Sustainability

Creating Possibilities for a more Sustainable World

The lubricant industry can play an important role in creating a sustainable future. At Oil Additives, we are taking action to drive growth of sustainable lubricants. Sustainability is the central theme of our purpose – Creating possibilities for a sustainable world.

We are taking action as a partner to our customers to drive growth of sustainable lubricants.

We perform portfolio sustainability assessments, quantified by life cycle analyses, to further drive a sustainable product portfolio development, also engaging our customers in product portfolio reviews.

Further Information

Sustainability at Evonik

Our Sustainability Strategy Is Based on Three Pillars

CREDIBLE FOUNDATION

Evonik Oil Additives is driving sustainability across the entire value chain by conducting lifecycle assessments for all products and sites based on its 2021 SBTi baseline. The company aims to cut Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 45% and reduce Scope 3 emissions by around 11% by 2030. Supported by green electricity and advanced technologies, Evonik is working towards long-term gate-to-gate carbon neutrality. At the same time, more sustainable raw materials—such as certified palm-based alcohols and re-refined base oils—are being introduced in close collaboration with suppliers.

ENABLER

Evonik Oil Additives creates transparency by providing cradle-to-grave data and avoided emissions calculations for key products. At the same time, the portfolio is continuously optimized by phasing out challenged products, strengthening leading solutions, and commercializing new sustainable innovations. The company also actively supports industry initiatives to establish consistent methodologies across the sector. This approach promotes transparency while driving the sustainable development of the entire product portfolio.

LEVERAGE

Evonik Oil Additives supports customers on their sustainability journey by offering lifecycle assessment (LCA) services and tailored insights. Customers are actively engaged through portfolio sustainability assessments to identify optimization potential and drive informed decisions. This collaborative approach strengthens long-term partnerships and accelerates the transition to more sustainable solutions. At the same time, Evonik is driving the growth of sustainable lubricant technologies across global markets.

Roadmap to Gate-to-Gate Carbon Neutrality and Further Carbon Footprint Reduction Through Sustainable Raw Materials

All Oil Additives sites achieved RSPO certification and switched to green electricity

Continued gradual transition plan towards 100% RSPO certified materials
Expand implementation of energy management standards
Installation of solar panels in some of our production sites
Ongoing optimization of sustainable solutions for our production processes and infrastructure (e.g. solar panels in Singapore etc.)

Long-term plans for further carbon emissions reduction
Aiming towards gate-to-gate neutrality e.g. through switch to biogas

Our Sustainability Strategy Supports the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals

Goal 9: Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and foster innovation.

Goal 12: Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns.

Goal 13: Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impact.

Goal 17: Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalize the global partnership for sustainable development.

According to the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, “The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, adopted by all United Nations Member States in 2015, provides a shared blueprint for peace and prosperity for people and the planet, now and into the future. At its heart are the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which are an urgent call for action by all countries - developed and developing - in a global partnership. They recognize that ending poverty and other deprivations must go hand-in-hand with strategies that improve health and education, reduce inequality, and spur economic growth – all while tackling climate change and working to preserve our oceans and forests.”

Supporting Sustainability at the Customer Level

At Oil Additives, our aim is to engage our customers in Portfolio Sustainability Assessments (PSA) developed by the guidelines of the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD), quantified by Life Cycle Assessments (LCA). This open dialogue will further strengthen the partnerships along the value chain and ensure that as an industry, we drive forward the development of sustainable lubricants.

This TÜV Rheinland certification confirms that Evonik’s cradle‑to‑gate LCAs for Product Carbon Footprints comply with ISO 14040, 14044, 14067 and the TfS PCF guideline.

Evonik LCA Methodology is certified by TÜV Rheinland since March 2024

This TÜV Rheinland certification validates and verifies that any cradle-to-gate LCAs conducted by Evonik towards Product Carbon Footprints (PCFs) is in compliance with ISO 14040, 14044, 14067 and Together for Sustainability (TfS) PCF guideline for chemical industry.

Life Cycle Assessment Certificate

The Way to RSPO Certified Palm Oil Supply Chains

We are making a significant effort to implement and improve sustainability standards along the supply chain of renewable feedstocks. At Evonik Industries, we have already established clear procurement strategies and risk management systems for our critical raw materials, such as conflict minerals, and renewable raw materials, such as palm oil. At Oil Additives, we have therefore defined Responsible Sourcing Criteria for supply chains fall the way to the plantation level. We carry out ongoing supplier evaluations and promote those suppliers who best meet our targets of responsible sourcing, traceability and ecological compliance. These include:

Traceability of palm oil derivatives to plantations or mills.Compliance with the laws of the country of operation. Suppliers must confirm their legal compliance long the supply chain with a focus on anti-corruption and land-tenure rights.
Expanding palm plantations must ensure conservation and restoration of High Conservation- and Carbon Stock areas and peatlands.
Renouncement to peat clearance for new plantations and the adoption of a responsible maintenance system of peatland in existing plantations.
Compliance and informed consent from indigenous peoples and local communities regarding new plantations, focusing on land-grabbing procedures and ILO rights of workers.
Suppliers of palm-based products must either be a member of the RSPO or comply with the sourcing rules set by the RSPO (RSPO principles & criteria) and validated by external partners.

The way to RSPO certified palm oil supply chains.

Going Further: Our Additional Commitments to Responsible Supply Chains

To improve the social and educational level of small-holders and make a positive contribution to the livelihood of underprivileged people associated with palm oil production.
To economically integrate indigenous peoples and communities.
To improve processes and feedstock efficiency.
To implement innovative forest and peatland management systems.

We know the challenges of responsible sourcing, but meeting these challenges is not something we can achieve on our own. It’s yet another reason why we joined the Action for Sustainable Derivatives (ASD) as founding member within Transitions and BSR.

Because for us, transparency is the major component for responsible sourcing. And it is only when we have completely achieved this, that ecological and social efforts will be able to go hand in hand into the future.

Sustainability at Evonik

Evonik sees responsibility and long-term business success as two sides of the same coin. Sustainability has long been a growth driver in many of its businesses. Being a leader in technology enables Evonik to offer customers a wide range of solutions that contribute to efficient use of resources and reduce their impact on the environment. In 2022, Evonik embarked on the next phase of its strategic business transformation. As part of Next Generation Evonik, sustainability is becoming an integral element of important core processes such as portfolio and innovation management, production and technology, and human resources work. Discover our sustainability topics in the current Sustainability Report under the Evonik Sustainability section.

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