Our Mission
Sustainability isn’t just a word. For us, it’s a mindset, shaping our whole purpose and strategy.
At our core, we are committed to developing more effective, more sustainable catalytic processes that accelerate the green transformation of the chemical industry.
Whether it’s the cars we drive, or the packaging of our food, chemistry touches 96% of all manufactured goods – powering innovation and advances across industries worldwide. We understand the essential role specialty chemistry plays in achieving a Net Zero future.
As a global leader in catalysts and adsorbents, we take seriously our responsibility to create sustainable solutions and technologies that deliver real value to your business, and the environment. It’s just one of the ways we’re making a meaningful difference.
Evonik Sustainability Shortcuts
Sustainability Milestones
As part of the Evonik Group, we are committed to playing our part in achieving key sustainability targets.
Dr. Alexander Weber, Head of Evonik Catalysts business line
“For us, sustainability starts with the development of innovative catalyst solutions. With our products and technologies, we empower our customers to make their processes more efficient and environmentally friendly.”
Click here to read the full interview with Alexander Weber
Our Strategy
Footprint & handprint
Sustainability sits at the heart of our work at Evonik Catalysts. But what does that mean in practice?
It means shrinking our footprint, to lessen the negative environmental and social impacts during the manufacturing and shipping process. At the same time, we’re growing our handprint, helping industries and value chains become genuinely more sustainable through advanced catalyst solutions.
We are also aligned with Evonik’s wider sustainability goals, including a target to reduce CO₂ emissions by 25% between 2021 and 2030. This is guided by four key focus areas: fighting climate change, safeguarding ecosystems, driving circularity, and ensuring health and wellbeing.
We have four Sustainability Focus Areas that guide our work.
We are focused on reducing our scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions, increasing energy efficiency, and using renewable energies.
Innovative Catalyst solutions
A better alternative to conventional catalysts for fixed-bed applications, our innovative nickel foam catalysts boast the same output with fewer quantities, a longer catalyst life and are fully recoverable – with little to no waste.
Flow chemistry
With precious metal powder catalysts suitable for flow chemistry – which translates batch processes to continuous flow – the efficiency of reactions is improved; raw material and solvent consumption is reduced
Adorbents
Our adsorbents are used as part of a process to re-refine used oil, to make it suitable for reuse – helping reduce the carbon footprint.
Excel® Rejuvenation
An alternative to fresh catalysts, this technology restores spent catalysts back to their original activity. By utilizing Excel® Rejuvenated catalysts – as opposed to using fresh ones – there is a 60% decrease in CO2eq emissions, and a 60% reduction in waste.
Biodiesel
A substitute for petroleum diesel, biodiesel reduces CO2 emissions up to 67%, and can reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by up to 86% over its entire life cycle. Evonik’s alkoxide portfolio is tailored for the transesterification process that produces this biodegradable material.
Focused upon the use of environmentally friendly products, Evonik products and solutions can support deforestation-free supply chains and biodiversity.
ESHQ
We boast an established, integrated ESHQ (Environment, Safety, Health & Quality) management system, based on ISO standards. These are focused on commitments to the environment, ecological awareness, climate protection and energy saving, and health protection for employees worldwide.
Zero liquid discharge plant
Our facility in Dombivli, India purifies and recycles wastewater at the end of an industrial process, for more efficient water use and a significant reduction in waste liquid from the plant.
We aim to use renewable and circular raw materials, reduce production waste, and produce products that enable circular solutions.
Precious metal management & recycling
Our five-step closed loop system recovers precious metal from spent catalysts. As recycled metal has a significantly lower carbon footprint than alternative metals from primary sources, this cycle can help customers achieve sustainability targets and contribute to a circular economy.
Polyester Recycling
PET – polyethylene terephthalate – waste requires a recycling solution. At Evonik our scientists are looking for ways to convert PET into its chemical components – in turn, recovering pure raw materials.
Circular Plastics initiative
As part of Evonik’s Global Circular Plastics Program, our catalysts and adsorbents facilitate chemical recycling of plastics residues that would otherwise end up in landfill or incinerated. We have developed a chemical recycling process that regains the basic components of polyurethanes, to produce new polyurethanes.
When specialty chemistry is not done right, it can expose people to volatile organic compounds, microparticles or dangerous chemicals – an important focus of ours is how we avoid this and keep people safe.
Our catalysts for Life Science and Fine Chemicals are used for making food and feed, pharmaceuticals and agrichemicals, cosmetics and care specialties. These products improve the quality and standard of living and ensure the nutrition, health and well-being of an ever-expanding and aging society.
Activated & precious metal catalysts
Through handling instructions, we enable customers to use our activated metal and precious metal catalysts safely and correctly over their individual life cycles.
Activated foam catalysts
To make the catalyst exchange process safer and faster, we activate foam catalysts by leaching the surface to generate a ready-to-use product. When a customer receives these catalysts in water-filled drums, they can be poured directly out into the reactor – without hazard dust or elaborate protective measures.
Next Generation Solutions
Advanced catalysts and process innovations that already enable over 80% of global manufacturing — and we’re making these processes more efficient, circular, and lower impact.
From flow chemistry in pharma to metal foams that enhance catalyst performance, and technologies that regenerate and recycle spent catalysts — we’re guiding the industry toward Net Zero.
Our mantra:
Reduce our footprint. Reduce our customers’ footprint. Expand our collective handprint.
Connect with our Catalysts Experts
If you have any questions or need expert insights, you’ve come to the right place. Here, you can connect with the specialists from the Catalysts business unit, who are ready to support you with their deep knowledge and experience.