Dear Reader,
The creation of dsm-firmenich brought together two market-leading companies and united two world leaders in sustainability. Both were uncompromisingly committed to delivering sustainable solutions not only in the form of their own products and processes but also via positive interventions throughout their respective value chains. The merger that created dsm-firmenich involved a meeting of minds, a fusion of sustainability agendas, and the development of a vision to bring progress to life by means of sustainable business steering.
Pioneers in sustainable business steering
Within their respective fields of operation, the two legacy companies were recognized as pioneers in sustainable business steering long before the merger. DSM and Firmenich embarked on this course as long ago as the 1990s with, for example, the signing by Firmenich of the International Chamber of Commerce’s first Business Charter for Sustainable Development in 1991 and the publication of DSM’s first environmental report, the Responsible Care Report, in 1993.
After years of sustained public and audited reporting, most recently DSM introduced and developed its Brighter Living Solutions plus (BLS+) key performance indicator (KPI), while Firmenich launched its second ‘Pathways to Positive’ Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Strategy outlining its long-term ambitions and intermediate targets for measuring progress.
Going forward, we will define a consolidated portfolio steering approach that is in line with external practices, designed to meet the expectations of both our customers and our investors and to enable us to continue our course toward yet more sustainable business and business opportunities.
Our commitment is uncompromising: We embed sustainability in everything we do. By delivering transformative and sustainable solutions to our customers, we not only help future-proof our company but also maximize our positive impact on society as a whole.
Our combined sustainability journey
Within the wider framework of dsm-firmenich, we shall continue our sustainability journey with unchanging determination as we move forward into 2024. We will continue to act in close collaboration with key thought-leaders such as the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) and the World Economic Forum (WEF). We will maintain our well-established partnerships with organizations such as the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP). For insight into the type of partnerships and what impact we have with them, please refer to Nutrition and Health.
Last but by no means least, we will work ever more closely with our suppliers and customers to deliver measurably sustainable solutions throughout the value chains in which we participate.
Bringing progress to life
The following section of this Report outlines in detail how we bring progress to life by combining the essential, desirable and sustainable to deliver transformative solutions that the world needs. It explains how we work toward three outcomes – futureproofing our business, delivering value for customers, and creating positive societal impact – by means of a range of sustainability programs predicated on Climate & Nature, Nutrition & Health, and Social Impact.
In 2023, we made progress on a range of initiatives that generate positive impacts for the planet and people. We further scaled up our innovative methane-inhibiting feed additive Bovaer®, for example. Combined with our other feed solutions for ruminants, we enable a 20.5% reduction of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in dairy. We are now reaching 677 million people with fortified food, staples and specialist nutrition solutions to help close the micronutrient gap suffered by some of the world’s most vulnerable populations. And we are helping to improve the lives of 92,000 smallholder farmers by means of commercial supplier and business contracts and training programs – for example, through our joint venture Africa Improved Foods, as well as by means of dedicated ‘projects at source’ for supply chains such as jasmine and mint.
These are just three examples of many in this Report. The following chapter explains in detail our ambition to drive change at scale and to maximize our potential for delivering measurably sustainable solutions, bringing progress to life and benefiting people and planet alike.
Warm regards,
Katharina Stenholm
Chief Sustainability Officer
