Sustainability & Commitment

Sustainability

In the debate about progress in society as a whole, the concept of sustainability plays a central role. The basis of sustainable development is to keep a balance between economic, ecological and social considerations. For Bayer, this entails in specific terms a commitment to safeguard the long-term commercial success of the company through innovative products, conserve resources, treat the environment responsibly and make a global contribution to maintaining a humane society. For this reason, we have developed special management structures and strategies, set ourselves objectives against which we allow ourselves to be judged and endeavor to report transparently. In our annual Sustainable Development Report we inform, for example, on how we put into practice our commitment to the ten principles of the Global Compact. In so doing, we align ourselves to the guidelines of the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) and the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD). Our reporting is based on our dialogue with our stakeholders, who include employees, customers, suppliers and investors. Of equal importance to Bayer are the interests of our direct neighbors at our sites and of non-governmental organizations (NGOs), public administration and politicians, and representatives of academia. The goal of our dialogue is to familiarize ourselves with the information needs of our stakeholders and to take account of these in our sustainability projects.

Sustainability strategy

Bayer is committed to the concept of sustainable development: It is the overriding goal of Bayer’s sustainability strategy to allow the company to be guided by long-term values. We want to balance successful, sustainable development with social needs and goals. » more

Sustainability management

Our sustainability management is based on long-term values and clear policy guidelines that are valid for all parts of the company. Our Group-wide sustainability strategy is controlled by a top management committee headed by the member of the Group Management Board responsible for Innovation, Technology and Environment. It is made up of one member each of the executive committees / boards of management of the subgroups, the chairmen of the executive boards / managing directors of the service companies and the heads of six Corporate Center departments. The committee is supported and advised by the Community Council for Sustainable Development chaired by the Head of the Environment & Sustainability Department. » more

Reporting

Our annual Sustainable Development Report and the website www.sustainability2008.bayer.com provide comprehensive information on sustainable development at Bayer. Through these media we endeavor to give a transparent description of the economic, ecological and social challenges that are linked to our operations and show the strategies and solutions that we are applying to meet these. » more