gerold linzbach

A CLOSER
LOOK
CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY 2007
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Symrise CSR | Definition
People
Planet
Profit
”
CSR stands for Corporate Social Responsibility. It is a
voluntary commitment to social accountability which
companies pledge as an integral part of their corporate
strategy and activities.
Symrise CSR report | Definition
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a closer
look...
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Contents:
Preface
page 7
A closer look
... at our company
... at our products
... at our business
... at the environment
... at our people
... at society
page
page
page
page
page
page
8
14
22
28
36
44
Look closer. Think farther.
page 48
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Corporate social responsibility
Look closer. Think farther.
Dear Friends of Symrise,
corporations usually think in terms of facts, figures
and clear categories, and as a result they often see the
people around them in terms of groups as well — employees, neighbors, clients and, last but not least, consumers. Each one of these groups has different expectations
for the corporation and what they feel the corporation
should do for them. One thing is clear, however: There
are values that matter to companies. And there are values that matter to people. And these two sets of values
can be very divergent.
If there is one common denominator, it is the mindset
towards the world we live in. The environment is the
basis of our existence, both as individuals and as a
corporation, and we want — and need — to protect it. This
is why Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is not just
something we pay lip service to. Instead, it is a logical
and concrete strategy to secure our ability to survive.
The same is true for our clients. They are as dependent
on the demands of the market as we are, and consumers are the ones who steer these demands. Consumer
confidence in many companies has fallen over the past
several years, and parallel to that, people‘s desire for
health, safety and sustainably manufactured products
has increased dramatically. Ecological and social considerations now play a major role in consumers‘ willingness
to buy a product.
At the end of the day, it all comes down to trust. Trust
is a value that consumers have to be able to offer
manufacturers freely. It is a value that must be apparent
throughout the entire supply chain if a company is to be
considered credible. Here too, our personal commitment
to CSR is not just a response to our clients‘ preferences;
it is an intelligent step towards safeguarding our success
in business — and by extension, safeguarding the future
of the company and all of its employees.
As a manufacturer of fragrances and flavorings, we are
under especially close scrutiny from the outside world.
This is why in 2007 we decided to take a critical look at
ourselves to see what we could improve. We had our corporation and our four most important products assessed
by a neutral third party to review our sustainability. This
gave us many new insights which we are using to develop
concrete strategic goals, both this year and in the future —
we want to put our new insights into practice.
Think on a large scale, but act on the details – this
is our buzzword when it comes to Corporate Social
Responsibility.­Join us as we take a closer look.
Sincerely,
Gerold Linzbach
CEO
Symrise CSR report | Preface
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A closer l
our compa ny
8
ook AT
ny
”
“Embracing Corporate Social Responsibility is a convincing approach if we want to protect both our world and our
future as a company. We have to realize that bearing responsibility for people, society and the environment is inextricably linked to corporate success. No company is an
island: it is always a part of an eco-system and of society
as a whole.”
Dr. Gerold Linzbach, CEO
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2007 Symrise study
Sustainability is quantifiable
S
ustainability is a complex topic. It cannot be assessed by reviewing performance in a single area;
instead, it is the result of numerous individual factors
which blend together to create the big picture. Sustainability is also quantifiable via these factors, which include
energy consumption, CO2 emissions, water use and
others. Programs to standardize and assess sustainability (such as the one issued by the Global Reporting
Initiative™ ) are the benchmark that we at Symrise use to
quantify progress in environmental standards.
In 2007, we commissioned an extensive sustainability
study so that we would have detailed information about
our corporate sustainability. The study was designed to
give us information about where we are good and where
we need to be better. The outcome of the audit highlighted
some very encouraging successes, revealed gaps and gave
us inspiration for intelligent measures to improve things.
The study audit was conducted in 2007 by the highlyregarded Institute of Innovation and Sustainability at the
University of Applied Sciences of Lippe and Hoexter, Germany. The 13 officially recognized and certified ­criteria
10 Symrise CSR report | A closer look at our company
for assessing corporations include environmentally­
friendly logistics processes, the implementation of an
eco-management system, social issues, continuing employee development and the stakeholder dialogue.
The study gave us a sustainability rating of 81%: a result
we can be proud of, but not grounds for complacency.
We were able to identify the areas in which we have successfully implemented our CSR strategies and integrated
them into corporate processes. The study also uncovered
areas where we have started down the right path but
have not yet reached our goal. And last but not least, it
showed us where we need to concentrate in the future
and make a point of improving our performance.
To make sure that this sort of review does not remain
a one-time event, we have installed software in our
systems to allow us to continue monitoring the audited
criteria and processes. This will let us determine the
exact degree of sustainability at Symrise, even down to
the individual regions and sites. And at the same time,
this will propel the operative integration of CSR forward
by another large step.
Overall assessment of Symrise
19%
57%
24%
Among other things, positive assessments were
awarded for corporate planning, business surveys, risk management, corporate governance,
our positive customer relation management, employee development and the use of renewable
resources.­ ­Points were deducted for issues such
as the relative lack of women in senior management positions.
highest standard worldwide
standard
potential for improvement
Symrise CSR report | A closer look at our company 11
Process optimization
For greater efficiency and productivity
“Sustainability at Symrise also means analyzing
everyday processes in the company and optimizing them on a long-term basis. For example, by
constantly optimizing in-house procedures, we
were able to lower the environmental emissions
of producing macrocyclic musks significantly.
By launching Total Productivity Maintenance
(TPM), we also initiated a shift in our corporate
culture. This comprehensive approach makes it
possible to exploit and maximize our production
facilities in an ideal fashion. Practically speaking,
this means that we strategically detect losses in
efficiency, analyze the respective causes and
optimize processes. The critical factor in all of
this is getting employees involved from the outset. They develop potential solutions and implement them by working in teams made up of all
levels of the company hierarchy. The added value that everyone gains from this — in addition to
the optimized capacity, increased efficiency and
savings in costs and energy — comes from the
further qualification that the employees receive.
This turns TPM into an investment which has a
positive effect on people, processes and, last
but not least, business performance.“
Dr. Norbert Richter
Senior Vice President Global Supply Chain
Scent & Care
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”
“ With the SymchronizeTM project, we are turning our extended supply chain management into
reality. The goal of this approach is to optimize
the added-value chain beyond the standard areas. Our added-value chain covers every step —
from acquiring raw materials to the final product
— and in doing so it integrates clients and their
processes. This turns the client into a partner
with whom we coordinate this chain and work
together in order to improve our processes.
