Corporate | Sustainability

Symrise supports Germany’s climate policy goals
— Symrise joins cross-sector network Klimaschutz-Unternehmen e. V.
— Initiative to collaborate on innovative solutions to achieve Germany’s climate policy goals
— Symrise is committed to ambitious climate goals

On November 3, 2020, the pioneering German initiative Klimaschutz-Unternehmen e. V. (association of climate-protection companies) admitted eight new members. Symrise belongs to these companies – all of which are at the forefront of climate protection in Germany. The Holzminden-based group is from now on part of this network of companies. With its target of becoming climate-positive starting in 2030, Symrise is supporting Germany’s climate policy goals for the long term.

At a virtual event this past Monday in Berlin, Parliamentary State Secretary Thomas Bareiß, Member of the Bundestag, presented the certificates for outstanding climate protection achievements to the award-winning companies. He thus emphasized their commitment to ambitious climate protection goals as well as their challenging agendas in energy efficiency and the use of renewable energies.

Thomas Bareiß, Parliamentary State Secretary, said, "These climate protection companies have voluntarily committed to high climate protection and energy efficiency targets. This is commendable. These kinds of pioneers impressively show that environmental protection can only be successful in cooperation with the corporate world. So I encourage even more businesses to get on board with the initiative!"
 
Jörg Schmidt, Chairman of Klimaschutz-Unternehmen e. V., says, "From small and medium-sized enterprises to major corporations, the addition of these eight new members provides clear proof that there is great interest in sustainable business practices. The constant growth of our association also shows that the desire to take targeted action against climate change is spreading through every industry. I wholeheartedly welcome the eight new climate protection companies to our pioneering nationwide initiative."

"We are very excited to be admitted to the network of German climate protection companies because we have been committed to climate protection for many years," says Heinz-Jürgen Bertram, Chief Executive Officer of Symrise AG. "Since we use a large variety of natural raw materials, protecting the climate is part of our DNA. This is how we can continue to make a sustainable contribution to nutrition, care and well-being. We have set ambitious goals for ourselves in this area: By 2025 we want to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions in relation to value added by more than half compared with 2016. We set ourselves the ambitious goal of running our business climate-positive starting in 2030."

As part of its commitment to global climate protection, Symrise has been reporting on its activities since 2006. Symrise belonged to the first companies worldwide to receive approval for its scientifically based climate targets. In addition, Symrise joined as a supporter of the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) as early as 2018, showing its dedication to expanding climate-related reporting.

"The motivation for us to participate as a member in the network of climate protection companies is obvious," explains Dr. Helmut Frieden, VP Sustainability at Symrise. "We want to work on future-oriented solutions together and with the bundled competencies of the members and exchange best practices, thus promoting the transfer of knowledge. The association is available to society as well as politics and business as a discussion partner and know-how carrier".