WE DO: tesa publishes its sustainability report 2022

Norderstedt In 2022, tesa refined its sustainability strategy and significantly raised its level of ambition for the period to 2030. Five areas of action were also defined, which will enable tesa to secure the company’s commercial sustainability in the long term. The sustainability report 2022 that is now being presented provides detailed information about activities in the past year and the advances made by the company in implementing the selected areas of action.

These include further emissions reductions and the improved sustainability of products and packaging, as well as responsible sourcing. tesa is investing in the circular economy, the avoidance or reuse of waste, as well as the energy-efficient optimization of its manufacturing processes, in order to achieve climate-neutral production by 2030. Every department at tesa will be oriented toward sustainable business.

This year’s sustainability report not only contains the essential facts but also includes an informative magazine section. In this section you will find descriptions of some particularly outstanding tesa innovations and steps taken for greater sustainability in all areas of the company.

Innovation expertise and a passion for sustainability

“We have made sustainability a priority at tesa and are working on this important transformation of our business with greater speed and urgency than previously planned. We intend to use our expertise and passion to develop adhesive solutions and products that are more sustainable,” writes Dr. Norman Goldberg, Chief Executive Officer at tesa SE, in his foreword to the current sustainability report.

There are more than 600 product developers, chemists and engineers developing technologies and products that will make tesa adhesive solutions more sustainable or will make a contribution to the sustainability of the products of tesa’s customers. Work continues around the clock in the laboratories in Germany, China and the U.S. on innovations that promote a sustainable future. Spending on research and development also rose disproportionately by almost 13 percent in 2022 to 6 percent – significantly ahead of sales growth.

Reducing emissions: Solar power at more and more locations

Between 2018 and 2022, tesa managed to reduce Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions by 27 percent in absolute terms, and they are to be reduced to zero by 2030. Photovoltaic installations, which are currently being installed at many locations, will make a contribution to this. tesa has also started to comprehensively optimize the manufacturing processes at its plants. The plan is to achieve climate-neutral production by 2030. “In the next few years, we will be investing many millions in research projects, expertise and our production plants,” says Goldberg, describing the company’s future commitment.

Rethinking materials: New ideas for packaging and products

The fundamental improvement of the sustainability of products and packaging is an important project, with significant new product developments in 2022. To promote a green future, for example, new bio-based adhesive packaging tapes have become established in the market. These can be disposed of together with the box as waste paper. Recycled and bio-based materials are also increasingly being used in place of fossil-based raw materials. For example, the transparent packaging of consumer items (blister packs) is now made entirely of PET-PCR, i.e. plastic that is 100 percent recycled.

When it comes to the complete avoidance of production waste that has to be disposed of in landfill, tesa has already reached its goal at its production locations in Europe and Asia.

Responsible sourcing of raw materials and other materials

Dr. Stefan Röber, Chief Sustainability Officer at tesa, is very satisfied with the progress made toward “responsible sourcing,” one of the areas of action. For natural rubber, a frequently used raw material, not only has 100 percent transparency in the supply chain been achieved, but almost all of tesa’s suppliers have also attained appropriate certification. “We are right on course in that respect – as with all the projects that we defined in our strategy,” he affirms.

On course for sustainability together with customers

tesa’s sustainability strategy also means that tesa helps its customers in turn to become more sustainable. The focus is currently on projects for e-mobility, as well as on Bond & Detach adhesive solutions, which make products dismantlable and hence repairable and recyclable. tesa specialists and industrial customers work together on tailored products in tesa’s Customer Solution Centers. The recently expanded Center in China is presented in the sustainability report.

Social responsibility for harmonious co-existence

tesa operates in more than 100 countries, globalization is part of everyday life, and social responsibility has always been part of tesa’s culture. Sustainable action not only covers environmental themes; humanitarian aspects also play a major role. The sustainability report tells of engagement for people throughout the supply chain.

After all, sustainability appears in many very different forms. 

All topics, facts, and figures from tesa Year 2022 can be found here: https://www.tesa.com/en/about-tesa/sustainability/sustainability-report