We design and produce technical, innovative and durable decorative parts for the automotive, rail and mobility (cycle, motorcycle, water sports…) industries.
Driving Sustainable Innovation at Dourdin SAS: Our ambitious carbon strategy in line with our customers‘ requirements and our environmental commitments
In the ever-evolving landscape of the automotive industry, the pursuit of sustainability has become paramount. As key mobility players in Europe strive towards carbon neutrality and energy transition, suppliers play a crucial role in shaping the future of eco-friendly transportation.
At Dourdin SAS, we recognize the responsibility we bear as an automotive supplier, and we are excited to share our 8-step comprehensive action plan to contribute to our and our customers‘ ambitious sustainability goals.
1. Measure our Company’s Greenhouse Gas Emissions across our entire Value Chain (Scopes 1, 2, and 3)
One of the first steps in our action plan was to join the Diag Decarbon’action program proposed by BPI France (Public Investment Bank part of Caisse des Dépôts group) in connection with ADEME (French Environment and Energy Management Agency), which allowed us to measure the greenhouse gas emissions of our company.
Along with experts, we ran a full diagnosis of our entire value chain (Scopes 1, 2, and 3). This critical step helped us define a personalized action plan on how to reduce our carbon footprint.
2. Materials Matter: a Greener Foundation
Our ambition is to control the carbon footprint of our products. We understand that the materials we use impact the entire lifecycle of the vehicles our components adorn. Dourdin SAS is committed to knowing the footprint of all our product lines by the end of 2024, to research and adopt sustainable alternatives with lower carbon footprints.
By collaborating with environmentally conscious material providers such as bio-sourced and recycled materials, we aim to offer our automotive partners monograms and decorative pieces that not only meet aesthetic standards but also align with the principles of eco-design & circular economy.
3. Revolutionizing the Supply Chain
A green supply chain is at the heart of sustainable manufacturing. Dourdin SAS is actively engaged in optimizing our supply chain processes. This includes assessing the environmental impact of transportation, exploring local sourcing options, and adopting efficient logistics strategies. By reducing our supply chain emissions, we aim to contribute to the overall carbon neutrality aspirations of our esteemed partners.
4. Powering Sustainability through Technological Innovation & Energy Efficiency:
We commit to a reduction in Carbon Footprint (Scope 1 & 2) of 7% every year until 2030 and Carbon Neutral by 2040 on all scopes
As technology continues to evolve, so does our commitment to staying at the forefront of sustainable manufacturing practices. Dourdin SAS is exploring innovative technologies such as 3D printing and advanced manufacturing techniques. These not only enhance efficiency but also have the potential to reduce waste and energy consumption in our production processes.
Energy-efficient manufacturing processes are pivotal to our sustainability journey. By implementing energy-efficient machinery, we aim to reduce our carbon footprint while maintaining the high-quality standards our customers expect. growing adoption of renewable energy at our production facilities is already a key carbon-cutting strategy for us. We build a clear trajectory for the years to come:
- Appoint a carbon manager at each facility
- Deploy a yearly on-site organizational assessment (GHG format: GreenHouse Gas Protocol)
- 2023: France
- 2024: Portugal
- 2025: Romania
- 2026: Turkey
- Increase our share of renewable energies: keep investing in solar panels and heat pumps.
- Improve our energy efficiency and with new high-tech machinery investments
- Offer technical solutions with a low carbon impact to match our customers‘ carbon target, e.g., Green Chrome Technology.
- Optimize our processes, including production scrap reduction targets.
5. Designing for Tomorrow:
Designing and Lightweighting for a Greener Drive & Recyclability as a Priority
Our commitment to sustainability extends to the design phase. Dourdin Group is dedicated to creating products with reduced weight, optimized processes, and ultimately recyclability in mind.
We are working towards designs that reduce parts’ weight, facilitate easy disassembly and material recovery. We are contributing to the circular economy by reducing waste and promoting responsible resource management.
In collaboration with our automotive partners, we are exploring opportunities for lightweighting – a key strategy for enhancing fuel efficiency and reducing emissions. We develop lightweight components without compromising on safety and durability. We aim to play a vital role in the pursuit of eco-friendly transportation solutions.
We have already engaged in this direction with some of our historical partners with great results. On one specific program, we managed to reduce the carbon impact as follows:
- Weight reduction: 7% reduction in Scope 3 (Gate-to-Cradle)
- Components revision: 40% gain on Scope 3 (Cradle-to-Gate) => carbon impact scope 3 starting 2024: minus 400T in France
- Revised process selection: 15% reduction in Scope 1-2
6. Certifications for Credibility
To solidify our commitment to sustainability, Dourdin Group is actively pursuing environmental certifications. Achieving standards like ISO 14001 and Ecovadis Silver for environmental management systems demonstrates our dedication to maintaining the highest environmental standards in our operations.
We have also joined the Coq Vert community in France, a community that brings together companies committed to the energy transition, renewable energies, and greentech.
„I decided to join the Coq Vert community because I believe that with the scale and urgency of the climate challenge we face, it’s together that we can accelerate the transition„
explains Marc Dourdin, Managing director of DOURDIN SAS.
7.Offsetting Emissions: a Balanced approach
A green supply chain is at the heart of sustainable manufacturing. Dourdin SAS is actively engaged in optimizing our supply chain processes. This includes assessing the environmental impact of transportation, exploring local sourcing options, and adopting efficient logistics strategies. By reducing our supply chain emissions, we aim to contribute to the overall carbon neutrality aspirations of our esteemed partners.
8.Collaborative Innovation: Shaping the Future Together
In the spirit of collaborative innovation, we are reaching out to our automotive partners to foster joint initiatives. By working together, we can identify and implement sustainable solutions that address the broader challenges facing the automotive industry. Dourdin SAS believes that long-term collaboration is key to driving meaningful change and shaping a greener future for mobility.
In conclusion, we are dedicated to being a driving force in the automotive industry’s sustainability journey. Our action plan encompasses every aspect of our operations, from materials and supply chain to energy efficiency, design, and collaborative innovation.
We are excited to embark on this transformative journey with our collaborators and automotive partners, contributing to a future where vehicles are not only a symbol of style and performance but also a testament to our collective commitment to environmental stewardship.
Together, we can accelerate the shift towards a more sustainable and eco-friendly automotive industry in Europe and beyond.
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