Sustainability strategy and compliance

It is Bosch’s ambition to become a climate action pioneer — advancing the expansion of renewables and striving continuously for energy efficiency.

1 | Reducing CO₂ emissions

Operating carbon neutral in scopes 1 and 2 and continuously improving the mix of measures by 2030
With its more than 400 locations worldwide, the Bosch Group has been carbon neutral overall since 2020 (scope 1 & 2). Four levers were used to achieve carbon neutrality: increasing energy efficiency, generating our own energy from renewable sources (new clean power), purchasing electricity from renewable sources (green electricity), and — as the last resort — using carbon credits to offset residual CO₂ emissions. In 2023, residual emissions of some 581,000 metric tons of CO₂ were offset by carbon credits. This represents a decrease of 19 percent on the previous year’s level.

Lowering absolute scope 3 CO₂ emissions by 15 percent by 2030 (baseline year 2018)
Since 2018, we have reduced our scope 3 emissions by around 23 percent to 353 million metric tons of CO₂ in 2022. In this process, we are focusing on the categories that make up around 98 percent of our scope 3 emissions: upstream emissions in the Bosch value chain primarily concern purchased goods and services as well as logistics. Downstream emissions are mainly caused by the use of our products.

_{Scopes 1, 2, 3 are used here in accordance with the Greenhouse Gas Protocol Corporate Accounting and Reporting Standard. We have taken into account the effects of CO₂ and of other greenhouse gases, as well as climate-relevant substances, to the extent that these are of relevance for the analysis. To enable comparability between the climate impact of the various greenhouse gases and substances of relevance for the climate, emissions are presented in CO₂ equivalents. For ease of reading, we use the terms CO₂ and CO₂ equivalents synonymously.}

2 | Energy efficiency and renewable energies

Saving 1.7 TWh through increased energy efficiency by 2030
Since 2019, we have initiated around 6,000 energy-efficiency projects worldwide, with roughly 1,300 new projects added in 2023 alone. With them, we have so far captured savings potential of 984 GWh in total. This corresponds to 58 percent goal achievement.

Increasing own renewable generation at our sites to 400 GWh and 100 percent green electricity by 2030
In 2023, we generated 149 GWh of power from renewable sources in-house at our company sites. Accordingly, we already reached 37 percent of our target value. In addition, around 99 percent of the Bosch Group’s global electricity demand were covered by green electricity (purchased electricity from renewable sources).

For Bosch, water is a resource to be treated sparingly. Regions in which water is scarce are a special concern.

1 | Water scarcity

Reducing absolute water withdrawal at company locations in regions with water scarcity by 25 percent by 2025
Since 2019, we have launched more than 260 projects and reduced water withdrawal by 25.6 percent compared with 2017 at company locations in regions with water scarcity. The company locations were identified using the Water Risk Filter of the World Wildlife Fund for Nature.

2 | Water quality

Improving the quality of wastewater flows
In 2023, Bosch’s wastewater volume decreased to 15.46 million m³ (previous year: 16.98 million m³). We have established standard processes in the company for monitoring local wastewater quality requirements and standards.

Bosch is reducing its ecological footprint and striving to create social benefit. In this endeavor, Bosch takes its lead from the circular economy principle.

1 | Materials efficiency

Improving materials efficiency
For years, materials efficiency has been a fixed criterion in the Bosch product development process, where it is anchored in our Design for Environment (DfE) principle.

2 | Second life

Extending product life cycle and reusing materials and components
Our activities range from reusing products and their components to repairs and right through to remanufacturing — in each case with the objective of extending product and component life cycles. The individual divisions of Bosch each have their own objectives in this regard, depending on market and product-specific framework conditions.

For Bosch diversity, equity, and inclusion are key to long-term success in business. In addition, Bosch contributes to the common good in the communities near its locations.

1 | Equity

Ensuring equal opportunities and increasing the proportion of female executives to 25 percent by 2030
Globally, the proportion of women executives across all management levels within the group rose to 20.0 percent in 2023 (previous year: 19.2 percent).

How we ensure equity

2 | Inclusion

Promoting inclusion at Bosch and in the communities around company locations
In 2023, the Bosch Group has donated 26.6 million euros to charitable causes worldwide. Some regional companies have established their own charitable institutions to carry out their CSR activities.

How we engage in society

Bosch takes on responsibility and is sensitive to human rights being respected – along the entire value chain.

1 | Responsibility

Ensuring human rights are respected along the value chain
We contribute to improving human rights conditions worldwide by implementing due diligence obligations concerning human rights in our operational processes. At the same time, we actively demand respect for human rights in our global supply chains as well and take appropriate remedial action in the case of violations.

How we comply with human rights and environmental due diligence obligations

2 | Transparency

Increasing transparency about compliance with environmental and social standards
By the end of 2023, we had assessed around 76 percent of our relevant direct materials suppliers (excluding BSH Hausgeräte GmbH) for compliance with our requirements. We also assessed 85 percent of indirect materials suppliers who are particularly relevant in terms of country risk and field of materials risk.

How we design supply chains responsibly

Bosch contributes to human health – with innovative products and services and by ensuring that people and the environment do not come to harm through its production processes.

1 | Occupational health and safety

Reducing the accident rate to 1.45 accidents per 1 million hours worked or less by 2025
In 2023, the accident rate was reduced to 1.49 accidents per 1 million hours worked (prior year: 1.62).

How we create a safe work environment

2 | Substances of concern

Continuously upgrading materials data management
Bosch handles substances of concern responsibly. To efficiently manage prohibitions and restrictions on materials, we are continuously upgrading our IT-based Material Data Management for Compliance and Sustainability (MaCS) system.