We are committed to accelerating the sustainability transition but recognize we cannot do it without a collective effort. To truly bring progress to life we need partners across our value chain, including businesses, consumers, NGOs, governments, and academia. Together, we strive to make a positive impact on both People and Planet.
ESRS SBM-2
World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD)
As a member of the WBSCD, we participate in various working groups and initiatives and our Chief Sustainability Officer (CSO) is both a WBCSD Council member and a Board member of the Agri-Food pathway.
In 2024 we contributed to work on healthy and sustainable diets by helping to develop the 'Accelerating Food and Nutrition Security through Food Fortification', a private sector playbook that will be published in February 2025. We also contributed to the alignment and development of regenerative agriculture metrics, supported work on Sustainable Portfolio Steering and joined the steering committee of an initiative which is developing a sector-agnostic standardized methodology to assess sustainability risks and opportunities and steer product and service portfolios toward sustainable solutions. We also participated in WBCSD’s climate work, particularly around climate accounting topics..
World Economic Forum (WEF)
We are a strategic partner of the WEF and actively participated in both virtual and in-person events throughout 2024 such as the annual meeting in Davos in January. We are also a member of the Agriculture, Food and Beverage industry community and participate in initiatives like WEF’s Centers for Nature and Climate, Health and Healthcare, New Economy and Society and Fourth Industrial Revolution. We are also part of C-suite communities that bring together leaders in the same position across organizations to collaborate and drive progress on key issues.
Our CEO is a member of the Alliance of CEO Climate Leaders, an active leadership community within the Center for Nature and Climate which is committed to reaching net-zero emissions by 2050. We also committed to the Alliance’s Scope 3 upstream action plan to scale collaborative action across value chains and drive impact. The plan offers a framework to achieve near-term supply chain emission reductions by collaborating with suppliers.
United Nations Global Compact (UNGC)
We have been a signatory to the UNGC through DSM since 2007, and Firmenich since 2008. We commit to annual communications on progress toward implementing UNGC’s Ten Principles in the areas of human rights, child and forced labor, the environment and anti-corruption. We are members of the UNGC Network Switzerland & Liechtenstein, Global Compact Network Nederland, and are a Global Compact Impact Sponsor for Labor and Decent Work. We also joined the Think Lab on Living Wage and the Business and Human Rights Accelerator and contributed to the Living Wage Analysis Tool.
Swiss Food & Nutrition Valley (SFNV)
SFNV is a purpose-driven, nationwide, not-for-profit association that strengthens and promotes international food system innovation. Firmenich was one of the Valley’s founding partners and has been represented on the Executive Committee since its creation. Driven by a value of collaboration, we work alongside other partners like Nestlé, Tetra Pak, Bühler to explore the role of large enterprises in pioneering future-proof food systems. Valley also contributes to the global dialogue around processed foods, provides start-up support and works to strengthen Switzerland’s attraction and talent development. In 2024, the Valley signed a letter of intent with the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) to build a scaling hub to drive food system transformation in low- and middle-income countries. We look forward to continuing to actively engage in these joint projects in 2025.
European Round Table for Industry (ERT)
dsm-firmenich is a member of the ERT, a group focused on creating a strong, open, and competitive Europe by promoting sustainable growth, jobs and prosperity for all. ERT members include CEOs and Chairs from around 60 of Europe’s largest companies in the industrial and technological sector.
Dutch Sustainable Growth Coalition (DSGC)
The DSGC is a CEO-led coalition of eight multinationals which aims to drive sustainable growth business models that combine economic profitability with environmental and social progress. The coalition of CEOs uses their leadership for the development toward a future-proof world and sustainable growth. The DSGC stimulates activities and international cooperation in value chains and between sectors to help achieve the SDGs. In 2024, the DSGC hosted a large-scale C-level event, bringing together over 60 CEOs and other leaders from businesses, knowledge institutions, and the Dutch government to explore leadership during times of transition. Moreover, the DSGC organized knowledge exchange sessions between company experts and Dutch ministries. DSGC is supported by VNO-NCW and facilitated by Accenture.