The focus here is on aspects such as demand oriented supply, increasing productivity while optimizing the use of resources and storage times,
shorter turnaround times and synchronizing procedures. This lets all resources and materials be
used to their fullest and helps us develop new
potential. Complexity is minimized, and processes are streamlined. What‘s more, routine tasks
can be replaced by more profitable activities — a
major advantage for everyone.“
Stephan Sielaff
Senior Vice President Global Supply Chain
Flavor & Nutrition
Symrise CSR report | A closer look at our company 13
A closer lo
at our prod
14
ok
ducts
”
“Being responsible about products means assuming responsibility for the resources we use to make these products. One way we achieve this is by working with innovative technologies: SymTrap®, for example, is a brand new
Symrise­ technology that captures high quality flavorings
that are otherwise lost in the industrial processing of fruits
and vegetables, resulting in a more authentic and natural taste. This means we can use raw materials in a more
­thorough and optimized manner than ever before — without
a dramatic increase in energy consumption.”
Dr. Heinz-Jürgen Bertram
Global President Flavor & Nutrition
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Product safety
Quality — from raw materials to the finished product
T
o begin with, the vast majority of the resources we
use are of natural origin. The physical (or chemical)
aspect of our work has to do with the processes we
utilize to obtain our raw materials, such as extraction
or distillation. The quality of our products is the basis
of our success, so being able to supply this quality is
indispensable. The foundation for handling products responsibly is always Good Manufacturing Practice, which
is the standard for clearly upholding quality control in
production processes and the production environment.
Beyond that, in both divisions we safeguard our standards by means of wide-ranging systematic regulations
and procedures. At Flavor & Nutrition we have developed an extensive and systematic Food Safety Policy. It
ensures safety and quality at every level: from acquiring
raw materials all the way to the final product, and from
broad legal guidelines down to specifically developed
crisis plans.
This all makes it possible for us to offer a seal of quality
for our products. Specifically, this means ensuring reliable supply, making sure that raw materials are of top
quality and observing sustainable criteria in manufacturing and handling. One example is citrus. In this sector,
we work on site in Brazil and utilize state-of-the-art
16 Symrise CSR report | A closer look at our products
technologies so we can identify and sort out any fruits
which have pesticides or residues to make sure they do
not enter the production cycle.
No matter whether it‘s ECOCERT in France, EFSIS
in Great Britain or NFPA SAFE in North America and
Asia: More and more frequently, our products have to
undergo audits by neutral third parties. These reviews
are initiated by our clients, who want to be certain that
the supply chain is sustainable on an ongoing basis. We
have had great success in doing so. At the same time,
we wanted to integrate standardized criteria from the
sustainability study of our products to develop in-house
points of orientation. This is why we had four of our
most important and best-selling products or product
groups reviewed while we were undergoing the audit
we commissioned from the Institute of Innovation and
Sustainability at the University of Applied Sciences
of Lippe and Hoexter, Germany. Menthol, bisabolol,
vanilla and citrus were closely analyzed on the basis of
twelve criteria, including eco-efficiency, conservation
of resources, environmental friendliness of production
processes and packaging, and product-related environmental impact. The findings show us that we have taken
steps in the right direction.
• Raw material
­questionnaires
• Daily alert system
• Evaluation,
­approval, audits
• Raw materials,
packaging, hauliers,
equipment
• Risk assessment,
HACCP
• Contaminants,
allergens, hygiene
• Security, contingency, microbiology
• Sensory
Risk Management
• Raw material
requirement
• Functionality,
upscaling, cpk
IFS/BRC/GMP
• Hygiene rules,
­hygiene standards
• Cleaning procedures, schedules
• Risk assessment,
HACCP, AIB
• Contaminants,
allergens, security
• Contingency, microbiology, sensory
• Pest control
• Effective measures
• TPM
• Packaging
management
• Appropriate­
­storage
­conditions
• Risk assessment,
HACCP
• Logistical
­requirements
Health & Safety
Crisis/Complaint management
qc
handling, storage, transport
production
Development
Vendor assurance program
regulatory
Symrise Food Safety Policy
• Specifications, CoC, • Crisis exercises
CoA
•S
ecurity­­­(terror,
• Appropriate equipsabotage)
ment
• Contingency plan
• Validated methods
• Traceability
DIN EN ISO 9001, DIN EN ISO 14001
Symrise CSR report | A closer look at our products 17
Product assessment
Testing sustainability
highest standard worldwide
standard
potential for improvement
19.5%
61%
19.5%
16%
61%
23%
18 Symrise CSR report | A closer look at our products
Overall assessment of menthol
During the audit, synthetic l-menthol was analyzed,
and points were deducted due to the lack of environmental and organic certifiability. By contrast, it
received top rankings in terms of its eco-efficiency,
resource conservation, an increase in the product
life cycle and environmentally friendly packaging.
Overall assessment of citrus oils
Citrus oils received their good rating mostly due to
their eco-efficiency, the successful increase of the
product life cycle, environmentally friendly production, logistics and packaging.
Overall assessment of bisabolol
14%
5%
The audit showed that bisabolol needed almost no improvement in terms of sustainability. By special request
of one of our clients, we are currently having bisabolol audited for sustainability by ECOCERT and ECOPASS.
81%
21%
69%
10%
Overall assessment of vanilla
Vanilla received ideal scores in many areas, including ecoefficiency, use of renewable and available resources and
environmentally friendly logistics.
Symrise CSR report | A closer look at our products 19
”
REACH
Responsibility for products and people
“ The safety of chemical substances has to be
guaranteed by the industry itself. REACH is thus
a symbol of a shift in values, but it is also an
expression of the clearly defined obligation our
industry bears. The principles of this ordinance
were firmly anchored in our corporate structure
well before REACH went into effect. In keeping
with our strategy of being indispensable, we
also work closely with clients in this regard;
product safety is a crucial service which allows
us to take work and concerns off our clients‘
hands. One of the sucess factors is communications. They have to remain transparent, and
information not only has to be precisely documented, it has to flow smoothly in every direction of the supply chain. Another issue of equal
importance is pooling our knowledge with colleagues in the industry. No matter whether it‘s
IFRA, IOFI or RIFM – our knowledge and experience in working with REACH is something we
actively share in the associations and groups
where we are members so we can live up to
our position as a leading company in the market. Corporate Social Responsibility demands
an interlinked approach to thinking and acting
far beyond the corporate realm.”
Achim Daub
Global President Scent & Care
(VP IFRA)
20 Symrise CSR report | A closer look at our products
Product development
For safer and healthier enjoyment
Product safety
The toxicology competence center
The Toxicology Competence Center upholds the quality and safety standards of raw materials and products at
Symrise. It is in charge of toxicological data on all raw materials and products worldwide and generates them for
clients and Symrise employees. In cooperation with regulatory affairs, it documents client specifications (such
as exclusion of certain substances) and is responsible for monitoring, testing and applying for approval of new
substances. It also commissions product tests from approved labs and analyzes test reports. On an international
basis it centrally coordinates all administrative processes, legislative issues, safety reports, hazard classification
and raw-material product labeling. The employees in regulatory affairs and the Toxicology Competence Center
represent Symrise in the world‘s largest associations in the international flavor and fragrance industry.
