Environmental information

The following sections are covered in the environmental information chapter:

Climate change

Strategy, governance and IROs

At Sonova, we recognize our responsibility in addressing climate change and acknowledge the need to achieve net zero emissions by 2050. Rising temperatures and extreme weather pose risks not only to our business but also to society and the environment. Sonovaʼs Board of Directors has ultimate oversight and responsibility for ESG, including climate change. The Board of Directors and its committees receive climate change performance metric updates at most of their regular meetings. At Management Board level, responsibility for environmental sustainability is assigned to the GVP Operations, who monitors scope 1-3 greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and energy consumption progress on a monthly basis. Within each region, dedicated environmental leaders are responsible for driving scope 1 and 2 emission reductions as well as implementing energy efficiency measures with local Group companies. This governance structure ensures global coherence in our approach toward GHG emissions reduction while allowing for targeted ad-hoc reduction activities relevant to differing local contexts. For scope 3 reductions, dedicated cross-functional teams were established in the 2024/25 financial year to accelerate climate action.

The topic of climate change is defined as climate change mitigation, climate change adaptation and energy use, and is relevant to Sonova across the entire value chain.

Material impacts, risks and opportunities related to climate change:

IRO	Occurrence	Expected time horizon
Positive impact: Renewable energy use Increasing the share of renewable energy over conventional carbon emitting options reduces Sonova's and our suppliers' carbon footprint.	Entire value chain	Increase in short-term
Negative impact: Greenhouse gas emissions Greenhouse gas emissions from energy used for own operations and production by suppliers contribute to climate change, leading to further negative environmental impacts.	Upstream and own operations	Increase in medium- to long-term

Our climate strategy addresses both mitigation of the causes of climate change and resilience to its effects, combining effective near-term actions to secure important long-term results. It is underlined by our ambitious near-term Science Based Target (SBT), which was approved in 2023 by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi). Our goals are to decrease our combined absolute scope 1 and 2 (market-based) emissions by 78.3% and our scope 3 emissions by 32.5% by financial year 2032/33 versus our 2019/20 financial year baseline. To achieve GHG emission reductions, Sonovaʼs overall climate mitigation approach encompasses four types of actions:

Measure emissions and continuously improve data quality
Avoid emissions by progressively adopting low-impact solutions
Replace energy sources with renewable ones
Engage and collaborate with partners along our value chain to reduce our GHG emissions

For Sonova to achieve the required GHG reductions within our own operations, we need to keep a strong focus on securing 100% renewable energy to power all our sites and electric vehicles (EVs). In addition, Sonova aims to accelerate the transition towards a lower carbon car fleet, by further increasing the ratio of fully electric vehicles and more efficient vehicles. To further reduce operational scope 1 emissions, we will maintain our focus on the energy efficiency of our Audiological Care store network and further electrify our heating supplies. Before each new financial year, climate mitigation initiatives are integrated into the annual budget cycle.

As part of our commitment to reduce our scope 3 emissions, we have identified various levers to meaningfully drive GHG reductions. We will further accelerate supplier engagement and encourage critical partners to align with our decarbonization goals. We also seek to decrease our packaging weight and volume and optimize our supply chain network to shorten distribution distances. Additionally, we are committed to exploring lower-impact materials while embracing circular economy principles, such as designing for repair, dismantling, refurbishing and service.

To strengthen our resilience, we have been addressing climate-related risks and opportunities since the 2021/22 financial year through structured assessments. These cover nine markets most relevant to Sonova in terms of operational footprint, store network, and sales, providing insights into short- (2025), medium- (2030), and long-term (2050) risks. While the 2025 short- term horizon is chosen to align with Sonovaʼs short-term risk horizon, 2030 is used as a proxy for the near-term Science Based Target. The long-term time horizon aligns with the broadly acknowledged need to achieve net zero emissions by 2050 to keep global warming well below 1.5°C as outlined by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). We assess the potential impact on Sonovaʼs business and resilience using qualitative and quantitative climate-related scenario analyses:

A high-mitigation, i.e., 1.5°C and below 2°C warming scenario to assess risks related to the transition to a low-carbon future
A business-as-usual, i.e., 4°C warming scenario to capture the physical risks associated with the intensification of widespread climate hazards

These insights are integrated into Sonovaʼs broader strategic risk management framework alongside other business risks.

