Biodiversity - preserving the potential of nature
What is biodiversity?
Biodiversity includes the diverse array of life forms found on our planet. As highlighted in the COP15 Global Biodiversity Framework, the preservation of ecosystems is crucial for the well-being of human beings, animals, and plants. This aligns with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to protect life in water (SDG 14) and on earth (SDG 15). Additionally, given that roughly 50% of the global economy is believed to depend on the services provided by nature, it is also indispensable for economic sustainability.
What influence does LANXESS have on biodiversity?
Being a chemical company, we depend on a range of vital ecosystem resources and services, including clean water, energy, as well as landslide and flood protection. Additionally, we acknowledge that our business activities present both opportunities and potential impacts when it comes to biodiversity.
We assessed the key impact drivers of the specialty chemicals industry using scientific and recognized tools, namely ENCORE and the WWF Biodiversity Risk Filter. In the course of this assessment, we distinctly recognized climate change and water-related issues (both water consumption and pollution) as the primary drivers of the potential environmental impact of the chemical industry. We have already established commitments, strategies, and concrete targets for both of these topics.
Ambition and goals
Furthermore, we ensure that our biodiversity endeavors are closely aligned with the impact of our business operations throughout the value chain. Our focus here is on:
- safe and sustainable sites,
- sustainable products and
- responsibility along the value chain.
The topic of biodiversity is embedded within our Health, Safety, and Environment sub-committee and therefore has board-level oversight.
We endeavor to avoid non-hazardous and hazardous emissions into soil, air and water and to reduce waste. Further, we have a comprehensive incident responding management system [More information: safe & sustainable sites]. We are committed to the responsible use of water and have a Water Program that entails global efficiency targets for water consumption as well as pollution (TOC reduction in wastewater). By setting ambitious climate goals for the entire value chain and diligently pursuing them, we have taken significant steps towards counteracting climate change and in this way help to preserve biodiversity [More information: climate strategy].
Secondly, we aim to further improve the sustainability performance of our product portfolio as an integral aspect of our product responsibility. We leverage our product sustainability monitor to pinpoint products produced with a notably sustainable approach, while also identifying those that offer potential for enhancement, all while considering environmental and water-related risks.
Lastly we strive for circular and sustainable sourcing and have set ourselves the commitment to support the use of secondary (circular) or sustainable and renewable raw materials and when using renewable raw materials to ensure that recognized standards of sustainability are met [More information: circular and sustainable sourcing].
Example: TotalEnergies
TotalEnergies is supplying us with biocircular styrene. Unlike conventional styrene, the raw material used by TotalEnergies is based on tall oil, which is derived from a tree resin and is a by-product of pulp production. We use the styrene to produce sustainable ion exchange resins. These products are used for water treatment and for the partial softening of drinking water in water filters.