Product development
TASTE FOR LIFE® – A lifetime of eating more healthily
Sugar, salt, fat: these ingredients give foods their taste, but they can also cause diet-related diseases such as
obesity, high blood pressure or diabetes. With Taste for Life®, Symrise offers its clients a convincing strategy
for effectively reducing these components in foods – with a unique twist: the finished products retain their full
and undiminished taste. Taste for Life® does not simply mean replacing salt, sugar or fat. It means analyzing the
flavor profile of a food and using this information to develop a customized flavoring concept. The result? The
same authentic taste that consumers expect – and a finished product that credibly fulfills people‘s demand
for healthier food.
Symrise CSR report | A closer look at our products 21
A closer lo
at OUR business
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siness
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“Nowadays, Corporate Social Responsibility has become a
touchstone for clients and investors. More and more frequently, investment decisions are based on the ability to
uphold ecological and social standards. Compelling CSR
work brings companies recognition and pays off for them.
Among other things, our activities have earned us a spot
in the portfolio of the Orange Sense Fund, one of the most
­successful Socially Responsible Investment funds in Europe.”
Dominique Yates, CFO
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Operative integration of CSR
Growth that‘s compatible with the society and the environment
G
rowth is one of the goals of every company, and
Symrise is no exception. In fact, it is something
we have promised our investors. The figures for 2007
prove that we have been successful. We grew twice as
quickly as the market overall. Our growth rate was 6.2%,
measured in local currency; we experienced double-digit
growth in emerging markets and our EBITDA increased
by 12% to 272 million euros.
Growth cannot take place at the expense of society and
the environment, however. Integrating Corporate Social
Responsibility into our operations and ongoing processes
means that in our business activities, we have to consider
not only economic factors, but societal and ecological
ones as well. Living up to such standards is increasingly
important to our growth. Our major clients are also committed to sustainability, and therefore expect their suppliers to provide clearly documented evidence of their own
compliance. Symrise’s success in this area can be seen in
our relationships with customers. For example, when the
Japanese Kao Corporation looked into the matter of environmental conservation, Symrise received an “A-supplier”
rating for our excellent performance in this field.­
L’Oréal has also been impressed by our efforts. In 2007,
we were selected as one of eight suppliers to test their
newly introduced assessment system for raw materials.
The selection and the responsible use of raw materials
are especially important in manufacturing cosmetics. The
criteria established by L’Oréal for this pilot project have
been applied to Symrise’s research and development
projects.
In the field of sustainability, one of the most important
24 Symrise CSR report | A closer look at our business
touchstones in our business relationships with our customers is the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP). Almost all
corporate giants such as L’Oréal, Unilever, P&G, PepsiCo
and Kraft require compliance with CDP standards – and
our policy on sustainability has served us well here.
Our commitment to sustainability is not
only important in our cooperation with
customers, however. It also counts with
our investors. In 2007, Symrise earned a place in the
portfolio of the Orange Sense Fund, one of the most
successful “Socially Responsible Investment” funds in
Europe. In this portfolio, the fund brings together a broad
spectrum of small and medium-sized enterprises that
have proven their commitment to sustainability. Additional audits focusing on ethical behavior, such as those carried out by EIRIS (Ethical Investment Research) and SEDEX
(Supplier Ethical Data Exchange), have secured Symrise’s
inclusion in the portfolios of other ethically oriented funds.
Sustainability is not a one-way street; the high standards set for us by our customers increasingly affect
our purchasing policies around the world. We require all
new products and suppliers to comply with our own CSR
policy, meaning they must also commit to sustainability.
Our policy not only includes numerous environmental
criteria, but also ethical standards such as a ban on child
labor and measures to ensure the health and safety of
workers and grant them certain rights.
This commitment to high standards is an obligation that
Symrise takes on willingly. It is a mark of distinction
– proof of how seriously we regard the importance of
sustainability.
Symrise CSR-Report | A closer look at economy 25
Quality, environment and safety management
The standards which are our cornerstone
Certifying quality, environment and safety at Symrise
DIN EN ISO 9001
DIN EN ISO 14001
American Institute of Baking (AIB)
International Food Standard (IFS), higher level
British Retail Consortium (BRC), higher level
EFSIS „A“ grade
Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP)
Hazard Analysis of Critical Control Points (HACCP)
Socially Responsible Investment (SRI)
SA 8000
A norm for ethical behavior
Ethical standards have become the norm in our industry, and fulfilling them is therefore essential to a company‘s
success. The internationally recognized norm for ethically and socially responsible behavior is SA 8000 (Social
Accountability 8000). It was developed by globally active corporations, unions and human rights organizations.
It outlines requirements for workplace safety and health, as well as covering worker rights (e.g. membership in
unions and protection from discrimination) and many other points. Symrise consistently adheres to this standard.
26 Symrise CSR report | A closer look at our business
*
*
*
EAME
Germany
Holzminden
*
*
*
EAME
Germany
Braunschweig
*
*
*
*
EAME
Germany
Noerdlingen
*
*
*
*
EAME
Germany
Hamburg (Kaden)
*
*
EAME
South Africa
Isando
*
*
*
*
*
*
EAME
Spain
Parets
*
*
*
*
*
*
EAME
Switzerland
Le Bouveret
*
*
EAME
UK
Corby
*
*
*
EAME
UK
Eye (Steng)
EAME
UK
Marlow
*
NA
USA
Branchburg
*
NA
USA
Bushy Park
*
NA
USA
Teterboro
*
SA
Argentina
Tortuguitas
*
SA
Brazil
São Paulo
*
*
*
SA
Chile
Santiago de Chile
*
*
*
SA
Columbia
Bogotá
*
*
SA
Mexico
Monterrey
*
SA
Venezuela
La Victoria
*
AP
Australia
Dee Why
*
*
*
*
AP
China
Pudong
*
*
*
*
AP
India
Chennai
*
*
*
*
*
AP
Japan
Ibaraki
*
*
*
AP
Singapore
Singapore
*
*
*
*
*
AP
Singapore
Singapore
*
*
*
*
*
Ethical
SA 8000
Organic
Halal
*
*
*
GMP
*
Paris
EFSIS
Cairo
France
Kosher
Egypt
EAME
*
Food Safety
HACCP
Food Safety
AIB
Food Safety
BRC
Food Safety
IFS
Site
EAME
Environment
ISO 14001
Country
Quality
ISO 9001
Region
Audit Footprint 2007
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
Symrise CSR report | A closer look at our business 27
A closer lo
the enviro
28
ok AT
nment
”
“We are the world‘s largest manufacturer of natural alphabisabolol, which is derived from the oil of the candeia tree,
a species found in Brazil. We obtain as much of this oil as
possible from controlled farming – and at the same time
we make major investments to farm the tree in its natural
habitat. We also continue to expand our network of certified partners on site. After all, the high standards of environmental protection and ecological concerns apply not
only to us, but to our licensing partners and suppliers – on
a worldwide basis.”
