Goals

We carry out our corporate purpose, “We create chemistry for a sustainable future,” by pursuing ambitious goals along our entire value chain. In this way, we aim to achieve profitable growth and take on social and environmental responsibility. We are focusing on issues where we as a company can make a significant contribution.

Goal areas along the value chain

Goal areas along the value chain (graphic)

Procurement

 

 

2020 Goal

Status at end of 2017

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1

Our suppliers are evaluated based on risk due to the size and scale of our supplier portfolio. We define relevant suppliers as those showing an elevated sustainability risk potential as identified by our risk matrices and our purchasers’ assessments. We also use further sources of information to identify relevant suppliers such as evaluations from Together for Sustainability (TfS), a joint initiative of chemical companies for sustainable supply chains.

Assessment of sustainability performance of relevant suppliers;1 development of action plans where improvement is necessary

 

70%

56%

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Growth and profitability

As determined in 2015, our aim for the years ahead is, on average, to grow sales slightly faster and EBITDA considerably faster than global chemical production (excluding pharmaceuticals; 2017: 3.5%; average change since 2015: 3.5%), and to earn a significant premium on our cost of capital. Moreover, we strive for a high level of free cash flow each year, either raising or at least maintaining the dividend at the prior-year level.

 

 

2017

Change since 2016

Average change since 2015

2

Baseline 2015: excluding the gas trading and storage business transferred to Gazprom

Sales

 

€64.5 billion

12.0%

3.7%2

EBITDA

 

€12.7 billion

20.9%

13.1%2

Dividends per share paid out

 

€3.00

€0.10

 

 

 

 

 

 

Premium on cost of capital

 

€2.7 billion

 

 

Free cash flow

 

€4.8 billion

 

 

Employees

 

 

2021 Goal

Status at end of 2017

More on

3

The term “senior executives” refers to leadership levels 1 to 4, whereby level 1 denotes the Board of Executive Directors. In addition, individual employees can attain senior executive status by virtue of special expertise.

Proportion of women in leadership positions with disciplinary responsibility

 

22–24%

20.5%

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Long-term goals

 

 

International representation among senior executives3

 

Increase in proportion of non-German senior executives (baseline 2003: 30%)

38.9%

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Senior executives with international experience

 

Proportion of senior executives with international experience over 80%

84.6%

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Employee development

 

Systematic, global employee development as shared responsibility of employees and leaders based on relevant processes and tools

Project implemented worldwide

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Production

 

 

2025 Goals

Status at end of 2017

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Reduction of worldwide lost-time injury rate per one million working hours

 

≤0.5

1.4

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Reduction of worldwide process safety incidents per one million working hours

 

≤0.5

2.0

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Annual goal

 

 

Health Performance Index

 

>0.9

0.97

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Product stewardship

 

 

2020 Goal

Status at end of 2017

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Risk assessment of products that we sell in quantities of more than one metric ton per year worldwide

 

>99%

76.2%

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Energy and climate protection

 

 

2020 Goal

Status at end of 2017

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4

The selection of relevant sites is determined by the amount of primary energy used and local energy prices.

Coverage of our primary energy demand by introducing certified energy management systems (ISO 50001) at all relevant sites4

 

90%

54.3%

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Reduction of greenhouse gas emissions per metric ton of sales product (excluding Oil & Gas, baseline 2002)

 

(40%)

(35.5%)

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Water

 

 

2025 Goals

Status at end of 2017

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Introduction of sustainable water management at all production sites in water stress areas and at all Verbund sites (excluding Oil & Gas)

 

100%

45.2%

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Products and solutions

 

 

2020 Goal

Status at end of 2017

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Increase the proportion of sales generated by products that make a particular contribution to sustainable development (Accelerator products)

 

28%

27.3%

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