Bayer

Grade summary

Bayer has a relatively large production of hazardous chemicals and data tells us that it is producing 13 highly hazardous chemicals this year, compared to nine last year. Out of these 13, two are persistent. These numbers may…

Bayer produces/uses 13 highly hazardous substances – 12 SIN List chemicals, 2 PICs, and 3 HHPs – 5 of which are included on the EU’s REACH Candidate List. 1 of these highly hazardous substances is either banned or severely restricted, with a set date when production needs to cease (1 Authorisation List substance, and no POPs). The company produces 2 persistent chemicals. Persistent chemicals are particularly problematic, since they do not break down, but instead accumulate in humans and the environment. Because of this, persistent chemicals should be of extra concern for investors; substances that are not considered a problem today could become huge liabilities in the future.

Please note that there is no available data for the 59 percent of the company’s production that takes place outside of the EU and US. Lower EU/US production means higher uncertainty with regard to the total production of hazardous chemicals, which will have a negative impact on the company’s score in this category.

Bayer has a method in place to screen and assess the sustainability of its products and includes the intrinsic hazards of ingredients in the screening process. It does not, however, exclude substances with toxic properties from its new products. Bayer does not actively market safer alternatives on its own website or on ChemSec Marketplace. The company has no true circular product, process or innovation. Bayer does not use biobased resources. Nor does it source and treat recycled materials in a sustainable way, which is one of the key elements of a circular economy. However, Bayer is actively reducing the hazardous waste it generates.

The German company does not produce only sustainable products. Nor does it have a phase-out strategy for hazardous substances that go beyond regulatory compliance. It does, however, share chemical safety information on its website and follows a credible code of conduct standard. Bayer did not respond to ChemSec’s attempts to communicate around its ChemScore ranking. Nor does it share any information about what kind of chemicals it produces in regions with low regulatory demands for transparency (e.g. Asia). Bayer does not have a circular economy program in place, thus lacking objective and measurable circular economy targets.