Dr. Klaus Stanzl
President Scent & Care North America
Global Life Essentials
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Ecology
Clear goals that protect the environment
W
e all depend on the environment, and we want to
preserve it for future generations. This is why we
as a fragrances and flavorings manufacturer follow the
principles of Green Chemistry, which advocates using
environmentally friendly manufacturing processes and
protecting resources and the environment as much as
possible. Among other things, this entails raw materials which come from renewable sources and avoiding
hazardous by-products. These principles create the
framework which we orient ourselves towards. More
specifically, we set ourselves well-defined environmental
goals. In 2007 we even exceeded these goals — we were
better than we had aimed for.
To achieve our goals, we made major investments in
current technologies. As a result, we succeeded in
reducing our global odor emissions by 38%. Biofilters and
our energy-efficient regenerative combustion facility in
Holzminden played a major part in this development.
We managed to reduce the amount of wastewater by 4.%
last year. We also took a closer look at our wastewater
disposal, particularly the everyday handling of chemicals,
and consequently we now route surface water at our
Holzminden headquarters to the wastewater treatment
plant. This measure now completely rules out the risk of
potentially contaminating the groundwater in any way.
Our activities in Brazil demonstrate that we apply the
same standards to our work around the globe. As part
of a new investment in a spray-drying tower, in 2007
we also began building a facility for thermic regenerative combustion. When it is complete, the facility will
guarantee that odor emissions at the Sorocaba site are
kept to a minimum. We not only want to protect the
environment because we are officially required to do
so — we want to protect it because it is our benchmark
30 Symrise CSR report | A closer look at the environment
for ourselves. Examples include our sites in Singapore
and Mexico, where we have built our own wastewater
treatment plant and are active in keeping water clean.
In obtaining alpha-bisabolol, our goal is to protect the environment and have as minimal an effect on ecological balance as possible. The material is derived from the candeia
tree which grows in the Brazilian highlands. The demand for
bisabolol totals around 100 tons a year. One cubic meter of
wood yields some ten kilos of raw oil, which in turn yields
around six kilos of alpha-bisabolol. Symrise was one of the
first companies in the region to obtain the majority of its
alpha-bisabolol from controlled farming. In other words, the
trees are not randomly cut down in the forest; they come
from suppliers who consistently plant new trees.
In Brazil we broke ground on the 30,000 m2 Global Citrus
Center in Sorocaba as well. The site is located in the
immediate vicinity of important citrus-growing regions,
allowing us to optimize the added-value chain in an environmentally friendly way. We already work with organic
citrus farmers on site.
Another effort to pursue maximally sustainable processes included the 2007 acquisition of Aromatics, a
raw materials supplier in Madagascar. Here we can apply
the farm-to-fork principle, i.e. we can optimize process
control­consistently, from the cultivation phase all the way
to the finished vanilla product. What‘s more, vanilla extracts
can be processed directly on site where they are grown.
The cornerstone of our activities is always an analysis
of environmental aspects. We always determine where
there are environmental aspects to be considered, review
the impact on the environment and identify potential
hazards. These assessments are based on ISO 14001
and are updated annually.
Success stories
Sustainable solutions for our clients
Example 1 – Safety without emissions
Sulphurized odorizers are commonly added to natural gas, which has no discernable scent of its own. ­Gasodor®
S-Free is a milestone in odorizing natural gas: it is the first sulphur-free odorant certified by the German Technical and Scientific Association for Gas and Water, and it combines environmental friendliness with the highest standards for safety, cost-effectiveness and technology. Gasodor® S-Free gives municipal gas companies
an outstanding odorizer for natural gas, which can also help improve their image. Gasodor® S-Free is the first
product that gives natural gas an odor but does not contain sulphur. The network of a major utility company
could use it, lower its environmental impact by 20 tons of sulphur.
Example 2 – Research without animal testing
We demonstrate responsibility in our technologies, already in the R&D phase. Take Cutech: the new skin
model which Symrise developed in 2007 in cooperation with the Italian biotech company Cutech means that
skin tests of cosmetic ingredients can now be conducted without animal testing. This innovation complies
with the new EU legislation on cosmetics.
Example 3 – Enjoyment without regret
Natural products and environmental awareness send clear messages to consumers. In 2007, the SunSpice®
collection of herb and spice oils was awarded an organic certificate in compliance with EU regulations, which
allows them to be labeled with the seal of organic quality.
Symrise CSR report | A closer look at the environment 31
Climate change
Tracking our carbon footprint
“We can close our eyes to the topic of climate
change – or we can take a closer look. Addressing the topic means that CO2 emissions are an
area of concern for us as well. In Holzminden,
where our company uses about 50% of its energy, we have achieved a reduction of 6% of our
CO2 output, a total of 2,500 tons. On a global
scale, this is only a small step, of course — but it
is still a link in the global chain. To establish even
more long-term goals, we follow the standards of
the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) to evaluate
emissions and achieve truly reliable documentation of climate-related data in the future. Based
on the CDP, we are also part of the Supply Chain
Leadership Collaboration, which was founded in
October 2007. It provides a standardized method­
for determining emissions throughout the entire
supply chain – and by extension, it provides the
key to tracking a company‘s carbon footprint,
even beyond its immediate borders. We are
among the first in our field who have dealt with
the issue of climate change in this sort of tangible way.“
Dr. Helmut Frieden
Corporate Vice President Product & Safety,
Health and Environmental Compliance
32 Symrise CSR report | A closer look at the environment
”
Aroma molecules
Green chemistry for safe fragrances
“The principles of sustainability are clearly evident in the work of the Scent & Care division.
Our development strategy encompasses the
entire life cycle of a product, beginning with
the raw material, which should come from renewable resources in order to contribute to a
better CO2 balance. One example is the aroma
molecule Ambrocenide®, which we derive from
cedarwood oil. In the next step, the production phase, we strictly adhere to the guidelines
of Green Chemistry. We place limits on the
amount of solvents used overall, replace halogenated solvents and refrain from using toxic
substances. We make sure that our products
are non-allergenic and that they feature high
levels of efficacy while utilizing as little material
as possible. The end of the cycle involves waste
management. We always work towards biodegradability – using oxygen and bacteria to break
substances down into nonhazardous materials.
Our macrocyclic musks are among the products
that show good biodegradability. These are not
flash-in-the-pan trends; they are part of a development that leads to products which are better
for people as well as the environment.”
