As of: August 2024
As a manufacturing company, SWAROVSKI OPTIK relies on natural resources. This brings an enormous responsibility. Efficient use of these resources is an important concern for us. We have introduced a range of measures that are helping us to achieve huge energy savings and reduce our dependency on fossil fuels.
Every day, SWAROVSKI OPTIK works with great passion and energy to produce high-quality products that bring people closer to the preciousness of the moment.
To do this, we need electrical energy too – almost 8,8 GWh per year. There’s no denying that this a significant volume. It is therefore even more important to ensure our energy comes from responsible sources.
At our headquarters in Absam in the beautiful region of Tyrol, we enjoy over 2,090 hours of sunshine a year. It is therefore no surprise that solar power is playing an increasingly important role in our company. Our first photovoltaic system went into operation back in 2013. Successive expansions over the years took the number of photovoltaic modules to around 1,200 in 2021. These are capable of generating around 330,000 kWh of electricity. The latest expansion will increase the total to approximately 2,000 photovoltaic modules.
Less is more
Reducing our power consumption is another important focus. We are gradually replacing electrical lights with LED versions in all areas of our company’s premises. LED lighting now illuminates more than 80 percent of indoor spaces and all parking lots.
We invest in a range of measures each year to increase our energy efficiency – for example, in ventilation systems, compressed air generation, and cooling for machinery and halls. Our machine hall is the first production hall in the world to introduce suspended cooling plates. In comparison with air supply systems, this innovative cooling solution represents a 25 percent saving in electricity. Thanks to continuous checks and adjustments, we have also been able to progressively reduce the temperature in the heating circulation system. This is helping us save over 100 tons of CO2 each year. These actions have resulted in a 45% reduction in consumption of fossil fuels within three years (2020 to 2023).
Everything revolves around sustainability
As a company engaged in production, which relies on nature’s resources, we focus on ensuring that the cycle is complete in terms of what we give and take. And the ‘cycle’ concept doesn’t stop there. SWAROVSKI OPTIK was the first Austrian company to introduce a special, highly efficient run-around energy recovery system. In simple terms, this channels heat and cold generated during production into the heating and cooling system.
