Welcome to Evonik’s sustainability report 2023.

At Evonik, our goal is to make life better for present and future generations. We work towards that every day by implementing our strategy and ambitious targets.

In the past few years, we have made sustainability an integral part of our core processes. This report shows how we are putting the transformation to Next Generation Evonik into practice—as reflected in the title “Implement!”.

We explain what we have already achieved and what we still want to achieve, with a special focus on our three most important sustainability topics: green energy, portfolio transformation, and circular economy.

A special magazine section in the center of the report contains examples illustrating our daily work with our employees, customers, suppliers, and other partners.

This report highlights what we have achieved so far. At the same time, we are aware that there is still a long way to go. We are moving consistently towards Next Generation Evonik, supported by an understanding of the different perspectives of our stakeholders.

WE GO BEYOND

Evonik’s 15 material topics

How we drive forward sustainability

Evonik is one of the world’s leading specialty chemicals companies, with operations in more than 100 countries. We do not make car tires or mattresses, tablets or animal feed. Yet there is a bit of Evonik in all these products—and many more as well. Often it is the small amounts of our products that make a real difference. Because Evonik makes tires more fuel-efficient, mattresses more elastic, tablets more effective, and animal feed more healthy.

2015 – 2017

FOUNDATIONS

• Realignment of management and organization
• Development of analytical methods
• Start of stakeholder dialogue

2018 – 2021

Integration

• Purpose: Leading beyond chemistry to improve life, today and tomorrow
• Integration of sustainability into corporate strategy
• Green Finance Framework
• Identification of the SDGs of relevance for Evonik

2022 – 2030

NEXT
Generation
Evonik

• Portfolio transformation (Next Generation Solutions)
• SBTi and new climate targets; EAGER project (Next Generation Technologies)
• Integration of sustainability into HR processes (Next Generation Culture)
• Increased focus on sustainability in long-term remuneration of executives

Impact Valuation

1: €4.67

Every €1 value added by Evonik creates a total of €4.67 added value for society

1:11.6 Jobs

1 Evonik employee secures an average of 11.6 jobs in the value chain

1: €1.70

Every €1 value added by Evonik results in public revenue of €1.70

FIND OUT MORE FURTHER INFORMATION ON OUR SUSTAINABILITY MANAGEMENT

Evonik in figures

€1.7 billion
adjusted EBITDA
109 nationalities
~ 33 thousand employees
27 % female employees

BETTER WITH EVONIK—A SELECTION OF APPLICATIONS

Safeguarding human rights—
an ongoing challenge “The ultimate aim is to improve how people live.” More
EAGER—
an ambitious project to reduce carbon emissions “Implementation involves optimizing or developing the right technologies with our partners.” More
Sealants for insulating glass—
high tech for energy efficiency “Sealants are not all the same. Polyurethane sealants may not look spectacular, but there is a lot of know-how involved in them.” More
Sustainability Data Management—
more efficient access to sustainability indicators “A software solution can only be as good as the underlying processes, so it’s essential to look carefully at those processes.” More
Membranes for sustainable energy Innovative membrane technologies for the production of green hydrogen. MORE
Big data in the chicken coop Optimize production processes with software support. MORE
Better than the real thing Polyurethane-based artificial leather. MORE
Adhesives made from orange peel Adhesives are everywhere in everyday life. MORE
Sustainable mattresses for sweeter dreams Every year 40 million mattresses are discarded in Europe alone. MORE
Lipids in the fight against the pandemic In spring 2021, Evonik played a key role in accelerating the production of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine. MORE
PERACETIC ACID For effective biodegradable disinfectants. MORE
DRUG DELIVERY SYSTEMS For better treatment. MORE
VISCOSITY IMPROVERS For hydraulic fluids in construction machinery. MORE

WE ACCEPT
RESPONSIBILITY

Christian Kullmann
Christian Kullmann
Chairman of the Executive Board

»Climate neutrality, circular economy, digitalization, and calls for zero emissions are not only challenges, they are also the basis for today’s business activities. For me, that is genuine transformation! We are already in the middle of a process that many others are only talking about.«

Thomas Wessel
Thomas Wessel
Chief Human Resources Officer and Labor Director
Executive board member responsible for sustainability.

