Measuring sustainability

We want to create long-term added value for society. To ensure that our measures are effective, we set ourselves ambitious targets and measure our success.

How we measure sustainability

In order to effectively manage sustainability and successfully implement our sustainability strategy, we define targets and key indicators. We are also developing tools to measure our progress and to help us align our business in a sustainable and future-proof way.

But we are not the only ones who evaluate our sustainability performance. Rating agencies also analyze and assess our success. We use their results in order to continuously develop and improve further.

Goals and key indicators

In our sustainability strategy, we have defined three far-reaching goals:

  • In 2030, we will achieve human progress for more than one billion people through sustainable science and technology.
  • By 2030, we will fully integrate sustainability into all our value chains.
  • By 2040, we will achieve climate neutrality and reduce our resource consumption. 

Our sustainability strategy is centered on seven focus areas, within which we realize and will continue to realize numerous initiatives and projects. We measure our progress using 16 sustainability key indicators

We also collect other key figures that cover a wide range of environmental, social and economic aspects.  

As of fiscal 2022, the compensation of our Executive Board and senior executives includes a sustainability factor. 

In 2023 and for the first time, the company tied part of the variable employee compensation to sustainability parameters.

Learn more in our Sustainability Statement.

Our Tools

We develop methods and tools to evaluate our products and initiatives with regard to sustainability aspects with a focus on how our technologies and applications impact society, the environment and our business. 

Through the Sustainable Business Value method, which we developed, we can calculate and evaluate the positive and negative impacts of our products, technologies and business activities on society. In doing so, we include the entire value chain. This knowledge and data help us drive sustainability across our business operations and position ourselves for future success.

Sustainable product development and research is the focus of our tools GreenSpeed, DOZN™ and Umbrella.

With GreenSpeed we evaluate the sustainability of our chemical products during manufacturing, facilitating efficient and eco-friendly production methods. It tracks crucial metrics such as water usage, solvent consumption, energy
expenditure, and greenhouse gas emissions, with the greenhouse gas emissions estimate derived from process mass intensity (PMI), or the total resources utilized to produce one kilogram of the final product.

Our award-winning web-based tool DOZN™ enables us to evaluate how our products are performing in three categories, namely “improving resource use”, “more efficient use of energy”, and “minimizing human and environmental hazards”. DOZN™ is an industry-first quantitative green chemistry evaluation tool. Available in a customer-facing version since 2019.

In order to make the R&D contribution to sustainability more aligned and transparent, we implemented the Umbrella initiative. It enables the coordination and the enhancements of the sustainability scorecards that have been implemented in all business sectors.  These scorecards are tailored to the sectors and contain questions that address social and environmental criteria along the value chain.

The business sectors' sustainability scorecards were mapped against our global sustainability strategy goals, and common core criteria were defined. The results of these common core sustainability criteria are consolidated from the scorecards and visualized in one Corporate Dashboard.

More information about our tools

Indices and ratings

We are not the only ones evaluating our non-financial performance. It is also assessed externally by investors and customers who use this information as a basis for their decisions. 

The following overview shows selected assessments that we have received. 

MSCI ESG AAA MSCI ESG AAA
ESG Rating from MSCI
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ESG Rating from MSCI

Best-class rating of “AAA” in the 2024 MSCI ESG Ratings assessment. Top 3% sector ranking.

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FTSE4Good-Index
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FTSE4Good-Index

Since 2008, our company has been included in FTSE4Good, a leading sustainability index assessing environmental, social, and ethical practices. In the 2024 sector rating, we scored 4.25/5, ranking us in the top 8%.

STOXX ESG Leaders STOXX ESG Leaders
STOXX® Global ESG Leaders Index
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STOXX® Global ESG Leaders Index

In 2023, our share was again included in STOXX Global ESG Leaders Index, a sustainability index based on key environmental, social and governance criteria.

forum-ethibel-logo forum-ethibel-logo
Ethibel Sustainability Index
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Ethibel Sustainability Index
Our company has been reconfirmed as a constituent of the Ethibel Sustainability Index (ESI) Excellence Europe since May 2020, based on VigeoEiris.
ATM-logo ATM-logo
Access to Medicine Index
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Access to Medicine Index

In 2024, our company ranked 7th in the Access to Medicine Index, exceeding the average in all three Technical Areas: Governance of access (3.92), R&D (2.97), and Product delivery (3.25). This index assesses 20 pharmaceutical companies on improving medicine access in developing countries.

CDP-logo CDP-logo
CDP

In 2023, we achieved a score of A- in the CDP Climate (formerly Carbon Disclosure Project). Since 2016, we have also reported our water-related performance to the CDP, receiving a grade of B for our water management practices in 2023.

Ecovadis 2023 Ecovadis 2023
EcoVadis-Rating
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EcoVadis-Rating

EcoVadis evaluates suppliers from 160 countries in environment, labor and human rights, ethics, and sustainable procurement. In 2023, we received Gold recognition, ranking us in the top 5% of all companies. We are committed to disclosing our 2024 activities, with rating scores coming soon.

ISS ESG Prime Badge ISS ESG Prime Badge
ESG company rating
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ESG company rating

In 2024, the Institutional Shareholder Services (ISS) group awarded us Prime Status once again. Our rating score improved from B- to B, with many data points now aligning with the new CSRD provisions. 

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Sustainalytics
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Sustainalytics

In 2024, we achieved an ESG risk rating of 15.5, with Sustainalytics assessing us as low risk. Our ESG Risk Exposure is classified as medium.

  • Our impact

    The United Nations defined 17 global goals for sustainable development. We too are doing our part to support.
    Find out more
  • Responsible supply chain

    When procuring raw materials, products and services from all over the world, we pay attention to quality, prices and compliance with ethical and legal standards.
    Find out more
  • Protecting environment

    Because it’s up to all of us to protect the climate and the environment, we are working to lower our emissions and manage natural resources responsibly.
    Find out more

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