K+S Sustainability goals 2030
With its corporate strategy, K+S is clearly committed to sustainability. We have set ourselves ambitious goals in these three areas of action: Society & Employees, Environment & Resources and Business Ethics & Human Rights.
Identification of the material sustainability issues
We identify our material sustainability issues with a materiality analysis. In 2021, the materiality analysis was updated. In this context, the sustainability aspects from the Global Reporting Initiative "GRI Standards" guideline were evaluated from the perspective of the stakeholders with regard to their importance for K+S. The result shows a clear focus in the area of Environment & Resources. Specifically, the topics "Mining residues liquid & solid" and "Energy & climate" were identified as material. In the area of employees, the topic area "Health & Safety" is significant. Our stakeholders expect us to be compliant in all areas. Against this background, the topic of compliance (anti-corruption and anti-competitive behavior), in particular environmental compliance, was classified as material.
The results of the updated materiality analysis show that from the point of view of our stakeholders, the issue of human rights is no longer a closer focus. This is due not least to the new corporate structure: streamlined and with a clear focus on Europe. This does not mean that the issue of human rights is less important for K+S and its stakeholders. We continue to comply with internationally recognized human rights at all K+S sites and meet legal requirements, especially those arising from the so called Lieferkettensorgfaltspflichtengesetz, along the supply chain as well as in our own business operations. The basis of our commitment lies in the area of Business Ethics & Human Rights.
Based on the results of the materiality analysis 2021, the Sustainability Goals & KPIs were adjusted.
The sustainability wheel shows the topics within the circle, within K+S has set itself concrete goals & KPIs. The areas of action in which K+S is committed are named in the outer margin.
Making targets progress measurable
We have developed concepts for our targets, which we aim to achieve by 2030 at the latest, and are implementing measures to achieve them. Non-financial performance indicators (KPIs) are used to make the progress of target achievement measurable and are regularly reviewed. Individual KPIs are part of the compensation system at management level.
Society & Employees
- HEALTH & SAFETY: Providing a healthy and safe work environment to protect our employees who constitute our most valuable capital
- DIVERSITY & INCLUSION: Hiring and developing a workforce that reflects the places in which we do business. Fostering an inclusive environment that enables all employees to thrive and contribute to innovation and results
| Target | KPI1 | Unit | Target value | Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Health & Safety: Providing a healthy and safe work environment to protect our employees who constitute our most valuable capital. |
Lost time incident rate2, 3 |
Lost time incident rate (LTI-Rate) |
0 |
Vision 2030 |
|
Diversity & Inclusion: Hiring and developing a workforce that reflects the places in which we do business. Fostering an inclusive environment that enables all employees to thrive and contribute to innovation and results. |
Positive perception of an inclusive working environment by employees4 |
Percent |
> 90 |
2030 |
1The base year for all our non-financial performance indicators is 2017.
2Relevant to remuneration for the Board of Executive Directors and management.
3Management relevant within the meaning of DRS 20.
4Deviating base year: 2019.
Environment & Resources
- RESOURCE EFFICIENCY:
- Ending deep-well injection of saline wastewater from potash production in Germany by end of 2021, no application for renewal
- Reducing saline process water
- Reducing the environmental impact and conserving natural resources by re-examining the potential of residues stored on tailings piles
- ENERGY & CLIMATE: Reducing the carbon footprint and improving energy efficiency to enhance competitiveness
| Target | KPI1 | Unit |
Target value |
Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Resource efficiency:2 Reducing saline process water. |
Additional reduction of saline process water from potash production in Germany |
m³ p.a. |
-500,000 (excluding a reduction due to the KCF facility and the discontinuation of production in Sigmundshall) |
2030 |
|
Reduction of saline process water from potash production in Germany per tonne of product3, 4 |
m³/t |
0.370 |
2030 |
|
|
Reducing the environmental impact and conserving natural resources by re-examining the potential of residues stored on tailings piles.
|
Amount of residue used for other purposes than talings piles covered |
Million tonnes p.a. |
3 |
2030 |
|
Additional area of tailings piles covered |
ha |
155 |
2030 |
|
|
Energy & Climate: Reducing the carbon footprint and improving energy efficiency to enhance competitiveness. |
Absolute CO2 emissions in the K+S Group worldwide5 |
percent |
-25 |
2030 |
|
Reduction in specific CO2 emissions3, 4, 5 |
kg/t |
254.6 |
2027 |
|
|
Specific greenhouse gas emissions (CO2) in logistics (kgCO2e/t) |
percent |
-10 |
2030 |
1 The base year for all our non-financial performance indicators is 2017.
2 At the end of 2021, the injection of saline water into the ground in Germany was discontinued, as the target had envisaged.
3 Relevant to remuneration for the Board of Executive Directors and management.
4 Management relevant within the meaning of DRS 20.
5 Deviating base year: 2020.
Business Ethics & Human Rights
- SUSTAINABLE SUPPLY CHAINS: Demanding sustainable practices from our suppliers along the entire supply chain to align all business activities to our values
- COMPLIANCE & ANTICORRUPTION: Ensuring a zero tolerance policy against corruption and bribery, using a globally standardized and regular compliance risk analysis, and deriving resulting measures at all K+S companies
| Target | KPI1 | Unit | Target value | Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Sustainable supply chains: Requesting compliance with a sustainable approach on the part of our suppliers along the entire supply chains to allign all business activities with our values.
|
Critical suppliers aligned with the K+S Group Supplier Code of Conduct (SCoC)2 |
percent |
100 |
End of 2025 |
|
Coverage of the purchasing volume by the SCoC of the K+S Group2 |
percent | >90 | End of 2025 | |
|
Proportion of potential risk suppliers assessed as part of the risk analysis2, 3 |
percent | >90 | End of 2027 | |
|
Compliance & Anti-Corruption: Ensuring a zero tolerance policy against corruption and bribery, using a globally standardized and regular compliance risk analysis, and deriving resulting measures at all K+S companies. |
Coverage of K+S companies with a standardized compliance risk analysis4 |
percent |
100 |
End of 20235 |
1The base year for all our non-finacial performance indicators is 2017.
2Relevant to remuneration for the Board of Executive Directors and management.
3Reporting is currently under development, with the first report due in 2024 at the earliest.
4Deviating base year: 2020.
5The target was achieved 100% in 2023.
Responsibilities of the Sustainability Goals & KPIs
Each sustainability goal has a sponsor at board level who provides the necessary resources. At the subordinate management level, so-called KPI-Owner are responsible for achieving the target and the KPI. The processes and measures for achievement are in turn broken down in a cascading process to the respective subordinate organizational levels, the KPI-Representer and the KPI-Manager:
- KPI-Sponsor: Responsible for the strategic objective, provides necessary resources.
- KPI-Owner: Responsible for goal and KPI and their achievement
- KPI-Representer: Delegate for the support (dependent on department) of KPI steering
- KPI-Manager: Management of the measures, data collection of the KPI and reporting
If deviations are detected, the KPI-Representer defines countermeasures in consultation with the respective KPI-Owner, who in turn decides on the measures to be taken, if necessary in consultation with the KPI-Sponsor.
