Quality, environmental and energy management
Our integrated quality, environmental and energy management system forms the basis for continuous improvement in the quality of our products and processes, the sustainability of our environmental protection measures and our efforts to reduce our energy consumption and carbon footprint. Our management system is fully compliant with DIN EN ISO 9001, DIN EN ISO 14001, DIN EN ISO 50001, Pressure Equipment Directive 2014/68/EU Appendix I paragraph 4.3.
The development, production and delivery of our products occurs to the highest quality standards and in line with key national and international standards and regulations. Every level and segment of SIMONA is responsible for maintaining these quality standards and meeting the high demands of our customers at all times. Qualified and motivated employees working with state-of-the-art technology ensure the best possible outcomes.
As well as our own comprehensive internal monitoring systems, we have some external agreements with independent certification and inspection bodies to monitor a host of different products. These arrangements are based on national and international regulations governing various sectors and aspects of our business, such as civil and structural engineering, low flammability products, contact with foodstuffs and drinking water, clean room technology and chemical tank and equipment construction. Independent auditors regularly validate our product quality and compliance with the relevant standards.
The quality management system of SIMONA AG has been certified as compliant with DIN EN ISO 9001 since 1993. Over time, this has been augmented by other certifications such as compliance with Pressure Equipment Directive 2014/68/EU Appendix I paragraph 4.3.
SIMONA is the co-initiator of a quality campaign launched by German manufacturers of PVC sheet products. Under the heading of "PVC Sheet Quality – Made in Germany" the members of this initiative have committed themselves to maintain high quality standards, safeguard expertise in sheet processing and deliver excellence in service. The quality certification mark is managed by Industrieverband Halbzeuge und Konsumprodukte aus Kunststoff e. V. (pro-K).
Sustainable products and a circular economy are two of the most important environmental issues that SIMONA will be pursuing intensively in the coming years. The German government has adopted the 2030 Climate Protection Program. As one of the leading industrial nations, Germany bears a particular responsibility for global climate change. The reduction of greenhouse gases is to be achieved in a sustainable and socially balanced manner, taking into account far-reaching measures. The EU Commission is drawing up a plastics strategy and the German Bundestag has passed a packaging law – both with the aim of promoting the sustainable use of plastics. SIMONA is meeting these requirements with a holistic sustainability strategy and a certified environmental management system in accordance with the international standard DIN EN ISO 14001.
Sustainable economic activity and growth have always been a fundamental principle at SIMONA. That is why we are constantly working to reduce the consumption of resources for plastics production and to expand recycling systems – at all levels.
Why plastics can be sustainable
Plastic products have many advantages – including their durability, excellent resistance to aggressive chemicals (depending on the material), and thus a service life of decades, low weight and good recyclability. When used correctly, plastics are sustainable.
New generation of plastics: durable, ingenious and sustainable.
EcoPlastIQ stands for a new generation of plastics from SIMONA that are based on sustainable raw material sources. These include circular materials such as recycled plastics or regenerative raw materials or their granulates, which can come either from biological source materials (e.g. rapeseed, sugar cane, etc.) or biological waste (fats, oils, etc.). Common characteristics: a significantly smaller carbon footprint compared to conventional alternatives and the use of resources that do not come from petroleum or that use less petroleum. EcoPlastIQ is used to label all SIMONA products that meet these criteria and represent premium ecological quality.
Find out more: https://sustainability.simona.de/en/
Closing loops
SIMONA regularly informs customers about the proper use and disposal/recycling of the products and the waste resulting from their further processing. The material and safety data sheets, which can be accessed online for each product, list the product properties, key figures and information on safe storage and processing.
SIMONA is a member of the “Zero Pellet Loss” initiative of the Industrieverband langlebige Kunststoffprodukte und Mehrwegsysteme e. V. (pro-K) industrial association as part of a global initiative of the plastics industry. Specific activities include not only technical measures for loss-free material handling but also training for employees and regular monitoring of effectiveness.
In 2023, SIMONA initiated a recycling system with plastics recycler PreZero, with the help of which SIMONA returns its customers' production waste to the production cycle. This is a strategically important measure for reducing the Scope 3 carbon footprint of our customers and SIMONA in particular.
What is more, SIMONA's durable products help to provide sustainable solutions for challenges such as environmental technology or supply. SIMONA is an active member of the organization VinylPlus, a program to improve the sustainability of the PVC supply chain. In addition, SIMONA is a co-initiator and sponsor of the quality seal for PVC sheets from the German Industrial Association for Semi-Finished and Consumer Products made of Plastic e. V. (pro-K). The bearers of this seal are committed to meeting defined quality standards, ensuring processing expertise and providing a versatile and excellent range of services.
Ambitious targets for CO2 reduction
SIMONA has signed the Commitment Letter of the Science Based Target Initiative (SBTi) to achieve climate targets and has acquired the so-called “committed” status. The SIMONA Group has committed to taking concrete measures to validate its CO2 reduction path. This provides for a 5.25 per cent average reduction in Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions annually by 2030, in line with the Paris Agreement, and thus achieving a “net zero status” by 2050. Participation in the SBTi initiative demonstrates SIMONA's commitment to playing a leading role in environmental protection and sustainable business practices. By participating, SIMONA is committed to ensuring that its long-term climate targets meet the strict scientific standards of the SBTi. The SBTi is a joint initiative of the global non-profit environmental organization Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP), the UN Global Compact, the World Resources Institute (WRI) and the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF). It was launched in 2015 to help companies set emissions reduction targets in line with current climate science and the goals of the Paris Agreement to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees above pre-industrial levels.
With the decision taken in March 2011 to introduce an energy management system in accordance with DIN EN ISO 50001, SIMONA set the parameters for a responsible attitude to energy consumption.
The driving forces behind this policy are climate change and the growing demand for energy. The goal is to have a sustainable energy supply at affordable prices for adequate provision of power where and when it is needed.
Enhancing our energy efficiency will have further benefits for the company. It is logical to assume that these will include reduced production costs, encouragement of in-house innovation and longer life-cycles for our operational systems.
Ongoing energy savings can only be achieved by ongoing energy management. On the one hand, this includes regular monitoring, assessment and targeting of particular energy consumption patterns. By monitoring our consumption, we can detect any technical errors at an early stage and introduce appropriate preventative measures. Furthermore, by comparing our key consumption indicators and production figures, we can also successively highlight various areas with potential for improvement, if organisational and/or technical measures are introduced with the cooperation of all segments of Simona AG.
As part of the combined management report of the SIMONA Group and SIMONA AG, we publish a Non-Financial Statement pursuant to Section 289 b)-e) HGB, in which we disclose other information relating to measures centred around environmental protection and energy efficiency.