Dr. Johannes Panten
Vice President Scent & Care Innovations
R&D New Molecules
33
Environmental facts and figures
Exceeding our own goals
Development of volume of sold
products (2005 = 100%)
Development of energy use
per sold product (2005 = 100%)
120%
105%
115%
100%
110%
95%
105%
100%
2007
Development of water use
per sold product (2005 = 100%)
85%
93.3 %
2006
93.9 %
112 %
2005
100.0 %
110 %
90%
100 %
90%
95%
2005
2006
2007
Development of total wastewater
per sold product (2005 = 100%)
96%
98%
2005
2006
94%
2007
34 Symrise CSR report | A closer look at the environment
97.2 %
99%
99.1 %
98%
98.4 %
100%
100.4 %
100%
100.0 %
101%
100.0 %
102%
2005
2006
2007
(2005 = 100%)
100%
2g
95%
1g
90%
2005
2006
1.43 g
1.40 g
3g
1.45 g
1.43 g
105%
1.35 g
2.20 g
4g
0g
2007
Zinc g
Lead, chrome,
copper, nickel g
85%
89.9 %
(per ton of sold product)
93.8 %
Development of carbon dioxide
emission per sold product
100.0 %
Heavy metal emissions into
waste water
2005
2006
2007
1 kWh Electricity = 300 g CO2
1 kWh Fuel oil
= 279 g CO2
1 kWh Gas
= 182 g CO2
Development of waste produced
per sold product
(2005 = 100%)
18.5 %
19.1 %
80%
20.8 %
100%
Waste amount
for removal
20%
63.2 %
40%
64.6 %
Waste amount
for re-use
79.2 %
60%
2005
2006
2007
0%
Total waste:
2005
2006
2007
100.0%
83.7%
81.7%
Despite increases in volumes, in 2007 we also managed
to lower our worldwide consumption of energy, water,
wastewater, heavy-metal wastewater contaminants, waste and in particular the rate of CO2 emissions.
Symrise CSR report | A closer look at the environment 35
A closer lo
at our people
36
ok
ple
”
“Our goal is to discover talent in our own ranks and develop it. In 2007, we took steps to make that happen: We
launched the Symrise Academy, which is our umbrella organization for global strategic professional training initiatives in both divisions. Our people are the engine and the
catalyst for development and innovation, and the Academy
represents an investment in training and coaching that is
both inspirational and new. The best thing is that it doesn’t
just impart our employees with professional skills – it is
also a very important motivating factor for them in managing their own career at Symrise.”
Dr. Iñigo Natzel
Corporate Vice President
Group Human Resources
37
Corporate culture
Creating values and providing orientation
Talent management process
Talent identification
Individual talent feedback
Talent development
Succession planning
Symrise HR Processes as a Platform
Job profiles with
defined competencies
Annual performance
review
P
utting a successful corporate culture into practice is
based on reciprocity. The company has to establish
values and then communicate them to give its employees
a sense of orientation. The employees in turn must be
able to identify with and accept these values and then act
accordingly so that the company as a whole retains its
credibility. The principles of this approach are laid down for
everyone in a global manual, which includes the Code of
Conduct that requires all employees to interact with each
other in a fair, professional manner.
At Symrise, we require a high level of commitment from
each and every individual. We expect our employees to
take responsibility for themselves, their jobs and ultimately for the company. This means that each person
is an independent entrepreneur whose objectives and
performance are always consistently interlinked with
the goals and performance results of the company. We
make use of targets and systematic performance reviews
to ensure that an individual’s professional development
goes hand in hand with the overall strategy for human
resources development.
Competence and motivation are the driving forces for
talent management in our corporation. Indeed, we view
talent management as an investment in the shared suc-
38 Symrise CSR report | A closer look at our people
Qualified
recruitment processes
Performance-oriented
compensation plans
cess of employees and the company. For this reason,
we continued to expand this concept in 2007 (see 2006
CSR report). For example, to identify and target creative,
high-performing employees, we have developed a special
in-house test that tracks creative potential in our workforce. As a result, we now have a pool of almost 100
employees from all divisions who will be actively involved
in product development in the future.
We founded the Symrise Academy so as to bring together all of the global professional training activities
under one roof – and to translate our concept of a high
performance culture into tangible training initiatives and
programs. The key factors are the proximity to actual
business practice, orientation towards the needs of specific target groups, focus on demand and the measurability of our results. The Symrise Academy comprises three
sections: 1) the Leadership Academy, which includes
programs for employees in sales and communications
features targeted coaching and management training;
2) the Flavor Academy, which focuses on the professional
development of flavorists, and 3) the newly-founded
Perfumers’ Academy, a unique professional development
concept in the field of fragrance creation – a multi-step
program for perfumers, starting with apprenticeships and
including several levels of continuing education.
Symrise CSR-Report | A closer look at people 39
Occupational safety
The focus is on people
”
“Reciprocity is also important in workplace safety.
Working with our products requires that employees
take great care — and the company has to ensure
that comprehensive preventative measures are in
place. Our stringent workplace safety measures
have borne fruit; in 2007 we had one of the lowest
accident rates since Symrise was founded. All our
divisions have scored good marks for workplace
safety — a result that owes credit to the fact that
we continuously carry out safety programs and
targeted campaigns on specific workplace safety
issues. In addition to providing safety information on a regular basis to employees throughout
the world, our efforts have included many things:
training in areas such as dangerous goods, first
aid, fire safety and transport; safety and workplace
inspections; and internal and external courses on
systematic basic and advanced training for safety
officers. When it comes to occupational safety, in
the meantime Symrise has clearly gone beyond
the standards of the European chemical industry
as well as those of other companies which have
also committed to the Responsible Care initiative.
That is an incentive for us to keep going down the
path we have started. Our goal is clear: We aspire to reduce the number of accidents to zero.”
Dr. Norbert Kalkert
Managing Director TESIUM GmbH
(Subsidiary of Symrise GmbH & Co. KG
for technology, safety and environmental protection)
40 Symrise CSR report | A closer look at our people
Accidents MAQ
( > 1 working day)
10
8
6
4.2
5.9
2
6.5
4
2005
2006
2007
Symrise
0
Severity USQ
200
175
150
125
Accident control:
100
75
42
45
25
110
50
2005
2006
2007
USQ
0
MAQ =
Number of reportable accidents1) x 1,000,000
Number of working hours
USQ =
Number of lost working days x 1,000,000
Number of working hours
1) reportable accidents: > 1 working day
Symrise CSR report | A closer look at our people 41
Communication
An active exchange with every target group
Employee Magazine Team Spirit
Team Spirit Online
Annual Report 2007
Homepage
IR Website
Online Trend & Lifestyle Magazine
IHR IHRIHR
NACHBAR
NACHBAR
NACHBAR
Die Zeitung
für die Nachbarn
von Symrise
Die Zeitung
für die Nachbarn
von Symrise
Ausgabe 2/2006
Ausgabe 1/2007
Die Zeitung
für die Nachbarn
von Symrise
Ausgabe 3/2007
SYMRISE INSPIRIERT
STARTSCHUSS
JETZT AUCH
„VOLL“ BIOFÜR „SYMRISE
AUCH IM INTERNETPERFUMERS’ ACADEMY“
Sunspice , das sind Öle mit den Aromen gerösteter Kräuter und Gewürze. Symrise stellt diese Öle mit den typischen Gewürz-Aromen aus der
Sunspice Kollektion bereits seit einiger Zeit her. Nun aber haben sechs Geschmacksrichtungen der Öle in einem aufwendigen Prüfverfahren
das Bio-Gütezeichen erhalten. Es sind die Varianten Knoblauch Zwiebel, Mediterran, Curry, Chili, Asiatisch und Grill & Steak, die mit Rapsöl
aus voll ökologischem Anbau entwickelt werden.
