Safeguarding our people and the planet

Leading by example

Our operations

At DSM we take our responsibilities seriously - whether it’s looking after our own people around the world, or the planet we all share.

Our people

Safeguarding, nurturing and developing our increasingly diverse workforce is a top priority for DSM. In fact, today our employees represent more than 110 nationalities (a huge transformation from 2001 when nearly half of our people were Dutch).

Health & Safety

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 to less than or equal to 0.20 in 2027. In 2022, the Frequency Index of all DSM Recordable Injuries deteriorated from 0.22 to 0.28; not where we aspire to be.

Our approach to safety is guided by our Life Saving Rules; our Safety, Health & Environmental (SHE) policy; various ongoing process improvements and competency training, in particular at sites with the highest number of incidents; and a focus on learning from previous incidents.

As a Health, Nutrition & Bioscience company, we also continuously invest in the health and well-being of our workforce. Our strategy equips and empowers our employees to take care of their health and well-being in a sustainable way. We do this via global initiatives, such as our efforts to create the optimal hybrid working conditions, and regional initiatives. For example, in Europe, we supported employees to balance their mental and physical wellbeing, and in China we supported our people during the COVID-19 lockdowns.  

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

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). We continue to work to ensure that all our people feel included and cared for. Our DE&I strategy focuses on four areas – Human rights, Living wage, Pay parity and Hybrid working.

Our Environmental Footprint

Responsibility for our operations covers some 200 DSM sites and offices in nearly 50 countries (and extends to our suppliers, customers and end-users - for example, through our Brighter Living Solutions Plus).

DSM is committed to being transparent about its sustainability performance. The company has set ambitious company-wide sustainability aspirations. Our key environmental targets are our Science Based Targets, comprising a greenhouse gas (GHG) Scope 1 + 2 emission absolute reduction of 59% (increased from 50% in 2022) 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 (SBTi) 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:

  •   Renewable electricity: 100% of purchased electricity to be sourced from renewables by 2030 at the latest
  •   Energy efficiency improvement: an average year-on-year improvement of at least 1% until 2030
  •   Supply chain engagement: engaging with our suppliers on emissions reduction through our CO2REDUCE program

In addition to our greenhouse gas targets and supporting actions, our DSM Responsible Care Plan includes the following environmental targets:

  •   Water efficiency: Improve water withdrawal efficiency in water-stressed areas by 10% by 2030 versus 2020.
  •   Improved waste efficiency: Improve year-on-year process-related waste efficiency
  •   Linear waste management: An absolute landfill reduction of 50% by 2030 versus 2020

Furthermore, as part of our SHE Requirements, we minimize hazardous landfill. We follow the waste hierarchy to divert hazardous waste from landfill.

DSM’s progress towards other environmental footprint reductions targets is published in the company’s Annual Report.

Key environmental indicators 2022

The table below shows DSM’s footprint for key environmental indicators in 2022.

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) 2022
2021 2020 2019 2018
Total CO2e emissions (Scope 1 and 2)
- Market based
1.05 1.21 1.24 1.17 1.23
Total Scope 1 CO2e emission 0.57 0.61 0.62 0.63 0.76
Direct fuels Scope-1 CO2e emissions 0.54 0.57 0.58 0.59 0.73
Non-fuel Scope 1 CO2e emissions 0.03 0.04 0.04 0.04 0.03
Total Scope 2 CO2e emissions 0.48 0.59 0.62 0.54 0.47
Total Scope 3 CO2e emissions1 9.9 11.7 12 11.6 11.3
Purchased goods and services 7.7 9.4 9.8 9.4 9.0
Other upstream categories 0.7 0.7 0.7 0.7 0.9
End-of-life treatment 1.1 1.1 1.1 1.000 0.9
Investments 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.3 0.3
Other downstream categories 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2
1 Due to rounding, the numbers presented  may not add up to the total scope 3 emissions.

