FOCUS ON SDGs
Sustainable Development Goals

FOCUS ON SDGs

SDG Special

EVONIK

Focus on SDGs

FOCUS ON SDGs
Reporting on the targets for the SDGsof relevance for Evoniks

Evonik supports the United Nations’ 17 Sustainable
Development Goals (SDGs). Using our own methodology 1(see chapter “Strategy and growth”) we have identified
the four SDGs that are especially relevant for Evonik.
An SDG is relevant for us if there is a significant positiveor negative influence on or by Evonik. Our products andsolutions help to achieve the relevant SDGs. We are always
aware that our business activities can have critical impacts
in some cases. The most relevant SDGs for Evonik are:

Targets for the SDGs of relevance for Evonik
Relevant targets

Reference in sustainability report 2020

SDG 3—Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages
3.9:		By 2030, substantially reduce the number of deaths and illnesses from hazardous chemicals
and air, water, and soil pollution and contamination▯ Strategy and growth p. 11, 17▯ Value chain and products p. 38▯ The environment p. 63, 66, 71

SDG 6—Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all
6.3:		By 2030, improve water quality by reducing pollution, eliminating dumping, and minimizing
release of hazardous chemicals and materials, halving the proportion of untreated wastewater,and substantially increasing recycling and safe reuse globally▯ The environment

p. 63, 71

6.4:		By 2030, substantially increase water-use efficiency across all sectors and ensure sustainable
withdrawals and supply of freshwater to address water scarcity and substantially reduce thenumber of people suffering from water scarcity▯ The environment

p. 63, 71

6.6:		By 2030, protect and restore water-related ecosystems, including mountains, forests,
wetlands, rivers, aquifers, and lakes▯ The environment

p. 63, 76

SDG 12—Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns
12.2:	By 2030, achieve the sustainable management and efficient use of natural resources

Read more on the following pages.

12.4:	By 2020, achieve the environmentally sound management of chemicals and all wastes
throughout their life cycle, in accordance with agreed international frameworks, and significantly
reduce their release to air, water, and soil in order to minimize their adverse impacts on humanhealth and the environment▯ Strategy and growth p. 11, 17▯ Value chain and products p. 38, 51▯ The environment p. 63, 66, 71, 74

12.5:	By 2030, substantially reduce waste generation through prevention, reduction, recycling,
and reuse▯ Value chain and products p. 38, 47▯ The environment p. 63, 74

12.6:	Encourage companies, especially large and transnational companies, to adopt sustainable practices
and to integrate sustainability information into their reporting cycle▯ Strategy and growth p. 11, 17▯ Governance and compliance p. 25, 26▯ Value chain and products p. 38, 49

SDG 13—Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts
13.1:	Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters
in all countries

1 	More about this methodology in chapter “Strategy an growth” in our

Sustainability Reportp. 17.

▯ Strategy and growth p. 11, 17▯ Value chain and products p. 38, 45, 49▯ The environment p. 63, 66, 71, 74▯ Governance and compliancep. 25, 30

13.2: Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies, and planning▯ Strategy and growth p. 11, 12▯ The environment p. 63, 66

13.3:	Improve education, awareness-raising, and human and institutional capacity on climate change
mitigation, adaptation, impact reduction, and early warning▯ Strategy and growth p. 11, 12▯ The environment p. 63, 66

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SDG Special

EVONIKSDG 3: Good health and well-being

SDG 3: GOOD HEALTH AND WELL-BEING
Ensuring healthy lives and promoting thewell-being of all are important for thestability of society. While the industrialized countries face an aging population,
the main challenge in less developed
countries is ensuring good healthcare forthe general population, because health is
an important step out of poverty. Children and young people canonly go to school, get an education, and shape their lives if they
are healthy.

GOVERNANCE

Our activities are based on an extensive ESHQ management
system, and a central audit system is used to check that it
is applied. Issues relating to occupational safety and healthprotection are agreed with the employee representatives.
Occupational safety committees at our sites regularly discuss
aspects of occupational safety and health protection. Groupwide targets based on key performance indicators are used
to check the implementation of the requirements and identify
the need for further action. The frequency 2 and severity ofaccidents affect the variable remuneration of
executive board members.

High standards of occupational health protection
We have always considered fostering the health and well-beingof our employees to be part of our corporate responsibility. We
have extensive health protection and promotion measures in orderto maintain the employability and well-being of our employees.

