
Product stewardship
We work tirelessly to manage and minimize all possible adverse effects of our products on people and the environment, across the entire value chain.
At DSM we take our responsibilities seriously - whether it’s looking after our 23,000 people, or the planet we all share.
Safeguarding, nurturing and developing our increasingly diverse 23,000-strong workforce is a top priority for DSM. In fact, today our employees represent around 100 nationalities (a huge transformation from 2001 when nearly half our people were Dutch).
At DSM we aim to continue reducing the Frequency Index of Recordable Injuries - which is based on the number of fatalities, lost or restricted workday cases or medical treatment cases per 100 DSM employees and contractors in one year. The goal is to reduce frequency by 50% or more by 2020 compared to 2010 (an index score that is less than or equal to 0.25 in 2020, compared to the 0.57 achieved in 2010). In 2020, the Frequency Index of all DSM Recordable Injuries improved from 0.28 to 0.24, with the majority of our sites being injury-free and achieving our target level.
Helping with this are our Life Saving Rules; our Safety, Health & Environmental (SHE) policy; various ongoing process improvements and competency training; and the day-to-day fostering greater safety awareness.
We also invest heavily in the health of people - through our regional health initiatives such as DSM FIT in the Netherlands and the Brighter Living Wellness Program in the USA, we encourage and support employees worldwide who would like to improve their health and well-being in the short term. We also take a long-term perspective in encouraging long-term health and employability.
For a science company like DSM, diversity of backgrounds, experiences, cultures and opinions is essential if we want to achieve our united purpose of creating brighter lives for all. There are many aspects of inclusion & diversity that matter to DSM, including age, nationality, culture, ethnic background, gender and religion (to name but a few).
Responsibility for our operations covers some 200 DSM sites and offices in nearly 50 countries (and even extends to our suppliers, customers and end-users - for example through our Brighter Living Solutions).
DSM is committed to being transparent about its sustainability performance. The company has set ambitious sustainability aspirations company-wide. Our key environmental targets are our Science Based Targets, comprising a greenhouse gas (GHG) scope 1 + 2 emission absolute reduction of 50% and a GHG scope 3 intensity reduction of 28% by 2030 versus our 2016 baseline. These were reviewed and approved by the Science Based Targets initiative and are the foundation for achieving our net zero by 2050 commitment.
We will achieve this target through a wide-ranging number of actions across all our operations, including:
DSM’s progress towards other environmental footprint reductions targets is published in the company’s Annual Report.
The table below shows DSM’s footprint for key environmental indicators in 2020.
Divestments are reported until the moment of divestment. Acquisitions in the first half of a given year are included in the reporting scope of the year after acquisition. Acquisitions in the second half of a given year are included in the reporting scope of the year following the first full year after acquisition.
(x million tons) | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Total CO2e emissions (Scope 1 and 2) - Market based | 1.24 | 1.17 | 1.23 | 1.50 | 1.50* |
Total Scope 1 CO2e emission | 0.62 | 0.63 | 0.76 | 1.03 | 1.03 |
Direct fuels Scope-1 CO2e emissions | 0.58 | 0.59 | 0.73 | 0.99 | 0.98 |
Non-fuel Scope 1 CO2e emissions | 0.04 | 0.04 | 0.03 | 0.04 | 0.06 |
Total Scope 2 CO2e emissions | 0.62 | 0.54 | 0.47 | 0.47 | 0.47 |
*) The 2016 baseline for the purposes of our SBT was restated to 1.65 million tons. See the Annual Report 2020 for details.