(in TJ) 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018
Total (net) primary energy consumed 19,500 21,400 21,500 21,200 20,800
Total electricity purchased 4,570 4,800 4,520 4,560 3,910
 Purchased non-renewable electricity 990 1,340 1,830 2,280 2,300
 Purchased renewable electricity 3,580 3,460 2,690 2,270 1,610
Total electricity self-generated 1,410 1,570 1,540 1,290 1,600
 Non-renewable electricity self-generated 1,400 1,560 1,520 1,280 1,590
Renewable electricity self-generated 10 10 15 8 15
Non-renewable electricity, exported 630 710 710 540 550
Renewable electricity, exported 0 0 1 1 0
Non-renewable fuel consumption 9,270 9,810 9,830 9,860 11,900
Coal consumed 0 0 110 360 1,080
Diesel/gas oil consumed 290 150 220 180 250
Natural gas consumed 7,950 8,650 8,610 8,460 9,770
Other non-renewable fuel consumed 1,030 1,010 890 860 800
Renewable fuel consumption 210 296 271 255 285
Biogas consumed 120 169 147 131 128
Biomass liquid consumed 0 0 0 - -
Biomass solid consumed 21 28 11 - -
Other renewable fuel consumed 69 99 111 123 157
Total heat purchased 4,760 5,300 4,850 4,000 2,570
Non-renewable heat, purchased 4,010 4,590 4,260 3,460 2,540
Renewable heat, purchased 750 710 590 540 30
Total heat self-generated 5,630 5,760 6,040 6,340 7,480
Non-renewable heat self-generated 5,450 5,510 5,790 6,110 7,280
Renewable heat self-generated 180 250 246 222 208
Total heat exported 325 370 385 385 715
Non-renewable heat exported 315 355 370 355 665
Renewable heat exported 10 15 15 30 50
(in tons) 2022  2021 2020 2019 2018
Recycled waste (%) 91% 86% 85% 86%2 83%
Total process related non-hazardous waste 110,000 108,900 109,1001 107,4002 96,7003
Landfill 9,700 17,100 17,400 15,200 17,900
Off-site incineration with heat recovery 17,200 14,700 13,9001 9,200 7,660
Off-site incineration without heat recovery 1,800 2,200 4,300 3,400 3,190
Off-site recovery 81,300 74,900 73,5001 79,7002 67,9003
Total process related hazardous waste 72,600 86,400 80,6001 84,900 81,800
Landfill 1,100 1,700 1,150 1,560 2,830
Off-site incineration with heat recovery 35,900 40,900 34,2001 27,600 24,700
Off-site incineration without heat recovery 4,600 5,500 7,300 6,300 8,980
Off-site recovery 31,000 38,300 37,900 49,500 45,300
Non-process related waste 2,750 8,400 9,800 5,100 26,900
Landfill 910 1,250 730 1,750 5,940
Off-site incineration 280 210 300 70 200
Off-site recovery3 1,560 6,900 8,800 3,300 20,700

1 Restated due to a correction at multiple locations. See the Integrated Annual Report 2021 for details.
2 Restated due to a correction at one location. See the Integrated Annual Report 2020 for details.
3 Restated due to a correction at two locations. See the Integrated Annual Report 2019 for details.

(x million m3) 2022  2021 2020 2019 2018
Total water withdrawal 110 106 108 111 114
Water withdrawal in water-stressed areas1 10.6 10.9 10.5 - -
Water withdrawal for non-once-through cooling 25.6 25.8 23.6 22.6 22.1
Ground water 6.5 6.1 5.2 6.0 7.3
Potable (tap) water
12.9 14.2 13.6 12.1 9.9
Surface water
5.4 4.6 4.8 4.6 4.9
From processing raw materials2
0.3 0.3 - - -
Rain water2
0.5 0.6 - - -
Emissions to water
35,900 40,900 34,2001 27,600 24,700
COD (tons)
1,900 2,000 2,000 2,100 2,240
Nitrogen (tons)
500 470 480 430 460
Phosphorous (tons) 70 70 60 60 60
1 Water stress has been reported as of 2020.
2 New water withdrawal indicators are available as of 2021.
(in tons) 2022  2021 2020 2019 2018
VOC 4,600   4,100 3,1801 2,740 4,880
SO2 8 10 30 60 90
NOX 370 390 340 430 510
Number of non-monetary sanctions 4 5 18 2 6
Total monetary value of fines (€) 4,300 141,000 26,000 115,100 23,500
1 Restated due to a correction at multiple locations. See the Integrated Annual Report 2021 for details.