MATERIAL TOPICS• Waste management • Plant safety • Occupationalsafety •  Health protection and promotion • Climate change• Product stewardship • Strategy and growth • Water
management

As an overriding indicator, we have established an occupational
health performance index to measure our progress and initiate
continuous improvements. We also record accident frequency
and severity as parameters to manage safety at work.

OUR TARGETS• Occupational health performance index ≥ 5.0 for 2021
and beyond; status in 2020: 5.4• Accident frequency 3 ≤ 0.26 for 2021 and beyond;status 2020: 0.8 (upper limit until 2020: 1.30)• Incident frequency 4 ≤ 0.4 for 2021 and beyond;status 2020:1.45 (upper limit until 2020: 1.10)

The pandemic confronted Evonik with special challenges in 2020.
You can find more detailed information in our Sustainability
Report 2020 on page 55 ff. or in our Corona Special. 1• Establish a risk estimate for > 99 percent of substances
placed on the market in quantities of > 1 metric ton p.a.
by the end of 2020 (reference base 2018); status in
2020: > 99 percent

Ú SDG TARGET 3.9
1www.evonik.com/sustainability-report,
p. 30.

2 	Sustainability Report 2020

www.evonik.com/corona-special

3 	New reference parameter from 2021 in line with common international practice, see
4 Modified calculation basis from 2021, seep. 93.

HOW OUR PRODUCTS AND APPLICATIONS CONTRIBUTE

p. 93.

Production of pharmaceutical active ingredientsat Evonik’s site in Hanau (Germany).

Evonik is an innovation and development partner for companies
around the world that produce pharmaceuticals, dietary
supplements, and medical products. We offer convincing,innovative, and custom-tailored products, technologies, andservices. We have carefully extended our healthcare businessin recent years and added new technology platforms. One
example is our expertise in drug delivery technologies for novel
mRNA vaccines.
As a development partner for gene-based therapies, we
supported projects for COVID-19 vaccines from development
through to the production of clinical samples. Responsible
handling of chemicals is a vital precondition for our businessactivities. That includes timely identification and evaluationof the potential health and environmental risks in our portfolio.
We therefore examine the entire value chain of each of our
products—from procurement of the raw materials to delivery
to our industrial customers.

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SDG Special

EVONIKSDG 6: Clean water and sanitation

SDG 6: CLEAN WATER AND SANITATION
Billions of people still lack access to cleanwater and sanitation, even though this isa basic human right. Climate change ismaking the situation far worse.
As part of our sustainability strategy, weare committed to using water responsibly.
Evonik mainly uses water for cooling, for process purposes in
production facilities, to generate steam in power plants, and forsanitary purposes. We save water wherever possible. To reduce
the use of freshwater, we use integrated systems with graduatedwater qualities. In addition, we re-use water multiple times incooling water circuits.
Water stress analysis is an important element in our worldwide
water management. Taking into account projections for the climate
and socio-economic developments, we have identified sites thatare particularly likely to be affected by water stress in the next
20 years. At five of these sites—in China, India, the USA, andSouth Korea—we conducted detailed interviews on water usage
and possible options for reducing water consumption.
Our global water management includes examining other aspects
such as infrastructure and transportation options 1. We also use
risk analysis to investigate the possible impact of natural
catastrophes such as storms, hail, floods, hurricanes, tornadoes,
and heavy rainfall.

GOVERNANCE

Our activities are based on an extensive ESHQ
management system, and a central audit system is used
to check that it is applied.

MATERIAL TOPICS• Biodiversity • Water management
OUR TARGET• Develop site-specific action plans for sites that arepotentially exposed to water stress as part of a global
water management system 1

Ú SDG TARGETS 6.3, 6.4, 6.6

HOW OUR PRODUCTS AND APPLICATIONS CONTRIBUTE

Hydrogen peroxide is an environmentally compatible,
resource-efficient chemical that is mainly used forenvironmental applications, in food processing, and in
the electronics industry. Other key applications arewastewater treatment and disinfection.
In livestock farming, sustainable modern feed formulations
help protect groundwater from over-nitrification. Adding
essential amino acids such as DL-methionine allows feed tobe adapted better to the nutritional requirements of livestock,
especially hens and pigs. As a result, the animals need lessliquid. That reduces water consumption in agriculture andthe excretion of nitrates.
The molecular structure of surfactants gives detergents,
shower gels, shampoos, and conditioners their cleaning
properties. Surfactants are the most important ingredientsin these products, alongside water, and play a role in hygieneand cleanliness. Evonik has developed biosurfactants withparticularly high environmental compatibility and skintolerability, without any loss of cleaning power. They are
produced from bacteria and yeasts. The ability to produce
biodegradable rhamnolipids on an industrial scale sets
Evonik apart from its competitors.

