Sustainability targets

Reducing Emissions:

We will achieve our Science-Based Targets (SBTs) by reducing our emissions in line with limiting the global temperature rise to 1.5ºC above pre-industrial levels, maximising the use of renewable energy in our operations.

SDGs: 7.2, 9.4. 13.2 

By 2030, we will have achieved our SBTs, in line with limiting global warming to 1.5ºC.

Thereafter, by 2050 we will be a net zero organisation.

A reduction of 25% in 2018 absolute scope 1 and 2 emissions by the end of 2024.

All Croda locations to have a decarbonisation roadmap by the end of 2022.

Carbon Cover:

We will enable the transition to a low carbon economy. We will be Climate Positive, working closely with our customers to develop products that offer carbon-saving benefits in use.

SDGs: 7.2, 7.3, 23.2

By 2030, use of our products will avoid four times the carbon emissions associated with our business - our 4:1 carbon cover.

Two million tonnes of CO2 emissions savings delivered through use of our products by the end of 2024.

100% of our product portfolio evaluated for downstream scope 3 impact by the end of 2024.

687,926 tonnes CO2e were avoided through the use of ingredients attached to verified case studies giving a carbon cover ratio of 0.66 (2021: 0.4).

In 2022 we developed a framework which enabled further engagement with customers and identification of scope 3 savings, enhancing the quality of our product portfolio evaluation.

Sustainable Innovation:

We will accelerate the transition to bio-based products, moving away from fossil/petrochemical feedstocks.

SDGs: 12.2

Land use:

We will save more land than we use. We will increase agricultural land use efficiency, protect biodiversity and improve food security by sourcing sustainably and inspiring innovation in our agrochemical businesses.

SDGs: 2.3, 2.4, 12.2, 15.2, 15.3

Throughout this decade, the land saved through the application of our crop protection and seed technologies will exceed any increase in land used to grow our raw materials by at least a factor of two, and by 2030 we will save 200,000 hectares per year more than in 2019.

By the end of 2024, the land area saved through use of our technologies will be at least 80,000 hectares per year more than in 2019.

Crop Science Innovation:

We will invest in innovation projects and partnerships to support crop and seed enhancement in mitigating the impact of a changing climate and land degradation.

SDGs: 13.2, 15.2, 15.3 

Through to 2030 we will bring an average of two crop technological breakthroughs to market each year that are aligned with our SBTs and which help our customers to mitigate the impact of climate change and land degradation.

By 2030, we will have established three new partnerships to contribute to the recovery of compromised farmland and protect biodiversity; working with customers, universities and business councils to achieve this.

By the end of 2024, we will have brought 10 qualifying technological breakthroughs to market. 

We define a technological breakthrough as a new technology with a measurable significant effect and either a more sustainable route to an existing performance effect, or a new performance effect from an existing technology platform that is in line with our SDG goals.

We brought two technological breakthroughs to market in 2022, which protect biodiversity and mitigate the impact of changing climate and land degradation, bringing our total breakthrough technologies launched since 2020 to four

Health & Wellbeing:

We will use our smart science to promote healthy lives and wellbeing through the development and application of our ingredients and technologies.

SDGs: 3.3, 3.4

By 2030, we will contribute to the successful development and commercialisation of 25% of WHO-listed pipeline vaccines.

By 2030, we will protect at least 60 million people annually from potentially developing skin cancer from harmful UV rays, through the use of our sun care ingredients.

By the end of 2024 our technology will be part of at least 10 clinical phase III trials across at least 25% of the WHO-listed pipeline vaccines.

By the end of 2024 we will protect one million lives from skin cancer through the use of novel sun protection technologies.

Gender Balance: 

We will achieve gender balance in our business by focusing on recruitment and development opportunities to increase the number of women in leadership positions.

SDGs: 5.6

By 2030, we will achieve gender balance across the leadership roles in our organisation.

We are rolling out gender-balanced shortlisting recruitment across Croda, with a target of having 80% of shortlists gender balanced by the end of 2023.

Further progress made in reaching our gender balance target with 36% of leadership roles now occupied by women (2020: 31%)

Gender balance target incorporated for the first time in our long-term incentive plan for the most senior leaders (PSP)

Croda main Board is now gender balanced, with appointment of two new female nonexecutive directors

Improving More Lives:

We will promote our smart science and help improve more lives using our technologies within relevant communities, where our science can make a positive difference. We aim to create STEM educational opportunities and provide basic necessities through the use and application of our ingredients.

SDGs: All

Health, Safety & Wellbeing:

We will protect the health, safety and wellbeing at work of all of our people and contractors.

SDGs: 3.4, 3.9, 8.8

OSHA Total Recordable Injury Rate in the top 10% for the chemical industry.

30% increase in positive responses to the wellbeing areas in our Global Employee Culture Survey.

Achieve OSHA Total Recordable Injury Rate of 0.3 by the end of 2024.

Process Safety:

We will protect the health and safety of all of our people, contractors and the communities in which we operate.

SDGs: 3.9, 8.8 

Zero significant process safety incidents per year.

We will continue to investigate and apply learnings from minor incidents and near misses.

Conduct an independent peer review of our Process Risk Reviews (PRR) for high-hazard processes by the end of 2023.

Develop reporting capability against SASB process safety indicators by the end of 2021.

22 (out of 31) PRRs have been peer reviewed. (excludes 7/9 PTIC PRRs peer reviewed prior to divestment).

Process Safety Total Incident Rate (PSTIR) 0.035 in 2022 (0.018 in 2021). 

Environmental Stewardship:

We will protect the natural environment through the responsible management of our water consumption and waste production.

SDGs: 6.3, 6.4, 12.5

Fair Income:

We will contribute to sustainable and inclusive economic growth by ensuring that everyone working at Croda sites receives a fair income.

SDGs: 8.5

Sustainable Sourcing and Partnerships:

We will ensure that all our key suppliers are operating safely, ethically and responsibly, and will promote the equitable sharing of benefits within the supply chain.

SDGs: 12.6, 12.7, 17

Key suppliers representing 81% of targeted spend have been evaluated using EcoVadis and corrective actions have been assigned and prioritised.

Key suppliers representing 45% of our raw materials volumes have made public commitments to carbon reduction with more than half of these suppliers, 24% of raw materials volume, signed up publicly to SBTi.

Supplier requirements are clearly outlined within the 2022 Croda Supplier Code of Conduct and approximately 37% of crop based raw materials volume is certified sustainable with mapped supply chains.

Knowledge Management:

We will manage our intellectual capital, ensuring employees acquire the knowledge and skills needed to promote the sustainable development of our business and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all.

SDGs: 4.3

28.8% of employees globally have completed a week’s worth (32 hours) of training in 2022.

Quality Assurance:

We will maximise our resource efficiency and minimise all types of waste energy, water and materials across our operations.

SDGs: 12.2, 12.5

Ended 2022 with a RFT rate of 98.3%. (98.2% 2021 rebaselined).

Product Stewardship:

We will take a leadership role in life cycle assessment of our ingredients and their impact on the life cycle of our customers’ products. This will help the markets in which we operate move towards more circular economies and reduce consumer and employee exposure to chemical hazards.

SDGs: 3.9, 12.2, 14.1

5 LCAs were completed by end 2022.

Responsible Business:

We will verify and maintain our position as the most sustainable supplier of innovative ingredients within our industry.

SDGs: All