Evonik already generates around half of its sales with products for resource-efficient applications. That is shown by the Sustainability Report 2015, which was published recently.
"Our customers want products and solutions that balance economic, ecological and social factors. We take account of that in our sustainability strategy," stresses Thomas Wessel, the member of Evonik’s Executive Board responsible for sustainability. "Foresighted action is a prerequisite for profitable growth and a successful business performance, and we are aware of our responsibility."
In 2015 Evonik extended its sustainability analysis to all 22 business lines in its three chemical segments, so it covered around 94 percent of Group sales. The analysis, which included energy savings, greenhouse gas emissions, water consumption and the use of raw materials, shows the extensive contribution made by the Group's products to improving the resource efficiency of applications. Examples are amino acids for animal nutrition, additives for hydraulic fluids, and functional silanes to protect building facades. Evonik intends to step up sustainability analysis of its businesses this year.
Further progress towards environmental targets
Evonik aims to reduce specific greenhouse gas emissions (i.e. emissions per metric ton output) by 12 percent between 2013 and 2020. There was a considerable reduction of 3 percentage points in specific greenhouse gas emissions in 2015 as a result of measures to raise energy efficiency and a change in the energy mix at the site in Marl (Germany). Evonik has thus already reduced specific greenhouse gas emissions by 11 percent since 2012.
The company aims to reduce specific water intake by 10 percent in the same period. Following a slight rise in 2014, specific water intake also fell by 3 percentage points in 2015 and is now back at the 2012 level. This positive development was mainly attributable to saving measures, the start-up of further closed cooling water circuits, and site-specific factors affecting the intake of surface water.
Occupational safety remains very good
The "Safety at Evonik" initiative was continued in 2015. The aim is to give all employees binding principles for safety-compliant behavior and leadership. More than 90 percent of production and technology employees worldwide had been trained in the application of these principles by the end of 2015.
In the reporting period, accident frequency at Evonik was 1.0, which was again below the Group's self-imposed target of 1.3. This parameter shows the number of accidents in the workplace involving Evonik employees and contractors' employees under Evonik's direct supervision resulting in absence from work per 1 million working hours.
More transparency and sustainability in the supply chain
Evonik is strengthening transparency and sustainability along the supply chain—beyond its own operations. "We apply our high requirements in the areas of safety, health, environmental protection, labor standards and other key aspects of sustainability to our suppliers," explains Wessel. Evonik is a founding member of the "Together for Sustainability" (TfS) initiative set up by chemical companies to drive forward common sector standards for sustainable procurement and regularly takes part in the assess¬ments and audits specified by this initiative. At the start of 2016 it was awarded a gold rating for the third time in succession, rank¬ing it in the top 2 percent of the companies covered.
Evonik is also well positioned in important ratings and rankings. For example, in 2016 the company was included in the renowned Sustainability Yearbook published by RobecoSAM as a Sustainability Leader with the distinction "Silver Class". This was the first time Evonik took part and it gained a place straight away among the top ten of the approximately 70 chemical companies rated worldwide.
Sustainability report meets the current G4 requirements of the GRI Evonik's Sustainability Report 2015 applies the G4 Guidelines of the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) for the first time. The structure and content of the report are derived from the six areas of action derived from the materiality analysis conducted in fall 2015: "Strategy and growth", "Governance/Compliance", "Safety", "Sustainable products and solutions" and "Employer excellence".
The Sustainability Report 2015 can be downloaded from the internet at www.evonik.com/responsibility.