»Through Next Generation Evonik, we have integrated sustainability into our corporate strategy—from research and development to portfolio management and our corporate culture. Together with our committed and creative employees, we will show how competitiveness and sustainability complement each other as factors for a successful and viable business model.«

Dr. Harald Schwager
Dr. Harald Schwager
Deputy Chairman of the Executive Board

»‘Be a force for good’—for me, this is an important principle and an incentive for innovative action. At Evonik, we accept responsibility, and our NextGen Solutions and NexGen Technologies play a part in tackling the major challenges of our time. Today, and above all, in the future.«

Maike Schuh
Maike Schuh
Chief Financial Officer

»We are investing in the future—that’s easy to say. But when we say it, we mean it! We are continuing to invest in sustainable projects, even in this economically challenging year. We are building a production facility for fumed aluminum oxide for batteries in Japan. In Austria, we are increasing our capacity for gas separation membranes. This is how we are driving forward the industrial transformation to mitigate climate change. Moreover, we have also started to build a facility for specialty lipids for pharmaceuticals in the USA.«

FORWORD HERE YOU CAN READ THE COMPLETE FORWORD OF THE EXECUTIVE BOARD.

FIVE KEY MESSAGES
ON SUSTAINABILITY AT EVONIK

Why sustainability is a matter of principle for Evonik— and what it means for Evonik and its stakeholders. FIND OUT MORE THE 5 KEY MESSAGES ON SUSTAINABILITY AT EVONIK

Sustainability is the backbone of our purpose and our strategy

About Evonik

Evonik is one of the world’s leading specialty chemicals companies, with operations in more than 100 countries. We do not make car tires or mattresses, tablets or animal feed. And yet Evonik is in these end products – as in many others.

www.better-with-evonik.com
WE ARE EVONIK

EVONIK’S CONTRIBUTION
TO SOCIETY

The aim of our sustainability strategy is to gain a precise under­standing of the principal influences and impacts on the value created by Evonik. The chart below shows the resources and value contributed by Evonik along the value chain.

To properly understand the content of the graphic, that resources create value through Evonik's business activities, please turn your mobile device to landscape format when viewing this graphic.

How we create value for society: Resources and value contributed by Evonik in 2023

Input

  • € 6,294 million Property, plant and equipment

    € 860 million Capital expenditures

  • € 11.3 billion Procurement volume

    104 Production sites worldwide

  • approx. 23,000 Patents

    € 443 million R&D expenses

  • 33,409 Employees

    € 76.7 million Investment in vocational training and CPD

  • approx. 33,000 Customers

    34,000 Suppliers

  • 59.77 petajoule Energy inputs

    approx. 403 million m3 Water intake

Our business
Output

  • € 1.7 billion Adj. EBITDA

    € 801 million Free cash flow

  • 7.5 million metric tons Production output

    43 % Sales from Next Generation Solutions

  • 227 New patents

    > € 650 million Additional sales in innovation growth fields

  • 2.2 % Early employee turnover

    3.8 hours Average learning time with LILY and LinkedIn Learning

  • 67 % Suppliers evaluated

    approx. 800 Memberships in industrial associations (Evonik and subsidiaries)

  • 5.4 million metric tons CO2 emissions (scope 1 and 2)

    6 million m3 Water consumption

AREAS OF ACTION

Strategie Strategy and growth 

Evonik aims to be a best-in-class specialty chemicals company. Our sustainability strategy is an expression of this aspiration, including ambitious environmental targets and an understanding of how to translate sustainability into profitability.

Material topic

  • Portfolio transformation

SDGs of particular relevance for Evonik

Gesundheit und Wohlergehen Sauberes Wasser und Sanitäreinrichtungen Nachhaltiger Konsum und Produktion Massnahmen zum Klimaschutz
43%Proportion of sales from Next Generation Solutions
5%“Gold” status from EcoVadis. Evonik is ranked among the top 5 percent of companies evaluated
15Evonik’s material topics

Find out more about our area of action „Strategy and growth“

Wertschöpfungskette und Produkte Value chain and products

In addition to our own production and business processes, we always have an eye on the supply chain for our raw materials, goods, and services, as well as on product benefits and applications for customers. Our innovative products help our customers meet their sustainability goals.

Material topic

  • Circular Economy
  • Product Stewardship

SDGs of particular relevance for Evonik

Gesundheit und Wohlergehen Nachhaltiger Konsum und Produktion Massnahmen zum Klimaschutz
>99%Percentage of risk estimates for substances placed on the market in quantities of >1 metric ton p.a.
227New patent applications filed
> €1billionAdditional sales in our six innovation growth fields by 2025
> €1billionAdditional sales from circular products and technologies by 2030

Find out more about our area of action „Value chain and products“

Umwelt The environment 

Protecting our environment and the climate are major global challenges of our time. Maintaining the natural basis of life for future generations is part of our corporate responsibility. This also includes continuously reducing emissions in keeping with our sustainable corporate strategy.

