Material topics

Comet made significant progress in implementing its sustainability strategy in 2023. Notably, greenhouse gas emissions were estimated in the value chain (Scope 3 according to the Greenhouse Gas Protocol) for the first time, an eco-design project was launched, and an action plan was developed to switch the Comet Group to 100% electricity from renewable sources by 2030. In another first, Comet developed a report on non-financial matters under Swiss law. This is largely based on the Report in Accordance with GRI Standards. The content of the Report in Accordance with GRI Standards, which applies the concept of double materiality, addresses those topics that have the greatest medium- and long-term impact on the environment, society and economy and the greatest relevance for business success.

To ensure that the key topics are up to date, Comet regularly reviews which topics are central to the long-term, sustainable development of the company. The aim of updating the materiality analysis in the reporting year to incorporate dual materiality was to review the relevance of the topics already identified in previous years and verify the strategic parameters for the prioritization of topics. The selection of topics itself is based on the central elements of the corporate strategy and of long-term planning on the one hand, and on inputs from management and stakeholders on the other.

As part of a context analysis, the existing material topics developed in 2021 were first examined as to whether they remained relevant in light of the present business model, and were found to remain appropriate. The topics from the economic, environmental, social and governance categories were then analyzed according to the principle of double materiality: Relevant stakeholder groups assessed the impact of these topics on the economy, the environment and society in a survey. Feedback from a total of 67 stakeholders was incorporated, including investors and analysts (with a weighting of 25%), suppliers and business partners (weighting of 25%), customers (weighting of 25%) and Comet employees (weighting of 25%). In a second survey, a total of 32 managers from Comet’s various divisions and from Group headquarters assessed the materiality of the topics for the company’s long-term business success. The resulting materiality matrix was validated and approved by the Executive Committee and the Board of Directors of Comet Holding AG.

The result of the materiality analysis is presented in the materiality matrix. The 15 material topics form the basis for this sustainability reporting.

We work closely with Comet’s stakeholders to improve performance on our material topics. Our most important stakeholders are our employees, customers, suppliers and shareholders. Some of these stakeholders have a direct influence on the improvement of the material topics, while others are affected by the resulting measures. We are therefore in regular contact with these stakeholders, in some cases even on a daily basis. Typical interactions include quarterly conference calls between the CEO and CFO and employees, interactions via the Viva Engage social networking platform, regular meetings and phone calls with customers and suppliers, investor conferences, capital market days with financial analysts and shareholders, and the annual meeting of shareholders. In 2023, the dialog with our stakeholders led to various measures taken in all four dimensions – economic, environmental, social and governance. Examples include the introduction of a new x-ray system tailored to customers in the semiconductor industry, the inclusion of environmental criteria in the planning of a new building in Penang, Malaysia, and Comet’s full coverage of the loss of income caused by short-time working in Flamatt.