›
Immer mehr Endverbraucher lassen. Ausschlaggebend
hierfür
war einzelne
Produkt
das Bio-Gütesiegel.
Ursprung
der asiatischen
Küche.
Mit einem
einmaligen
Konzept
beschreitet
Symrise neueseinen
Wege
in der in
Ausund Weiterbildung
von Parfümeuren. Nur ein halbes Jahr nachDer neue Claim „Symrise - always inspiring more…“ stand am
Anfang einer neuen Positionierung am Markt. Nun eines
ist diese
neue Unternehmensfragen nach Bioprodukten, die der spezielle Wunsch
Kunden,
Dortim
werden
Öle Haus
vor dem
eigentlichen
dem Symrise
wieder mit der Ausbildung von Parfümeuren
eigenen
begonnen
hat, bietet die „Perfumers’ Academy“ den kreativen
®
philosphie auch im Online-Auftritt des Unternehmens sichtbar.
ohne die in konventionellen der seine bisher nur
als konventionelle SUNSPICE
BIO-ÖLE
KochprozessWissen
hergestellt,
indemeines:
man inspirierende Erfahrungen.
Symrise-Mitarbeitern
neben praktischem
Training und wertvollem
vor allem
›
Seit einigen Tagen ist er online
– der neu gestaltete InternetAuftritt von Symrise. Bereits im
Frühjahr präsentierte der Duft- und
Aromenhersteller den neuen Claim
„always inspiring more…“ und eine komplett neue Unternehmensphilosophie,
die jetzt auch online im neuen
Internetauftritt sichtbar ist.
Ein globales Projektteam hat in den vergangenen Monaten an dem strategischen
Konzept und an seiner Implementierung
Industrieprodukten üblichen Zusätze Produkte erhältlichen Gewürz-Öle gerne
die Kräuter- und Gewürzmischung in
in allen Unternehmensbereichen von Symrise seiner Neupositionierung am dem Nutzer als Informationsquelle und
und Konservierungsmittel auskommen. als Bio-Produkte anbieten
möchte.
Die Sunspice
Öle sind keine normalen Öl brät und im Anschluss das frisch
Die „Symrise
Perfumers’
AcadeSymrise gearbeitet. In der internen Markt nach außen Rechnung.
Orientierungshilfe.
Schritt für
SchrittAustausch- und Exkursionsprogram- Präsentationstechniken sowie beSymrise sieht sich selbst und seine Um ein solches Bio-Zertifikat
zu
Kräuterundbei
Gewürzöle.
Im„Perfumers’
Vergleich zu Academy“
aromatisierte,
Öl als Zutat Grundlagen auf
my“ richtet
sich
an Basisauftritt
alle
me. Die
zeich-abgefilterte
triebswirtschaftliche
Kommunikation ist die neue Strategie
werden
auf diesen
ersten
Produkte generell nicht in der Bio- erhalten, bedarf es eines
aufwendigen
den bisher
bekannten,
aromatisierten für den eigentlichen Kochprozess
Symrise
beschäftigten
Parfübereits vollständig umgesetzt, nun Die mit der strategischen Neuausrich- nun
weitere Inhalte
folgen. In Kürze
wirdnet sich vor allem dadurch aus, dass dem Stundenplan der Kreativen.
Sparte angesiedelt, da Bio-Erzeugnisse Verfahrens. Die Zertifizierungsstelle
Ölen, die in erster
Linie frische
desFähigkeiten
jeweiligen Drei
Gerichtes
nutzt. Programmstufen
vom
Nachwuchstalent
bis nicht
nur dieKräuterfachlichen
verschiedene
konnte Symrise den neu gestalteten tung verbundene Konsolidierung undmeure,
auch ein
eigenständiges
Online-Magazin
im Bereich der Convenience-Produkte prüft vor Ort zu
akribisch
Rohstoffe, „Nasen“.
und Gewürznoten
beinhalten, handelt Genau diesen kulinarischen Prozess
denSymrise
erfahrenen
Neben
Internetauftritt freischalten.
Umbenennung der Symrise-Divisionen von
im Internet zu finden
sein.der Parfümeure geschult, sondern garantieren, dass jeder Parfümeur
eine – wenn auch in starkem Maße Herstellungsverfahren
und
viele es sich bei
Sunspice
Ölen um in Öl setzt Symrise hier maßstabsgerecht
Wissensvermittlung
prakweitergebildet
wird:
zu „Flavor&Nutrition“ und „Scent&Care“derMit
spannenden Themen und
rund um
Duft,auch Wissen über die vielfältigen kul- bestmöglich
wachsende – Nische darstellen. Dennoch andere Parameter zur Herstellung
des
gebratene
und Gewürze, die den in ein industrielles Verfahren um.
Training
beinhaltet
das Kräuter
neuDas komplett überarbeitete Erschei- wird bereits auf der Homepage deutlich.tischem
Geschmack,
Kosmetik
und Trends
wen-turellen Duftvorlieben, Trends und Die „Symrise Perfumery School“
hat Symrise nun sechs seiner Sunspice
Endproduktes. Erst nach
erfolgreich
ÖlenBetreuung
ihre einzigartige
Bratkräuter- oder
individuelle
Nachwuchsparfümeuren
nungsbild entspricht der neuen Kunden können sich jetzt noch schnel-artige
det Konzept
sich Symrise
mit diesem
neuenMärkte vermittelt wird. Erstmalig vermittelt
Öle als Bio-Produkte zertifizieren bestandener Zertifizierung
erhält jedes
verleihen.
Dieses Prinzip hat Fortsetzung auf Seite 2
Mentoren
sowieGewürznote
verschiedene
Storyline von Symrise. Sie zeichnet sich ler auf den übersichtlichen Seitendurch
Informationsangebot
Branchen
über-stehen auch Kommunikations- und die grundlegenden Kenntnisse und
durch eine klare Bildsprache und ein orientieren. Die klare Unterteilung in greifend an Kunden und Endverbraucher.
reduziertes, klassisches Design aus. die drei Bereiche „OUR WORLD“, „OUR Es lohnt sich also auch in Zukunft,
Durch den neuen „Look&Feel“ trägt BRAND“ und „OUR INSIGHTS“ dienen w w w.sy mrise.com zu besuchen.
