Symrise: Successful sustainability record

Using specific examples, the current Corporate Report from Symrise “Diversifying Success. Successfully Diversifying.” shows how sustainable commitment can advance economic success. The goal is constant business growth while accounting for ecological and social conditions.

Footprint, Innovation, Sourcing and Care – these four pillars form the foundation for the sustainability agenda of Symrise, a leading manufacturer of fragrances and flavorings. To minimize its environmental footprint, Symrise is constantly working to improve its processes and products. Within the Sourcing pillar, the company optimizes many parts of its value chain – for instance to source its important raw materials sustainably.

CO₂ Emissions Cut Considerably – Further Reductions Planned

An important area of focus is the reduction of direct and indirect greenhouse gas emissions. In 2016, Symrise reduced these by 5.4 %. It is aiming to reduce them a further four percent per year by 2020. “The progress we have made with our Sustainability Record shows very positive development,” says Dr. Heinz-Jürgen Bertram, Chief Executive Officer of Symrise AG. “One crucial element was the opening of our heat and power cogeneration plant this past summer. It is making a significant contribution to reducing our production-related emissions. As we want to continue cutting our CO₂ emissions, we are also currently working on a new climate strategy.”

The commitment of the Holzminden-based company to climate protection was once again recognized in 2016, receiving the top score from the investor initiative CDP. In the categories Forest and Water, Symrise was listed among the best and received very good ratings. In both areas, the company was awarded a score of A(-), making it the leader in the industry. Symrise also earned a rating of A for its climate data and is thus the only company in the flavor and fragrance industry to be in a leading position in all three CDP categories.

Sustainable Raw Material Sourcing as Key to a Viable Product Portfolio

Another strategic objective of the company is to have 100 % of its key suppliers evaluated according to sustainability criteria by 2020 and thereby source its strategic key raw materials from sustainable sources. In cases where Symrise sources its raw materials directly on site, the company is actively involved in protecting the local population and environment. Examples of this include its work surrounding vanilla sourced from Madagascar and cosmetic ingredients from the Amazon region. With targeted development projects, Symrise integrates the local population directly into the value chain. In doing so, the company provides important impetus for a socially and environmentally appropriate method of cultivating natural resources. This, in turn, acts as the basis for providing sustainable products to customers and consumers.

With the acquisition of Renessenz in the past year, the topic of sustainable forestry has also gained importance for Symrise. Many Renessenz suppliers are already certified according to the criteria of the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) or the Sustainable Forest Initiative (SFI). By participating in the CPD Forest program, the company is making its approaches and progress transparent in this area as well.