Supporting the Sustainable Development Goals

Contributing to a more sustainable future

We believe that good chemistry contributes to the prosperity and well-being of a sustainable society. Our commitment to a sustainable future focuses on the six UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) where our company and our products make the biggest contribution.

In 2019, Nouryon conducted a Materiality Assessment amongst internal and external stakeholders to identify the issues that are of most importance to the company, such as health and safety; sustainable innovation and product development; and energy use and greenhouse gas emissions.

Several societal trends are driving demand and presenting opportunities for Nouryon’s sustainable solutions, which are aligned with the UN SDGs. These global trends include a growing population, an expanding and increasingly health-conscious middle class, climate change, and natural resource preservation. Our solutions can help increase crop yields and improve their quality; make products that are more biodegradable or easier to recycle; contribute to making buildings and vehicles more energy efficient; and improve the durability of bridges and wind turbines.

We are committed to transparency and discloses its sustainability progress in an annual Sustainability Report, which is assured by an independent third party and our annual sustainability data reporting sheet.

Materiality Assessment


Nouryon supports all 17 UN SDGs. We believe our Company and sustainable solutions contribute most to the following 10 SDGs
Nouryon supports all 17 UN SDGs. We believe our Company and sustainable solutions contribute most to the following 10 SDGs

UN Global Compact

We are a signatory of the UN Global Compact and follow the Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (SASB) disclosure standards. As of July 2021, we report our climate actions to the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP). In addition, we have started on our Task Force on Climate related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) reporting journey.

A closer look at our contribution - examples

teaser image SDG 2: End Hunger, Achieve Food Security and Improved Nutrition, and Promote Sustainable Agriculture

SDG 2: End Hunger, Achieve Food Security and Improved Nutrition, and Promote Sustainable Agriculture

Agriculture is one of Nouryon’s growth areas. We bring essential functionalities to our customers via a strong portfolio that includes crop nutrients, adjuvants, and non flammable solvents, among which some are biodegradable and/or made from renewable resources. Our products help feed a growing population. They enable plants to grow by providing nutrients to safely increase agricultural productivity and crop yields using fewer resources. These products also improve overall soil health, which requires less plowing and results in less erosion over time. Our recent investments in AGEYE and ADOB support this goal.

teaser image SDG 3: Ensure Healthy Lives and Promote Well-Being for All, Regardless of Age

SDG 3: Ensure Healthy Lives and Promote Well-Being for All, Regardless of Age

We prioritize health and safety in our operations and are an industry leader in people safety. We also offer a range of essential solutions for cleaning, personal care, pharmaceuticals, and food. Our products can be found in: safer, bio-based cleaning and personal care products; pharmaceutical excipients that contribute to the controlled release of active ingredients; media used in the purification of insulin; iron fortification in staple foods; and water treatment.

teaser image SDG 4: Ensure Inclusive and Equitable Quality Education and Promote Lifelong Learning Opportunities for Everyone

SDG 4: Ensure Inclusive and Equitable Quality Education and Promote Lifelong Learning Opportunities for Everyone

Nouryon’s learning and development approach offers employees both short-term and long-term capability building. We offer internship programs at many locations and provide a broad range of opportunities for employees at all our locations worldwide, including on the-job experience-based training, blended programs, online learning, specialist (virtual) classroom training, and mandatory compliance courses. Our employee led Business Resource Groups (BRGs) are open to all employees and include the Nouryon Women’s Network, Nouryon Veterans Network, Nouryon Pride (LGBTQ+), and BOOST (career development). A key focus area of our Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) framework is science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education, which we support in our communities through volunteerism, engagement, and corporate giving. Our Inclusion & Diversity (I&D) Network, responsible for activating inclusion and diversity initiatives throughout the year, has representatives from over 30 locations and across various functions, businesses, and seniority levels.

teaser image SDG 5: Achieve Gender Equality and Empower All Women and Girls

SDG 5: Achieve Gender Equality and Empower All Women and Girls

Nouryon’s commitment to inclusion and diversity is codified in our Company Code of Conduct & Ethics, which states that we respect and value all employees, irrespective of age, gender, race, religion, or sexual orientation. We provide training on how to maintain a respectful and inclusive workplace and how to identify and report potential harassment and discrimination. In addition to offering equal opportunities for ongoing learning and professional development, we support diversity within our Company through initiatives such as our BRGs, which provide career development advice, learning opportunities, and the ability to foster global connections. Our largest BRG is the Nouryon Women’s Network, which is dedicated to connecting and supporting women in chemistry and manufacturing, has more than 500 members worldwide and, in 2022, established regional committees throughout the world to facilitate more-localized programming.

