We have summarised our commitment to sustainability in our corporate MISSION: TOGETHER. RESPONSIBLE. As we also apply and comply with this mission in regard to our products, we have created a classification system for them. The five categories in our FIVE-DOT-MISSION system indicate factors with a significant impact on sustainability. Our intention is to offer our partners guidance with their purchasing decision-making and to provide a transparent system. A system which focuses on the use of materials, the carbon footprint, the product life cycle and recycling, a topic of particular relevance for our products. Our FIVE-DOT-MISSION makes an assessment of a product on the basis of the five categories and awards points per category, the product is then assigned to one of the five coloured DOTs. By this means we achieve a transparent, quick valuation logic which we can also use to gauge product innovation and improvement at 3A Composites.
THE FIVE-DOT CATEGORIES ARE:
1. BIOBASED CONTENT
Depending on the product, different raw materials are used to manufacture our panels. In this case, we look at the percentage of renewable raw materials used in our products. Our aim is to increase the percentage whenever possible and appropriate.
2. RECYCLED CONTENT
The industry selects raw materials obtained by means of recycling processes which can be used in the manufacture of new products. At the same time, it is essential to ensure requirements such as fire ratings, processing, functionality and appearance are retained. We work continuously to extend our network of recycling companies and to increase the material recycling rates. This category is where we gauge the proportion of high quality recycled raw material in our products’ total material input.
3. CO2 FOOTPRINT
In this category we monitor the kg CO2 eq/kg per product which is released into the environment during product manufacture (cradle-to-gate) according to EN 15804+A2 (A1-A3). Using the Helix calculation program from Ecochain Technologies B.V as well as the latest available LCA datasets from Ecoinvent or similar databases, we measure the carbon footprint of our products in accordance with ISO 14040 und 14044 for the Life Cycle Analysis (LCA).
4. PRODUCT LIFE CYCLE
The plastic sheets and composite panels we produce are used by our customers for a longer period of time. In contrast to products used in the short term, these longer-term alternatives make an active contribution to saving resources. In this category we show our panels’ average service life. Life cycles can range from approximately 1 year to more than 30 years depending on the different materials.
5. RECYCLABILITY
One of the most important aspects of sustainability is contributing to environmental protection by cutting down use of valuable raw materials, conserving resources and avoiding waste. Unlike the second category "recycled content", in this assessment category, we show options for recycling the panels after they have been in use. There are already, for instance, established recycling loops for various paper types and metals. At some production sites, the material can already be returned, so that material for new products can be created. As a company, we came to the conclusion that thermal recycling as a means of energy capture does not seem sustainable enough, so it is not included in our FIVE-DOT classification. Instead, we are actively working with partner companies to establish sustainable and future-oriented recycling solutions for closed-loop recycling management.
As many as 3 points can be achieved in each of the categories presented, totalling a maximum of 15 points. According to the total number of points achieved (1-15), the FIVE-DOT classification is conducted using the following colour gradation.
Transparency is important to us! We will review the product assessment annually to see in which areas the product can be improved. We have set ourselves the goal of achieving the majority of our sales with products which achieve a rating of ≥ 7 points in the FIVE-DOT classification by 2030.