Material topic

  • Green energy
  • Mitigating climate change
  • Biodiversity
  • Water management

SDGs of particular relevance for Evonik

Gesundheit und Wohlergehen Sauberes Wasser und Sanitäreinrichtungen Nachhaltiger Konsum und Produktion Massnahmen zum Klimaschutz
-15%Reduction in absolute scope 1 & 2 greenhouse gas emissions
– 17%Reduction in absolute scope 3 greenhouse gas emissions
– 410kt p.a.CO2 reduction with power from certified sustainable sources

Find out more about our area of action „The environment“

Mitarbeiter Employees 

Leading Beyond Chemistry is a far-reaching promise that more than 30,000 employees at Evonik work to fulfill. Their talent, professional qualifications, and passion are the cornerstones of Evonik’s success.

Material topic

  • Attractiveness as an employer
  • Employee satisfaction
  • Diversity and equal opportunity

SDG of particular relevance for Evonik

Mitarbeiter
€76.7millionSpending on vocational training and CPD
6%Training ratio
27Pulse checks
2.2%Early employee turnover

Find out more about our area of action „Employees“

Sicherheit Safety 

Safety has priority over sales and profits at Evonik. We have a long-established safety culture that allows continuous improvement of our systems and processes. Protecting the health of our employees is also very important to us.

Material topic

  • Occupational and plant safety
  • Health protection and promotion

SDGs of particular relevance for Evonik

Gesundheit und Wohlergehen Nachhaltiger Konsum und Produktion
0.21LTI-R (no. of accidents per 200,000 working hours)
0.43PSI-R (no. of incidents per 200,000 working hours)
5.5Occupational health performance index

Find out more about our area of action „Safety“

Governance und Compliance Governance and compliance 

We are convinced that reliable and ethical management of the company is the basis for long-term business success, fair competition, and acceptance by society.

Material topic

  • Responsible management/human rights
  • Cybersecurity
  • Responsibility within the supply chain

SDGs of particular relevance for Evonik

Sauberes Wasser und Sanitäreinrichtungen Nachhaltiger Konsum und Produktion Massnahmen zum Klimaschutz
66.7%Raw materials suppliers covered by TfS assessments
8phishing tests
92.0%Training rate code of conduct

Find out more about our area of action „Governance and compliance“

SUSTAINABILITY IN FIGURES

Top 10 sustain­ability
targets
Sustainability
Indicators
Status of our Sustainability Targets 2023 GRI-Index TCFD-Index About this Report Ratings and Indices 2023

NEXT GENERATION SOLUTIONS—
THEIR CONTRIBUTION TO THE SUSTAINABILITY FOCUS AREAS

Our contributions to sustainable transformation are bundled in the four Sustainability Focus Areas (SFAs): Find out more Next Generation Solutions Find out more NEXT GENERATION
SOLUTIONS
SUPPLEMENT 2023

Sustainability Focus Areas

Within each SFA, Evonik is working on reducing its ecological (and social) footprint and enhancing its handprint resulting from product application.

Each SFA addresses specific sustainability topics.

Fight Climate
Change

  • Reduce Scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gases (GHG) reduction
  • Reduce Scope 3 GHG
  • Reduce Scope 1-3 carbon intensity
  • Reduce specific energy use
  • Increase share of renewable electricity
  • Enable avoided emissions

Drive
Circularity

  • Increase share of circular raw materials
  • Enable resource reduction by process optimization, enhancing durability or other options for lifetime extension
  • Enable or improve recycling (mechanical or chemical)

Safeguard
Ecosystems

  • Establish water stewardship (focus on blue water consumption reduction and water scarcity)
  • Establish ecosystem stewardship (focus on land use)
  • Access to bio-based raw materials which comply with environmental and social sustainability requirements
  • Reduce eutrophication and acidification
  • Reduce emissions and leaching of disputed chemicals, microplastic, and other persistent chemicals

Ensure Health
& Wellbeing

  • Reduce hazardous emissions
  • Reduce hazardous solid waste
  • Reduce sales with disputed chemicals
  • Enable customers to replace disputed chemicals
  • Enable reduced exposure to Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC) and microparticulate matter
  • Grow number of patients or vulnerable consumers reached with health outcomes

News

Here you will find current press releases of Evonik Industries AG.
Find out more

Social Media

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