{"id":5276,"date":"2025-05-06T11:30:24","date_gmt":"2025-05-06T09:30:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/geschaeftsbericht-2024.pcc.eu\/group-management-report\/sustainability-report-non-financial-report\/"},"modified":"2026-06-23T08:56:01","modified_gmt":"2026-06-23T06:56:01","slug":"sustainability-report-non-financial-report","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/geschaeftsbericht-2025.pcc.eu\/en\/group-management-report\/sustainability-report-non-financial-report\/","title":{"rendered":"Sustainability report \/ Non-financial report"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tThe \u201cSustainability report \/ Non-financial report\u201d is a voluntary submission that contains information pursuant to Sections 289b to 289e HGB (German Commercial Code) and Sections 315b and 315c HGB. In compliance with Section 317 (2) sentence 4 HGB, it is excluded from the audit. <\/em>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tSustainability is an important component of the PCC Group\u2019s strategy. All companies within the PCC Group are committed to ethically sound and sustainable business practices. In this context, the economic aspect of sustainability \u2013 that is, securing our long-term corporate success \u2013 goes hand-in-hand with sustainability in the ecological and social sense. As a company, we advocate a business model that contributes to the protection of the environment, climate, and resources and through which we fulfill our social responsibility. A comprehensive understanding of economically, environmentally, and socially sustainable development \u2013 encompassing all three aspects \u2013 forms the foundation of our Group-wide strategy for sustainable, profitable growth.
<\/br>\n\nExplanations of the terms Scope 1 and 2 can be found in the non-financial report<\/a> below.\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tWe have set the following general goals as our sustainability vision:\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tPCC\u2019s sustainability vision\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tThe PCC Group is committed to its ecological and social responsibility. Our vision is to make a strong contribution to climate protection and sustainable development. To this end, we aim to halve the greenhouse gas emissions of our chem-ical production by 2030 compared to 2020 (Scope 1 and 2). We intend by then to have completely eliminated coal from our power generating activities. And we want to see our Group completely net-climate-neutral by 2050. \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tHow we intend to implement this sustainability vision in our business activities is reflected in our mission statement on sustainability:\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tPCC\u2019s sustainability mission statement\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tPCC is an innovative and rapidly expanding group of companies with extensive investment activities. In order to achieve our sustainability goals, we implement all our investment projects, particularly those relating to our manufacturing operations, using state-of-the-art, energy-efficient and resource-saving technologies aligned to an ever-decreasing carbon footprint. In addition, we continue to research and develop products that meet high sustainability standards and exhibit usage profiles that offer reduced greenhouse gas emissions. \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tThe sustainability report of the PCC Group is structured as follows:
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  • Brief description of the business model<\/li>\n \t
  • Corporate social responsibility at PCC<\/li>\n \t
  • Sustainability in the PCC Group segments<\/li>\n \t
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    Brief description of the business model<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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    \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tPCC is a corporate group geared to delivering sustainable growth, with a primary focus on chemicals and a secondary focus on logistics. The headquarters of the holding company PCC SE and the PCC Group is located in Duisburg, Germany. Waldemar Preussner, who serves as the sole shareholder and Chairman of the Supervisory Board of PCC SE, founded Petro Carbo Chem Rohstoffhandelsgesellschaft mbH in 1993, the nucleus of today\u2019s PCC Group. In the past fiscal year, the PCC Group, with its approximately 3,100 employees in 18 countries, posted consolidated sales of \u20ac 923.6 million. The majority of this revenue, approximately 67.4 %, was generated by the chemical-producing segments Polyols & Derivatives, Surfactants & Derivatives, and Chlorine & Derivatives, primarily at the Group\u2019s sites in Poland. PCC achieved consolidated earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA) of \u20ac 81.4 million. Total capital expenditures in 2025 amounted to \u20ac 173.8 million, 37.4 % more than in the previous year.
    <\/br>\n\nPCC\u2019s corporate strategy is focused on sustainable growth. The goal is to continuously increase the company\u2019s organic enterprise value as well as to generate new value. To this end, we constantly evaluate projects and acquisitions to diversify our investment portfolio into new market segments aligned with our core competencies. We also develop activities that do not belong to our core businesses, if necessary only up to a certain level of market maturity, and subsequently put them up for sale.