INHALT
SAFARI DER SINNE
ERSTES BESCHNUPPERN
NEUE AUSZUBILDENE BEI SYMRISE
›Symotion
Bio-Zertifikat
Seite 1, 2 sich bei einem
Wie jedes Jahr erhielten diedes
Auszubildenden
von Symrise,
undfür
Tesium die Möglichkeit,
Als Gewinner des Stadtentwicklungswettbewerbs
Landes
Niedersachsen
„Ab
INDEXSeminar in der neuen
SunspicezuÖle
zweitägigen
Fürstenberg
kennen
lernen und einen ersten Einblick in die
in die Mitte“ lädt Holzminden
vom 13. bis 21. Juli zuJugendbildungsstätte
einer „Safari der Sinne“
ein.
› Symrise inspiriert auch
Seite
Symrise ermöglicht in diesem Jahr 35 jungen Menschen den Start ins Berufsleben. Als internationalerUnternehmensstruktur
von Symrise
zu 1erhalten.
› Symrise inspiriert mit
Seite 2
im Stadt
Internet
Holzminden – die sinnlichste
Deutschlands. So sah es zumindest die Jury, die
Konzern bildet Symrise in den verschiedensten Bereichen aus.
neuer Internetrubrik
›
Sieben Industriekaufleute, neun Chemielaboranten,
zehn Chemiekanten, zwei Industriemechaniker
und
erstmals zwei Destillateure begannen am ersten August mit ihrer Ausbildung. Symrise bildet ebenfalls
›
›
vom Konzept „Safari der Sinne”
des
Stadtmarketings
Holzminden
begeistert
war. Zielungeahnte schauspielerische Talente. Trotz des straffen
des Kennenlernseminars
Referenten
› Zum
NeueAuftakt
Auszubildende
Seite 1hielten
zum „Bachelor of Business Administration“ aus. Die angeSeite 2
› Auszubildende als
des Wettbewerbes ist es, den
Besucherrückgängen
den Innenstädten
entgegen
bei Symrise
hatten Börsianer
alle viel Spaß und nahmen viele neue
aus
den
Bereichen Flavor &inNutrition,
der Sensorik,
der Zeitplans
henden Betriebswirte sammeln praktische Erfahrungen im
erfolgreiche
zu wirken und eine Belebung des
Ortszentrums anzustoßen. Es gilt, spannende
mit allen und
an derInformationen und Eindrücke mit.
Unternehmen und besuchen parallel Vorlesungen an der
› Personalabteilung
Erfolgreicher Start und dem Betriebsrat
Seite 2
Innenstadtentwicklung Beteiligten
ein Netzwerk
zuund
vertiefen,
in demsoIdeen
die Zukunft
Seite 3
› Die Nase zum Beruf
anschauliche
Vorträge
vermittelten
einenfür
Einblick
in
für den Parfümeur
Wirtschaftsakademie Göttingen.
machen
der Innenstadt konzipiert und
werden
können.
dieumgesetzt
verschiedenen
Arbeitsbereiche
bei Symrise. Nachmittags
› Fleischlos glücklich?
Seite 3
› Wenn das Wasser im
Seite 3
Der erste Tag begann für die neuen Symriser mit einer herzli-war der Teamgeist der neuen Auszubildenden gefragt: Bei einer
Verschiedene Erlebnisstationen immussten
Innenstadtbereich
laden
den Besucher
auf der „Safari
Munde zusammenläuft …
sieder
gemeinsam
verschiedene
› Die Sprache
Düfte
Seite 3 Stationen zu unchen Begrüßung durch die Ausbildungsleiterin Petra BrychcyRallye
der Sinne“ ein, neue Sinneseindrücke zu sammeln. Je ein Wochentag wird mit einer
und Personalchef Karlheinz Klammt: „Eine Investition interschiedlichen Themen aus der vielfältigen Symrise› Der Geschmack der
Seite 4
Emotionen
undgemütlichen
Essen Für die
Seite 4 des Tages
speziellen Veranstaltung einem ›der
Sinne Den
gewidmet.
Stimulierung
des bildete
Duft- und
Abschluss
Wissen bringt immer noch die besten Zinsen,“ so betonte derWeltmeistern.
Vergangenheit
bist, waswerden.
Du isst! Das Unternehmen plant gerade für die
Geschmackssinns konnte Symrise Du
gewonnen
Personalleiter, dass die Ausbildung neuer Nachwuchskräfteeine Grillfeier in dem Mittelalterdorf „Bokenrode“. Auch am
Innenstadt auf mehreren 100 Quadratmetern
echtengefordert.
Garten
mit
Büschen und
Seite 4
› Kurioses: Duft fördert das
Tag wareneinen
die Azubis
In
Gruppenarbeiten
› Kurioses
Seite
4 Rasen,
ein wichtiger Baustein in der Personalpolitik ist. Als größterzweiten
Denkvermögen
Hecken, in dem die Besucher an verschiedenen
Stationen
riechen und schmecken
können.
sie die jeweiligen
Ausbildungsberufe
von Symrise,
Ausbilder in Holzminden – mit insgesamt 113 Plätzen – stelltstellten
› Preisausschreiben
Seite 4 „Klangräume“ bieten.
Spannende Erfahrungen für den Sinn
des Hörens wird die Ausstellung
Seite 4
› Impressum
sich Symrise seiner regionalen Verantwortung und investiertSymotion und Tesium vor und erhielten so einige Einblicke in
Zwei Festwochenenden rahmen
die
„Safari“ ein: mit
Open-Air-Kino
auf
dem Haarmannplatz
› Impressum
4 zeigten
die Aufgabenbereiche
ihrer
Kollegen.Seite
Dabei
die Azubis
in die eigene Zukunft.
und einem Musikfestival mit internationaler Besetzung an den Teichanlagen.
handwerklichen
Fähigkeiten
für
einen erfolgreichen Start in die
Parfümeurskarriere. Fortgeschrittene
Duftentwickler profitieren von regionsübergreifenden Einsätzen und der
individuellen Unterstützung durch
Mentoren.
Fortsetzung auf Seite 2
INHALT
› Symrise Perfumers’
Academy
Seite 1/2
› Kennenlernseminar
für Auszubildende
Seite 1
› Ausbildung zum
Getränkeentwickler
Seite 2
› Naschgarten-Aktionsstand
Seite 3
› IdeenExpo Hannover
Seite 3
› Winterliche Düfte
Seite 4
› Kurioses: Teebeutel
Seite 4
› Impressum
Seite 4
Neighborhood Newspaper
42 Symrise CSR report | A closer look at our people
Customer Magazine
C
ommunication is and remains one of the most important building blocks of our corporate culture — both
within the company and beyond its borders. A Code of
Conduct regulates relationships and interactions with business partners, with colleagues and employees, with the
public and the community, with our investors. Thanks to
modern online and offline media, our employees all enjoy
easy access to company information. In addition, these
methods of communication allow them to stay in contact
and enter into direct dialog with coworkers and management alike, and to have an active role in determining content. Our high-quality magazines and online publications
keep customers, suppliers and investors in the loop on trends
and developments throughout the entire Symrise world.
