Evonik

Evonik Industries was founded as a result of a restructuring of the mining and technology group RAG. The company manufactures specialty chemicals and is the second largest chemicals company in Germany. Evonik Industries offers various products in the fields of consumer goods, animal nutrition and pharmaceuticals, and carries out activities in more than 100 countries.

Total score

13 / 48

Grade summary

Evonik Industries produces 37 SIN List substances (including two persistent chemicals), ten of which are officially recognised as chemicals of high concern by the EU. The company has a method in place to screen and assess the sustainability…

Product Portfolio

0 / 18

Evonik Industries produces 37 SIN List substances, ten of which are included on the REACH Candidate List and three of which are also found on the REACH Authorisation List. The company produces two persistent chemicals. Persistent chemicals are particularly problematic since they do not break down, but instead accumulate in humans and/or the environment. Because of this, persistent chemicals should be of extra concern for investors. Substances which are not considered a problem today could become huge liabilities in the future.

Development of Safer Chemicals

5 / 12

Evonik Industries has a method in place to screen and assess the sustainability of its products and includes intrinsic hazards of ingredients in the screening process. The company does not follow the principles of green chemistry or use the GreenScreen assessment tool, nor does it exclude substances with toxic properties from new products. It does, however, actively market safer alternatives on its website.

Management & Transparency

5 / 12

The company shares chemical safety information on its website but does not have a phase-out strategy for hazardous substances. Evonik Industries is a member of Responsible Care and follows voluntary standards such as a Code of Conduct and a Supplier Code of Conduct.