With its commitment to the climate, water, and forests, Symrise belongs to the leading sustainable companies worldwide. Now, the company received another acknowledgment for its efforts. It once again received a Triple-A, the top score from the renowned nonprofit organization CDP. To arrive at its rating, the CDP conducts an annual assessment of what companies do to protect the climate, water, and forests. Symrise achieved the best possible result in all three categories, as the only company in Germany. Worldwide, a total of only 13 other companies accomplished this as well. A record number of 13,000 companies participated this year.
In its evaluation, the CDP, formerly known as the Carbon Disclosure Project, considers various factors. The non-profit organization looks at whether the company in question stands out as an environmental pioneer, and considers the manner, in which it deals with environmental risks. Ambitious goals and transparency also have high priority. For instance, the CDP looks at the completeness of disclosed data. Based on the results, the CDP assigns grades from A to D. Symrise had already received an A in all three categories last year.
“Our philosophy: We consistently combine economic success with social responsibility,” says Bernhard Kott, Chief Sustainability Officer at Symrise. “We consider the impact of all our activities on our customers, consumers, employees, society and in particular the influences on the environment. This means we create sustainable environmental framework conditions, and at the same time we aspire to make our supply chain process increasingly efficient.”
Climate-positive starting in 2030
From the generation of raw materials to delivery to the customer, Symrise follows ambitious sustainability objectives along the entire value chain. Since 2020, Symrise has covered all its power needs worldwide by using renewable energies. The Holzminden-based company aims to run climate-positive operations starting in 2030 to help stop global warming. Symrise also uses water sparingly to help keep it available as a resource. By 2025, all production sites with a high risk for water shortages will improve their water efficiency by 15 percent compared to 2018.
Forest conservation also plays an important role. Symrise follows the goal to source all raw materials sustainably in order to counteract deforestation. Accordingly, the company monitors suppliers and selects them based on sustainability criteria. Symrise commits to the conservation and reforestation of woodlands. The company wants local people to also benefit from all sustainability activities. For example, Symrise has expanded the sustainable and regenerative cultivation of patchouli in Indonesia, which also ensures a fair income for local farmers.
Role model in a global community
“Our sourcing model also always keeps the local communities in mind. We see this as a contribution to global equity. It has served as a guiding principle for our activities for years,” says Kott. “We are proud of the Triple-A award, which motivates us to carry on along this path. We want to encourage other companies to follow in our footsteps.”
