovations for the future” offers immense potential for EEW’s ongoing sustainable development. “Digitalisation is our primary focus. The digital transformation is changing the competitive environment and customer expectations, creating new key technologies and enabling more efficient processes,” says Kemper. “Digital technologies can support and accelerate sustainable development in many areas – whether via data-driven efficiency improvements or digital innovations, for example, for the circular economy or the energy transition,” explains the EEW CEO.
EEW therefore aims to use digital solutions to further improve its entire business, including plant operations and interactions with customers. This will encompass everything from digital applications for plant maintenance to digitalisation measures throughout the value chain.
The Board of Management team of Bernard M. Kemper, Markus Hauck and Dr. Joachim Manns wants to contribute to reducing emissions of climate-damaging greenhouse gases and thus support Europe’s climate goals. EEW is already making a significant contribution here: “Using the energy contained in non-recyclable waste to substitute fossil fuels is the best possible alternative to climate-destroying landfills and provides additional recycled raw materials, such as metals and minerals.”
EEW Energy from Waste (EEW) is a European leader in the thermal recovery of waste and sewage sludge. To sustainably use the energy contained in these resources, the company develops, builds and operates state-of-the-art recovery plants. EEW thus plays a critical role in a closed-loop and sustainable circular economy. Currently, 1,250 employees at EEW Group’s 17 plants in Germany and neighbouring countries are responsible for the energy recovery of up to 5 million tonnes of waste per year. EEW transforms the energy contained in waste, providing it in the form of process steam for industrial plants, district heating for residential areas, and eco-friendly electricity. The recovery of energy from waste at EEW’s plants conserves natural resources, reclaims valuable raw materials and reduces carbon emissions.