(in TJ) | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Total (net) primary energy consumed | 21,500 | 21,200 | 20,800 | 23,400 | 23,000 |
Total electricity purchased | 4,520 | 4,560 | 3,910 | 3,870 | 3,540 |
Purchased non-renewable electricity | 1,830 | 2,280 | 2,300 | 3,040 | 3,250 |
Purchased renewable electricity | 2,690 | 2,270 | 1,610 | 825 | 285 |
Total electricity self-generated | 1,540 | 1,290 | 1,600 | 1,910 | 2,330 |
Non-renewable electricity self-generated | 1,520 | 1,280 | 1,590 | 1,900 | 2,300 |
Renewable electricity self-generated | 15 | 8 | 15 | 12 | 15 |
Non-renewable electricity, exported | 713 | 535 | 546 | 673 | 946 |
Renewable electricity, exported | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
Non-renewable fuel consumption | 9,830 | 9,860 | 11,900 | 14,800 | 14,800 |
Coal consumed | 110 | 365 | 1,080 | 3,780 | 3,200 |
Diesel/gas oil consumed | 225 | 182 | 255 | 190 | 140 |
Natural gas consumed | 8,610 | 8,460 | 9,770 | 9,980 | 10,650 |
Other non-renewable fuel consumed | 894 | 856 | 798 | 805 | 836 |
Renewable fuel consumption | 271 | 255 | 285 | 294 | 255 |
Biogas consumed | 147 | 131 | 128 | 118 | 140 |
Biomass liquid consumed | 0 | - | - | - | - |
Biomass solid consumed | 11 | - | - | - | - |
Other renewable fuel consumed | 111 | 123 | 157 | 176 | 115 |
Total heat purchased | 4,850 | 4,000 | 2,570 | 1,630 | 1,560 |
Non-renewable heat, purchased | 4,250 | 3,460 | 2,540 | 1,630 | 1,560 |
Renewable heat, purchased | 593 | 543 | 28 | 0 | 0 |
Total heat self-generated | 6,040 | 6,340 | 7,480 | 8,970 | 8,220 |
Non-renewable heat self-generated | 5,790 | 6,110 | 7,280 | 8,740 | 8,020 |
Renewable heat self-generated | 246 | 222 | 208 | 225 | 198 |
Total heat exported | 385 | 385 | 715 | 769 | 777 |
Non-renewable heat exported | 371 | 353 | 662 | 722 | 777 |
Renewable heat exported | 13 | 32 | 52 | 46 | - |
(in tons) | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Recycled waste (%) | 85% | 86%* | 83% | 85% | 83% |
Total process related non-hazardous waste | 130,200 | 107,400* | 96,700** | 123,000 | 137,000 |
Landfill | 17,400 | 15,200 | 17,900 | 15,800 | 16,900 |
Off-site incineration with heat recovery | 10,700 | 9,200 | 7,660 | 6,390 | 5,200 |
Off-site incineration without heat recovery | 4,300 | 3,400 | 3,190 | 5,210 | 6,100 |
Off-site recovery*** | 97,800 | 79,700* | 67,900** | 96,000 | 108,600 |
Total process related hazardous waste | 75,200 | 84,900 | 81,800 | 66,500 | 56,000 |
Landfill | 1,150 | 1,560 | 2,830 | 2,600 | 1,030 |
Off-site incineration with heat recovery | 28,800 | 27,600 | 24,700 | 19,600 | 13,700 |
Off-site incineration without heat recovery | 7,300 | 6,300 | 8,980 | 3,910 | 7,900 |
Off-site recovery | 37,900 | 49,500 | 45,300 | 40,400 | 33,300 |
Non-process related waste | 9,800 | 5,100 | 26,900 | 8,420 | 9,600 |
Landfill | 730 | 1,750 | 5,940 | 1,890 | 1,000 |
Off-site incineration | 300 | 70 | 200 | 980 | 170 |
Off-site recovery*** | 8,800 | 3,300 | 20,700 | 5,540 | 8,500 |
*) Restated due to a correction at one location. See the Integrated Annual Report 2020 for details.
**) Restated due to a correction at two locations. See the Integrated Annual Report 2019 for details.
***) (Land)Farming has been combined into Off-Site recovery.
(x million m3) | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Total water withdrawal | 108 | 111 | 114 | 114 | 104 |
Water withdrawal for non-once-through cooling | 23.6 | 22.6 | 22.1 | 23.4 | 21.9 |
Ground water | 5.2 | 6.0 | 7.3 | 7.4 | 6.7 |
Potable (tap) water | 13.6 | 12.1 | 9.9 | 11.1 | 10.5 |
Surface water | 4.8 | 4.6 | 4.9 | 5.0 | 4.7 |
Emissions to water | |||||
COD (tons) | 2,000 | 2,100 | 2,240 | 2,680 | 2,600 |
Nitrogen (tons) | 480 | 430 | 460 | 460 | 630 |
Phosphorous (tons) | 60 | 60 | 60 | 80 | 70 |
(in tons) | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
VOC | 3,520 | 2,740 | 4,880 | 6,680 | 7,840 |