Our biodiversity analysis looks at emissions into water. Here, we
use a geoinformation system. Our site in Mobile (Alabama, USA)is close to the Fowl River. The US Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA) is currently altering the status of the watershedarea around this river to a water conservation area. Evonik is amember of the Fowl River Forever steering committee that isworking on a management plan to protect and improve the water
quality.

A scientist analyzing the foam structure of surfactants.
1 	Further information on water management at Evonik can be found in our Sustainability Report 2020

p. 71 ff.

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SDG Special

EVONIKSDG 12: Responsible consumption & production

SDG 12: RESPONSIBLE CONSUMPTION & PRODUCTION
A fundamental change in consumption
patterns and production methods is essential in the light of climate change and scarce
resources. That means finding new ways tomake consumption more sustainable andproduction more energy- and resourceefficient.

GOVERNANCE

Evonik is committed to observing internationally recognized
standards and its own more far-reaching guidelines andprinciples of conduct. We examine the entire value chainof each of our products—from procurement of the raw
materials through R&D to delivery to our industrial
customers. An internal expert circle is working to extend
the circular economy.

Evonik’s direct influence on sustainability requirements mainlycomprises its own production and business processes and the
products it markets. We have integrated technology platforms
that enable us to link efficient processes, careful use of resources,
and innovative capability. These integrated structures also support
our efforts to achieve a further reduction in production waste.
Moreover, for many years we have had established processes andmanagement systems for early identification and evaluation of
any health and environmental risks related to our portfolio.

Evonik’s products and solutions help save resources. One
example is a process for fermentative production of theomega-3 fatty acids EPA 2 and DHA 2 from natural algae to feed
salmon in aquaculture. This means that fish oil obtained fromwild fish is no longer necessary. This process is the result of a
research cooperation between Evonik and Royal DSM, which
led to the present joint venture Veramaris®
www.veramaris.
com/home.html.

MATERIAL TOPICS• Waste management • Efficient use of scarce resources/
circular economy • Sustainable products and solutions forour customers • Product stewardship • Strategy andgrowth • Responsible corporate governance and humanrights • Responsibility within the supply chain
Packaging VESTENAMER® in Marl (Germany).

OUR TARGETS• At least 35 percent of sales should come from Next
Generation Solutions from 2021• 100 percent of all raw materials suppliers where annual
procurement volume is >€100 thousand to be coveredby TfS assessments by year-end 2025; status in 2020:
73 percent

Our impact valuation looks intensively at the impact of our
production and business processes. This is supplemented by analyzing our portfolio on the basis of sustainability criteria. 1
The sustainability analysis of our business 2.0 includes life cycle
assessments. In this way, we map ecological strengths andweaknesses over the entire product life cycle and identify opportunities and risks for a product or business.
As a specialty chemicals company, Evonik is positioned at thecenter of the value chain. Our technological expertise helps ourcustomers achieve their goals, for example, with regard to thecircular economy. In fall 2020, we launched a circular plastics
program, which brings together all Evonik activities in this field.
The aim is to step up collaboration with customers and stakeholders in the plastics processing industry and extend our networks
along the value chain.

HOW OUR PRODUCTS AND APPLICATIONS CONTRIBUTE• Establish a risk estimate for > 99 percent of substances
placed on the market in quantities of > 1 metric ton p.a.
by the end of 2020 (reference base 2018); status in 2020:> 99 percent

Ú

SDG TARGETS

12.2, 12.4, 12.5, 12.6

A process additive for the re-use of rubber from scrap car tires
saves raw materials such as crude oil and natural rubber byadding a proportion of recycled tire granulate. That is also
an example of material circularity. Our binders for paints andcoatings improve durability by providing protection fromcorrosion, abrasion, and scratches. Additives to optimize
packaging materials mean that food stays fresh for longer.
Moreover, we market products and solutions to remove
printing ink from paper so the valuable pulp can be recycled.
Evonik is committed to transparency in its supply chains. We
are a founding member of Together for Sustainability (TfS).
The aim of this sector initiative is the joint development andimplementation of a global assessment and audit program for
responsible procurement of goods and services. Our requirements are set out in our code of conduct. We expect our suppliers to share our principles and act correctly in all respects.
1	You can find more detailed information in our Sustainability
Report 2020
www.evonik.com/sustainability-report2

EPA = eicosapentaenoic acid; DHA = docosahexaenoic acid.

