- ESG
Reducing Our Environmental Footprint
Bayer aims to reduce the environmental footprint of its operations and value chain by minimizing material use, reducing disposal volumes, managing waste safely, and advancing more sustainable packaging. Our approach combines systematic waste management with packaging actions focused on reduction, recyclability, reuse, recycled materials and responsible sourcing.
Waste
We aim to minimize material consumption and disposal volumes as much as possible through systematic waste management. Waste separation, safe disposal channels and economically reasonable recycling processes contribute to this. In accordance with our Group regulations, all production sites are obliged to prevent, reduce and recycle waste and to dispose of it safely and in line with good environmental practices.
Each of our sites must have an up-to-date waste register that includes the following details for each waste stream: the name and description of the waste, its source and volume and sufficient information on its composition, hazard classification and final treatment and disposal. Bayer ensures that waste is properly disposed of at its sites. Audits of external disposal facilities are also carried out for this purpose.
Read more in our Impact Report.
Packaging
Key actions with respect to packaging are reducing, designing for recycling, recollecting and reusing/ usage of recycling material, and responsible sourcing.
We are aligned with the circular economy principles of Minimize (waste and pollution), Recirculate (circulate products and materials – at their highest value), Regenerate (reduce emissions and regenerate natural systems), and Partnerships (collaboration across the value chain).
The agricultural, pharmaceutical as well as the self-care sector are highly regulated, operating effectively within an evidence-based framework to maintain the highest standards. Bayer uses a variety of materials for its product packaging, with the most common being paper and plastic. Within our area of influence, we seek to address sustainable packaging along the value chain.
Sustainable packaging should offer maximum functionality with the best possible product protection, avoiding health and safety risks, cause minimal ecological impact, and be as circular as possible. We support regulatory frameworks and policy initiatives that promote and incentivize innovative sustainable packaging technologies, processes and business models, digitalization, strengthens industry competitiveness and reflects evolving market conditions.