Health and fitness
Putting theory into practice
S
ymrise not only provides information on healthy
living, but supplements it with opportunities to
participate in health and fitness activities such as soccer, walking, tennis, golf, exercise groups and even Zen
meditation. Events such as our Health Promotion Week
in Singapore or the “Sports & Culture” program at our
Holzminden site are designed to systematically increase
health consciousness within the company worldwide.
Symrise CSR report | A closer look at our people 43
A closer lo
society
44
ok at
”
“The harmonious union of the environment, business and
society is something that we must promote with our actions and inspire by our example, here and now. We are
all responsible for shaping the future — both our own and
that of coming generations. As a corporation, our responsibilities include the task of convincing individuals and
society of the significance — and the effectiveness — of
Corporate Social Responsibility.”
Dr. Helmut Frieden, Corporate Vice President
Product & Safety, Health and Environmental Compliance
45
Social responsibility
Creative investments in society‘s future
A
company cannot exist without society, let alone
flourish and be successful. At Symrise, we know what
a debt we owe to those around us. We attempt to repay
it through our social activism, which finds expression in
a wide variety of initiatives. One area that we focus on is
education, since young people represent our future. With
personal commitment and targeted investments, we hope
to play a role in guiding and improving this future.
As a member of the Stifterverband der Deutschen Wissenschaft (Donors’ Association of Science in Germany), an
umbrella organization that supports scientific research
and education, we are especially active in promoting
academic programs that focus on nutrition. We also support a program for quality management at universities
as well as Bildung und Begabung (Education and Talent),
a nationwide organization for gifted children. In 2007 we
worked with this association to support the Junior Academy, an extracurricular, interdisciplinary summer educa-
46 Symrise CSR report | A closer look at society
tion program for gifted and talented school children.
We contribute to international charities that work to provide proper nutrition for children or promote their health
and education. In 2007, we sponsored a wide spectrum
of local and regional projects in countries such as
Australia, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Singapore,
Thailand and Vietnam. This year we were once again
awarded the “Outstanding Hunger Service Award” for our
public service in the Philippines.
As a flavorings supplier, the issue of nutrition and health
is naturally an area of special interest for us. This is the
reason why we decided in 2006 to target our social activities more deliberately than we had before — both with
regard to specific topics and the issues at different sites.
In conjunction with the Fulda University of Applied Sciences, the Lower Saxony state association for health and
the city of Holzminden, a new approach was developed:
the first Naschgarten, the „Discovery Garden“ project
which focuses on healthier eating habits and fighting
childhood obesity. The unique aspect of this pilot project
which differentiates it from other similar initiatives is the
ongoing scientific support: the Naschgarten will include
years of collecting detailed data so as to document longterm findings.
The world‘s first Naschgarten was opened in 2007 in
Holzminden: A 8,000 m2 plot of land with a meadow,
old fruit trees and a creek is gradually being turned into
a venue where children between three and twelve can
experience an exceptional world: a garden they can
design and create themselves, a place where they can
sow and plant, harvest and eat – and above all, a chance
to become familiar with healthy and natural foods in a
relaxed and playful environment.
This is a place where not only theoretical knowledge is
shared — instead, kids get involved on a hands-on basis,
enjoy things and experience them firsthand. In keeping
with our corporate slogan always inspiring more ... the
Naschgarten appeals to all of the senses: Children can
encounter nature up close, and the open spaces are the
perfect place to play soccer, skate, run around and be
a child. Workshops, after­noon games and sports make
sure that the Naschgarten finds a special place in the
lives of children and their families.
The Naschgarten is an exemplary way of putting our
standards into practice and acting on ethical and
social responsibility in society in a way that is realistic and approachable for everyone. Symrise sees the
Naschgarten project as an investment in the health
of children, which is an investment in the future of
our society. After the successful launch of the site in
Holzminden, a worldwide roll-out of the Naschgarten
project is planned.
Symrise CSR report | A closer look at society 47
LOOK closer
think farther
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r.
farther.
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Think farther
CSR as a benchmark for the future
C
orporate Social Responsibility is a commitment we
have undertaken actively and voluntarily. We have
participated in the Responsible Care global initiative for
more than ten years on a company-wide basis, making
good on our promise to have a genuine impact in the
areas of environmental protection, health and safety
– above and beyond what is required by law. A global
manual provides clear international guidelines for apprenticeships, professional training and continuing education.
Our Code of Conduct outlines our international policies
for communications and ethical behavior, not only within
the company but in dealing with neighbors, customers,
suppliers and investors. These are only a few examples of
our dedication.
Symrise is committed to Corporate Social Responsibility
in the broadest sense possible. As an enterprise, we must
contribute to the conservation of the environment and fulfill our duties to society. “People, planet and profit” are not
isolated factors. When we take CSR seriously and integrate
it in the activities of our corporation, it becomes clear that
they are inseparably linked.
In 2007 we included Corporate Social Responsibility
50 Symrise CSR report | CSR as a benchmark for the future
in Symrise’s corporate objectives, making its role in
our business operations and processes mandatory. We
consider Corporate Social Responsibility to be a work in
progress, an undertaking that is never completed, but
that constantly changes and evolves. It is a project that
keeps growing — just as our corporation does.
The challenges have become greater over time. We must
face the issue of climate change by reducing CO2 emissions. We must protect and conserve raw materials such
as water, which in some regions is already a scarce and
expensive resource. We must continue to step up our
efforts worldwide to promote the use of renewable raw
materials.
For this reason, this report ends with a new beginning.
Everything that we accomplished in 2007 is but a single
step on our path to a more sustainable future. We will
continue to monitor our company’s commitment to its
social, ecological and economic responsibilities. We will
continue to improve the sustainability of our services,
products and the company as a whole, to the full extent
that is prudent and possible. We will continue to take a
closer look.
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Symrise GmbH & Co. KG
Muehlenfeldstrasse 1 | D -37603 Holzminden
T +49(0)5531-90 0 | F +49(0)5531-90 -1649
www.symrise.com
Europe, Africa, Middle East (and globally responsible)
Dr. Helmut Frieden
Corp. VP Product & Safety, Health and Environmental Compliance
helmut.frieden@symrise.com
Asia Pacific
Dr. Wolfgang Neugebauer
VP Product & Safety, Health and Environmental Compliance Asia Pacific
wolfgang.neugebauer@symrise.com
North America
John DeProspo
Director Product & Safety, Health and Environmental Compliance North America
john.deprospo@symrise.com
Latin America, Mexico
Irma Herrejon
Director Product & Safety, Health and Environmental Compliance Latin America, Mexico
irma.herrejon@symrise.com
Concept, editing and design:
red roses communications GmbH, Hamburg/Germany
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