    <\/br>\n\nThe PCC Group\u2019s largest site is located in Poland, about 40 kilo-meters northwest of Wroc\u0142aw (Breslau) in the small Polish town of Brzeg Dolny. There, we manufacture chemicals such as polyols, surfactants, and chlorine, as well as chlorine by-products and derivatives, phosphorus derivatives, and other specialty chemicals. Through our Silicon & Derivatives segment, we operate our silicon metal plant in Iceland. The focus of the Trading & Services segment remains the PCC Group\u2019s founding business: commodity trading. In the Logistics segment, our focus is on intermodal container logistics, which we deploy to connect European destinations using our own transshipment terminals. Managed by the Holding & Projects segment are future-aligned projects such as our production facility for specialty chemicals in Malaysia, which went into operation in 2024. \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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    Corporate social responsibility at PCC<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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    \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tThe foundation of our corporate social responsibility (CSR) \u2013 that is, our social responsibility for the impact of our business activities \u2013 is the PCC Group\u2019s Code of Ethics and Conduct, which is binding throughout the Group. This Code specifically emphasizes the special priority given to environmental protection and health and safety, as well as the requirement that interactions within PCC and with business partners be characterized by trust, fairness, and reliability.
    <\/br>\n\nBuilding on these rules of conduct, PCC SE has established Group-wide binding sustainability guidelines that define the framework for sustainable business practices within the PCC Group:\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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    \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tPCC\u2019s sustainability guidelines:\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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    • The PCC Group is committed to ethical and sustainable practices in all business activities.\n
    • All actions are based on the principles of the global Responsible Care\u00ae initiative. This initiative serves to drive continuous improvements in the chemical industry regarding health, safety, and environmental protection \u2013 voluntarily and beyond legal requirements. \n
    • PCC strives to maintain a corporate culture in which continuous optimization, long-term competitiveness, and overall excellence are in harmony with sustainability principles and ethical standards.\n
    • Within its sphere of influence, PCC assumes ethical responsibility for the application of sustainable, economically effective, environmentally friendly, and fair business practices.\n
    • The Group\u2019s corporate social responsibility (CSR) is an integral part of its corporate philosophy.\n
    • All employees of the PCC Group are trained, in accordance with their role, authority, and qualifications, to fulfill their individual responsibilities with regard to the above.<\/li><\/ul>
      \nAt PCC, CSR primarily involves taking the concerns of all stakeholders at all locations into account in an appropriate and responsible manner. As a corporate group operating internationally in many different markets, PCC maintains, in some cases, very close relationships with a wide variety of stakeholders \u2013 including not only our employees from diverse cultures but also our customers, suppliers, and other business partners; residents near our sites; private subscribers to PCC SE bonds; institutional investors and financial institutions; as well as government and public institutions such as regulatory authorities or universities.
      <\/br>\n\nAn important element of our CSR is open and transparent communication with our stakeholders. For example, we present our quarterly and annual reports to our investors live during interactive online investor conferences. In late fall, we traditionally host information evenings in several major German cities. At these evening events, the Group Executive Board informs investors and interested parties about current business developments, answers questions from the audience, and is available for personal discussions. In addition, every two years we invite our investors to the traditional PCC Investor Day at our corporate headquarters in Duisburg; the most recent event, held in June 2024, welcomed more than 1,000 guests. We will be hosting the next Investor Day in July 2026.
      <\/br>\n\nOther elements of CSR within the PCC Group include the rejection of all forms of corruption and discrimination, unconditional respect for human rights, a commitment to fair working conditions, and adherence to high safety standards for all our employees, as well as compliance with all environmental regulations. We thus adopt socially accepted norms as our own and further refine them. We are also committed to adhering to standards that go beyond general CSR norms, for example by having PCC production companies participate in environmental protection initiatives such as the Carbon Disclosure Project, the United Nations Global Compact, or the chemical industry\u2019s Responsible Care\u00ae initiative.
