Sustainability and environmental protection at PCC

Now is the time for Green chemistry, silicon and logistics
Sustainability and corporate social responsibility (CSR) are firmly anchored in our Group-wide philosophy. In our Chemicals, Silicon and Logistics divisions, we protect the environment and climate by, for example, driving the efficient use of natural resources and energy – both within our production facilities and with our products. Through economic, social and environmental sustainability, we are securing the future of our group of companies while contributing to the continued integrity of our environment.

PCC’s Sustainability Vision
PCC SE and the companies of the PCC Group are committed to their environmental and social responsibility strategy. Our goal is to make a meaningful contribution to climate protection and sustainable development. To achieve this, we are aiming to cut the greenhouse gas emissions (scopes 1 and 2) of our chemical production by half by 2030 as compared to 2020. By the end of the decade, we are also aiming to fully eliminate use of coal for our energy production. Our plan at Group level is to be climate-neutral, on a net basis, by 2050.

Our Sustainability Mission Statement
PCC is an innovative and dynamically expanding group of companies with extensive investment activities. In order to reach our sustainability goals, we implement our investment projects, particularly those related to production, using state-of-the art technologies that require less energy and resources and have a steadily shrinking carbon footprint. Additionally, we are conducting research and development with regard to a growing number of products that conform to high sustainability standards and the use of which will reduce greenhouse emissions.

Our latest Sustainability Report:

The Sustainability Report of the PCC Group for 2023 is part of the Group Management Report; the text can be found from page 40 onwards in our PCC Group Annual Report 2023.

The three pillars of our commitment

Economic sustainability

PCC SE is an investor aligned to the long term. We promote the sustainable growth of our affiliates so as to continually create new enterprise value within the PCC Group.

Environmental sustainability

Throughout the PCC Group, we ensure that all our investment projects are pursued with modern, ecologically sound, climate-friendly, resource-saving and energy-efficient technologies.

Social sustainability

As an international group of companies operating in many markets, we pursue a policy of positive social engagement within the neighborhoods surrounding not just our headquarters in Duisburg but also all our sites around the world.

Sustainability at PCC in figures

Silicon metal production

green electricity, primarily from geothermal sources

0 %

Our new silicon metal plant in Iceland helps protect the climate thanks to clean energy generated using the country’s geothermal resources.

Chlorine production

kg less CO₂ per metric ton of caustic soda

- 0

Our energy-efficient membrane technology keeps greenhouse gas emissions from the production of chlorine and its by-product caustic soda consistently low.

Intermodal container transport

metric tons of CO₂ saved in 2023

- 0

Our container transshipment service combining road and rail transport produces real savings in greenhouse gas emissions.

Environmentally friendly hydropower

power plants save CO₂ emissions

In North Macedonia and Bosnia-Herzegovina, 6 PCC small hydropower plants are in operation.

Our sustainability guidelines

Our sustainability guidelines provide the framework for our Group-wide commitment to corporate social responsibility.

Certifications and initiatives

The companies of the PCC Group boast a wide range of validations, particularly relating to social and environmental issues – from membership of the global chemical industry initiative Responsible Care® to Gold or Silver certification status in the CSR rankings of the EcoVadis sustainability platform.

Now is the time for PCC Greenline®

PCC Greenline® is the name we have give to the portfolio of sustainable feedstock and products available from PCC’s chemical companies. Hence our commitment to sustainability extends beyond climate- and environment-friendly production to also encompass our manufactures and applications.