Syensqo’s commitments regarding the use of Hazardous Substances

Our Product Stewardship Policy

Syensqo’s Product Stewardship Policy, applicable to all of its operations and businesses, strives to safeguard the health of people and the environment by promoting a comprehensive approach to chemical innovation and manufacturing.

Syensqo adheres to all applicable regulatory requirements related to product safety in every market and country we operate. We strive to go beyond compliance, setting more stringent internal standards where we believe it is necessary for the protection of people and the planet.

In particular, Syensqo intends to foster research for the development of more sustainable product solutions that benefit society and the environment, including the replacement of Substances of Very High Concern (SVHC) where feasible.

Taking action on product stewardship

Assessing SVHC in marketed products

Syensqo has developed a strategy to decrease the use of SVHC in marketed products and more broadly throughout the value chain. For this purpose, we have extended the monitoring of the SVHC of the EU REACH Candidate list and EU REACH Authorization list (annex XIV) to a worldwide scope. This has been implemented by identifying all marketed products having a concentration above 0.1% threshold of those substances on a worldwide basis.

In 2024, Syensqo's revenue from marketed products, containing more than 0,1% of substances in the candidate list, is 5,5%. Among which less than 5 % is linked with persistent candidate list chemicals. 39 substances, of 247 candidate list, in our portfolio worldwide are above 0.1 % threshold and among them 7 have the characteristics of persistent chemicals

In addition, since 2015, we created our own reference list of substances, the Syensqo-SVHC (S-SVHC) that goes beyond the traditional EU lists (Candidate list and Authorization list) by including several lists coming from other countries (e.g. POP Stockholm Convention, China/Banned substances for manufacturing, distribution, use, importation and exportation (MEP announcement No. 23), Korea/ ISHA Harmful Substances Prohibited from Manufacturing, USA/ TSCA Annex 6, Japan/ISHL Harmful substances needing permission for manufacturing, CMR 1A/1B official classifications (EU, China, Korea). We manage these lists by identifying all marketed products having a concentration above 0.1% of those substances on a worldwide basis.

We have also established our own reference list of Substances Requiring Attention (SRA), such as substances under scrutiny by authorities, Non Governmental Organizations (NGOs), scientists and industries due to their known hazardous properties or potential effects. This allows us to anticipate risk mitigation needs and upcoming regulatory requirements. The Syensqo-SVHC and SRA lists include SVHC and SoC as defined in accordance with CSRD. 
In line with CSRD requirements, our annual report 2024 mentions the quantities of SVHCs and SoC leaving our facilities as emissions and products sold.

^{(1) For SVHC, the 2 following regulatory lists are taken into account: EU REACH authorization list (annex XIV – dated April 12, 2022) and EU REACH Candidate list (dated November 7, 2024).
(2) For SoC, additionally the following list is taken into account: CLP Annex VI (ATP 21). This figure includes k tons of SVHC, which are also SoC by definition.}

^{The metrics relate to quantity in tons of SoC and SVHC according to CSRD definition. We consider marketed products sold in 2024 on a global basis, mapping more than 98.5% in weight of those sold products. Any SVHC or SoC present above a threshold value of 0.1% in the composition of the product is taken into account in the calculation of the metrics.}

^{"Emissions" refers to air emissions or water effluents from production facilities, without any threshold. In 2024, Syensqo carried out a detailed assessment and added, in its emissions reporting system, those substances that are relevant in the company’s processes, in line with the materiality concept. While the current list of substances is considered mature and allows adequate representation of the impact of emitted substances, we will continuously review and adapt the list of SoC and SVHC as needed. Emissions reporting includes only active industrial sites where Syensqo holds majority ownership or has operational control. Administrative and non-ongoing activity sites are excluded from our reporting scope.}

Assessing SVHC in raw materials

We have extended our inventory process to raw materials used in production on a worldwide basis, and we identify raw materials containing a concentration of S-SVHC above 0.1%.

In line with CSRD requirements, our annual report 2024 mentions the quantities of SVHC and SoC procured in Raw Materials.

^{The metrics relate to quantity in tons of SoC and SVHC according to CSRD definition. We consider raw materials purchased for production in 2024 on a global basis, mapping more than 98.5% in weight of those procured products. Any SVHC or SoC present above a threshold value of 0.1% in the composition of the product is taken into account in the calculation of the metrics.}

In 2024, on a worldwide basis, we have identified 4 persistent chemicals from the candidate list in our Raw Materials above 0.1%.

Assessing SVHC in research & innovation projects

We use our Sustainable Portfolio management tool to embed sustainability in our products during our research & innovation processes. When needed, we conduct dedicated Product Stewardship reviews, S-SVHC content checks, and assess compliance of the Raw Material or Finished Product. For new molecules, Syensqo is currently developing an approach to have an early identification of properties of concern.

Looking for safer alternatives for marketed products

Risk studies and Analysis of Safer Alternatives (ASA) for all marketed products containing S-SVHC above 0.1% placed on the market are regularly performed, and substances are replaced with safer alternatives where feasible. We also evaluate these products through Syensqo’ SPM tool where chemical hazard and exposure associated with a chemical product in its use are assessed as one of the categories of signals on sustainability performance. New ASA covering newly identified listed S-SVHC should be performed within one year and all current ASA should be reviewed every three years. We aim to be 100% aligned with these objectives by the end of 2025. Details of Analysis of Safer Alternatives are given below with a focus on SVHC according to the CSRD.

In 2024, 21 ASA have been completed: 

• 2 led to effective replacement, through SVHC substitution, reduction below the required threshold, stopping production or through better composition knowledge. 
• 7 led to an "ongoing" status meaning that an alternative has been identified and discussed with the business and/or customers for implementation.
• 12 have resulted in no available alternatives, either because no substitute is available, or too complex qualification process on customer's side.

Additional commitment to phase out fluorosurfactants

Guided by our sustainability roadmap, we quadrupled our investment in research & innovation since 2019 to invent a new polymerization process that does not require the use of fluorosurfactants (non-fluorosurfactant technologies). Our goal is to phase out the use of fluorosurfactants globally. More info here.

Find out more information about Syensqo Sustainability statements in our Annual Integrated Report 2024 and Sustainability Policies here.