Water

Introduction

Although most of our manufacturing processes require only limited amounts of water—primarily used for cooling, steam generation, water‑jet cutting and other operational purposes—Autoneum considers water withdrawal and pollution an Important Topic because responsible water use is essential for manufacturing excellence, risk reduction, and long-term corporate responsibility. Helping protect shared water resources strengthens trust with stakeholders and supports sustainable industrial development.

We invest in water‑saving projects each year to reduce water withdrawal. Climate change is contributing to long-lasting droughts, declining water quality, and increased water stress in several regions. For Autoneum, this poses a chronic physical risk to operations that depend on water. Furthermore, facilities located in water-stressed regions may face supply restrictions, increased costs, or operational disruptions.

Wastewater generated during Autoneum’s manufacturing processes may contain both suspended fine solids and dissolved substances, which, if not managed appropriately, could adversely affect the environment when released. Autoneum manages this wastewater through clearly defined processes and requirements across all plants.

Our responsibility, however, extends beyond our own facilities: certain materials we purchase, such as aluminum, oil‑based products, and minerals, can be water‑intensive to produce and may contribute to pollution along the supply chain. If suppliers use chemicals or special treatments, the resulting wastewater can threaten local ecosystems and community health, potentially leading to regulatory or legal consequences and reputational risks.

Management Approach and Policies

Internal Policies

Water is covered under the Autoneum Management Policy on Quality, Environment, Energy, Health and Safety. Through this policy, Autoneum commits to reducing our environmental footprint through water efficiencies, such as introducing new technologies to reduce water withdrawal and reusing water after it is treated. Our Management Policy is supported by specific internal policies. Environmental management is part of the Environment, Health & Safety Management (MEHS) system, which combines various policies, procedures, and activities to meet international and national laws, as well as the requirements of the ISO 14001 standard.

We have set a global target for reducing water withdrawal because this is where our most material water-related impact occurs and where efficiency projects can significantly lower resource use across sites (see Operational Target 2027 in the Introduction section of this Important Topic). Water consumption is estimated to be minimal, as water is mainly used in the foaming process and evaporates. Monitoring of water discharge volumes has not yet been implemented.

Autoneum performs water risk mapping to identify facilities located in water-stressed regions to prioritize water usage optimization, including the introduction of water-efficiency projects, the redesign of water-intensive processes to reduce our dependency on external water sources, the installation of water-saving and recycling systems, and the diversification of water sources (for more information, see the Climate Report in the Appendix).

Autoneum plants follow local laws for effluent (wastewater) discharge. We monitor the amount and quality of wastewater, with the measured parameters defined by local legislation. As part of the management approach, Autoneum collects and analyzes water withdrawal data by plant, Business Group, and across our organization. This provides a thorough overview of our water withdrawal. Additionally, Autoneum holds training in our plants to reduce water withdrawal. Wastewater discharge is primarily regulated through local discharge permits and managed under Autoneum's MEHS system through strict compliance, treatment, and monitoring requirements. We therefore view wastewater as a compliance-driven topic rather than a volume-reduction target, which is why we do not have an operational KPI for this element.

Every supplier must sign the Code of Conduct for Suppliers when they begin working with Autoneum or during the renewal of their contract. This document requires suppliers to monitor water usage, analyze, control, and treat wastewater, and prevent contamination.

Governance

Operational implementation of environmental risk management–including Water–is conducted through the Corporate Responsibility Organization and the workstreams under the Corporate Responsibility Steering Committee. The Risk Council, comprising Business Group Controllers and Heads of Group Functions, performs semi‑annual reviews of risks and mitigation measures including for environmental topics such as Water. The outcomes are summarized in the Risk Report and presented to the Board of Directors and Group Executive Board.

ISO 14001

Autoneum aims to use water resources efficiently, prevent pollution, and manage the environment responsibly by following the ISO 14001 standard for environmental management systems. Each year, teams within each Business Group perform internal Environment, Health & Safety Management (MEHS) audits at all plants to ensure they follow the ISO 14001 standard. These audits are carried out by the regional EHS team or as part of a cross-plant audit and are supervised by the global Quality, Environment, Health & Safety (QEHS) team. The results of these audits are tracked within the Business Groups and reported to the global QEHS team. If any issues are found, they are addressed through action plans.

Key 2025 Actions, Progress, and KPIs

In 2025, some late detected leakages occurred in two plants, which negatively impacted the overall data. However, some improvements made in other plants, such as Valparaiso, and Somerset in North America, resulted in a decrease of water withdrawal intensity by 5.2% in local currencies (-0.6% with exchange rate fluctuations). Overall, water withdrawal in absolute value was reduced by 69’730 m³, which represents a reduction of 8.7% compared to the prior year and 40.2% decline compared to the 2019 base line. The 2027 target (10% reduction) has therefore been achieved ahead of time. See the data table at this end of this chapter for other KPIs.