In the period under review, the total volume of waste in the Lighting Segment rose by around 9% to 6,617 tonnes. In the Components Segment, the volume of waste in the year under review fell roughly 2.8% to 4,073 tonnes. The recycling quota in the Lighting Segment was 88.6%, in the Components Segment it was 91%.

Consideration is given to avoiding waste during production and the possibility of recycling the finished product from the outset when a product is first developed. Manufacturing processes optimised in accordance with the Lean Six Sigma management approach also reduce waste and scrap during production. At the Ennenda and Jennersdorf plants, various waste separation initiatives made it possible to reduce the proportion of total waste accounted for by non-hazardous waste by 47% and 38% respectively within just a year. Cardboard and plastic recycling and more reusable packaging in particular helped achieve this.

Waste is segregated according to material (plastics, wood, paper, cardboard, metals, magnetic waste and electronic waste) at all plants to facilitate optimum recycling. Hazardous waste includes lubricants, oils, paint and filtration residues from waste water treatment, resin waste, solvents, paints, adhesive residues, etc., which are handled by local recycling and waste disposal companies.

Besides avoiding waste during processes, training courses and employee awareness campaigns about waste and recycling help reduce waste and ensure that it is disposed of properly.