SO2 | 30 | 60 | 90 | 270 | 320 |
NOX | 340 | 430 | 510 | 750 | 800 |
Number of non-monetary sanctions | 18 | 2 | 6 | 4 | 2 |
Total monetary value of fines (€) | 26,000 | 115,100 | 23,500 | 128,000 | 27,900 |
APAC | Europe | North America | Latin America | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Energy and GHG | ||||
Total Primary Energy (PJ) | 7.1 | 9.3 | 4.4 | 0.8 |
% Renewable Electricity purchased | 1.0% | 100.0% | 61.0% | 69.0% |
Total scope 1 + 2 CO2e emissions (x million tons) - Location based | 0.55 | 0.58 | 0.27 | 0.27 |
Total scope 1 + 2 CO2e emissions (x million tons) - Market based | 0.55 | 0.49 | 0.18 | 0.21 |
Water | ||||
Total Water use (x million m3) | 5.9 | 97.6 | 4.04 | 0.65 |
Total Water consumption (x million m3) | 5.9 | 12.9 | 4.04 | 0.65 |
COD (net) (x 1,000 tons) | 0.1 | 1.5 | 0.3 | 0.0 |
Waste | ||||
Total Process Related Waste (x 1,000 tons) | 64 | 97 | 25 | 19 |
Total Recycled Waste (x 1,000 tons) | 59 | 85 | 16 | 15 |
Total Non-Recycled Waste (x 1,000 tons) | 5 | 12 | 9 | 4 |
- Landfill Non-hazardous (x 1,000 tons) | 1 | 6 | 7 | 3 |
- Landfill Hazardous (x 1,000 tons) | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
- Off-site Incineration without Heat recovery (x 1,000 tons) | 4 | 5 | 2 | 1 |
% Recycling | 92% | 88% | 62% | 80% |
Emissions to Air and Various | ||||
VOC (x 1,000 tons) | 1.6 | 1 | 0.3 | 0.7 |
NOX (x 1,000 tons) | 0.03 | 0.2 | 0.1 | 0 |
SO2 (x 1,000 tons) | 0.02 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Number of non-monetary sanctions | 0 | 0 | 18 | 0 |
Total monetary value of fines (€ x 1,000) | 26 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
APAC | Europe | North America | Latin America | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Energy and GHG | ||||
Total Primary Energy (PJ) | 5.9 | 10.1 | 4.4 | 0.8 |
% Renewable Electricity purchased | 0.3 | 61.3 | 69.3 | 64.7 |
Total scope 1 + 2 CO2e emissions (x million tons) - Location based | 0.46 | 0.59 | 0.30 | 0.04 |
Total scope 1 + 2 CO2e emissions (x million tons) - Market based | 0.46 | 0.50 | 0.19 | 0.03 |
Water | ||||
Total Water use (x million m3) | 4.28 | 101.10 | 4.73 | 0.77 |
Total Water consumption (x million m3) | 4.28 | 12.80 | 4.73 | 0.77 |
COD (net) (x 1,000 tons) | 0.1 | 1.7 | 0.3 | 0.0 |
Waste | ||||
Total Process Related Waste (x 1,000 tons) | 41 | 100 | 29 | 52 |
Total Recycled Waste (x 1,000 tons) | 38 | 93 | 19 | 47 |
Total Non-Recycled Waste (x 1,000 tons) | 3 | 7 | 11 | 5 |
- Landfill Non-hazardous (x 1,000 tons) | 1 | 2 | 9 | 3 |
- Landfill Hazardous (x 1,000 tons) | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
- Off-site Incineration without Heat recovery (x 1,000 tons) | 2 | 4 | 2 | 1 |
% Recycling | 91% | 93% | 63% | 91% |
Emissions to Air and Various | ||||
VOC (x 1,000 tons) | 0.8 | 1.0 | 0.3 | 0.6 |
NOX (x 1,000 tons) | 0.0 | 0.2 | 0.1 | 0 |
SO2 (x 1,000 tons) | 0.05 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Number of non-monetary sanctions | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
Total monetary value of fines (€ x 1,000) | 88 | 12 | 15 | 0 |
APAC | Europe | North America | Latin America | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Energy and GHG | ||||
Total Primary Energy (PJ) | 5.1 | 10.6 | 4.8 | 0.4 |
% Renewable Electricity purchased | 0.2 | 60.5 | 37.1 | 66.0 |
Total scope 1 + 2 CO2e emissions (x million tons) - Location based | 0.42 | 0.66 | 0.29 | 0.02 |
Total scope 1 + 2 CO2e emissions (x million tons) - Market based | 0.46 | 0.57 | 0.23 | 0.01 |
Water | ||||
Total Water use (x million m3) | 3.98 | 104.69 | 4.78 | 0.36 |
Total Water consumption (x million m3) | 3.98 | 12.97 | 4.78 | 0.36 |
COD (net) (x 1,000 tons) | 0.2 | 1.7 | 0.3 | 0.0 |
Waste | ||||
Total Process Related Waste (x 1,000 tons) | 42 | 96 | 29 | 10 |
Total Recycled Waste (x 1,000 tons) | 39 | 88 | 13 | 6 |
Total Non-Recycled Waste (x 1,000 tons) | 4 | 8 | 16 | 4 |
