Sustainability glossary

Biodegradable vs bio-based

Biodegradable refers to a material that, under natural environmental conditions, tends to dissolve and break down into the chemical elements of which it is composed, through the action of biological agents such as bacteria, plants, animals or other components present in the nature such as water or sunlight. This process must take place over a period of six months with the material biodegrading by 90% and the resulting elements being absorbed into the soil in the form of water, carbon dioxide, mineral salts and other elements. Through this decomposition, the biodegradable substances that make up the material become soil nutrients.

The term ‘bio-based’, on the other hand, refers to all those materials or products that are wholly or partially derived from vegetable derivatives or plants.

Carbon footprint

Carbon Footprint is a parameter that quantifies the greenhouse gases (GHGs) emissions caused by a product, service, organization, event or individual, expressed in tons of CO₂ equivalent.

Companies can calculate their footprint at product level through a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), or at corporate level. According to the GHG Protocol (a global standard in measuring and managing emissions), GHG emissions are divided in three different scope / categories:

Circularity

Circular economy refers to production and consumption models, which minimize waste and reduce the use of environmental resources. Applied in different sectors, it embraces the entire product life cycle from design to disposal.

Circularity in manufacturing focuses on creating a closed-loop system in which products, materials and resources are kept in use for as long as possible and waste is minimized. It implies innovative design for product longevity, reparability, renovation and recycling, thus reducing dependence on raw materials and environmental impact.

A good practice implemented is the recovery of all metal waste (brass, zamak, steel) generated in the production process.

Climate strategy

Climate Strategy means setting targets towards decarbonization and building a sustainability roadmap of interventions to reduce the carbon dioxide emitted in the atmosphere.

CO₂ equivalent

Global warming is not only determined by CO₂ but also by other greenhouse gases, each with a different environmental impact, measured by Global Warming Potential (GWP). CO₂ equivalent is a metric that compares the potential effects of these gases on climate: the amount of each gas is converted to the equivalent amount of carbon dioxide through GWP, a measure of how much heat a given mass of greenhouse gas traps in the atmosphere, compared to the heat trapped by the same mass of CO₂ over a specific time interval (usually 100 years).

For example, the GWP of methane (CH₄) is 25 and that of nitrous oxide (N₂O) is 298. This means that emissions of 1 million tons of methane and nitrous oxide are equivalent to emissions of 25 and 298 million tons of carbon dioxide, respectively.

As part of Oerlikon Group, the corporate footprint of the brands Oerlikon Fineparts and Oerlikon Riri is included in the Annual Sustainability Report. Specific information about Oerlikon Fineparts' commitment to sustainability is published within Oerlikon Luxury's 'Commitment to sustainability' (to download the document).

Fair access to water (SDG 6: "Clean water and sanitation")

It is the principle that ensures the availability of safe, sufficient and accessible water at an affordable cost to all people, without discrimination. This principle, in line with the Sustainable Development Goal 6 of the United Nations, promotes the equitable and efficient management of water resources to meet human, environmental and economic needs while reducing inequalities.

Forest Stewardship Council (FSC)

FSC stands for Forest Stewardship Council. It is an international, independent, non-profit, non-governmental organization whose members include NGOs, environmental (WWF, Greenpeace) and social groups (National Aboriginal Forestry Association of Canada) as well as the wood and paper trading and processing industries (Tetra Pak, Mondi).

In fact, the FSC label identifies products containing wood from forests that are managed properly and responsibly according to the strictest environmental, social and economic standards.

The paper and cardboard packaging used by Oerlikon Riri and Oerlikon Fineparts is FSC-certified.

Governance

Governance in sustainability concerns the way a company is managed, focusing on leadership, decision-making processes and accountability. It includes legal compliance, ethical conduct, risk management and transparent reporting. Effective governance is key to establish trust among stakeholders and ensuring long-term corporate sustainability.

Oerlikon Riri and Oerlikon Fineparts ensure traceability and high environmental, ethical and social standards throughout the product life cycle. In addition, they hold several independent global certifications to guarantee compliance with environmental and human rights standards and ensure ethical compliance throughout the supply chain.

Greenwashing

Greenwashing refers to the set of communication strategies and marketing initiatives – implemented by companies, organizations, or political institutions – aimed at building a green image in order to divert public attention away from the negative environmental effects caused by the company’s own activities or products.

Oerlikon Riri and Oerlikon Fineparts are committed to avoid greenwashing at all levels of communications through a transparent reporting and communication process and precision mapping of environmental “hotspots” regarding its products and activities.

ISO

International Organization for Standardization: it is about the most important world organization, based in Geneva, which is responsible for defining the technical standards, also known as ISO standards, that an entity must comply with in order to conform to specific evaluation parameters. These certifications deal with certifying a company’s compliance with evaluation criteria that establish the presence of specific elements within the internal company’s processes.

All the Oerlikon Riri plants are certified according to ISO 9001, 14001 and 45001.
The site of Oerlikon Fineparts based in Scarperia (Florence) is ISO 9001 certified.