      <\/br>\n\nGroup management assumes responsibility for the strategic positions and guiding principles in Group-wide areas of importance such as transparent communication with our investors. Meanwhile, the individual Group segments and business units serve as the actual drivers of the dialog with diverse interest groups at our different sites. It is they who implement our sustainability strategy in practice. \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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      Sustainability in the PCC Group segments<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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      \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tSustainability in the chemical-producing segments<\/strong> \nWe are increasingly strengthening our commitment to sustainability in the Group segments operating in the chemicals production sector (Polyols & Derivatives, Surfactants & Derivatives and Chlorine & Derivatives). We continue to improve the efficiency of our production facilities, protecting the climate and the planet\u2019s limited natural resources through the adoption of particularly energy-saving technologies and the increased use of renewable raw materials. Take surfactants, for example: Our surfactant production facility in Poland is one of the most advanced in Central and Eastern Europe. Our Group company PCC Exol SA, the surfactant manufacturer of the PCC Group, was the first company in Poland to have implemented and registered to the Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) system certified by the European industry association EFfCI. The company also participates in the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP). In addition, we use for our surfactant production the raw material palm kernel oil, which is obtained sustainably in Ghana, West Africa. The palm kernels required for our ecologically sound production there are not harvested on large plantations, but are collected from local farmers. 300 smallholders who regularly supply our company with palm kernels are certified by the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO). The Group companies PCC Exol SA and PCC Consumer Products Kosmet Sp. z o.o. are likewise RSPO-certified.
      <\/br>\n\nPCC Rokita SA, the largest PCC company and one of the biggest chemical companies in Poland, is also specifically focused on sustainability. For example, chlorine supplied by PCC Rokita SA under the PCC Greenline\u00ae brand is exclusively manufactured using an environmentally friendly and resource- conserving membrane process. And we also ensure that only energy from renewable sources is used for production of PCC Greenline\u00ae chlorine. Through substantial investment in the modernization and expansion of its production capacities, PCC has, since acquiring a majority stake in PCC Rokita SA in 2003, created a flourishing chemicals subgroup that is now also an important factor for the region, for example as a major and multi-award-winning employer.
      <\/br>\n\nIn our chemical-producing segments, we achieve sustainability not only through modern and efficient production methods, but also through the chemicals we manufacture. Our innovative chemical compounds make products that many people use in their daily lives more durable, safer, and more environmentally friendly. For example, they ensure that hydraulic oils need to be changed less frequently and that homes can be insulated more effectively; they also enable the manufacture of cosmetics that are even gentler on the skin, as well as more comfortable foams that are, moreover, both virtually free of volatile organic compound emissions and extremely flame-retardant.
      <\/br>\n\nWe underscore this commitment with our product portfolio of sustainable chemicals under the aforementioned brand name PCC Greenline\u00ae, which comprises around 180 products. Under PCC Greenline\u00ae, for example, we offer the liquid soap CAMOLIN\u00ae, which is 100 % vegan \u2013 meaning it is produced without animal ingredients \u2013 and contains at least 98 % ingredients of natural origin. ROKAmina K30B is a high-purity amphoteric surfactant that we recommend as an environmentally friendly and sustainable ingredient in, for example, natural cosmetic products. To manufacture this surfactant, PCC Exol SA uses, among other things, a derivative obtained from oil palm kernels sourced from smallholders practicing sustainable agriculture. Another PCC Greenline\u00ae product is EXOcare\u00ae TE20 Flakes MB, based on renewable plant-based raw materials, which, for example, imparts elasticity and smoothness to hair in hair care products. \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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      \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tSustainability in the Silicon & Derivatives segment <\/strong>\nOur silicon metal plant in Iceland, which has been provisionally shut down due to the drop in the price of silicon, makes particular use, when in production, of the island\u2019s abundant geothermal resources. The plant\u2019s operational energy supply is thus covered entirely by renewable energy sources (including geothermal and hydroelectric power), and the installation of state-of-the-art filters also makes the plant virtually free of dust emissions. Its carbon footprint is therefore exceptionally low compared to other silicon plants worldwide, a fact confirmed in 2023 by the certification of the greenhouse gas balance for silicon metal in accordance with the ISCC Carbon Footprint Certification (CFC) standard. Furthermore, we are working to further improve this balance through the increased use of renew-able raw