- Landfill Non-hazardous (x 1,000 tons) | 2 | 3 | 10 | 3 |
- Landfill Hazardous (x 1,000 tons) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
- Off-site Incineration without Heat recovery (x 1,000 tons) | 1 | 5 | 7 | 0 |
% Recycling | 91% | 91% | 46% | 57% |
Emissions to Air and Various | ||||
VOC (x 1,000 tons) | 3.0 | 0.9 | 0.3 | 0.8 |
NOX (x 1,000 tons) | 0.1 | 0.3 | 0.1 | 0 |
SO2 (x 1,000 tons) | 0.08 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Number of non-monetary sanctions | 0 | 2 | 4 | 0 |
Total monetary value of fines (€ x 1,000) | 17 | 5 | 2 | 0 |
APAC | Europe | North America | Latin America | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Energy and GHG | ||||
Total Primary Energy (PJ) | 6.4 | 11.7 | 5 | 0.5 |
% Renewable Electricity purchased | 1% | 25% | 24% | 56% |
Total scope 1 + 2 CO2e emissions (x million tons) - Location based | 0.58 | 0.68 | 0.29 | 0.02 |
Total scope 1 + 2 CO2e emissions (x million tons) - Market based | 0.58 | 0.66 | 0.25 | 0.02 |
Water | ||||
Total Water use (x million m3) | 5.5 | 103.2 | 5 | 0.4 |
Total Water consumption (x million m3) | 5.5 | 12.6 | 5 | 0.4 |
COD (net) (x 1,000 tons) | 0.3 | 1.7 | 0.4 | 0.1 |
Waste | ||||
Total Process Related Waste (x 1,000 tons) | 52 | 104 | 36 | 10 |
Total Recycled Waste (x 1,000 tons) | 48 | 94 | 24 | 4 |
Total Non-Recycled Waste (x 1,000 tons) | 4 | 10 | 12 | 6 |
- Landfill Non-hazardous (x 1,000 tons) | 3 | 4 | 10 | 3 |
- Landfill Hazardous (x 1,000 tons) | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
- Off-site Incineration without Heat recovery (x 1,000 tons) | 1 | 5 | 3 | 0 |
% Recycling | 92% | 91% | 65% | 44% |
Emissions to Air and Various | ||||
VOC (x 1,000 tons) | 4.9 | 0.9 | 0.2 | 0.6 |
NOX (x 1,000 tons) | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.1 | 0 |
SO2 (x 1,000 tons) | 0.27 | 0 | 0.01 | 0 |
Number of non-monetary sanctions | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
Total monetary value of fines (€ x 1,000) | 128 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
APAC | Europe | North America | Latin America | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Energy and GHG | ||||
Total Primary Energy (PJ) | 5 | 11.9 | 5.3 | 0.4 |
% Renewable Electricity purchased | 1% | 12% | 0% | 57% |
Total scope 1 + 2 CO2e emissions (x million tons) - Location based | 0.44 | 0.71 | 0.29 | 0.02 |
Total scope 1 + 2 CO2e emissions (x million tons) - Market based | 0.44 | 0.69 | 0.29 | 0.02 |
Water | ||||
Total Water use (x million m3) | 5.2 | 94.3 | 4.5 | 0.2 |
Total Water consumption (x million m3) | 5.2 | 12 | 4.5 | 0.2 |
COD (net) (x 1,000 tons) | 0.2 | 1.9 | 0.3 | 0 |
Waste | ||||
Total Process Related Waste (x 1,000 tons) | 52 | 98 | 39 | 9 |
Total Recycled Waste (x 1,000 tons) | 45 | 87 | 29 | 4 |
Total Non-Recycled Waste (x 1,000 tons) | 6 | 11 | 10 | 6 |
- Landfill Non-hazardous (x 1,000 tons) | 4 | 2 | 7 | 5 |
- Landfill Hazardous (x 1,000 tons) | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
- Off-site Incineration without Heat recovery (x 1,000 tons) | 2 | 9 | 3 | 0 |
% Recycling | 88% | 89% | 74% | 39% |
Emissions to Air and Various | ||||
VOC (x 1,000 tons) | 7.3 | 0.9 | 0.2 | 0.5 |
NOX (x 1,000 tons) | 0.4 | 0.3 | 0.1 | 0 |
SO2 (x 1,000 tons) | 0.32 | 0 | 0.01 | 0 |
Number of non-monetary sanctions | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
Total monetary value of fines (€ x 1,000) | 26 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
We work tirelessly to manage and minimize all possible adverse effects of our products on people and the environment, across the entire value chain.
With its scientific resources and knowledge DSM has a unique opportunity to influence and shape the sustainability agenda, but we cannot do it alone.
DSM’s Brighter Living Solutions are profitable products and innovations that have a measurably better impact on the planet and people.