Freudenberg Performance Materials awarded EcoVadis Silver Medal
Weinheim, September 8, 2022. Freudenberg Performance Materials (Freudenberg) has been awarded its first EcoVadis Silver Medal for its two UK facilities in Ebbw Vale and Littleborough. The company manufactures solutions for advanced wound care and ostomy products at these two locations. With the award, EcoVadis recognizes the company’s performance in the categories of environment, ethics, labor and human rights, and sustainable procurement. The award means that Freudenberg Performance Materials LP with its two facilities in Ebbw Vale and Littleborough ranks among the best 25% of companies rated by EcoVadis.
“The good EcoVadis rating confirms our consistent implementation of our sustainability strategy. We are working systematically to minimize our footprint and maximize our handprint,” said Dr. Henk Randau, General Manager and SVP of the Global Business Division Healthcare at Freudenberg Performance Materials. “That means we are continuously improving our energy efficiency and use of resources while at the same time supporting our customers in the medical products industry to make their processes more efficient and roll out sustainable products” Randau added.
Examples
- Compostable wound pad
Only recently, the bio-based M 1714 wound pad with superior absorption for more challenging wounds was endorsed with the ECO-CHECK label. The dressing consists of a mix of bio-based fibers derived from natural sources and exhibits a smooth wound contact layer. The product has been evaluated for industrial compostability and conforms to ISO 13432.
- Fewer processing steps for hydrophilic PU foam
A hydrophilic foam with a direct coating of silicone adhesives offers a significant sustainability benefit for advanced wound care. A smaller number of production and processing steps reduces complexity and energy consumption for both manufacturer and customer. Moreover, the Freudenberg solution works without additional layers of film or other liners with acrylic adhesive, which is required as a silicone carrier in conventional products.
- Reduction in CO2 emissions
In 2021, Freudenberg achieved a significant year-on-year reduction in CO2 emissions at the Ebbw Vale and Littleborough locations alone. The key factor for this achievement was the switch to green power. It is planned to implement further energy efficiency measures on a yearly basis. Currently, the focus lies on installing heat exchanger technology.
About the handprint and footprint
Freudenberg aspires to reduce its own footprint and increase the handprint for customers and end users. This means the company strives to minimize the negative impact of its production processes on the environment by improving energy efficiency and minimizing the use of resources (footprint) while helping customers achieve their sustainability goals by offering appropriate products and services (handprint).
About EcoVadis
EcoVadis is the world’s largest and most trusted provider of business sustainability ratings, with a global network of more than 90,000 rated companies. The EcoVadis methodology is based on international sustainability standards such as the Global Reporting Initiative, the UN Global Compact, and ISO 26000, and is applied to over 200 industry categories and more than 160 countries.
About ECO-CHECK
Freudenberg Performance Materials designed the ECO-CHECK label to endorse particularly sustainable products in its portfolio. The label helps customers to identify sustainable products quickly and clearly. Products bearing the ECO-CHECK label meet demanding criteria in at least one of the following four categories: saving resources, eco-efficiency for customers, reduced environmental impact at the end of the product’s life, or extended durability.
About Freudenberg Performance Materials
Freudenberg Performance Materials is a leading global supplier of innovative technical textiles for a broad range of markets and applications such as apparel, automotive, building interiors, building materials, healthcare, energy, filter media, shoe and leather goods as well as specialties. In 2021, the company generated sales of more than €1.3 billion, had 33 production sites in 14 countries around the world and had some 5.000 employees. Freudenberg Performance Materials attaches great importance to social and ecological responsibility as the basis for its business success. For more information, please visit www.freudenberg-pm.com
The company is a Business Group of Freudenberg Group. In 2021, the Freudenberg Group employed some 50,000 people in around 60 countries worldwide and generated sales of more than €10 billion. For more information, please visit www.freudenberg.com.