materials. The temporary shutdown of the plant is the result of economic production not being possible under current market conditions due to dumping competition from suppliers, particularly from China, with far lower social and environmental standards. Other European producers have also temporarily suspended or even completely discontinued production. \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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      \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tSustainability in the Trading & Services segment <\/strong>\nAmong the Group-internal services managed in this segment is the Conventional Energies division, which primarily supplies PCC\u2019s production facilities in Poland with steam and electricity. At the PCC combined heat and power plant at the Brzeg Dolny chemical site, we have significantly reduced dust emissions by installing modern electrostatic precipitators. This CHP plant not only supplies PCC\u2019s chemical facilities with energy but also provides heat to a large portion of the households in the town of Brzeg Dolny. In Poland, coal-fired heating of homes is still the norm, as was the case in Brzeg Dolny before PCC began supplying energy. \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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      \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tSustainability in the Logistics segment<\/strong>
      \nThe mainstay of our Logistics segment is the intermodal container transshipment business. We run combined transport operations throughout Europe on the basis of four wholly-owned container handling terminals in Poland and Germany, facilities that have been greatly expanded and modernized in recent years. We therefore efficiently combine environmentally friendly rail and flexible road transport, thus supporting the transfer of traffic from road to rail in line with demands expressed by the European Union. We are currently planning the construction of a fifth terminal with EU financial support. \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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      \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tSustainability in the Holding & Projects segment<\/strong>
      \nIn the Holding & Projects segment, we manage the Renewable Energies division, which focuses on the construction and operation of small hydropower plants that are particularly environmentally friendly due to their relatively low impact on nature. Six of these power plants \u2013 five in North Macedonia and one in Bosnia and Herzegovina \u2013 have so far been connected to their respective grids. \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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      \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tInitiatives and certifications<\/strong>
      \nPCC affiliates are involved in a whole range of certification procedures and initiatives. For example, our chemical-producing companies PCC Rokita SA, PCC Exol SA and PCC Synteza S.A. all participate in the chemical industry\u2019s global Responsible Care\u00ae initiative. Our production companies have also received several awards for their sustainability and can point to high ratings and rankings in this domain. For example, two of our companies were awarded Gold certification in the renowned EcoVadis sustainability assessment: PCC Exol SA (2024) and PCC MCAA Sp. z o.o. (2023). PCC Rokita SA (2024) and PCC BakkiSilicon hf. (2024) achieved silver status. The commitment of the Group holding company PCC SE to sustainability is underscored by its participation in the Renewable Carbon Initiative. The main certifications and initiatives assigned the five sustainability aspects of non-financial reporting are indicated in the following. \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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      Non-financial report<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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      \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tIn compliance with Germany\u2019s CSR Directive Implementation Act (CSR-RUG) adopted on April 19, 2017, the PCC Group has published annually since fiscal 2017 a voluntary non-financial report pursuant to Sections 315b and 315c in conjunction with Sections 289c to 289e HGB (German Commercial Code). PCC SE presents its non-financial report as an integral part of the annual Group management report. Unless otherwise stated, the performance indicators relate to the companies included in the scope of consolidation. No adjustments are made in respect of the previous year to reflect changes to the scope of consolidation in the year under review.
      <\/br>\n\nThis non-financial report is based on the requirements of the German Sustainability Code [DNK] and summarizes the key facts on the five aspects specified, namely environmental issues, employee issues, respect for human rights, social issues and combating bribery and corruption.
      <\/br>\n\nIn addition, the general section of this non-financial report describes measures and initiatives of the PCC Group and individual companies that demonstrate our Group\u2019s multifaceted commitment to our social responsibility as a corporate citizen.
      <\/br>\n\nIn the following we provide a report on the guidelines, risks, measures and goals as well as the key non-financial indicators for each of the five sustainability aspects mentioned. Our approach here is to present the PCC Group as a whole; hence we refrain from mentioning individual affiliates.\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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