TRILUX: ” There is of course, also a great need for action in decarbonizing the supply chain.”
Interview partner: “Katrin Kroese-Discher has been responsible for sustainability within the TRILUX Group since 2020. The German market leader for technical lighting solutions, TRILUX, has set ambitious goals for climate transformation and is now working intensively on their implementation.
To obtain a basic overview and a comparable assessment of their goals and corresponding measures, TRILUX has conducted the Climate Performance Assessment for the second time this year. We are talking to Katrin Kroese-Discher about her experiences, the key findings, and the next steps on their path of climate transformation.
We are pleased to have conducted the Climate Performance Assessment together with TRILUX. Can you introduce yourselves briefly?
TRILUX Simplify Your Light stands for the simplest and safest way to a customized, energy-efficient, and future-proof lighting solution. In the dynamic and increasingly complex lighting market, the customer receives the best advice, optimal orientation, and perfect light. To ensure this claim, TRILUX relies on a broad portfolio of technologies as well as powerful partners within the TRILUX Group, combining individual components into customized complete solutions – always perfectly tailored to customer needs and field of application. The TRILUX Group operates six production sites in Europe and Asia and serves international customers through 30 subsidiaries and numerous sales partners. The company employs approximately 5,000 people worldwide and contributes to global CO2 reduction with the use of energy-efficient products.
How does TRILUX position itself regarding climate transformation? What climate goals have you defined for yourselves?
“We want to contribute to a greener planet both as a company and with our product solutions, making it less carbon-intensive. To achieve this, we have aligned our climate goals with the Science Based Targets and aim to make a corresponding commitment every year. At the Arnsberg and Cologne locations, we plan to be carbon-neutral by 2025. Additionally, we are currently developing a transformation concept for the Arnsberg site that goes beyond 2025 and takes into account its historically grown architecture. As a next step, this year we will include the remaining sales locations in the EU in our climate strategy, in addition to BLX, UK, and Spain, which have already calculated their Corporate Carbon Footprint.
You carried out the assessment for the first time last year. What was different this time, what has changed for you since then?
It was important for us to carry out the Climate Performance Assessment again as an external assessment. The climate transformation is a long-term process and it is crucial to continuously check whether we are on the right track. We are pleased to have been working closely and successfully with THE CLIMATE CHOICE from the very beginning. Compared to last year, the assessment has become even more detailed and the depth of information has increased. As a result, the assessment offers improved opportunities to highlight the potential that we still have.
Which areas are already doing well and were rated positively?
We have come a long way in terms of the transparency and quality of internal climate data. Our strategy was also rated positively for being action-driven and pursuing short-term climate goals. TRILUX is already implementing numerous measures for climate transformation, such as avoiding waste, optimizing packaging, having its own photovoltaic systems and using CO2-neutral hygienic paper (BlackSatino). A major focus is on projects and measures for resource conservation and a change to the circular economy. This includes a personnel development group and various research projects such as the project: SUMATRA.
What are the most important learnings you take with you? What are the next steps?
The most important finding from the assessment is the need for action to decarbonize our supply chain. We want to devote special attention to this topic in the coming years. In total, we have well over 1,000 supply partners and see it as a major challenge to take all suppliers with us. Above all, it will be about clearly conveying to them the need to work together on climate goals and at the same time counteracting any concerns about the sharing of sensitive data. We are already in a constant exchange here.
In order to take a first step here, we also want to carry out the Climate Performance Assessment as a pilot project together with one of our relevant suppliers. We want to see to what extent there is a willingness to cooperate, how the topic is accepted and in what form the data can be made available. Based on the results, we will then decide how to approach the full supply chain.
What tips and best practices would you like to pass on to other companies?
I think everyone is now aware of the need for climate transformation. The question is rather how to approach such a complex topic and where to start. The first step at TRILUX was to build up knowledge and skills internally. This primarily affects the departments involved, such as purchasing, but also HR, legal, sales and the environmental and energy team. Then it’s a matter of looking at where which data is stored and how it can be efficiently recorded and used. These fundamentals provide the first insights from which we were able to gradually develop our climate goals and strategy.
As a second tip, I recommend taking an impact-driven approach. For example, we quickly realized that we have by far the greatest impact at the German production site and should focus on this as a first step in order to take action quickly.
Last but not least, it is also important to take the entire workforce with you on the climate journey. At our location in Arnsberg, we already have to conduct a survey on climate-friendly alternatives for the way to work in order to be able to support and involve our employees even better. Ultimately, there are countless small but important steps that must be understandable for everyone in order to bring about a holistic rethinking.
Thank you for the interesting interview, Katrin Kroese-Discher. We are very pleased about the cooperation with TRILUX and look forward to driving forward the climate transformation of the economy together.