Planet under Pressure

Symrise contributes to the following
SDGs
Due to its broad positioning and multilayered
business model, Symrise keeps
an eye on all the goals while focusing
on those that can make the greatest
contribution. The key goals for Symrise
comprise Goal 8 (Decent work and
economic growth), Goal 12 (Responsible
consumption and production), Goal 13
(Climate action), Goals 14 and 15 (Life
below water / Life on land), and Goal 17
(Partnerships for the goals). Partnerships
are a special focus, because Symrise
knows that it can only grow sustainably
with the right partners.
Goal 8:
Decent work and economic growth
Complying with human rights and providing
human dignity in working conditions
are concrete goals of Symrise. These
actions contribute to the responsible
growth of the company. Suppliers and
business partners must acknowledge
the Symrise Code of Conduct before
they can enter into a partnership. The
Code of Conduct promotes humanitarian
labor practices and decent work, among
other things.
Goal 12: Responsible consumption
and production
Sustainable production processes and
the efficient use of natural resources
form integral parts of Symrise. It starts
with the environmentally friendly use
of chemicals and reaches all the way to
avoiding waste. Symrise and its partners
can considerably influence their
contribution to Goal 12 in the product
development phase.
Goal 13: Climate action
Climate action forms a core component
of the corporate strategy. Two years ago,
Symrise joined the Task Force on Climaterelated
Financial Disclosures, showing its
dedication to expanding climate-related
reporting. Symrise also wants to get the
entirety of its energy from renewable
sources by 2025 and to increase its ecoefficiency
by 60 percent. By 2030, the
company wants to be completely climate
positive. Symrise has already achieved
its goal of decreasing emissions by
33 percent ahead of its 2020 deadline.
Goals 14 and 15:
Life below water / Life on land
Developing flavors and fragrances from
natural raw materials relies on global
biodiversity. Symrise contributes to the
protection of biodiversity and the conservation
of natural habitats. This includes
the sustainable sourcing of raw materials,
evaluating suppliers according to
sustainability criteria, and participating
in international initiatives.
Goal 17: Partnerships for the goals
The transfer of knowledge and synergies
between Symrise, its suppliers, political
actors, and on-site partners form the basis
of its business activities. In this context,
backward integration is one of the important
cornerstones. Symrise wants to gain
access to raw materials that are traceable,
safe, and of high quality, without
owning farms or growing raw materials.
A great example of this method is the
grapefruit that the company retrieves
from South Africa.
Grapefruit success story – SDGs in
action
The grapefruit plays an increasingly
important role for Symrise. Right now,
the grapefruit comprises a small share
of the citrus portfolio, but it is growing
disproportionately fast. The KwaZulu-
Natal cultivation area, a province in
South Africa, sustainably cultivates the
supply from Florida. The company buys
high-quality raw materials here and promotes
close cooperation with regional
suppliers and farmers at the same time.
Ten years ago, the share of grapefruit
in this region amounted to less than
10 percent of the market. Today, it has
reached a remarkable 30 percent.
Symrise also supports farmers by contributing
to better living conditions and
aims to make the job of a farmer attractive
to young people. An academy for
farmers will open in the near future and
teach the basics of farming as well as
agriculture marketing and management.
The factory that has been supplying
Symrise with citrus fruit concentrates
and oils for years is special because half
of it belongs to the farmers in the region,
and the other half to the Böcker Group
from Buxtehude, Germany, a Symrise
supplier that manages the processes.
Symrise commits to the people on the
ground, which is reflected in Goal 1 (No
poverty), Goal 2 (Zero hunger), Goal 3
(Good health and well-being), and Goal
4 (Quality education). It supports the responsible
production objective (Goal 12)
and therefore also climate action (Goal
13). SymTrap® technology extracts valuable
flavor components from byproducts.
The residual water from the process is
free of residues (Goal 6: Clean water and
sanitation). Working with proven local
partners – the farmers and the Böcker
Group – makes all of this possible. This
project provides a great example of sustainable
partnerships and how they can
contribute to Goal 17.
Summary
Symrise meets its own standards of
sustainable growth by balancing ecological,
social, and economic aspects
into its business model, contributing to
the SDGs with its holistic and sustainable
corporate strategy. Sustainability
for the company means ensuring both
the future and the raw materials. The
company is working on this continually
and set itself ambitious goals for the
future: climate positive by 2030 and
transparency for stakeholders regarding
sustainability requirements. Achieving
profitable growth in a sustainable manner
to ensure the future viability of the
company – Symrise operates with this
understanding day after day, so that
everyone along the value chain wins.
Global Goals Yearbook 2020 143