Historic location reports by region

  APAC Europe North America Latin America
Energy and GHG        
Total Primary Energy (PJ) 6.8 8.7 3.3 0.8
% Renewable Electricity purchased 30% 100% 100% 78%
Total scope 1 + 2 CO2e emissions (x million tons) - Location based 0.52 0.52 0.23 0.03
Total scope 1 + 2 CO2e emissions (x million tons) - Market based 0.46 0.46 0.11 0.03
Water        
Total Water use for non-once-through-cooling (x million m3) 5.7 15.4 3.8 0.77
Total Water consumption (x million m3) 1.7 2.2 0.9 0.7
COD (net) (x 1,000 tons) 0.1 1.4 0.4 0.9
Waste        
Total Process Related Waste (x 1,000 tons) 60 88 20 15
Total Recycled Waste (x 1,000 tons) 55 82 14 14
Total Non-Recycled Waste (x 1,000 tons) 4.1 5.3 6.0 1.7
Landfill Non-hazardous (x 1,000 tons) 1.2 1.0 4.9 1.5
Landfill Hazardous (x 1,000 tons) 0.4 0.6 0.0 0.1
Off-site Incineration without Heat recovery (x 1,000 tons) 2.5 3.8 0.1 0.1
% Recycling 93% 94% 69% 89%
Emissions to Air and Various        
VOC (tons) 3,200 790 300 280
NOX (tons) 50 200 90 30
SO2 (tons) 4 2 2 0
Number of non-monetary sanctions 0 0 4 0
Total monetary value of fines (€) 2,400 0 1,900 0
  APAC Europe North America Latin America
Energy and GHG        
Total Primary Energy (PJ) 7.8 9.2 3.6 0.8
% Renewable Electricity purchased 16% 100% 100% 65%
Total scope 1 + 2 CO2e emissions (x million tons) - Location based 0.61 0.47 0.26 0.03
Total scope 1 + 2 CO2e emissions (x million tons) - Market based 0.57 0.49 0.12 0.02
Water        
Total Water use for non-once-through-cooling (x million m3) 6.4 15.1 4.1 0.71
Total Water consumption (x million m3) 2.0 1.8 1.0 0.6
COD (net) (x 1,000 tons) 0.1 1.5 0.4 0.0
Waste        
Total Process Related Waste (x 1,000 tons) 65 94 21 15
Total Recycled Waste (x 1,000 tons) 60 85 14 11
Total Non-Recycled Waste (x 1,000 tons) 4.9 9.5 7.4 4.7
Landfill Non-hazardous (x 1,000 tons) 1.6 4.2 7.3 4.1
Landfill Hazardous (x 1,000 tons) 0.8 0.8 0.0 0.0
Off-site Incineration without Heat recovery (x 1,000 tons) 2.5 4.5 0.1 0.6
% Recycling 92% 90% 65% 69%
Emissions to Air and Various        
VOC (x 1,000 tons) 2.7 0.8 0.3 0.4
NOX (x 1,000 tons) 0.02 0.2 0.1 0.02
SO2 (x 1,000 tons) 0.01 0.0 0.0 0.0
Number of non-monetary sanctions 0 0 5 0
Total monetary value of fines (€ x 1,000) 4 130 7 0
  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
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

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