Environment

Alfen recognises that the economic activities of its business operations can have consequences for the environment. That is why we strive to act responsibly with the environment and we take into account the consequences of our activities.

In addition to our sustainable development policy, we have a specific environmental commitment to:

  • Protect and enhance the environment;
  • Avoid the use of harmful or hazardous components in used (auxiliary) materials and articles;
  • Reduce packaging waste;
  • Use natural resources efficiently and optimally;
  • Operate climate neutral and energy efficient and to provide insight into this;
  • Use renewable energy sources where possible;
  • Reduce the CO2 footprint and making this transparent;
  • Minimise our exposure to suppliers who have a material negative social and environmental impact;
  • Reduce the environmental impact in the life cycle of products and making this transparent;
  • Promote the development of a circular economy.

Furthermore, Alfen monitors the performance of other environmental and social aspects that influence sustainable production and consumption. Think of waste management, circular products and CO2 emissions. In recent years, Alfen has taken various measures to reduce waste. For example, Alfen internally separates waste streams, enabling optimum recycling options. Circularity of products is seen as the cornerstone of Alfen's design processes, using fair trade materials with a low carbon footprint and focusing on reuse and recycling of materials.

Alfen strives for complete insight into its CO2 footprint with the objective to reduce this and to report on this. The Alfen Environmental Policy statement can be found here. 

Environmental Management System 

Alfen has developed the Alfen Integrated Management system (AIM) to control its processes. This management system is set-up as per the requirements of ISO 9001:2015, ISO 14001:2015, ISO 45001:2018, ISO 27001:2013 and ISO 50001: 2018 and certified towards these standards accordingly.

EMS Certification 

The ISO 14001:2015 Management System certificate can be found here. The certification covers all Alfen N.V. entities except Alfen Elkamo which has its own certification.

Effluent Management 

Alfen uses no water for its production process. Water is only used for sanitation, hygiene and drinking water purposes. This water output is monitored. Further details of the Alfen water consumption can be found here.

Hazardous Waste Management 

Alfen has a very limited amount of hazardous waste. This is related to the fact that no hazardous waste is produced during its production process. The only hazardous waste that is produced is related to a small amount of empty cannisters, cans and bottles of paint, grease, degreaser and anti-corrosion. 

Non-GHG Air Emissions Programmes 

The production process of Alfen is as such set-up that there are no non-GHG air emissions to be accounted for.

Water Management Programmes 

Water is only used for sanitation, hygiene and drinking water purposes. This water output is monitored. Further details of the Alfen water consumption can be found here. 

GHG Reduction Programme 

Alfenis currently investigating the Scientific Based targets initiative for its GHG reduction targets. So far Alfen has set its targets based on the voluntarily Dutch CO2 Performance scheme and measured towards these stringent requirements. Reference is made to the CO2 performance report of 2021 which can be found here. 

Renewable Energy programmes 

All production related activities of Alfen are executed using 100% renewable electricity. Certificates of origins are purchased from Certiq and Fingrid based on the anticipated consumption of electricity. In Addition Alfen has invested in its own PV installation which will be operational in the second half of 2022.

Supplier Environmental Programmes 

Alfen co-develops with its main partners sustainable initiatives. Our transport partner has set-up initiatives to reduce its CO2 footprint of its transport activities. Further details can be found here. Another partner focusses on the circularity of the raw material used for the production of the housing of the transformer substations.   

Eco-Design 

Alfen has chosen to use the ‘LiDS Wheel’. The methodology uses universal EcoDesign guidelines and gives engineers incentives to push the development to more eco-efficient decisions. The tool is widely used to evaluate and compare products and services throughout the life-cycle, from beginning-of-life (idea) to end-of-life (reuse, recycle or landfill). The LiDS Wheel is a qualitative tool that gives the ability to seek for a quantitative foundation and verification. Further details of the tool and its application within Alfen can be found here.

Product Stewardship Programmes

Alfen requires for all wood used in its products, the Forest Steward Council (FSC) certification. For our charging stations, we have set up agreements with the respective National WEEE organisation of the European countries were we sell our products. 

Environment - Quantitative Performance 

Alfen maintains for years a CO2 performance and Energy management performance reporting system where the below topics are included. 

Carbon Intensity Trend 

The Carbon Intensity trend can be found in the latest CO2 performance report. 

Renewable Energy Use 

The renewable energy use can be found in the latest CO2 performance report.

Carbon Intensity 

The Carbon Intensity can be found in the latest CO2 performance report. 

Recycled Material Use

Alfen provides support towards the Dutch National grid companies in establishing a material passport for all products used in the distribution of electrical energy. This so called Ksandr trade initiative, will provide insight in raw material data and possibilities for reuse. Further information can be found on the Ksandr website (in Dutch), which can be found here. With the development of material passports we identify the recyclability of our products and gain insight into where improvements can be made. The use of recycled materials is also promoted with the use of the discussed LiDS Wheel. 

Sustainable Products & Services

Alfen has chosen to use the ‘LiDS Wheel’. The methodology uses universal EcoDesign guidelines and gives engineers incentives to push the development to more eco-efficient decisions. The tool is widely used to evaluate and compare products and services throughout the life-cycle, from beginning-of-life (idea) to end-of-life (reuse, recycle or landfill). The LiDS Wheel is a qualitative tool that gives the ability to seek for a quantitative foundation and verification. Further details of the tool and its application within Alfen can be found here.