ISCAR aims to minimize the impact of its products and processes on the environment. By reducing energy consumption, optimizing production processes, and using environmentally friendly materials, the company continuously works to improve its performance. ISCAR is committed to adhering to high environmental standards and strives to operate sustainably in all business areas. The company is certified according to ISO 14001, this international standard for environmental management systems helps organizations identify, assess, manage, and continuously improve environmental impacts. ISCAR is committed to compliance in order to maintain consistently clean production processes.
"Simply put, all our sustainability efforts are about using resources efficiently, keeping the CO2 footprint as small as possible, and acting ethically, morally, and economically responsibly," emphasizes Philipp Herb, ISCAR's Quality, Environmental Management, and REACh Officer in Germany, who is professionally committed to sustainability in the company.
"This starts with reducing energy consumption, using environmentally friendly packaging solutions, optimizing our production processes, and extends to bee-friendly planting and bicycle leasing for our employees."
Photovoltaics and electromobility
The new building in Ettlingen is an important component of ISCAR's sustainability strategy. On the nearly 16,000 square meter site opposite the ISCAR headquarters, a production, service, and administration building with 2,700 square meters has been created, along with offices and storage on 1,700 square meters. "The new building is constructed according to the latest ecological and energy standards, the heating requirements of the hall are almost covered by heat recovery, and we have implemented numerous sustainable ideas," says Philipp Herb. Among other things, the buildings feature a photovoltaic system with a total output of almost 600 kilowatts peak, which also supplies energy to the building on the other side of the street, a combined heat and power plant, and a heat recovery system. "The outdoor area is also designed accordingly. There are not only sufficient unsealed infiltration areas, but we have also planted almost exclusively native and bee-friendly plants," explains Philipp Herb. "While ISCAR does not yet have a company beekeeper, who knows what the future holds."
The topic of e-mobility is also playing an increasingly important role for ISCAR, not least because the field staff are increasingly relying on electric or hybrid vehicles. Currently, eight percent of the ISCAR vehicle fleet is fully electric, and 16 percent are hybrid. The trend for both types is upward. Additionally, about a third of the workforce uses ISCAR's bicycle leasing program. "To support the mobility transition, we have installed 40 charging points powered by our own PV system for our employees," adds Herb. "With this, we want to further reduce our CO2 footprint."
Environmentally friendly technologies and innovations
Another important focus of sustainability efforts is the development and promotion of environmentally friendly technologies and innovations. The company invests in research and development of products that conserve resources and reduce environmental impact.
"For many years, we have been working, among other things, to use only the actually necessary amount of carbide in our tools. We are developing smaller, but therefore much more efficient tools and relying on modular systems like the QUICK3CHAM, where only the carbide cutting head needs to be replaced instead of the entire drill," explains Philipp Herb.
A frugal approach to raw materials is also essential in tool production. "The sintering presses in the cutting plate production, for example, operate loss-free. We achieve this through clever advance planning and the design of tools that optimally utilize the blank," explains Philipp Herb. "Generated chips and grinding sludge are collected, recycled, and reused in the form of new granulates and base materials." Speaking of recycling: In packaging its tools, ISCAR increasingly relies on reusing packaging materials like cartons or wooden boxes. The plastic packaging used in the future will consist of a high percentage of recyclates, and cartons will not be elaborately printed. "This ensures that they are recyclable and can remain in the recycling loop," says Philipp Herb.
However, this is by no means the end of the line. ISCAR has more sustainable ideas in the pipeline. To save raw materials, the company is constantly developing new approaches. Thanks to the electronic catalog, the paper version can be printed in smaller quantities, and seminars at the customer save energy because only one field staff member is on the road. "Currently, we are considering how we can establish a deposit system for wooden load carriers in collaboration with major customers. But that's still a work in progress," says Herb.
Social and economic sustainability as a cornerstone
In addition to environmental protection, ISCAR is also committed to social and economic sustainability. The company advocates for fair working conditions, equal opportunities, and diversity in the workplace. "Adhering to ethical standards and promoting responsible corporate behavior are central to us," emphasizes Philipp Herb.
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