Sustainability Reports
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Emery Oleochemicals' Sustainability Commitment
Founded in 1840 utilizing natural feedstock to manufacture our products before the term "green" was even conceptualized or used in association with sustainability, Emery Oleochemicals is truly one of the first sustainable chemical companies in business. Today, we continue to operate sustainably using renewable feedstock to make our natural-based chemicals.
Guided by a vision to take Emery Oleochemicals “Beyond Specialties”, we aspire to focus all that we do in a manner consistent with acting sustainably and leaving this planet a better place for the next generation. Our very business of producing natural-based chemicals underscores the importance of, and is the foundation of, our sustainable operations.
At Emery Oleochemicals, we combine science and innovation when implementing operational best practices throughout our global network. Premised on our understanding of our customers’ business needs and changing societal requirements, we continuously create new business value and exceed customer expectations by advancing the skills necessary for us to be a world leader in natural-based chemicals - guided by our core values and established business governance.
Our approach to sustainability subscribes to the philosophy “ACT SUSTAINABLY”, where our actions across the board aim to deliver sustainable methods to achieve our long term goals and advocates day-to-day behaviors at the workplace and beyond. It is a rallying call to our team members and business partners alike to play a leading role in mitigating sustainable development risks through responsible operations.
To achieve our Sustainability Vision, initiatives implemented will be aligned to United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and will broadly encompass:
- Realize progressive ways to reduce our impact on the environment, that additionally allows us to lower our operating costs;
- Provide a progressive, inclusive and safe workplace for our employees so as to retain and attract talent, and;
- Invest in the communities in which we do business to uphold our ‘license to operate’.
Science and innovation remain our main driving forces in the evolution of best practices and value creation. The needs of society and customers change continuously, and we strive to remain a step ahead of these changes. However, even as we develop our technology and business to advance in this industry, we are still governed by our core values and ethics. Long-term sustainability for the future of our people, partners, investors and the community at large remains the topmost priority.
Corporate Sustainability Initiatives
Roundtable for Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO)
We have been actively participating in ongoing discussions and forums surrounding palm-based derivatives manufacturing - guided by industry, consumer and customers’ evolving requirements.
Today, having translated our findings and requirements into responsible business practices and operational processes, Emery Oleochemicals offers customers products that are RSPO Supply Chain System Certified for Mass Balance (MB).
NDPE Policy RSPO Emery Oleochemicals GmbH
Public Grievance Procedure RSPO Emery Oleochemicals GmbH
USDA BioPreferred® Program: Certification of Biobased Products
As a leading global oleochemicals producer, the mission of our company has always been to provide high-quality, natural-based products to meet market needs. Over 180 years since our founding in 1840, Emery Oleochemicals remains committed to using renewable materials, supporting the bioeconomy and bettering the planet. As part of that effort, we participate in the USDA BioPreferred® Program which has a goal to increase the development, purchase and use of biobased products. Due to their high biobased content (48 – 100%), many of Emery’s Agro Green Solutions and Eco-Friendly Polyols products have been certified biobased by the USDA Certified Biobased Product Label.
In 2022, when the USDA BioPreferred® Program celebrated it’s 20 Year Anniversary as the Federal Government’s official advocate and market accelerator for biobased products, Emery Oleochemicals is proud to be recognized by the USDA as a BioPreferred Program Champion.
View our Agro Green Product Portfolio
View our Eco-Friendly Polyols Product Portfolio
Learn more about the USDA BioPreferred Program
Sourcing with Respect
In response to the growing need for transparency within supply chains, we introduced “Sourcing with Respect Guidelines” (SRG) in 2014 as we strive to minimize environmental footprints, safeguard human rights, eliminate poor labor practices, and prevent corruption within Emery Oleochemicals’ supply chains.
These guidelines integrate the 10 principles of the United Nations Global Compact (UNGC) - aligning the SRG framework to industry needs. Addressing issues such as human rights, labor, environment and corruption, this guideline provides a framework for engagement and the opportunity to establish partnerships where members in the value chain behave in a responsible and ethical manner.
About our Sourcing with Respect Guidelines
United Nations Global Compact
As the world's largest corporate sustainability initiative, the UN Global Compact is a call to companies to align our strategies and operations with universal principles on human rights, labor, environment and anti-corruption, and take actions that advance societal goals.
Emery Oleochemicals subscribes to the Global Compact 10 Principles and supports achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The Global Compact’s focus areas in environment, social, governance, sustainable development, and supply chains, drive Emery Oleochemicals’ initiatives which are designed to deliver positive impact, operate responsibly and support society. Emery Oleochemicals GmbH is a signatory member of the UNGC.
About UNGC’s Mission
Responsibly Sourced and Sustainable Feedstock
For over 180 years, Emery Oleochemicals has been providing natural-based solutions before companies even knew what sustainability meant. Today, we continue to provide our customers with best-in-class renewable solutions recognized for their ability to improve processing efficiencies, deliver outstanding technical performance, and enhance environmental safety and sustainability. Our products, derived from renewable resources, are predominantly made from natural oils and fats. From commodity chemicals to semi-specialty to specialty chemicals, we can meet your specific application needs in a broad variety of sectors such as plastics, automotive, construction, lubricants, packaging, coatings and adhesives, urethanes, textiles, electrical and electronics, agriculture and more.
The renewable feedstocks used for Emery’s green chemistry are derived from animal or vegetable fats or oils.
For animal fats, known as tallow, Emery Oleochemicals uses by-products of the rendering industry that are not intended or suitable for human consumption. This contributes to a circular economy by reusing materials that would otherwise be discarded in a landfill or incinerated and repurposes them. Rendering might even be considered the original form of recycling. For hundreds of years, renderers have been recycling unwanted parts into animal food and fertilizer used to feed and grow the next generation of food. It’s a classic and eco-friendly way to turn discarded animal co-products, or by-products, into valuable materials for other applications. [1] Rendering also protects the environment from high greenhouse gas emissions of other disposal methods for animal fat by avoiding at least 90% of potential greenhouse gas emissions compared with industrial composting, and sequesters five times the amount of greenhouse gas emissions as it emits.[2]
When vegetable oils are used as feedstock for oleochemicals, some might wonder if this utilization of oil from plant-based sources such as palm and rapeseed/canola competes with human nutrition. In a recent study that analyzed data on global use of agricultural land from the UN Food and Agriculture Organization [3 by Hannah Ritchie and Max Roser], 80 % of the global agricultural land was found to be grazing land or land to cultivate crops for animal feed to produce non-vegan products such as meat, dairy, or wool. An additional 16% of the global agricultural land is used to grow crops for human consumption and only 4% is used for non-food applications and non-feed crops like cotton which is used for textiles. This 4% land use is the source of Emery Oleochemicals’ vegetable oil feedstock and therefore, the impact as competition on human nutrition is negligible. In addition, Emery Oleochemicals offers products that are Roundtable for Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) Supply Chain System Certified for Mass Balance (MB) which demonstrates our commitment to use only responsibly sourced palm oil in our chemical production to meet the highest environmental, social, and quality standards.
Therefore, the use of both animal and vegetable fats and oils as feedstock for Emery Oleochemicals’ products can be considered sustainable.