Based on interviews with internal stakeholders and using the EU Taxonomyʼs climate-related hazards classification (2021), we identified seven physical risks, four transition risks, and two transition opportunities, totaling thirteen potential climate-related risks and opportunities. Transition risks and opportunities were identified focusing on policy, legal, technology, market, and reputation factors.

Next, we conducted a climate analysis using the Representative Concentration Pathway (RCP) 8.5 scenario to project changes in risks and opportunities through 2030 and 2050. We evaluated transition risks and opportunities for 2025, 2030, and 2050 using various scenarios, including IEA STEPS, which projects a temperature increase of approximately 3°C by 2100, IEA SDS, which predicts global warming to be 1.75°C, and IEA NZE net zero by 2050 scenario. Risks and opportunities were rated qualitatively based on Sonovaʼs footprint and likelihood of occurrence. The table below shows the highest risks and opportunities that were identified across all timeframes (2025, 2030, and 2050) and scenarios on which they are based.

Generic country-level analysis of physical and transition risks and opportunities (combined 2025, 2030, and 2050 scenarios)¹

Risk/opportunity

TCFD – Summary of Sonova-specific site-level analysis¹

Potential risk	Country	Potential threat
Episodes of higher temperatures	United States, United Kingdom, Germany, Canada, Switzerland	The frequency and duration of higher temperatures are expected to rise, particularly in the southern and eastern U.S., leading to higher cooling costs and greater heat stress for employees and consumers. Since elderly individuals, who are most prone to hearing loss, are also highly vulnerable to heat stress, they may avoid stores, impacting sales.
Wildfires	United States	Rising average and peak temperatures during wildfire season will heighten wildfire risks, which may impact our California production site.
Heavy precipitation and flooding	Vietnam	Heavy precipitation in the Ho Chi Minh City region is expected to rise significantly, potentially impacting our supply chain and operations center through flash and sustained flooding.
Sea level rise and coastal flooding	Vietnam	As our operations center in Vietnam is located far inland, the projected sea level rise and coastal flooding is expected to pose no substantial risk.

1)For this assessment, we used various datasets derived from General Circulation Model (GCM) and simulations conducted under the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project, Phase 5 (CMIP5).

We quantified the financial impact of two risks: increased heavy precipitation and flooding near our operations in Vietnam and China, and rising air-transportation costs due to carbon policies. Our assessment indicated that flood risk to our operations is not expected to increase, as local teams have precautions in place. We then focused on critical suppliers, finding that four supplier locations are at risk of river flooding and two of coastal flooding. The financial impact was calculated based on potential operational downtime, supply shortages, and revenue loss. Overall, the assessment showed low risk today, in 2030, and in 2050 under both 2°C and 4°C scenarios.

We also analyzed the financial impact of rising carbon prices on air transportation costs in Switzerland, Germany, and the UK, finding that air freight poses a higher risk than business travel, but the overall risk remains low in 2030 and 2050. Achieving our current science-based targets could reduce potential carbon costs by 70%. Sonova plans to update its climate risks and opportunities assessment in the 2025/26 financial year.

Policies and actions

Climate action has been at the top of Sonovaʼs environmental agenda for many years across the entire value chain and is governed by several policies. The Code of Conduct focuses on our general climate change commitment for our own employees and business partners. The Corporate Environmental Policy principles include continuous monitoring and improvement of our environmental objectives and performance across the Group. In addition, we train our employees on the policy while raising awareness on environmental topics and consideration of environmental sustainability in business decisions and activities, facility construction and modifications. The Supplier Code of Conduct covers the upstream value chain and climate-related aspects.

In the 2024/25 financial year, we have continued to install LED lighting across our facilities, optimized HVAC equipment, switched from fossil fuel heating to electric heating (e.g., heat-pumps) where feasible, and improved building management systems to improve our energy efficiency and reduce scope 1 and 2 emissions. We have also increased the number of electric vehicles (EV) in our fleet and updated our car policy to further incentivize the uptake of EVs.

