Driving operational excellence

Driving operational excellence is at the heart of our business. It is our responsibility to produce the hundreds of thousands of tonnes of flavours and fragrances products we make each year without compromising the environment, health and well-being of our employees, or the communities in which we operate.

In 2010 we introduced quarterly reporting of all our eco-efficiency related key performance indicators (KPIs) across all manufacturing sites and set ambitious but realistic targets for 2020.

In 2011 we continued to make good progress against our 2020 operational targets. Against our 2009 baselines, our water efficiency improved by 13.8%, energy efficiency improved by 7.8%, and CO₂ emissions, per tonne of product, reduced by 12.8%. Our waste, per tonne of product, increased by 0.2%, however, the quantity of hazardous waste to landfill fell by 60%.

Last, but not least, our behavioural-based safety programme ‘Zero is possible’ has now led to a 44% reduction in the rate of Lost Time Injuries across all our manufacturing sites.

In 2011 we achieved a Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) score of 72 out of 100, compared with a disclosure score of 55 in 2010. This significant progress was highlighted in the CDP Switzerland 100 Report 2011. It indicates that we have rigorous internal data management and that we regard climate change as a critical issue affecting our business.

Our Executive Committee established an Eco-Efficiency Leadership Team (EELT) in 2011. To continue to deliver on our commitments the EELT has developed a strategy based on four main drivers:

• Including eco-efficiency information as part of our Capital Expenditure process
• Reviewing process design by applying Green Chemistry principles 
• Using experts to audit our largest sites to optimise use of utilities
• Implementing an energy procurement strategy.

More information about our operational performance is available in our 2011 Sustainability Report.