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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 around 100 nationalities (a huge transformation from 2001 when nearly half 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 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 2021, the Frequency Index of all DSM Recordable Injuries improved from 0.24 to 0.22, 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.

Safety, health & wellbeing in 2021

Inclusion & Diversity

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).

Inclusion & diversity in 2020

Our Environmental Footprint

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 (SBTi) and are the foundation for achieving our net zero by 2050 commitment. The SBTi is reviewing DSM’s revised Scope 1 + 2 target of 59% by 2030.

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

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

Key environmental indicators 2021

The table below shows DSM’s footprint for key environmental indicators in 2021.

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) 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017
Total CO2e emissions (Scope 1 and 2) - Market based 1.21 1.24 1.17 1.23 1.50
Total Scope 1 CO2e emission 0.61 0.62 0.63 0.76 1.03
Direct fuels Scope-1 CO2e emissions 0.57 0.58 0.59 0.73 0.99
Non-fuel Scope 1 CO2e emissions 0.04 0.04 0.04 0.03 0.04
Total Scope 2 CO2e emissions 0.59 0.62 0.54 0.47 0.47
Total Scope 3 CO2e emissions1 11.7 12 11.6 11.3 13.1
Purchased goods and services 9.4 9.8 9.4 9.0 9.2
Other upstream categories 0.7 0.7 0.7 0.9 0.9
End-of-life treatment 1.1 1.1 1.000 0.9 0.92
Investments 0.2 0.2 0.3 0.3 1.9
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.
2 The 2017 End-of-life treatment category was restated based on changed assumptions, exclusions and adjustments. See the Integrated Annual Report 2018 for details.
(in TJ) 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017
Total (net) primary energy consumed 21,400 21,500 21,200 20,800 23,400
Total electricity purchased 4,800 4,520 4,560 3,910 3,870
 Purchased non-renewable electricity 1,340 1,830 2,280 2,300 3,040
 Purchased renewable electricity 3,460 2,690 2,270 1,610 825
Total electricity self-generated 1,570 1,540 1,290 1,600 1,910
 Non-renewable electricity self-generated 1,560 1,520 1,280 1,590 1,900
Renewable electricity self-generated   15 8 15 12
Non-renewable electricity, exported 710 710 540 550 670
Renewable electricity, exported 0 1 1 0 1
Non-renewable fuel consumption 9,810 9,830 9,860 11,900 14,760
Coal consumed 0 110 360 1,080 3,780
Diesel/gas oil consumed 150 220 180 250 190
Natural gas consumed 8,650 8,610 8,460 9,770 9,980
Other non-renewable fuel consumed 1010 890 860 800 810
Renewable fuel consumption 296 271 255 285 294
Biogas consumed 169 147 131 128 118
Biomass liquid consumed 0 0 - - -
Biomass solid consumed 28 11 - - -
Other renewable fuel consumed 99 111 123 157 176
Total heat purchased 5,300 4,850 4,000 2,570 1,630
Non-renewable heat, purchased 4,590 4,260 3,460 2,540 1,630
Renewable heat, purchased 710 590 540 30 0
Total heat self-generated 5,760 6,040 6,340 7,480 8,970
Non-renewable heat self-generated 5,510 5,790 6,110 7,280 8,740
Renewable heat self-generated 250 246 222 208 225
Total heat exported 370 385 385 715 770
Non-renewable heat exported 355 370 355 665 720
Renewable heat exported 15 15 30 50 50
(in tons) 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017
Recycled waste (%) 86% 85% 86%2 83% 85%
Total process related non-hazardous waste 108,900 109,1001 107,4002 96,7003 123,000
Landfill 17,100 17,400 15,200 17,900 15,800
Off-site incineration with heat recovery 14,700 13,9001 9,200 7,660 6,390
Off-site incineration without heat recovery 2,200 4,300 3,400 3,190 5,210
Off-site recovery 74,900 73,5001 79,7002 67,9003 96,000
Total process related hazardous waste 86,400 80,6001 84,900 81,800 66,500
Landfill 1,700 1,150 1,560 2,830 2,600
Off-site incineration with heat recovery 40,900 34,2001 27,600 24,700 19,600
Off-site incineration without heat recovery 5,500 7,300 6,300 8,980 3,910
Off-site recovery 38,300 37,900 49,500 45,300 40,400
Non-process related waste 8,400 9,800 5,100 26,900 8,420
Landfill 1,250 730 1,750 5,940 1,890
Off-site incineration 210 300 70 200 980
Off-site recovery3 6,900 8,800 3,300 20,700 5,540

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) 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017
Total water withdrawal 106 108 111 114 114
Water withdrawal in water-stressed areas1 10.9 10.5 - - -
Water withdrawal for non-once-through cooling 25.8 23.6 22.6 22.1 23.4
Ground water 6.1 5.2 6.0 7.3 7.4
Potable (tap) water 14.2 13.6 12.1 9.9 11.1
Surface water 4.6 4.8 4.6 4.9 5.0
From processing raw materials2 0.3 - - - -
Rain water2 0.6 - - - -
Emissions to water          
COD (tons) 2,000 2,000 2,100 2,240 2,680
Nitrogen (tons) 470 480 430 460 460
Phosphorous (tons) 70 60 60 60 80
1 Water stress has been reported as of 2020.
2 New water withdrawal indicators are available as of 2021.
(in tons) 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017
VOC 4,100 3,1801 2,740 4,880 6,680
SO2 10 30 60 90 270
NOX 390 340 430 510 750
Number of non-monetary sanctions 5 18 2 6 4
Total monetary value of fines (€) 141,000 26,000 115,100 23,500 128,000
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) 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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