Ecology

Framework of our ecological actions

Bayer is working continually on solutions that reduce environmental impact and conserve resources. We see the ecological challenges posed by the growing global population and advancing climate change as part of our corporate responsibility and at the same time as an opportunity to produce more cost-effectively and to develop new market opportunities.

Energy efficiency: oxygen depolarized cathode technology can save up to 30 percent of the energy needed for chlorine production. Wang Yan and Guorong Shen working at the new plant in Shanghai.

Our commitment to environmental protection, health and safety goes well beyond the mere fulfillment of legal requirements. We also make this clear through our commitment to the chemical industry’s Responsible Care™ initiative. The Bayer Sustainable Development Policy defines the framework of our ecological actions. We manage specific measures and projects using our hseq management systems.

Emissions

Target 2015
The target is to reduce emissions of ozone-depleting substances (ODS emissions) by around 70 percent and the volume of volatile organic compounds (VOC) by 50 percent by 2015. ods (ozone-depleting substances) emissions remained virtually at the same level as last year (-0.2 percent). Total voc emissions declined by 3.4 percent on the previous year.

Target 2020
Our ambitious Group target is to reduce specific greenhouse gas emissions (direct and indirect emissions in relation to manufactured sales volume in metric tons) by 35 percent between 2005 and 2020.

Waste

Target 2015

The specific volume of hazardous production waste also rose in 2012. According to the current assessment, we will not be able to achieve our declared target of limiting this to 2.5 percent of the total production volume by 2015. This is due to changes in process steps, mainly in the Bayer CropScience subgroup. Here, for example, “hazardous” production waste is generated during the synthesis of active ingredients in the form of by-products that cannot be further processed or used.

Plant and process safety initiative

Target 2015

By the end of 2012 this initiative had provided training in process and plant safety to approximately 26,000 production and technology employees as scheduled and had led to the introduction of standardized risk assessment and a catalog of measures.

Target 2015
With the experience gathered over the last three years, we now intend to determine the development of the indicator in the form of a rate (LOPC-IR – LOPC Incident Rate = the number of lopc incidents per 200,000 working hours in areas relevant to plant safety) and work toward the continuous improvement of this rate. We stipulated Group-wide uniform procedures and standards on this in the Group Directive on Process and Plant Safety, a revised version of which was published in September 2012.

Target 2015
The second Process and Plant Safety Symposium was held in 2012. This event enables experts to learn from each other and provides a more effective means for sharing their experiences outside their sites and subgroups.

Use of materials and energy

Material and energy efficiency are decisive parameters when it comes to success on today’s markets. Bayer Technology Services has developed and introduced the Resource Efficiency Check to optimize efficiency in the handling of resources used throughout the Group. more

Air emissions

At Bayer, air emissions are caused mainly by the generation and consumption of energy. Our commitment to greater energy efficiency therefore helps reduce both costs and emissions. more

Use of water and emissions into water

Access to sufficiently clean water is not a given in many parts of the world. Partly because of climatic changes, it is becoming increasingly expensive to extract and clean water in many places. At the end of 2008 Bayer signed the CEO Water Mandate of the un Global Compact to work with major stakeholders on developing sustainable strategies for water usage. more

Waste and recycling

In order to minimize material use and waste volumes, Bayer strives to reuse materials or feed them to other processes wherever technically feasible and justifiable in terms of cost. This is good for both cost-effectiveness and the environment. more

Protection of biodiversity

There is increasing global recognition of the importance of healthy biodiversity. In October 2012, at the 11th conference of signatories to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) in Hyderabad, India, industrialized countries committed themselves to giving greater support to developing countries in implementing the international biodiversity goals. more

Management systems for the implementation of our HSEQ targets

Bayer aims to achieve an appropriate and uniformly high standard of hseq (health, safety, environmental protection and quality) throughout the Group and to constantly improve this. To meet this goal, the company has established corresponding HSEQ management systems in all subgroups and service companies. more

Environmental incidents and transport accidents

Bayer uses the term “environmental incidents” to cover incidents in the course of Bayer business activities that result in the release of substances into the environment. Factors that influence reporting obligations include, in particular, the quantity and nature of the substance, the amount of damage caused and any consequences for nearby residents. more

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