To reduce our scope 3 emissions, we implemented a wide range of initiatives during the 2024/25 financial year. Our supplier engagement efforts intensified, including direct collaboration with ten key direct material suppliers to support their decarbonization progress. As a result, 3 of these suppliers improved their decarbonization maturity, and we received our first supplier-specific Product Carbon Footprints (PCFs), which will now guide targeted emissions reduction actions across our value chain. Sustainability criteria were further embedded in our procurement processes, including incorporating sustainability performance as a scored criterion in selected vendor assessments. Additionally, we optimized some of our packaging to reduce our scope 3 emissions and strengthened the integration of GHG emissions reduction and broader sustainability considerations into product development within our Hearing Instruments and Consumer Hearing businesses. Further initiatives focused on optimizing our supply chain network, with an increased emphasis on shipping materials and products via ground and sea freight to reduce emissions. We also piloted an internal carbon price of CHF 100 per tCO₂e, applying it to material and supplier selection as well as project evaluations to drive lower-carbon decision-making.

Performance metrics and targets

Energy

Key ESG target:
We reduce our energy consumption per employee by 10% vs. 2022/23 by 2027/28.

The Groupʼs total energy consumption decreased by 0.7% in the 2024/25 financial year compared to the previous year, and reduced by 4.2% per FTE. This reduction is largely attributable to lower heating energy requirements due to mild weather, along with various energy-saving initiatives, mainly in the Audiological Care Group companies. We have reduced our energy intensity by 13% compared to 2022/23, and have therefore achieved our energy intensity target ahead of schedule.

Energy intensity
✔ Data externally assured (limited assurance)

Sales in CHF million, MWh and MWh/FTE¹
	2024/25	2023/24	2022/23 ²	vs PY (%)	in % vs baseline
Sales	3,865.4	3,626.9	3,738.4
Total energy consumption	108,886	109,628	116,161	(0.7%)
Energy intensity relative to sales	28.2	30.2	31.1	(6.8%)
Energy intensity relative to FTE	5.92	6.17	6.83	(4.2%)	(13%)

1)For definition, methodology, data, and restatements, see Sustainability note 1 - Climate change.

2)2022/23 figures do not include HYSOUND.

Renewable energy represented 59% of Sonovaʼs total energy consumption in the 2024/25 financial year, an increase of two percentage points compared to 2023/24. We follow a three-step approach for our 100% renewable electricity sourcing. Firstly, we invest in onsite electricity generation: in 2024/25, 1.8% of our total energy consumption was produced with onsite photovoltaic panels. Where onsite generation is not yet feasible, Group companies are prompted to source certified renewable electricity locally. In the 2024/25 financial year, 34% of total electricity consumption was sourced locally via bundled certified renewable electricity, and 4% was sourced from Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs). Lastly, for all those Group companies where renewable energy is not yet used or available, Sonova purchases unbundled Energy Attribute Certificates, which covered the remaining 62% of total electricity consumption.

Energy mix
✔ Data externally assured (limited assurance)

MWh
	2024/25	2023/24²	2022/23^2,3	vs PY (%)
Total energy consumption¹	108,886	109,628	116,161	(0.7%)
Non-renewable energy consumption	44,889	47,824	55,814	(6.1%)
Crude oil and petroleum products	23,023	23,280	22,433
Natural gas	17,190	20,645	29,067
Purchased electricity, heat, steam, or cooling from fossil sources	4,458	3,898	4,315
Liquefied petroleum gas	218	0	0
Renewable energy consumption	63,997	61,805	60,347	3.5%
Purchased electricity, heat, steam, or cooling renewable sources	62,079	59,762	58,744	3.9%
Solar	4,667
Hydro	28,082
Wind	4,734
Biomass / biogas⁴	1,924	1,691	1,402
Mixed sources / unknown	22,672	58,070	57,342
Self-generated renewable energy	1,918	2,043	1,603	(6.1%)
Share of renewable energy	59%	56%	52%
Share of certified renewable electricity procurement methods⁵
Power purchasing agreement	2,717
Total bundled energy attribute certificates	20,306
Total unbundled energy attribute certificates	37,132

1)For definition, methodology, data, and restatements see Sustainability note 1 - Climate change. No energy is sourced from nuclear, coal, nor from geothermal, hydrogen, or other renewable and non-renewable sources not listed in the table.

2)Breakdown of renewable sources and certified renewable electricity procurement methods is only available for the financial year 2024/25.

3)Does not include HYSOUND.

4)Accounted for in scope 1 - stationary combustion.

