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

Curious to learn more?

  • 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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