Liebherr-MCCtec GmbH remains sustainable at Gold Level

With a solid Gold rating, Liebherr-MCCtec GmbH has once again demonstrated its commitment to sustainability management. EcoVadis asseses sustainabillty performance in four key areas; the environment, labor and human rights, ethics, and sustainable procurement. In all areas, the company was able to maintain or improve on the already high level of the previous year. Particularly good results were achieved in the environment category.

Progress in the area of the environment

With the life cycle analyses carried out in accordance with the ISO standard and the calculation of the CO₂ footprint according to the “Greenhouse Gas Protocol Standard,” environmental impacts are quantified and used as input for the development of sustainable products and services. By developing future drive concepts for maritime cranes and construction machinery, Liebherr-MCCtec GmbH is able to deliver concrete options to it’s customers for reducing their direct and indirect CO₂ emissions and thus continue to support them as a solution provider on their way to a net-zero future.

Solution provider for a green future

Liebherr-MCCtec GmbH is taking many measures to reduce the CO₂ footprint of its products. A focus on the development of alternative drive concepts and digital solutions for energy-efficient and resource-saving machines along with the increasing use of green electricity at all manufacturing sites, and high product and service quality to extend product service life all help to reduce the carbon footprint.

“The Gold Medal award not only underlines the responsibility we take for the environment and society, but also shows our customers, employees and partners that reliability and sustainability are amongst our top priorities,” says Tatjana Grissemann, Corporate Responsibility Manager at Liebherr-MCCtec GmbH.

The right technologies at the right time

Research and development in the past year focused, among other things, on expanding the electrification of the entire equipment portfolio. The CBG 500 E, a fully electric transshipment crane, was added in 2022. In the near future, alternatives to the proven electrohydraulic drive concept will also be offered for marine and offshore cranes. Last year, Liebherr also launched the new evolutionary stage of the mobile harbor crane, a new unplugged unit which, thanks to its battery-powered travel mode, offers the possibility of operating the LHM with electric power supply 100% emission-free without restricting its unique mobility.

In the construction equipment segment, six new unplugged models were launched in 2022: the LRH 100.1 unplugged and LRH 200 unplugged piling rigs, the LB 25 unplugged and LB 30 unplugged drilling rigs, and the LR 1130.1 unplugged and LR 1160.1 unplugged crawler cranes. During operation, the machines can be connected to a conventional power supply or used wirelessly. In total, more than 20 machines of the unplugged series are already in operation worldwide. In addition to the newly developed concepts, however, the existing drive systems are also being permanently refined in terms of performance, efficiency, and cost in order to defend Liebherr’s innovative edge.

The ship to shore container cranes and rail mounted gantry cranes have always been powered by electricity and now, our electric rubber tyre gantry cranes are available with a choice of cable reeling drum or busbar power supply. In addition, hybrid RTGs with onboard energy recovery and storage are available. All these electric machines have an active front end to return energy to the grid, and our Liebherr Liduro drive systems are continually developed to ensure maximum energy efficiency of all our cranes.

Hydrogenated vegetable oil, also known as Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO for short), plays an important role at Liebherr. HVO is an alternative fuel which, in its pure form or as an additive to fossil diesel, can now power a large proportion of Liebherr’s construction machinery, cranes and mining equipment, reducing greenhouse gas emissions by up to 90%.

Saving resources through remanufacturing

For the best possible environmental protection, the correct use of resources is of great importance to Liebherr-MCCtec GmbH. Remanufacturing contributes in an important way to the circular economy, acting sustainably in the long term and doing business profitably. In this process, used components such as diesel engines, hydraulic components and transmissions are remanufactured and resold. Compared with recycling, where used goods are converted back into raw material in an energy-intensive process, the focus of the Reman program is not on gaining raw materials but on adding value to the used product. An analysis showed that there is a CO2 savings potential of more than 50% for important diesel engine components such as crankcases and crankshafts. Reman can thus save up to 75% in raw materials and energy.

Liebherr-MCCtec GmbH supports sustainability goals of the United Nations

As a signatory to the UN Global Compact, the progress made in the areas of human rights, working conditions, the environment and anti-corruption was published for the first time in a progress report in 2022. With its commitment, Liebherr-MCCtec GmbH is contributing to the realization of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals.

Liebherr MCCtec GmbH will continue to expand its commitment to sustainability in 2023. Thus, the share of electricity from renewable energies in the company's own value creation is to increase to a total of more than 80 %. In addition, Liebherr-MCCtec GmbH is implementing further measures in the supply chain: On the one hand, signing the Supplier Code of Conduct is a condition for every new supplier approval. On the other hand, all current direct suppliers of Liebherr-MCCtec GmbH will be asked to confirm compliance with our ecological and social requirements in the coming months.

Read more about our commitment to the principles of the UN Global Compact in our progress report.