Internal engagement on sustainability is enabled by ensuring that sustainability governance is embedded into the organization. Functional leadership teams have been established to manage specific sustainability-related topics. These teams are chaired by a senior executive.
ESRS GOV-1 GOV-2
Sustainability at Group level
At Group level, sustainability is steered by the Global Sustainability Leadership Team (GSLT). The GSLT is composed of senior sustainability leaders representing Group Sustainability, our Business Units, and representatives from the Operations, Procurement and Science & Research functions. The GSLT is chaired by the Chief Sustainability Officer (CSO), who has a direct reporting line to the CEO. The GSLT drives the sustainability agenda of the company and ensures that this is translated into the sustainability strategies of the Business Units and functions. Key topics on the GSLT agenda include climate, nature, social impact (including human rights), nutrition, and sustainability reporting.
The GSLT is supported in its work by the Group Sustainability function, under the leadership of the CSO. This group of experts identifies emerging sustainability trends, provides topical expertise, and supports the company on cross-cutting sustainability themes. Furthermore, Business Unit sustainability teams ensure the identification and management of Business-Unit-specific topics, priorities, and strategies.
Operations Committee
The Operations Committee is chaired by our Chief Operations Officer (COO). This Committee consists of the functional leaders of Operations, SHE&S, Procurement and Supply Chain and ensures the multi-disciplinary connection between these functions.
Operations and Safety, Health and Environment & Security (SHE&S)
Our Operations Leadership Team (OLT) drives excellence and provides us with a competitive advantage in operations. It defines our operations strategy and ensures consistent application of our operational standards by providing overall direction, developing our company wide SHE&S community, and identifying and jointly executing synergies and value creation.
The SHE&S Leadership Team (SHE&S LT) ensures that our SHE&S standards meet the requirement to assure the safety and health of our employees and customers, and to protect the environment and our assets. This LT is supported by our functional leadership teams and functional networks. Their role is to connect the overarching strategies and standards with the work of planning and execution carried out by our functions and Business Units.
Human Resources
The Human Resources Leadership Team (HRLT) is responsible for our holistic human resources (HR) agenda. It is chaired by the Chief Human Resources Officer, who is a member of the Executive Committee. The HRLT, composed of the Heads of the Group HR expertise areas and Business Unit HR Heads, sets the strategic direction for HR and aligns the Group and the Business Unit HR agendas. It is supported by the extended leadership team, which discusses cross-cutting HR projects, and provides inspiration and expertise on HR topics, including opportunities for improvements and the application of best practices.
Procurement
The Procurement Leadership Team (PLT) is responsible for driving the implementation of our responsible sourcing ambition and regularly reviewing progress. The Chief Procurement Officer (CPO), who chairs the PLT, reports directly to the COO and is responsible for managing the responsible sourcing team, which oversees the deployment of the responsible sourcing framework within our supply chains. The responsible sourcing team, led by the Vice-President Responsible Sourcing, defines the strategy, framework, guidance, and priorities. The Vice-President Responsible Sourcing has a dual reporting line to both the CPO and the CSO. Additionally, the GSLT serves as a sparring partner to ensure that our responsible sourcing strategy aligns with the Group’s broader ambitions and commitments.
Science & Research
Science & Research is at the heart of dsm-firmenich’s drive for ever greater sustainability. This is underpinned by our green chemistry principles, innovations in biotechnology, and much more. In fact, sustainability is deeply embedded at all levels of Science & Research, including within each of our eight main science capabilities. Sustainability criteria are woven into every stage our innovation management process, and sustainability criteria are used to guide project prioritization. Science & Research is represented in the GSLT.