C.HAFNER is the first and, so far, only refinery with a CO2-neutral recycling process and CO2-neutral gold.

Sustainability has always been anchored in our company’s DNA. This concerns sustainable management as a company, responsibility for society and in particular for the environment. This is why our goal is to make the whole company CO2-neutral. When implementing the measures, we pride ourselves on maximum efficiency and the highest level of transparency.

 

LCA

VERIFICATION

CO2-neutral recycling

Traditionally, we only process second-hand gold - i.e. old gold from old jewellery, production waste from the jewellery industry and dental waste, which we process in a CO2-neutral way using the most state-of-the-art processes and regenerative energies.

Co2-neutral gold

For companies that want to look at their own LCA and become CO2-neutral, we offer a product with ZERO emissions: CO2-neutral gold. This means that the assessment of this product is already neutral and it does not need to be additionally compensated.

THREE STEPS TO CO2 NEUTRALITY

01

AVOIDING CO2

Avoiding CO2 emissions takes priority over all other measures. Second-hand gold means sustainability as it has a significantly smaller carbon footprint than mined gold.

02

REDUCING CO2

C.HAFNER is committed to actively reducing CO2 and protecting the environment by using state-of-the-art technology, recycling processes and regenerative energies.

03

COMPENSATING CO2

Unavoidable emissions are offset by investing in certified climate protection projects.

The highest standards with Scope 3!

C.HAFNER balances according to Scope 3 (in accordance with GHG), which is the highest possible claim to CO2 neutrality! A Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) is a method of summarising environmental effects and making them available as information. Greenhouse gases are balanced according to the rules of the Greenhouse Gas Protocol (GHG).

Scope 1

includes the direct greenhouse gas emissions of a business or company. These include, for example, the annual CO2 emissions of their own heating systems and vehicles.

Scope 2

also includes indirect emissions from energy purchased by a business or company, e.g. through the annual CO2 emissions from purchased electricity or district heating.

Scope 3

also includes indirect emissions within the value chain of a business or company. This relates to purchased goods, such as externally produced preliminary products or chemicals, or services such as external transport.

CO2 REDUCTION MEASURES

To effectively reduce CO2 , we use both process technology and active measures to reduce the company's overall emissions.

  • Using thermal energy

    Heat exchangers feed the residual heat from the refining process back into the heating circuit.

  • Preserving resources

    Raw materials, such as nitric acid, are reprocessed and used in a recycling process.

  • Effective wastewater treatment and filter technology

    Wastewater is treated and any hydroxide sludge produced is recycled. Thanks to the most modern filter systems for exhaust air and wastewater, we not only meet the strict legal requirements but are well below them.

  • E-mobility

    The fleet and company vehicles are gradually being converted into electric drive. The conversion of private cars is being supported by a company-owned charging station.

  • Green Energy

    In both of our plants, we predominantly purchase green electricity from renewable energies - recycling plant: 100%; production & administration: 65%.

  • Photovoltaics

    C.HAFNER photovoltaic systems supply 8% of the electricity consumed today. The planned facility at the headquarters in Wimsheim will cover 50% of the annual demand in the future. For the recycling facility at the Pforzheim site, a photovoltaic system with 55 kKWp with an annual yield of 66 MWh and a coverage of approx. 20% of the annual electricity demand is being planned.

  • Energy efficiency measures

    We take numerous measures to reduce energy consumption, such as:

    1. Using timers for electric ovens in production and for ventilation systems
    2. Switching off facilities during the night
    3. Secondary machine cooling via free cooler
    4. Limiting heating temperatures to 21°
    5. Using economical LED lighting (currently 80%)
    6. E-bikes for employees
    7. Reducing paper consumption
    8. Sending invoices online
    9. Reducing flying and travel via online meetings
    10. Biodegradable shipping bags
”

For us, acting sustainably means completely examining processes and continuously improving them in order to make further processes CO2-neutral and to be a CO2-neutral company in the future.

Eduard Stefanescu
Tel.  +49 7044 90 333-201
Email: sustainability@c-hafner.de