Metrics and Targets Associated With the Circular Economy

We strive to continuously improve our waste management, and our key data in the area of waste reflects our resource outflows.

Targets related to circular economy [E5-3]

We currently do not have any formalized targets in connection with our impacts with respect to waste. Nevertheless, we want to sustainably optimize our activities and production processes by ensuring the efficient use of energy and raw materials, minimizing emissions and waste, and keeping wastewater emissions as low as possible. Waste management and recycling activities are thus systematically implemented to reduce material consumption and disposal volumes. In the context of continuous improvement initiatives, our sites also develop their own policies and targets for a sustainable future, with different priorities and measures to protect the environment. We additionally ensure the proper disposal of obsolete inventories or waste, particularly in the crop protection industry, and cooperate with industry associations and international organizations to support the proper collection and disposal of obsolete crop protection products in various countries. We also globally support programs geared toward the safe recycling and disposal of empty packaging and containers, with successful disposal programs already having been established in several countries. Our principles for responsible product management are established in our Product Stewardship Policy and the Health, Safety, Environment (HSE) Management and HSE Key Requirements Policy, which are based on established and internationally recognized standards. Furthermore, our Consumer Health Division has signed the Charter for Environmentally Sustainable Self-Care of the Global Self-Care Federation to promote industry-wide progress in addressing environmental challenges, including sustainable packaging. We endeavor to deploy sustainable packaging throughout the value chain, with the objective of maximum functionality, minimum environmental impact and circularity. We also support regulatory framework conditions and political initiatives to promote innovative and sustainable packaging technologies, processes and business models.

The effectiveness of our policies and actions with respect to material sustainability-related impacts, risks and opportunities is safeguarded through continuous oversight, regular audits and compliance with our Health, Safety, Environment (HSE) Management and HSE Key Requirements Policy. This approach ensures compliance with local and international rules, promotes best practices and supports our commitment to environmental protection and sustainability. We evaluate our progress using both qualitative and quantitative indicators such as the reduction of waste volumes, the increase in recycling rates, compliance with legal requirements and the successful implementation of site-specific waste management plans and initiatives.

Resource outflows [E5-5]

Our waste consists of hazardous and nonhazardous waste as defined by local regulations. Waste management is strictly regulated by local laws and internal company rules. Each of our sites must have an up-to-date waste registry containing the following information for each waste stream: name, description, origin and volume (metric tons), and sufficient details on the composition, hazard classification, treatment and final disposal.

Our main waste streams differ between our three divisions. The most frequent waste streams originate from the manufacture, formulation (mainly industrial wash liquids and mother liquors), discharge and use of pharmaceuticals and crop protection product packaging (including separately collected municipal packaging waste), absorbents, filter materials, cleaning cloths and protective clothing. Due to our business activity, our waste materials contain pharmaceuticals and raw materials for crop protection and seed treatment products, metals and minerals in laboratory waste, biomass in seed treatment processes, and recyclable waste such as plastics and paper.

The waste volume is directly measured by the sites after its generation and then once again after its disposal. Measured waste volumes for all environmentally relevant sites are entered by HSE officers once a year into a central reporting platform that records the measured data for January through October and the estimated data for November and December. The estimate is based either on the prior-year data, where necessary adjusted to reflect special events in the current reporting period, or on updated data from the current reporting period. The data is then reviewed and validated by a central team to ensure its accuracy and completeness. All sites with an annual energy consumption exceeding 1.5 terajoules and/or annual water withdrawal that is greater than or equal to 50 Tm³ are regarded as environmentally relevant. The environmental data of other sites that are below the thresholds has no relevant influence on the overall environmental data. The waste data is strictly monitored by the local authorities in accordance with local regulations. The approval authorities examine the waste streams and channels within the scope of the approval procedure, which comprises the filing of the application by the plant operator with all relevant information on waste management. The responsible authority reviews the application to ensure legal and environmental compliance. Approval is granted if the review is positive, potentially with conditions. Waste disposal is then regularly monitored by the authorities.

The volume of nonrecycled waste was 433.53 thousand metric tons in 2025 (2024: 462.29 thousand metric tons), corresponding to a share of 44.7% of our total waste (2024: 45.3%). Our finished products, such as pharmaceuticals, crop protection products and seeds, are used almost exclusively as consumable materials for which reuse through recycling or recovery processes, as outlined in the circular economy approach, is not possible. Due to significant regulatory and technical hurdles, the recovery of products from pharmaceutical and chemical production waste is only performed in individual cases. For this reason, the data point “preparation for reuse” required according to ESRS is not material and not included in Table A 4.2.6/1.

We calculate nonrecycled waste as the difference between the total waste volume and the volume of recycled waste. Under recycling we report the volume of waste that is reused or processed for reuse by various means. A small proportion of the recycling figure comprises waste that is fed to a preparation process for reuse.

The data on waste diverted from disposal channels and redirected to recycling processes, as well as the respective types of treatment, covers all internal waste management processes, as well as off-site waste management by authorized external parties. Other recycling processes include composting and energy recovery, while other disposal operations comprise all internal and external processes that cannot be otherwise categorized (such as disposal through deep well injections or temporary storage of waste prior to its disposal).

Due to the varying depth of value creation, waste volumes are unequally distributed among our divisions. Crop Science has a higher share due partly to the greater product volume. The reduction in waste from our Crop Science Division of around 20% compared to 2024 is essentially due to lower production volumes and process improvements.