Reducing waste and advancing circular resource management

Improving Sika’s material efficiency through applying circular principles along the value chain will be critical for Sika’s path to net zero. Sika is committed to preventing waste in its activities and ensuring optimal waste management. The company reduces the amount of waste per ton sold by putting in place activities such as optimization of the production planning, streamlining the production process layout, and the reuse of production waste. Sika has actively started to seek performance enhancements by using increasingly recycled materials. In the new Strategy 2028, Sika set the target to reduce by -15% waste disposed per ton sold.

Waste across the value chain

Waste can arise at multiple stages of the value chain, including raw material sourcing, manufacturing, packaging, logistics, product use, and end of life. Sika addresses waste across these stages by focusing on waste prevention, improving material efficiency, and collaborating with partners and suppliers to increase reuse, recycling, and recovery. This value-chain perspective supports consistent waste reduction beyond Sika’s own operations.

Waste reduction in own operations

Reducing waste at the source is a key priority in Sika’s operations. In line with Strategy 2028, Sika aims to reduce non-recoverable waste disposed per ton sold by 15% compared to 2023. Since 2024, the compensation scheme of Group Management and Sika Senior Managers has been linked to the performance regarding non-recoverable waste per ton sold.

Waste initiatives and implementation

Sika drives waste management through a structured approach based on three key levers:

  • Reduce: Preventing waste generation through process optimization, efficient material use, and improved production planning.
  • Reuse: Extending the life of materials through internal reuse or preparation for external reuse, such as cleaning and reusing containers, drums, and pallets.
  • Recycle or recover: Converting waste streams into valuable resources through internal reprocessing or collaboration with specialized partners.