LCA (Life Cycle Assessment)

Internationally acknowledged methodology aimed at a quantitative evaluation of the potential impacts of any product, service or process on the environment throughout their entire life cycle: from the extraction and procurement of raw materials, through the product manufacturing, the shipment, the application and use, until its disposal. Starting from LCA study, companies can provide a complete picture of their impact, through global vision and continuous improvement, which allows them to undertake various activities in order to mitigate the impacts of the products and to define an action plan in terms of innovation and eco-design.

Oerlikon Riri and Oerlikon Fineparts have chosen to implement the evaluation of their products through the environmental analysis of their life cycle, considering all stages except disposal. At the end of this study, they will be able to estimate the environmental impact of all their products, from zippers to buttons, up to metal components and fashion jewels. This path of continuous improvement enables both the brands and customers to make increasingly conscious choices. For more details.

Monomaterial

Monomaterial products facilitate the recycling process of raw materials, thus reducing their environmental impact. Products made by a single type of material, or from easily separable materials, are simpler to recycle, reducing the complexity and cost of the recycling process.

Oerlikon Riri and Oerlikon Fineparts are particularly careful in the choice of materials for their accessories and the use of mono-material elements ensures a high degree of recyclability and durability and facilitates the removal of the different components from the garments, simplifying their recovery and circularity.

Recycled vs. recyclable

A material is defined as recycled when it is composed of recovered material after having undergone a processing cycle in order to give it a new lease on life. A material is recyclable when, at the end of its standard use, it can be recovered or reused in a variety of ways.

Recycled materials used by Oerlilon Fineparts include:

Brass
Steel

The metals used by Oerlikon Fineparts are recyclable; the scraps are sent back to raw material suppliers or specialized disposers to ensure their new use.

Reduce vs. reuse vs. recycle

These are the three R's of the waste hierarchy. “Reduce” implies the minimization of waste generation and of resource use. “Reuse” is the action of using items several times before discarding them. ‘Recycling’ is the process of converting waste into new materials.
Manufacturing companies can apply these principles through efficient design, extended product life cycles and sustainable packaging strategies.

The waste generated by the various plants of Oerlikon Fineparts and Oerlikon Riri comes mainly from production operations, office waste and packaging materials from incoming goods.

The two brands are committed to redirecting their waste towards recovery or recycling wherever possible. Currently, 70% of waste is disposed of through recycling or recovery methods. In addition, they are constantly striving to improve their packaging, exploring ever more sustainable and environmentally friendly solutions.

Science Based Target (SBT)

SBT stands for Science Based Target. It is a partnership between the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP), United Nations Global Compact, World Resources Institute (WRI) and World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), established with the aim to help companies align with the commitments made during the Paris Accords to limit temperature rise to within 1.5° C compared to the pre-industrial age. Joining this initiative means publicly committing to ensure that one’s Climate Strategy is in line with scientific goals, adhering to an internationally shared framework with similar goals for companies comparable in size or sector.

Following an updated assessment of the Carbon Footprint and emissions, Oerlikon Riri and Oerlikon Fineparts will establish their Science Based Targets for emissions reductions.

Social sustainability

This concept focuses on well-being’s attention and improvement of individuals and communities. In a business context, this involves ensuring fair labor practices, safe working conditions and fair treatment of employees. It also includes community involvement and development initiatives, the support for local economies and the commitment to human rights and equality.

In 2023 Oerlikon Fineparts and Oerlikon Riri joined the Oerlikon Diversity Equity Inclusion program, dedicated to cultivating a work environment where every person can genuinely be themselves: Learn more here

Water cycle (industrial)

This is the process of using, treating and reusing water within production activities. It includes the withdrawal from natural sources, the use in industrial processes (cooling, cleaning, production, etc.), the treatment of wastewater and, where possible, the recycling or safe discharge into the environment, reducing waste and environmental impacts.
The water cycle in the Oerlikon Riri and Oerlikon Fineparts plants is shown below:

Water footprint

The water footprint is an indicator that quantifies the total volume of fresh water used in all the stages of the production of a good or service. This measure includes not only water actually used in the production process, but also the one that is polluted or consumed directly and indirectly. The water consumption of Oerlikon Riri and Oerlikon Fineparts is mainly related to production activities and all water discharges are managed in accordance with the authorization measures of each plant. Our Action Plan has a section dedicated to water optimization and reduction activities, which includes the following projects:

closed-loop galvanic systems;
development of Physical Vapour Deposition (PVD) processes;
compliance with the Zero Discharge of Hazardous Chemicals (ZDHC) protocol in all plants where wet textile processes take place and where applicable;
introduction of water-based varnishes and development of surface finishes with reduced water consumption and free of galvanic processes containing cyanides;
staff awareness about the efficient use of resources.

Water stress

An area is under water stress when the demand for water exceeds its availability, compromising ecosystems, economic activities and human well-being. This condition can be caused by periods of drought, overuse of resources or inefficiencies.
The distribution of water stress areas of Oerlikon Riri and Oerlikon Fineparts is shown below: