Evonik presents detailed greenhouse gas emissions inventory for 2013

• 23.4 million metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions in relevant selected categories 
• Selected products manufactured in 2013 avoid 61.2 metric tons of greenhouse gases in use phase 
• Chief Human Resources Officer Thomas Wessel: "Protecting the climate and environment is a major global challenge."

Essen. Evonik has submitted a detailed greenhouse gas emission inventory for 2013 entitled "Evonik Carbon Footprint." This report presents Evonik’s direct and indirect greenhouse gas emissions. It also explains which emissions can be avoided through the use of important company products. Thomas Wessel, the chief human resources officer at Evonik, stressed the following: "Protecting the climate and environment is a major global challenge. Evonik takes this duty very seriously and has made it a key element of its corporate responsibility."

Cumulative greenhouse gas emissions along the Evonik value chain came to a total of 23.4 million metric tons of carbon-dioxide equivalents (CO2eq) in 2013. At 8.3 million metric tons, the largest share of these is attributable to CO2eq emissions from the raw chemical materials used. 6.3 million metric tons were produced through the disposal of purchased products. Evonik production facilities produced 5.9 million metric tons of CO2eq. Business trips and employee commuting accounted for 0.14 million metric tons of CO2eq. The emissions inventory was compiled for selected relevant categories along the value chain and was closely based on the Greenhouse Gas Protocol Corporate Standard published by the World Resources Institute (WRI) and the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD).

The use of selected Evonik products over other alternatives available on the market avoids 61.2 million metric tons of greenhouse gases. These products include "green tire" technology, amino acids in animal feed, foam stabilizers for insulation materials, specialty oxides in compact fluorescent lamps, and oil additives in hydraulic oils. Savings result over the life cycle of end products produced using the product volumes sold by Evonik in 2013. Calculations were largely based on the guidelines published by the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) for reporting avoided emissions.

The company has recently formulated new, ambitious environmental goals. By 2020, Evonik intends to reduce specific greenhouse gas emissions by 12 percent relative to 2012 production. This key performance indicator encompasses all direct greenhouse gas emissions as well as indirect net emissions arising from the purchase and sale of energy.

In addition, Evonik is reviewing the greenhouse gas emissions of all new developments coming out of Creavis, the company’s strategic innovation unit. The only projects that will be pursued are those that may be expected to generate greenhouse gas emissions at levels below established standards. An in-house team of specialists supports operative units by generating life cycle and sustainability assessments.

The Evonik Carbon Footprint is available online at www.evonik.com/responsibility. The study covers the period from 2009 to 2013. It underwent an assurance review by an auditing firm.