5)Refer to purchased electricity, heat, steam or cooling renewable sources total quantities, excluding biogas.

Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions

Sonova classifies GHG emissions into the following categories:

Scope 1: direct GHG emissions deriving from the combustion of fossil fuels related to company vehicles, stationary combustion (e.g., heating), and fugitive emissions (e.g., from refrigerants)
Scope 2: indirect GHG emissions from sources such as electricity or district heating
Scope 3: GHG emissions that arise from our value chain

Key ESG targets:
We reduce scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas emissions by 78.3% vs. 2019/20 by 2032/33.*
We reduce scope 3 greenhouse gas emissions by 32.5% vs. 2019/20 by 2032/33.*

* Approved by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) in 2023. The target boundary includes biogenic land-related emissions and removals from bioenergy feedstocks.

In June 2023, the SBTi approved our near-term science-based targets, which guide our GHG emissions reduction efforts. During the 2024/25 financial year, our scope 1 and 2 emissions decreased by 68.4% compared to 2019/20 and by 4.4% compared to 2023/24. Scope 3 decreased by 19.3% compared to 2019/20, but increased by 4.7% compared to 2023/24. Our total scope 1-3 GHG emissions in 2024/25 increased by 4.3% compared to the previous year, while still representing a 24.5% decrease vs. 2019/20.

GHG emissions – Scope 1-3
✔ Data externally assured (limited assurance)

Metric tons CO₂e¹
	2024/25	2023/24	2022/23	...	2019/20 (SBTi target baseline)	vs PY (%)	in % vs baseline
Scope 1²	10,178	10,779	11,268		12,828	(5.6%)	(20.7%)
Mobile combustion	5,268	5,426	5,396		6,361	(2.9%)
Stationary combustion	3,691	4,302	5,713		6,058	(14.2%)
Refrigerants	1,218	1,051	158		409	16.0%
Scope 2 (market-based)	801	701	2,514		21,919	14.3%	(96.3%)
Scope 1-2 (market-based)	10,979	11,480	13,782		34,747	(4.4%)	(68.4%)
Scope 2 (location-based)	18,573	19,392	21,158		19,497	(4.2%)
Scope 1-2 (location-based)	28,751	30,170	32,426		32,325	(4.7%)
Scope 3	234,070	223,552	244,163		289,930	4.7%	(19.3%)
Category 1: Purchased goods and services	126,919	120,553	142,841		161,784	5.3%
Category 2: Capital goods	2,925	2,605	2,124		3,073	12.3%
Category 3: Fuel- and energy-related activities	9,802	8,001	9,312		8,076	22.5%
Categories 4 and 9: Upstream and downstream transportation and distribution	50,877	50,985	49,991		57,235	(0.2%)
Category 5: Waste generated in operations	538	541	467		1,246	(0.5%)
Category 6: Business travel	14,246	12,943	10,500		23,940	10.1%
Category 7: Employee commuting	21,780	21,079	21,557		26,986	3.3%
Category 8: Upstream leased assets	514	534	851		1,419	(3.8%)
Category 11: Use of sold products	3,872	3,686	3,967		4,026	5.0%
Category 12: End-of-life of sold products	2,233	2,274	2,278		2,058	(1.8%)
Category 15: Investments	364	353	276		87	3.1%
Total scope 1-3³	245,049	235,031	257,945		324,677	4.3%	(24.5%)
Biogenic emissions (Out-of-scope) ⁴	383	337	279		0	13.8%

1)For definition, methodology, data and emission factor sources, and restatements, see Sustainability note 1 - Climate change. Sonova does not have operational control in investees, therefore our share of GHG emissions related to those are reflected in scope 3, category 15: Investments.

2)None of Sonova's scope 1 emissions are from regulated emission trading schemes. Includes N₂O and CH₄ emissions from biogenic sources.

3)Calculated considering scope 2 (market-based) emissions.

4) Biogenic CO₂ emissions are separately disclosed as out-of-scope emissions in accordance with the GHG Protocol. The only source of these emissions is biogas consumption for stationary combustion.

