Resources & Circularity

Improving our resource efficiency

Improving our performance

By using resources more efficiently and replacing fossil-based materials with more renewable ones we are demonstrating that it’s possible to build a more circular world. 

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More efficient use of resources

Our drive for greater resource efficiency focuses on two key areas; sourcing of renewables and the management of the waste we generate and water we use in our operations.

Renewable sourcing

Renewable resources are essential for securing resource availability into the future and reducing greenhouse gas emissions by putting carbon back 'in the loop'. Some 14.3% of our spend on raw materials came from renewable sources in 2018.

Waste

Today at DSM we recycle 83% of our waste, which is in line with our ambition to recycle 80-90% in 2020. We also reduced the amount of non-hazardous waste going to landfill by 67% between 2010 and 2015. Not only that, we view waste as a valuable resource, and aim to get more value from it through improvement projects wherever possible. For example, in 2018 we completed a project at our manufacturing facility in Dalry, UK, where a waste stream was repurposed to produce fertilizers.

Water stewardship

We recognize that water management is an essential part of ongoing risk mitigation and environmental impact reduction strategies. We believe that water risks are local by nature, and we therefore focus on local water risk assessments (and thorough follow-up). In 2018 we completed water risk assessments at all of our material water sites.

We are committed to measuring, tracking and continually improving our water stewardship as well as our position as a global sustainability leader within the chemical sector. In fact, from 2017 to 2018 our water consumption decreased to 22 million m3.

Advocating

We work with all kinds of organizations - from governments and NGOs to academia and other private companies - to shape and influence the circular economy agenda.

CE100

CE100 is the Ellen MacArthur Foundation's global engagement platform for academia, cities and governments, emerging innovators and corporates. At DSM we’re part of a CE100 collaboration project to promote the role of renewable materials in a Circular Economy.

Champions 12.3

Champions 12.3 is a coalition of executives dedicated to achieving Sustainable Development Goal 12.3: halving per capita global food waste and reducing food losses along production and supply chains by 2030. We play our part here through our family of food ingredients and solutions, while also looking to address food loss and waste in other areas.

Circle Economy

Circle Economy is dedicated to accelerating the transition towards a Circular Economy through various programs and tools. As a member of the Circle Built Environment Programme, DSM is exploring how to provide new material solutions for the buildings & construction industry based on circularity principles. 

Ellen MacArthur Foundation

The Ellen MacArthur Foundation was created in 2010 and has become the global thought leader for our transition to the circular economy. We take part in various projects working alongside members of the foundation.

PACE

We also work with the WEF's Platform for Accelerating the Circular Economy (PACE). This public-private collaboration develops blended financing models for circular economy projects in developing economies; as well as helping to create and adjust enabling policy frameworks that address specific barriers to advancing the circular economy. 

The Ocean Cleanup

This initiative started by young entrepreneur Boyan Slat is all about ridding the oceans of plastic. We support The Ocean Cleanup with our super-strong, lightweight Dyneema® fiber used in the floating barrier system that captures the plastic; and through our sustainability expertise, notably that of DSM's CEO Feike Sijbesma, a Senior Advisor to The Ocean Cleanup's Supervisory Board.

WBCSD Factor 10

The World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) is a CEO-led organization of over 200 businesses working towards joint sustainability goals. As co-chair of the WBCSD’s circular economy program, Factor 10, DSM is teaming up with fellow members to scale up circularity-based solutions in the automotive and built environment sectors, as well as tackling food loss and waste.

Read more

  • Enabling a circular world

    Reduce, Replace, Extend, Enable & Recover. How we are safeguarding current and future natural resources and unlocking more value from those we use.

  • Brighter Living Solutions

    DSM’s Brighter Living Solutions are profitable products and innovations that have a measurably better impact on the planet and people.

  • Our operations

    DSM takes its global environmental and social responsibilities seriously. This goes beyond our own operations to that of our suppliers, customers, and end-users.

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