The Holzminden-based Symrise has received the "Sustainability Heroes Award" from DQS for the third time in a row. The German Society for Sustainability has been awarding this prize in six categories since 2015.
The jury recognised the winners’ commitment during an online conference held from October 18 to 20, 2022: Out of 60 nominees, six companies received the coveted seal.
Symrise impressed the jury in the Biodiversity category. The jury praised the company’s “comprehensive agenda, clear goals, effective organisational structures and development projects.
In previous years, DQS presented Symrise with the Sustainability Heroes Award for its sustainability strategy. This year, it highlighted the company’s actions for the global preservation of biodiversity. The expert jury explained its decision as follows: “To achieve its ambitious biodiversity goals, Symrise is working consistently with stakeholders from business, science and society to transform supply chains into ecologically and socially compatible value creation networks that protect biodiversity, use it sustainably and allow local communities in the regions of origin of the raw materials to share fairly in the company’s success.”
“We feel proud that after receiving the award for our Sustainability Strategy and social commitment last year, we are now also being honored with an award for our biodiversity conservation program,” said Bernhard Kott, Chief Sustainability Officer at Symrise.
For example, the Sustainable Agricultural Supply Chain Initiative (INA) aims to preserve biodiversity. Since 2019, Symrise has been committed to the National Action Plan for Business and Human Rights (NAP). In the alliance, a total of 33 companies and organisations are committed to binding human rights due diligence obligations for companies along the supply chain. “We rely on transparency and traceability to gain full control along the value chain,” said Helmut Friede, Corporate Sustainability at Symrise, explaining the company’s values regarding global supply chains.
Symrise is working consistently with stakeholders from business, science and society to transform supply chains into ecologically and socially compatible value creation networks that protect biodiversity
With this in mind, Symrise has developed a Code of Conduct to which all suppliers must adhere. It contains Symrise guidelines on human rights, health and safety, environment and business practices.
Another example of the global conservation of biodiversity are the Symrise Artisan programs, which focus on promoting sustainable raw material cultivation in countries like Egypt. An additional focus aims at the already award-winning “Bridging the Gap” activities, i.e., special learning partnerships between suppliers, farmers, Symrise and their customers.
“Symrise wants all stakeholders involved in the value creation process to participate appropriately in the company’s success. Our first goal is to make activities in agriculture attractive again,” said Bernhard Kott. Establishing responsible and transparent traceable supply chains means an important basis for the business of Symrise.
The prize is awarded by the German Society for Quality (DGQ), which enables the exchange of knowledge and practical experience on the subject of quality in cooperation with the German Society for Sustainability (DQS), which is responsible for all certification and audit services related to sustainability and consumer safety. As part of the annual Sustainability Heroes Conference, the partners recognise heroes of sustainability, who are often rather cautious in reporting their social and ecological commitment. With these awards, DQS and DGQ want to motivate active engagement for society and the environment in the economy.
Numerous applications were submitted in the six categories. The jury of sustainability experts includes Behzad Sadegh (DQS CFS GmbH), Elisa Pohland (IHK Frankfurt), Patrick Bungard (M3TRIX), Simone Busch (IHK Düsseldorf) and Professor Thomas Wegerich.