Sustainability targets

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. 

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

2 million MT of CO2e emissions savings delivered through use of our products by end of 2024

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

790,122 tonnes CO2e were avoided through the use of products attached to verified case studies, resulting in a Carbon Cover ratio of 0.84:1 (2023: 0.90:1).

Target met in 2023. In 2024, we focused on refining our methodology and assumptions with external stakeholders before replicating the Inventory for 2023 and 2024.

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. 

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 50.373 MT CO2e (25% vs 2018 baseline) in absolute Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions by the end of 2024

All Croda locations to have a decarbonisation roadmap by 2022

We have met our 2024 milestone with absolute Scope 1 and 2 emissions reduced by 28% since 2018 (2018: 156,057 tonnes CO2e), on track to achieve our 1.5°C scope 1 and 2 SBT.

Upstream Scope 3 emissions were 830,763 tonnes CO2e in 2024, 6% lower than 2018 (887,324 TCO2e).

See Annual Report page 43 for further details.

Sustainable Innovation:

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

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.

Ensure all key suppliers are responding to EcoVadis and engaging with us to improve practices

By the end of 2024, all key suppliers will be required to achieve an average score from EcoVadis (or equivalent) or will have an action plan with timelines to close gaps

By the end of 2024, key suppliers representing at least 50% of our raw material volumes will be required to sign up publicly to SBTi or equivalent carbon reduction targets

By the end of 2024, suppliers of crop-based raw materials will be required to provide supply chain transparency in a fully traceable and certified sustainable manner

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790,122 tonnes CO2e were avoided through the use of products attached to verified case studies, resulting in a Carbon Cover ratio of 0.84:1 (2023: 0.90:1).

Target met in 2023. In 2024, we focused on refining our methodology and assumptions with external stakeholders before replicating the Inventory for 2023 and 2024.

Quality Assurance:

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

Achieve a 99.5% Right First Time (RFT) rate

RFT outcome for 2024 was 98.62% (2023: 98.42%).

26 Croda manufacturing sites achieved a RFT score of 99.0% or higher with the remaining sites a focus during 2025.

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

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

By the end of 2024, the land area saved through use of Croda technologies will be at least 80,000 hectares per year above a 2019 baseline

Land area saved by use of our technologies in 2024 was 163,402 hectares of land, 59,983 hectares above 2019 baseline (103,419 hectares)

Cumulative land area saved between 2020 and 2024 versus 2019 baseline: 291,321 Ha, exceeding the cumulative target of 195,622 Ha. Land used to grow our crop based raw materials in 2024 was 74,377 Ha

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

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

By 2030, we will have established 3 new partnerships to contribute to the recovery of compromised farmland. We will work 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 launched 9 out of 10 qualifying breakthrough technologies by the end of 2024

We remain on track to launch an innovative biodegradable dispersant early in 2025 which would represent our 10th breakthrough

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

Reduce our water use impact by 50% from our 2018 baseline

Develop and implement a methodology for water impact assessment by the end of 2021

Reduce our water use impact by 25% from 2018 baseline by the end of 2024

Eliminate process waste to landfill across our operations by the end of 2024

Water withdrawal in 2024 was 3,248 Ml, a decrease of 30% since 2018

Our top four sites in water-stressed basins (in Brazil, France, India and Spain) have achieved a reduction in water use impact over 25% from 2018 baseline. Two other small sites (in Spain) did not meet the milestone target (see p14)

Our success criteria for Zero Process Waste to Landfill (see p14) was achieved with >99% of process waste diverted from landfill in 2024

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

Full life cycle assessments (LCAs) for our top 100 ingredients

Finalise Croda’s LCA methodology with external input and verification by the end of 2021

Complete 40 LCAs by the end of 2024

4 additional cradle-to-grave (full) LCAs were completed in 2024, bringing our total to 11. Focus in 2024 was maintained on completing ‘cradle-to-gate’ LCAs requested by our customers, with 50 customer-focused LCAs completed in total

Health and wellbeing

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

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 3 trials across at least 25% of the WHO listed pipeline vaccines

By the end of 2024 we will protect 1 million lives from skin cancer through the use of novel sun protection technologies

We have demonstrated supply of critical adjuvants and excipients into 16 commercial vaccines responding to 4 of the 24 WHO listed pipeline vaccines

61 million people protected in 2022, achieving our 2030 target. 71 million people have been protected in 2024

Gender Balance

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

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

41%Δ of leadership positions now filled by women (2023: 39%).

Improving More Lives

We will promote our smart science and help improve lives using our technologies within our local 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.

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

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.

Full year Total Recordable Injury Rate 0.47 (2023: 0.72). While this is a significant improvement we missed our public milestones.

Deployed a Human Performance Programme across the Group, driving employee engagement in SHE improvement across all functions and regions. In 2024, this programme delivered over 2,500 improvement activities and actions.

55% positive wellbeing responses (2023: 59%).

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

Zero significant process safety incidents per year

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

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

All employees temporary and permanent will be paid a living wage by the end of 2022

All regularly employed contractors will be paid a Living Wage by end of 2024

We are in the final stages of receiving certification from the Fair Wage Network (FWN) for the work we have done to date

In 2024 we completed an initial assessment of our contractor population and compliance with our Living Wage standards

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.