Symrise follows an integrated corporate strategy that closely links sustainable operations and economic success. To achieve this, we must design our processes so that they have as little impact on the environment as possible. We also live up to our social responsibility for employees and society. This is the only way our company can continue to be successful in the future.
Another year of crisis: That is probably the best way to describe 2022. Russia’s war of aggression on Ukraine, rising inflation and high energy prices, the still unresolved Covid-19 pandemic, volatility and uncertainty characterized the global economy. Despite all these challenges, we again achieved our goals in 2022. Our more than 12,000 employees around the world generated sales of € 4,618 million, an organic growth of 11.4 %. At 20 %, our EBITDA margin1 is also within our target corridor. And, we are one of the most profitable companies in the industry.
We also work very sustainably. We protect nature and its biodiversity worldwide by responsibly purchasing raw materials and processing them sustainably, increasingly using circular economy methods. This is how we simultaneously protect the foundations of our business. In all five of our goal dimensions, we meet the requirements for non-financial corporate reporting regulated by the CSR Directive Implementation Act (see the Sustainability & Responsibility chapter, or www.symrise.com/sustainability).
We will achieve our long-term goals at all levels. The basis for this is our integrated corporate strategy. In 2025, we aim to achieve sales of € 5.5 billion to € 6.0 billion with annual growth of 5 % to 7 %. In doing so, we are constantly becoming more efficient and reducing our greenhouse gas emissions to such an extent that we will be climate-positive as a company in 2030.
organic sales growth generated by Symrise in 2022
Business
| 2022 Track record | Notes | 2025 Goals | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 11.4 % organic sales growth | We exceeded our goals and the forecast. | 5 % – 7 % CAGR | We want to grow faster than the market. This allows us to gain market shares and increase the distance between us and smaller competitors. |
| 20 % EBITDA margin6 | We achieved our goals and continue to be one of the most profitable companies in the industry. | 20 % – 23 % | We improve our profitability by continually increasing efficiency and optimizing the product mix. |
FOOTPRINT
| 2022 Track record | Notes | 2025 Goals | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10.4 % improvement in the eco-efficiency of greenhouse gas emissions (Scope 1 + 2)1 | We are fully on track to reach our 2025 and 2030 goals. | We achieved our goal for 2020 of improving the eco-efficiency of greenhouse gas emissions by 33 % compared with 2010 ahead of schedule. We have now set for ourselves the 2025 goal of increasing the eco-efficiency of emissions by more than 60 % compared to 2016.1 | We aim to be climate-positive by 2030, primarily by increasing energy and process efficiency at our production sites and by supporting high-quality and certified climate protection projects. |
| 6.6 % reduction in absolute greenhouse gas emissions (Scope 3) | We succeeded in significantly reducing emissions from our raw materials. | Between 2016 and 2022, we were able to reduce Scope 3 greenhouse gas emissions by around 40 %. We now want to reduce absolute emissions by 15 % by 2025 compared to 2020. | Through process optimization and with the help of our suppliers and customers, we want to reduce greenhouse gas emissions all along our value chain. |
| 11.2 % improvement in the eco-efficiency of the chemical oxygen demand in wastewater1 | We significantly exceeded the target value of 4 % in 2022. | Improve the eco-efficiency of the chemical oxygen demand in wastewater by 4 % annually by 2025 or by a total of 60 % in relation to base year 2010.1 | We are increasing the yield of our products by changing our processes to sustainable methods. |
| 3.8 % improvement in the eco-efficiency of sensitive waste1 | Increased production at the largest sites and adjustments to the product portfolio in line with customer requirements has led to an increase in the share of sensitive waste. | Improve the eco-efficiency of sensitive waste by 4 % annually by 2025 or by a total of 60 % compared to base year 2010.1 | We will use exclusively sustainable packaging materials by 2025 and recycle – wherever possible – more than 95 % of the plastic we use. |
| 4.3 % reduction in water use in regions with water stress5 | Initiatives have been launched in Mexico and water consumption has been reduced by 40 % compared to the previous year. | 15 % reduction of water use at all production sites in arid regions (2018 – 2025). | We continually reduce our water usage by using water-saving technologies and raising awareness in our company of the importance of using less. |
INNOVATION
| 2022 Track record | Notes | 2025 Goals | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15.1 % sales from new product developments2 | We exceeded our target amount of > 15 % once again. | Each year we develop new products that are consistent with sustainability criteria, and these products account for a share of sales of more than 15 % over the past three years. | Networking the highly diverse areas of expertise of Taste, Nutrition & Health and Scent & Care |
SOURCING
| 2022 Track record | Notes | 2025 Goals | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 87 % of our suppliers (90 % of the procurement volume) are assessed according to sustainability criteria3 | In response to the Supply Chain Due Diligence Act (Lieferkettensorgfaltspflichtengesetz – LkSG), we have raised the share of suppliers that are measured on the basis of sustainability criteria. | 100 % of our suppliers (90 % of the procurement volume) are assessed according to sustainability criteria.3 | In preparation for the LkSG, we assess our suppliers early on. |
| 88 % of strategic biological raw materials are derived from sustainable sources | By intensifying our backward integration, we could improve our performance in this area. | 100 % sustainable sourcing of all strategic biological raw materials by 2025 | We aim for sustainability in the supply chain by continuing to strengthen our backward integration, intensifying cooperation with suppliers and initiating joint supply chain projects and programs. |
CARE
| 2022 Track record | Notes | 2025 Goals | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 16 % women in the first management level | Diversity initiatives have been launched in Latin America and Asia. | Increase the percentage of women in the first management level to 30 % by 2025. | We believe in strong, diverse leadership and offer good advancement opportunities for women. |
| 37 % women in the second management level | Increase the percentage of women in the second management level to 45 % by 2025. | We promote the career development of women and provide them with freedom so they can balance career and family. | |
| 2.8 MAQ4 accident frequency | Thanks to our Symsafe activities, we were able to reduce the MAQ ratio. | Industry-leading occupational safety < 1.5 MAQ |
Continuous implementation of a zero-accident culture through company-wide initiatives and training. To help improve occupational safety, we launched the SymSafe project in 2021. |