teaser image SDG7: Affordable and Clean Energy

SDG7: Affordable and Clean Energy

Nouryon leverages renewable energy and will continue to increase its use in the years ahead, in line with the targets we have set to reduce our GHG emissions. Additionally, our solutions are essential to the efficient use of energy as well as the transition to renewable energy sources. Solar panels, windmills and high voltage cables are all critical components to enable renewable energy production and the transition to a low carbon society. Our Polymer Specialty products are used in several production steps to give these products unique properties for transparency, durability, electrical, insulation and strength.

teaser image SDG 8: Promote Sustained, Inclusive and Sustainable Economic Growth, and Full, Decent, Productive Employment

SDG 8: Promote Sustained, Inclusive and Sustainable Economic Growth, and Full, Decent, Productive Employment

Nouryon believes that business performance, safety, and sustainability are all related, and that growth leads to more employment opportunities. We work to empower employees and create a safe, high-performing, inclusive, and diverse workplace that reflects the global nature of our Company and customers

teaser image SDG 9: Build a Resilient Infrastructure, Promote Inclusive and Sustainable Industrialization, and Foster Innovation

SDG 9: Build a Resilient Infrastructure, Promote Inclusive and Sustainable Industrialization, and Foster Innovation

A sustainable future will require new products and processes. Nouryon develops innovative solutions, including bio-based and biodegradable ingredients for many end-products. Additionally, we develop ingredients that enhance infrastructure durability and energy efficiency, thereby contributing to a more sustainable society. Our solutions are also integral to products related to the transition to renewable energy sources such as wind turbines, high-voltage cables, and solar panels.

teaser image SDG 10: Reduce Inequality Within and Among Countries

SDG 10: Reduce Inequality Within and Among Countries

As part of our Strategy, we aim to create sustainable growth, including in developing countires. We invest in our facilities and provide employment opportunities, safe working conditions and diverse workplaces that bring income to these communities and reflect the global nature of our Company and customers. We also participate in corporate giving initiatives to support communities in need.

teaser image SDG 12: Ensure Sustainable Consumption and Production Patterns

SDG 12: Ensure Sustainable Consumption and Production Patterns

The chemistry sector plays a key role in enabling more sustainable and circular production, for which Nouryon continually innovates. Improving the eco-efficiency of our production facilities is a key component of our approach to sustainability and circularity. For example, we continue to expand our use of renewable feedstocks, such as cellulose, natural fats and oils instead of fossil-based sources. We can also co-locate with customers to minimize transport-related emissions and create shared resource models.

teaser image SDG 13: Take Urgent Action to Combat Climate Change and Its Impacts

SDG 13: Take Urgent Action to Combat Climate Change and Its Impacts

Nouryon recognizes that climate change has a fundamental impact on the global environment, society, and business economics, and therefore we aim to reduce greenhouse gas emissions throughout our value chain in support of the UN Paris Agreement. Over the past decade, we reduced our carbon intensity, and are committed to reaching our GHG emission-reduction targets by adopting innovative technologies, more-efficient processes and sourcing more low-carbon energy, in alignment with our Carbon Business Strategy (see page 21). Aside from improving our own operational footprint, our products help our customers become more sustainable, for example, by decreasing weight and enhancing product durability and yield. This helps customers significantly reduce their energy, fuel, and resource consumption.

Learn more - Nouryon's sustainability pillars

Improving our safety performance and environmental footprint

We continuously work to improve our safety performance and environmental footprint for the benefit of our employees, contractors, customers, neighbors, and the environment

Growing our sustainable solutions through innovation

We provide solutions that are essential in applications ranging from pharmaceuticals and farming to electric cars and building insulation. Our goal is to deliver not just the desired functionality but improved sustainability performance as well.

Engaging people, partners, and society

At Nouryon, we aim to achieve sustainable business growth and have a positive impact on people’s everyday lives through our essential solutions as well as our actions.

Related news

Recognized for global climate leadership with A- score from CDP

28 Feb 2024 - News

Nouryon reports full-year 2023 results

16 Feb 2024 - News

Introducing Berol® Nexxt surfactant and Dissolvine® GL Premium chelating agent at the 2023 SEPAWA Congress and Exhibition

26 Oct 2023 - News
All news

We respect your privacy.

We use essential and non-essential cookies to provide, secure, analyze and improve our services. Click 'Agree' to accept or edit your preferences or learn more about our Cookie Policy.

You can change settings at any time.

Edit preferences