Total GHG emissions 2019/20 – 2024/25

Scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions

Scope 1 emissions decreased by 5.6% compared to the financial year 2023/24, primarily due to reduced GHG emissions from heating. Additionally, emissions from Sonovaʼs car fleet decreased by 2.9% as mileage with traditional internal combustion engine cars decreased in favor of electric and hybrid vehicles. Meanwhile, scope 2 emissions increased 14.3%, reflecting the increased use of district heating in the reported year, especially in our Audiological Care stores. Because of our renewable electricity sourcing efforts, Scope 2 emissions have been reduced by 96% compared to our SBTi baseline, with district heating being the only remaining source of scope 2 (market-based) emissions.

Scope 3 GHG emissions

Our value chain accounts for more than 95% of our total GHG emissions, where purchased goods and services, transport and distribution, employee commuting, and business travel represent more than 90% of scope 3 emissions. Sustaining a sharp focus on reducing scope 3 emissions is therefore critical for Sonova. Our scope 3 emissions grew by 4.7% compared to the 2023/24 financial year. The increase mainly stemmed from business growth, which was partially offset through ongoing initiatives.

The largest source of Sonovaʼs GHG emissions is the procurement of direct and indirect materials and services, which accounts for 54% of scope 3 emissions in the 2024/25 financial year. Category 1 emissions rose by 5.3% compared to the 2023/24 financial year, due to the increase in materials and services purchased by the Hearing Instruments and Cochlear Implants businesses. Several initiatives are ongoing to continue our pursuit to lower the GHG emissions intensity of our products and components. Sonovaʼs GHG emissions from transport and distribution remained stable compared to the 2023/24 financial year, despite a great increase in shipping volumes. A lower emission intensity was achieved through increased use of shipping by ground and sea instead of air, and through the lower intensity of air freight emissions by some of our major carriers. Sonova remains committed to assessing opportunities to move towards lower impact transportation modes and reduce transportation distances, which will enhance our supply chain resilience.

Air travel represents 98% of category 6 business travel emissions, while car allowances represent the remaining 2%. In the 2024/25 financial year, overall business travel emissions increased by 10% compared to the previous year. Business travel emissions for 2024/25 still represent an overall decrease of 40% compared to the pre-COVID level of 2019/20. Sonovaʼs GHG emissions from employee commuting increased by 3.3% compared to 2023/24, due to an increase in the number of employees during the financial year.

Total GHG emission intensity decreased to 63.4t CO₂e per million CHF revenues for 2024/25, compared with 64.8t CO₂e in the prior year.

GHG emission intensity
✔ Data externally assured (limited assurance)

Metric tons CO₂e/sales in CHF million¹
	2024/25	2023/24	2022/23²	vs PY (%)
Sales³	3,865.4	3,626.9	3,738.4
Scope 1	2.6	3.0	3.0	(11%)
Scope 2 (market-based)	0.2	0.2	0.2	7%
Scope 2 (location-based)	4.8	5.3	5.2	(10%)
Scope 1-2 (market-based)	2.8	3.2	3.2	(10%)
Scope 1-2 (location-based)	7.4	8.3	8.2	(11%)
Scope 3	60.6	61.6	65.1	(2%)
Scope 1-3⁴	63.4	64.8	68.2	(2%)

1)For definition, methodology, data and emission factor sources, and restatements, see Sustainability note 1 - Climate change.

2)2022/23 GHG emissions do not include HYSOUND.

3)Sales refer to financial report 2024/25, 5 year key figures.

4)Calculated considering scope 2 (market-based) emissions.

As part of Sonovaʼs commitment to maintaining carbon-neutral operations, we purchase carbon credits to offset the remaining scope 1 and 2 emissions. We have contractual agreements in place until the end of 2025/26 to support three projects for which carbon credits are generated: hydro power in China, solar power in Vietnam, and forest protection in the Brazilian Amazon. All three projects are either Gold Standard or VCS certified, and the carbon credits are used separately and are not accredited to our GHG reduction targets. As of the 2024/25 financial year, we have not used or invested in carbon capture and storage (CCS) or direct CO₂ removal (CDR) solutions.

Carbon credits
✔ Data externally assured (limited assurance)

Metric tons CO₂e avoided outside of Sonova's value chain¹
	2024/25	% of total
Total carbon credits cancelled	10,979
Gold Standard	3,660	33%
VCS (Verified Carbon Standard)	7,319	67%

		Future cancellations
Total future carbon credits cancellation based on contractual agreements		4,440

1)None of the projects are located in the EU. None of the projects qualify as a corresponding adjustment under Article 6 of the Paris Agreement.

