With an increased production volume, Sika generated around 141,675 tons of waste (previous year: 112,000 tons), which accounts for around 1.6% of the total volume handled by Sika (previous year: 1.6%). This corresponds to 12.4 kilograms of waste per ton sold (previous year: 14.1 kilograms per ton sold), or a decrease of 12% compared to 2020. Approximately 15% of the waste is non-hazardous. The “reuse” category covers waste which finds a secondary, lower-grade use or is reprocessed, e.g. through metal recycling
| 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | |
| Total weight non-hazardous waste | 120,633 tons | 92,000 tons | 66,000 tons |
| Disposal Method: | |||
| Landfill | 60,794 tons | 45,000 tons | 29,000 tons |
| Incineration | 9,820 tons | 9,000 tons | 8,000 tons |
| Reuse / Recycle | 50,019 tons | 38,000 tons | 29,000 tons |
| Others | 0 tons | 0 tons | 0 tons |
| Total weight hazardous waste | 21,042 tons | 20,000 tons | 18,000 tons |
| Disposal Method: | |||
| Incineration | 21,042 tons | 20,000 tons | 18,000 tons |
Overall, Sika reduces the waste per ton sold by putting in place activities such as recycling scrap membranes, as for example in Russia, where quantities to be discarded have been reduced by 200 tons. The recycling rate of the total waste volume was 35% in 2020. This was an improvement on the 2019 figure (34%).
In South Africa, cement and sand waste from mortar production is being valorized to a dedicated program (Reconstruction and Development Program) in charge of building houses for disadvantaged people, lowering the waste sent to landfill by 70%. In Singapore, a sand crusher has been set up in 2020. This initiative will contribute to reduce the reject of oversized sand going to the sand dryer.
In Paraguay, the new water treatment plant set up end of 2020 will reduce the wastewater generation by 50% and operating costs by 75%. In addition, the final effluent will have the required quality to be reused in the production processes reducing also the water withdrawal of the plant.
