ESG: LANXESS Entire value chain to become climate-neutral

Scope 3 target: Indirect emissions in the upstream and downstream value chain eliminated by 2050

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Mumbai: Specialty chemicals company LANXESS is taking the next step in climate protection and has set a target for its scope 3 emissions: The Group aims to make its upstream and downstream supply chains climate-neutral by 2050. This includes indirect emissions, particularly from purchased raw materials, but also from logistics and end products.

Climate-neutral by 2040

By 2030, scope 3 emissions are to be reduced by 40% compared with the base year 2015, from 27,000 to 16,500 kilotons of CO₂ equivalents. For direct emissions in production (scope 1) and for energy sourced (scope 2), LANXESS had already set a target of becoming climate-neutral by 2040 three years ago.

Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi)

LANXESS’ climate targets are in line with the Paris Climate Agreement. This has now been approved by the renowned Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi). The joint initiative of climate protection organization CDP, UN Global Compact, World Resources Institute and World Wide Fund for Nature has validated the Group’s targets for reducing its emissions and approved that LANXESS is helping to limit global warming to a maximum of 1.5 degrees Celsius. This temperature is generally considered to be the threshold for preventing a climate catastrophe.

Our societies must transform to climate neutrality

“To stop climate change, our societies must transform to climate neutrality. We want to do our part. Our goal of becoming climate neutral in direct emissions and energy sourced by 2040 is already very ambitious. With the additional targets for our scope 3 emissions, we are taking the next step together with our suppliers and customers,” said Matthias Zachert, Chairman of the Board of Management of LANXESS AG. “The approval of our commitment by SBTi shows that we are on the right responsible path.”

Science-based targets

“Today, LANXESS joins the growing list of companies with science-based targets consistent with limiting global warming to 1.5°C,” said Luiz Amaral, Chief Executive Officer of the Science Based Targets Initiative. “We now need more corporate actors to set ambitious targets like LANXESS.”

Strategy developed for a climate-neutral supply chain

To achieve its scope 3 targets, LANXESS has launched the Net Zero Value Chain Program. This strategy toward climate neutrality along the entire value chain is based on three pillars:

Sustainable raw materials

LANXESS is realigning its raw materials purchase and is increasingly sourcing sustainable raw materials that are bio-based, recycled or produced using renewable energies. Current examples of these raw materials are sustainably produced cyclohexane for high-performance plastics under the Durethan brand or starch-based polyether polyols for prepolymers under the Adiprene brand.

Green logistics

The CO₂ footprint is weighted more heavily than before when selecting freight transport modes. LANXESS also intends to make use of innovative solutions, such as “green ships” with sustainable drive trains. Improved logistics planning is also intended to increase transportation asset utilization, optimize freight transport modes, and reduce demand for freight transport.

Climate-neutral products

LANXESS is expanding its range of climate-neutral products and solutions with a low CO₂ footprint. Since fall 2021, these products have been given the “Scopeblue” brand label. Examples include trimethylolpropane (TMP), about half of which is made from sustainable raw materials, or the composite Tepex, which is based on flax and lactic acid.

Low carbon and climate-neutral alternatives to all products

In the medium term, LANXESS aims to offer low carbon and climate-neutral alternatives to all its products. The goal is to have exclusively climate-neutral products in its portfolio by 2050. LANXESS also wants to quantify the carbon footprint of all its products.

“With the Net Zero Value Chain Program, we are continuing to drive forward the transformation of our product portfolio toward climate neutrality. In this way, we are also supporting our customers, who are increasingly looking for sustainable solutions,” said Zachert.

LANXESS is a leading specialty chemicals company with sales of EUR 6.1 billion in 2021. The company currently has about 13,200 employees in 33 countries. The core business of LANXESS is the development, manufacturing and marketing of chemical intermediates, additives and consumer protection products. LANXESS is listed in the leading sustainability indices Dow Jones Sustainability Index (DJSI World and Europe) and FTSE4Good.