Circular economy

At Sonova, we support the transition towards a circular economy by minimizing the extraction and consumption of natural resources, and addressing product end-of-life treatment. Moreover, cross-functional efforts foster circularity by reducing packaging waste, enhancing product reliability and optimizing servicing processes.

Packaging and distribution

Key ESG target:
We reduce packaging material weight by 20% vs. 2023/24 by 2026/27 for our Hearing Instruments business.

In 2024/25 we reduced packaging material for the Hearing Instruments business by 2.6% compared to 2023/24. A cross-functional team was formed to drive packaging reductions, mainly by replacing packaging components with lighter alternatives, moving to lower carbon alternatives, and improving the packaging architecture. One example of the solutions developed by the team is a new product packaging box, which decreases the annually produced weight of the selected product by more than 65% per article.

Packaging weight (Hearing Instruments business)
✔ Data externally assured (limited assurance)

Metric tons¹
	2024/25	2023/24
Packaging weight	1,395	1,433

1)For definition, methodology, data, and restatements see Sustainability note 2 - Other environmental topics.

We also prioritize circular packaging initiatives in our Consumer Hearing business. In the financial year 2024/25, 17% of products and spare parts sold featured plastic-free packaging, and the latest True Wireless product packaging range is 42% smaller in volume than its first-generation counterparts.

Product use, repair, and refurbishment

Service and repair procedures are integrated into the Hearing Instruments product development process. Several projects have been launched to extend the lifecycle of our products and components, such as optimizing spare parts usage for electronic modules, extending repair services, testing used devices, and enhancing reliability. Each improvement in product reliability leads to several positive environmental impacts, such as reduced material use for replacements, lower transportation volumes to our repair centers, and fewer consumer trips to return devices. The proprietary diagnostic equipment used across all Sonova Service Centers to test the functionality of our hearing instrument chargers continues to reduce the number of chargers that require replacement rather than repair.

The continued uptake of rechargeable lithium-ion behind-the-ear (BTE) and receiver-in-canal (RIC) devices helps to reduce single-use battery waste. In the 2024/25 financial year, 66% of all BTE and RIC hearing instruments sold were rechargeable, compared to 63% in 2023/24. Our Cochlear Implants business also offers rechargeable battery options for cochlear implant sound processors.

In our Consumer Hearing business, repairability is becoming increasingly important for ensuring product durability. We offer various spare parts on our website, enabling customers to repair only the necessary components instead of replacing the entire product. We are also making ongoing efforts to increase our refurbishment activities, which help to curb waste and minimize scrapping.

Waste

We are committed to minimizing the generation of operational waste wherever possible, separating materials to enable recycling, and disposing of hazardous waste in environmentally compatible ways.

Key ESG target:
We reduce our operational waste per employee by 5% vs. 2022/23 by 2027/28.

In 2024/25 we reduced our waste per full-time employee equivalent (FTE) by 6% compared to 2022/23, achieving our target ahead of schedule. The absolute waste figure increased by 92 metric tons (up 3% compared to 2023/24). Sonova complies with legal requirements in countries where we operate to transport and dispose of hazardous waste solely through officially authorized disposal agents. Local waste reduction efforts resulted mainly in a reduction of recycling waste, which decreased by 6% compared to the prior year, therefore also reducing the overall recycling rate. Local measures included selling used furniture and IT equipment for upcycling, and selling food waste for animal feed.

Operational waste
✔ Data externally assured (limited assurance)

Metric tons¹
	2024/25	2023/24	2022/23
Total waste	3,545	3,453	3,499
Non-hazardous waste	3,432	3,373	3,424
Preparation for reuse	25	-	-
Recycling	1,725	1,881	1,951
Incineration with and without energy recovery	561	585	674
Landfill	964	907	799
Other treatments	156	-	-
Hazardous waste	113	80	75
Recycling²	26	18	19
Incineration with and without energy recovery	48	33	34
Landfill	23	19	14
Other treatments	16	11	8
Total recycled waste	1,776	1,899	1,970
Total non-recycled waste	1,769	1,555	1,529
Recycling rate	50%	55%	56%
Total waste per FTE [kg/FTE]	192.6	194.5	205.8
Waste per FTE vs baseline 2022/23	(6%)	(6%)

1)For definition, methodology, data and restatements see Sustainability note 2 - Other environmental topics.

