"Sustainability is a key driver of innovation in the wiring systems sector"
21.08.2024
This fall, the Wiring Systems Cooperation Forum celebrates its 25th anniversary. Over the years, the forum has developed into an important platform in the wiring systems sector and established itself as a meeting place for the wiring systems community. Among them is LEONI Bordnetz-Systeme GmbH, which has accompanied the forum for many years and supports it as a sponsor. We spoke with Mr. Heiko Dreyer, Head of Product Data Service, and learned, among other things, how Leoni approaches the topic of sustainability.
Mr. Dreyer, everyone is talking about sustainability - as Head of Product Data Service at one of Germany's major automotive suppliers, are you too?
Heiko Dreyer: Yes, and with full conviction! For us as a manufacturer of wiring systems - the nervous system of an automobile - the topic of sustainability is a key driver of innovation. Increasingly stringent regulatory requirements also support this. It is our aspiration and ambition as developers and engineers that we make our contribution to the even greener mobility of tomorrow. Already today. In doing so, we are specifically following the recommendations of the Science Based Target Initiative, or SBTI for short, which is supported by the United Nations.
With what visible consequences for Leoni?
Heiko Dreyer: Take ReWire, for example, Leoni's sustainability program, which we implement across all departments and locations. We are taking a holistic approach to the topic and have defined three main pillars - Climate, Resources and People - with measurable targets. Close cooperation across the entire value chain is key to achieving the best results. You can recycle materials and of course that is part of the process. But why not make sure when designing a new vehicle line that as few resources as possible are used right from the start?
What role do technological innovations play in particular?
Heiko Dreyer: Technological innovations play a major role. As I said, sustainability is a key driver of our developments. There are a whole host of starting points, starting with appropriate design specifications for new products and improved internal tools to measure and subsequently reduce the carbon footprint. And researching and validating the greenest possible materials, such as bio-based and recycled plastics, is by no means the end of the story.
Where do you see Leoni on the road to ever greater sustainability and where do you still want to go?
Dreyer: Our production sites in 26 countries worldwide are 100 percent certified according to the international environmental management standard ISO 14001. We are assessed every year by the NGO Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP), as well as by EcoVadis and the even more automotive-specific NQC. We are a member of Copper Mark, an initiative with the aim of establishing more sustainable copper value chains. Above all, Leoni aims to be completely climate-neutral by 2045.