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SDG Special

EVONIKSDG 13: Climate action

SDG 13: CLIMATE ACTION
Climate change is one of the top five risks
to global economic stability and social
cohesion, according to the World Economic Forum’s Global Risks Report 2020.
Rising average temperatures, rising sea
levels, and the increase in severe weather
events such as heavy rainfall, drought, andextreme heat are signs that are visible to everyone. In December
2015, the nations that signed the Paris Agreement on Climate
Change pledged to tackle climate change and its consequences.
Evonik has been working for years to meet specific targets
for reducing CO2 emissions and thus the negative climate andenvironmental impacts of its business activities. We have also
introduced carbon pricing for major investments so we can takeaccount of the changing global regulatory framework.
Modernizing our power plants is a key element in achieving our
climate targets. Evonik is currently building a new, highly efficient gas and steam turbine power plant at Marl Chemical Park inGermany. The use of coal for energy generation at this site willend in 2022. Another new gas and steam turbine power plant
will come into service at the same time to replace the present
gas-fired reserve plant.

HOW OUR PRODUCTS AND APPLICATIONS CONTRIBUTE

GOVERNANCE

Climate change is a matter of the utmost importance forthe entire executive board. Responsibility for our groupwide sustainability and climate strategy, monitoring, andreporting is assigned to the member of the executive board
responsible for human resources and sustainability. We
use our risk management system to identify and evaluate
climate-related opportunities and risks, which we monitor
and manage with the aid of appropriate measures.
MATERIAL TOPICS• Climate change • Strategy and growth • Responsible
corporate governance and human rights
OUR TARGETS• Reduce absolute scope 1 and scope 2 emissions by
50 percent by 2025 (reference base: 2008);
status in 2020: ‒ 44 percent• Reduce absolute scope 3 emissions from the upstream
value chain—principally from the “raw material backpack”
by 15 percent by 2025 (reference base: 2020)

Ú SDG TARGETS 13.1, 13.2, 13.3

Evonik markets a variety of products and solutions that help
avoid greenhouse gas emissions. Adding DL-methionine tolivestock feed greatly reduces emissions of greenhouse gases
and excretion of ammonia and nitrate. Other examples are
silica-silane technology for tires with optimized rolling resist­ance, membranes for the treatment of biogas, and innovativebuilding insulation made from silicon dioxide. We also supply
a wide range of products for wind energy. Our curing technol­
ogy gives increasingly long rotor blades their stability, our baseoil enhances the efficiency of wind turbines, and coatings containing our additives protect them from light and weathering.
Evonik is involved in several research projects focused onusing CO2 as a starting product. Through the Rheticus 1 project
https://www.creavis.com/en/activities/current-projects/rheticus,
for example, we are working with Siemens Energy on the technical feasibility of artificial photosynthesis to produce specialty
chemicals from CO2, water, and green electricity with the aidof bacteria. We are using the same technology platform in our
research alliance 2 with Beiersdorf. Here, the aim is to produce
sustainable precursors for personal care products using CO2
as the starting product.
Climate-related opportunities and risks are key elementsof our financial and non-financial reporting. You canfind further information in “The environment”,“Governance and compliance”, and the TCFD index
www.evonik.com/sustainability-report

In addition, for a numberof years we have participated in CDP Climate Change. In
2020, we improved the ranking of our climate reporting from
B to A-.
www.evonik.com/CDP-ClimateChange

We are working with our suppliers in order to reduce our scope 3
emissions. A team of experts is identifying the potential to avoid
emissions in the upstream value chain, especially the “raw material
backpack” of the starting products we source.

1	Funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research(FKZ 03SF0574A).

2	Funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research(FKZ 03SFK2E1-2).

Quality assurance in the application technology lab in Shanghai (China).

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EVONIK INDUSTRIES AG
Rellinghauser Strasse 1   –  1145128 Essen, Germany
www.evonik.com