2)Not included in recycling rate.

Product end-of-life

Sonova complies with the EU directive on Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE), which requires such equipment to be returned to the manufacturer for recycling or environmentally friendly disposal. Selected Sonova Group companies in the Audiological Care business offer battery collection programs, which enable consumers to bring their used hearing aid batteries back to the store. The batteries collected are disposed of through officially authorized disposal agents. In 2024/25, more than three metric tons of batteries were collected at different stores worldwide.

Pollution and substances of concern

Sonova is committed to minimizing pollution and the use of substances of concern and their impact on the environment and human health. As a medical and consumer device manufacturer, Sonova takes a proactive approach to evaluating materials in its products and components to assess environmental, health, or safety risks. This evaluation process is continuous and applies to all stages of production. Employees who work with chemicals and hazardous substances, or come into contact with them, are trained annually in their safe handling.

Sonova complies with the EU directive on the Restriction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS 2015/863/EU) and with the EU regulation on the Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH EC 1907/2006). Sonovaʼs suppliers are also required to prove their compliance with the RoHS directive and the REACH regulation in their respective processes and supply chains. In accordance with the REACH regulation, Sonova continuously updates the list of substances of very high concern that may be present in products above the regulatory threshold level of 0.1% by weight of the article.

In the 2023/24 financial year, Sonova assessed the global airborne emissions from our facilities and car fleet, which confirmed that their levels of air pollutants (SOx, NOx, PM10) were well below the regulatory thresholds outlined in Annex II of the Regulation (EC) No 166/2006 of the European Parliament, and of the Council of 18 January 2006, concerning the establishment of a European Pollutant Release and Transfer Register.

Water

Although our manufacturing processes do not demand substantial amounts of water, we prioritize minimizing our consumption of fresh water, particularly in regions facing water scarcity. Sonova mainly uses water for sanitary services, building automation systems, kitchens and garden maintenance. Our conservation initiatives therefore concentrate on monitoring per-capita water usage in larger facilities to pinpoint opportunities for improvement. Sonovaʼs water withdrawals originate from municipal water supplies or other publicly or privately managed water utilities.

Key ESG target:
We reduce our water withdrawal per employee by 5% vs. 2022/23 by 2027/28.

In 2024/25, Sonova decreased its water withdrawal per employee by 15% compared to 2022/23, reaching 11.7 m³/FTE, achieving our target ahead of schedule. Water withdrawal reduction measures focused on proactive maintenance.

Water withdrawal¹
✔ Data externally assured (limited assurance)

m³
	2024/25	2023/24	2022/23
Total water withdrawal	214,651	247,589	232,339
Water withdrawal per FTE	11.7	13.9	13.7
Water withdrawal per FTE vs baseline 2022/23	(15%)	2%
Total water withdrawal in water-stressed areas²	13%	8%

1) For definition, methodology, data and restatements see Sustainability note 2 - Other environmental topics.

2)2024/25 value not comparable with 2023/24 due to calculation boundaries change.

During the 2024/25 financial year, we conducted a physical water risk analysis covering 100% of our water withdrawal. We used the WWF Water Risk Filter based on geographic water-catchment area at basin level and increased the scope of the assessment to the overall water scarcity risk as recommended by WWF. This analysis shows that 13% (28,245m³) of our water withdrawal is occurring in regions with high to very-high water stress. The sites with the highest water withdrawal in these areas are located in Mexico, United States, China, India and Israel. This data allows us to prioritize our future water withdrawal reduction efforts.

Biodiversity

Sonovaʼs global activities, products, and services do not have significant direct influence on biological diversity. However, we recognize that formally assessing our impacts and dependencies on this topic is important in the global context of rapidly declining biodiversity and the threats imposed on natural ecosystems. By using the WWF Biodiversity Risk Filter we assessed all owned and leased sites in the 2024/25 financial year for potential biodiversity-related risks, which showed that less than 0.5% of all assessed sites have potentially increased physical risks from extreme heat, local water conditions, and air conditions. Other environmental risk factors, such as impacts and dependencies on protected/conserved areas, key biodiversity areas, or ecosystem conditions, did not apply to any assessed site.